Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania

503 Martindale Street, Suite 500, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Website: www.gswpa.org ​Phone: 1-800-248-3355 / ​Email: jcink@gswpa.org

​Girl Scouts is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience girls in grades kindergarten through twelfth grade benefit from time-tested and research-backed programming. Research indicates that girls learn better in a single-gender environment. As girls earn badges, plan trips, sell cookies, explore science, get outdoors and serve their communities, they are learning by doing. Girl Scouts continue to have these experiences in western Pennsylvania, even through the ongoing pandemic. Many aspects of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience are virtual, Girl Scouts are continuing to build friendships, learn new skills, and support their communities.

Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania provides more than 20,000 girls from 27 counties and many different backgrounds and beliefs with the resources to become tomorrow’s leaders. This is made possible thanks to the dedication of more than 10,000 adult members, close to 100 full-time staff, 20 board members and countless supporters, all believing in the power of girls.

Rather than feeling helpless when Pennsylvania began its lock-down in response to the threat of the coronavirus, Adeline, a 10-year-old Girl Scout Junior, tapped into the confidence that Girl Scouts has given her to create change and support her neighbors in a time of need. To compensate for a shortage of eggs at her grocery store, Adeline petitioned her community to change a local ordinance that didn’t allow for members of the community to own chickens. She presented to the local board, and Adeline changed a law!

Girl Scouts in western Pennsylvania can participate in the Get Outdoors Challenge, a program developed that encourages girls to spend more time outside more often. Using a checklist of seasonally appropriate activities, Girl Scouts throughout western Pennsylvania are learning about nature, animal habitats, and conservation by participating!

​Ann Ritchie is a troop leader for GSWPA Cadette Troop 52751. Ann has led the troop since the girls were first-grade Daisies, and she says becoming a troop leader has been an unexpectedly positive experience in her life. “It wasn’t my long-term goal to be a Girl Scout Troop Leader. I kind of stumbled into this role, and I’m so glad that I did,” Ann said. “I’ve learned how the little things you do to help others really does make an impact.”

To learn more about Girl Scouts in Greene County, contact Janey Cink at 1-800-248-3355 ext. 1604 or jcink@gswpa.org.