Workshops4girls VIRTUAL JOURNEYS FAQ & POLICIES
If you have questions after reading these, please contact us.
What is a Journey?
The Girl Scout Path to Leadership The Highest Awards - Bronze Silver Gold
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) teaches girls to explore their community, identify the root cause of an issue, and create a Take Action Project that addresses the root cause through direct action, education and advocacy.
It starts with the Journeys Why?
Journeys take girls through the process of exploring issues and developing a Take Action Project. Think of it as a “practice” project that builds the skills to tackle the Highest Awards.
Is your program live? Is it a webinar? How does your program work?
Each Workshops4girls Journey Program consists of 4 virtual meetings which are live, interactive, and fully guided.
Scouts will participate in collaborative activities using Google Classroom and complete a few activities at home prior to and between sessions.
Your Girl Scout will receive expert guidance through the process of issue exploration, Take Action Project development and building the necessary skills for the Highest Awards. By the end of the session the Scouts will be ready to implement their Journey Take Action Project plan.
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) teaches girls to explore their community, identify the root cause of an issue, and create a Take Action Project that addresses the root cause through direct action, education and advocacy.
It starts with the Journeys Why?
Journeys take girls through the process of exploring issues and developing a Take Action Project. Think of it as a “practice” project that builds the skills to tackle the Highest Awards.
Is your program live? Is it a webinar? How does your program work?
Each Workshops4girls Journey Program consists of 4 virtual meetings which are live, interactive, and fully guided.
Scouts will participate in collaborative activities using Google Classroom and complete a few activities at home prior to and between sessions.
Your Girl Scout will receive expert guidance through the process of issue exploration, Take Action Project development and building the necessary skills for the Highest Awards. By the end of the session the Scouts will be ready to implement their Journey Take Action Project plan.
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WHAT IS INCLUDED?
Mentoring from Gold Award interviewers and Highest Awards Experts.
Live real time guidance from Highest Award experts. Individual, customized support to create a Journey Take Action Project plan.
Our team has many years of working with Girl Scouts earning the Highest Awards. We guide our participants to create their journey take action project plans using the same process that we use when we mentor Gold Award Girl Scouts, adjusted by level of course. Customized Journey Take Action Plan
A journey project is a “practice” project that follows the same steps as the Highest Award, but on a smaller scale. Prior to implementing a plan, scouts at the Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador levels will go through the steps to create a plan. The step by step customized plan we help them to develop utilizes their skills, community connections, and support system and prepares them to implement the plan on their own.
Our participants report that they have a greater understanding of the process of project planning, are ready to take action, and feel more confident moving on to the Highest Awards. *Note: JUNIOR scouts will develop the plan and implement it on the final day of the Journey. Workshops4girls Peer Mentoring Team
This is the most popular part of our program. Our Mentoring Team of Silver and Gold Award Girl Scouts who have attended Workshops4girls journey programs. We host a panel discussion where they share their experiences.
Popular topics include finding your passion, time management, leading a team and how becoming a Silver/Gold Award Girl Scout has led to their future success. Resources for Scouts
Participants in Workshops4Girls Journeys have exclusive access to a library of online resources to help guide their Take Action Projects and Highest Awards planning. They maintain access to these resources for as long as they need them - it does not end when the Journey workshop ends!
Senior and Ambassador participants have reported that they used our resources when they created their Gold Award proposals. Resources & Guidance for Troop Leaders/Adults
Unique to our program is an optional wrap up session for the adults who will guide Girl Scouts as they move forward. This includes tips on project follow-up, Highest Awards, How to use our exclusive resources, and a Q and A to help them gain a better understanding of the process needed in order to implement the project which will be carried out under troop leader or adult supervision.
Post series support
After our series ends, we remain available to Girl Scouts leaders and families for continued support and questions.
WHY CHOOSE WORKSHOPS4GIRLS?
EXPERTISE We have guided thousands of girls through the Take Action Project planning process from Junior Journeys all the way through Gold Awards.
NETWORKING We are connected to a network of Gold Award Girl Scouts who are willing to answer questions. MENTORING In our home council we have been on the Gold Award Interviewing team for many years. We mentor our "Journey Scouts" as if they were our Gold Award Girl Scouts. PASSION Workshops4girls was created by longtime Girl Scout volunteers. Combined we have 90 years of Girl Scout experience! In addition to running these workshops as a business, we remain active volunteers in our councils specializing in the Highest Awards, Bronze, Silver & Gold. RESOURCES Post Journey, the participants retain access to exclusive planning tools as well as our advice and guidance. WHO RUNS THE JOURNEYS?
