Resilient, Ready, Strong

Centering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Everything We Do

Girl Scouts is a place for every girl, honoring the differences that make everyone unique and valuable contributors, while recognizing commonalities. In alignment with GSGCNWI’s multi-year council strategy, we are striving to be an equitable organization that promotes inclusion and actively works to be anti-racist. We are examining practices and processes embedded throughout our structures, leadership, policies, culture, and programs. In partnership with Fostering Healthy Solutions, our DEI consultant, we are developing our council’s five-year DEI strategy.

One initiative designed to encourage more diverse representation in outdoor experiences is the “Life Outdoors is LIT!” series. Progressive, family-oriented programming was designed to remove barriers, increase access, and address the stereotypes and generational traumas that influence family decisions about sending their girls to camp and other outdoor experiences.

In 2022 Girl Scouts of USA released a funding opportunity for up to six councils to each receive a $10,000 grant to support multicultural family camp events. Research showed that less than 10% of people engaging in outdoor experiences at recreational parks and camps included people of color. These events aimed to increase racial, ethnic, and social-economic diversity among our resident and day camps.

Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana invited specific girls to participate in the grant-funded program as part of an effort to include girls who would not typically engage with summer camp programs. A part of this program included early registration for summer camp programs to ensure these girls, who we do not typically see at camp programs, had access to attend during the summer camp season last year. The goal was to sign up 30 girls to day camp and 10 girls to resident camp by the start of camp season. This work is part of GSGCNWI’s continued work to improve inclusion and access across our council offerings.

GCNWI Shifts the Narrative on Outdoor Experiences for Families of Color

Girl Scout Mom

“Thank you for the fantastic program you provided the Girl Scouts and families at the ‘Life Outdoors is LIT’ finale event this weekend! The tireless dedication of your staff surely comes from a place of love & community, and did not go unnoticed.”

Our 2022 cookie program brought about some unique challenges. Who would have thought that supply chain shortages would have affected the production of Girl Scout cookies?! Our girls prove that nothing can stop them from moving forward despite unexpected uncertainties that may come their way.

Customers were excited to try the new cookie - “Adventurefuls.” When the girls learned that our supplier could no longer easily obtain the materials to make the cookie, while disheartened they continued to persevere making efforts to promote the cookies we did have available.

Even though our cookie program had to conclude sooner than expected, troops came up with creative ways to empty their cookie supply and offer cookie supporters options like donating to our Gift of Caring program to help them reach their personal and troop goals.

What’s great about our Girl Scouts is that they learn to adapt to life’s challenges! The skills they have learned over the past cookie seasons have enabled them to be forward thinkers and ready to take on the world and all it has to offer them. It all begins with the simple question of “would you like to buy a box of Girl Scout cookies?” That simple ask has and continues to make a great impact in the lives of every Girl Scout now and forever!

Fall Product

6,027 girls participated in the fall program

13,271 nuts and candy donated through Gift of Caring

Cookie Program

22,503 girls participated in the cookie program

280,546 packages of Gift of Caring

3,578,530 total packages sold

Join us for our Smart Cookies “Badge Bash”

At this signature Girl Scout event, we are showcasing a few of the unique experiences Girl Scouting provides at booths headed by girls in our council. Attendees will participate in hands-on activities and learn more about what Girl Scouting is all about.

The Girl Scout Cookie: An Origin Story

Take a look at the origin story of the the Girl Scout Cookie Program—from what started as a small localized fundraiser in the early 1900s to a culturally iconic institution of American culture today.

Girl Scout Senior Madison Uses Cookies for Community Service!

Girl Scouts can do incredible things, especially when they have the drive to do good and make the world a better place with ingenious and creative solutions.

Girl Scout Madison

“I wish others knew about how Girl Scouts is preparing me, and other girls, to assume leadership roles in our future endeavors. Girl Scouting gives me a sense of responsibility and community. Girl Scouts is not just about selling cookies, or community service projects. Many of my closest friends are Girl Scouts. We’ve maintained our friendships through mutual respect, trust, and honesty, which are all promoted in Girl Scouting.”

FY22 Revenue