Katie Casey-Anderson (Owner, Journey Facilitator)
In 2010, Katie founded Workshops4girls, combining her background in vocational education with her passion for the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. She started with in person workshops in Southern California but went virtual in 2020. She has guided thousands of Girl Scouts across the country. She never expected how much her life would be enriched by empowering the next generation of Girl Scouts to change their world! She has also been an active GSOC volunteer for over 18 years. She began her Girl Scout journey (pun intended) as a troop leader for her two daughters, leading their troops from Brownies through Ambassadors. After her troops graduated, she stepped into several volunteer roles for Girl Scouts of Orange County, including Adult Volunteer Trainer, Trainer for the Highest Awards (Bronze, Silver & Gold) and her favorite role of all, Gold Award interviewer. Dianna Sundell (Journey Facilitator) is a lifetime Girl Scout, having been a member for more than 50 years! As a girl, she moved through all levels and earned the highest award at that time, the First-Class Award. She has never stopped scouting! As an adult, she has held multiple volunteer roles for the Girl Scouts of Orange County, including troop leader, Camp Sherman Counselor, member of the Board of Directors, and her current role as Gold Award interviewer. She also inspired both her daughter and granddaughter to be Girl Scouts, making them a three generation Girl Scout family! Dianna credits her success as a teacher and administrator to skills she developed in Girl Scouts. She enjoys bringing those skills to a new generation as a Workshops4girls Journey Facilitator. She loves all that Girl Scouts offers from leadership to lifelong friendships. Barb Christensen (Journey Facilitator) is a lifetime Girl Scout and has been volunteering for Girl Scouts of Orange County for over 25 years. Raised in an Air Force family, her parents always found her a Girl Scout troop every time they moved, and Barb earned the First-Class Award (predecessor to Gold Award). She was a leader from Daisies to Ambassadors and has led three troops. Barb has been the Project Advisor for dozens of girls for their Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award Projects as well as a Gold Award interviewer for GSOC for 10+ years. She trained thousands of adult volunteers at every level on a variety of topics, including travel and Highest Awards (Bronze, Silver, and Gold). Barb was one of the first GSOC volunteers to be trained on Journeys, and girls from her troop were the first to be interviewed for their Gold Award projects with Journeys as the prerequisite. She loves the materials covered in the books and believes good Journey Take Action projects set girls up for success in their pursuit of their Highest Awards. Barb is excited to work with girls in achieving their goals to make the world a better place. WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?
We are based in Southern California, but all our programs are virtual. We are on Pacific Standard Time.
WHAT JOURNEYS DO YOU OFFER?
Juniors (4th-5th grade) - aMuse
Cadettes (6th-8th grade) - aMAZE, MEdia & Breathe Seniors (9th-10th grade) - Mission Sisterhood, Girltopia & Sow What Ambassadors (11th-12th grade) - Your Voice Your World & Justice We do not offer Brownie or Daisy Journeys at this time. WHICH JOURNEYS WILL YOU BE RUNNING NEXT?
We run journeys for each level at least 3 times a year.
We run journeys all year. Sunday afternoons during the school year. Consecutive morning sessions during the summer. Ask to be placed on our email list for next session. We usually release summer dates in March, fall dates in late spring, spring dates in October. If you have a request for one of the Journeys listed above, but it isn't on our posted schedule, email us to see when it will be offered next. |
TAKE ACTION PROJECT QUESTIONS
dOES THE jOURNEY INCLUDE THE TAKE ACTION PROJECT?
JUNIORS - For the AMUSE journey, the sessions include the Take Action Project as the requirement for that particular journey is to create a presentation "busting a stereotype" for an invited audience. The Juniors will create their project and present it to invited family and friends on the last day. We recommend that they show their presentation to others as well.
CADETTES, SENIORS & AMBASSADORS - Participants will create a detailed written Take Action Project plan. They will implement the project plan after our sessions under parent or troop leader supervision. WHO GUIDES THE GIRLS THROUGH PROJECT COMPLETION?
Project implementation will be carried out under troop leader or adult supervision.
Unique to our program is an optional wrap up session for the adults who will guide Girl Scouts as they move forward. This includes tips on project follow-up, Highest Awards, how to use our exclusive resources, and a Q and A to help them gain a better understanding of the process. After the series ends, we are available for questions. DOES THIS JOURNEY INCLUDE CREATING A SILVER OR GOLD AWARD PLAN?
No, they do not create a Silver or Gold Award plan.
A Journey Take Action Project is a stand alone project that is required before BEFORE starting their Silver or Gold Award project. Think of it as a practice Silver or Gold, following the same steps on a smaller scale. On the final day of our series we spend some time looking ahead to the Highest Awards. We share discuss tips for creating strong Silver & Gold Award projects and familiarize the Girl Scouts with the Silver & Gold Award resources found in the Google classroom that they can use when they are ready for the next step. REGISTRATION QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THE COST? HOW DO I PAY?
FEE
All Journey programs (4 meetings) are $100 per Scout. PAYMENT OPTIONS Zelle, Paypal, Venmo, troop checks, personal checks & money orders. WHERE DO I MAIL A CHECK? If you are paying by check, the address will be sent in your registration confirmation. See our registration page for more info. DO YOU TAKE CREDIT CARDS? You can use a credit card to pay through Paypal. Check their website for info. DO YOU PROVIDE BOOKS & PATCHES?
No, we do not provide books and patches. All sessions are designed to be completed with minimum use of the book. The book is not required. Everything you need will be provided.
You can order patches through the GSUSA Shop or your local council shop. (Link to GSOC Shop). DO YOU ACCEPT COOKIE CREDITS AS PAYMENT?
For Girl Scouts of Orange County only Our events accepts Cookie Dough, OC Bucks, and Juliette Dollars! Girls must complete online registration and pay in full. Next fill out the Reimbursement form after you have participated in the event.
For Girl Scouts of Western Washington Contact your council to make arrangements. For other Councils Contact your council to inquire. Email us if you need more information DO You Offer custom sessions?
If you have a group of 8 or more, contact us for info about setting up custom dates or times. We need a 2 month lead time to set up any custom dates.
f you have less than 8 Scouts, custom dates can be set up for an extra fee. Note: We do not offer private sessions. If we set up a custom dates, we will invite other Girl Scouts to join it. CAN SCOUTS SHARE A SCREEN?
We recommend that each Girl Scout has their own screen. If you need to share a screen, two is the recommended maximum per screen. There is no discount for sharing a screen. The fee is per participant, not per screen.
What is the cost? HOW DO i PAY?
FEE
All Journey programs (4 meetings) are $100 per Scout. PAYMENT OPTIONS Zelle, Paypal, Venmo, troop checks, personal checks & money orders. WHERE DO I MAIL A CHECK? If you are paying by check, the address will be sent in your registration confirmation. See our registration page for more info. DO YOU TAKE CREDIT CARDS? You can use a credit card to pay through Paypal. Check their website for info. DO YOU ACCEPT LATE REGISTRATIONS?
If we have room, we will accept late registrations, but check with us first to make sure that there are spots available.
If it is full, you will be placed on the waiting list & notified if a space opens up. ONLY HALF OUR TROOP IS AVAILABLE THIS SESSION. SHOULD WE STILL SIGN UP?
POLICIES
MISSED SESSIONS
My Girl Scout has a conflict for more than one session. Should we still sign up?
If a Girl Scout knows she is going to miss more than one day of the series we suggest that she sign up for a different session. Each session builds upon the previous one. Missing multiple sessions the girl misses too much of the journey process. My Scout can't attend one of the days, can we get a discount? There are NO partial refunds or discounts for missed sessions for any reason. A Scout from our troop signed up, but now she can't attend. Can we send another Scout in her place? If you inform us before the first session of the workshop series begins AND before the previous Girl Scout has joined the Google Classroom, you may substitute another scout for a girl previously registered. My Girl Scout is going to miss one day of the workshop. Are there makeup Zoom sessions? There are no makeup Zoom sessions, but contact us to make arrangements for make-up activities that will be posted for her her in the Google classroom. Make-up must be completed on her own time before the next meeting. What should I do if my Scout has to miss If you know in advance that your Girl Scout will miss a session, notify us. We can let you know some of what will be missed that day. We will create make-up in the Google classroom. If case of illness or unexpected absences, please email us a minimum of 30 minutes before the session starts so we know not to expect her. We have an unpredictable schedule. We don't know our schedule ahead of time? Should we still sign up? Since each session builds on the next, our compressed format might not be a good fit for you. We suggest trying for a session in your sports off season or during the summer when all the sessions are completed in a single week. We run journeys all year. What if we have to leave early or will arrive late? If you know you are going to leave early or arrive late, please inform us and make arrangements for makeup materials to be posted in the Google classroom. WHAT IF I NEED TO CANCEL MY REGISTRATION?
I have to cancel. Can I get a refund?
Requests for refunds must be made 8 days prior to the first meeting of a Journey series. There are no refunds if notice is received less than 8 days prior to the first workshop. “No Shows” will not receive a refund for any reason. It is more than 8 days before the first meeting, and I need to cancel. What do I need to do?
aRE THERE returned checks OR REFUND SURCHARGES?
There will be a $25 fee charged for checks returned for insufficient funds.
There is a 3% processing fee for refunds made by Paypal or Zelle. LARGE TROOP REGISTRATION DEADLINE AND CANCELLATION POLICY
The registration deadline for troops with 10 more girls is 5 weeks before the session start date. The deadline for cancellation with refund for large groups is three weeks prior to the session start date.
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No, we have had Girl Scouts attend our Journeys from across the country as shown on this map!
