Who We Are

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. Although the traditions of Girl Scouting, particularly its vast array of outdoor activities and the cookie program which teach girls self-reliance and leadership skills, are still very important to the Girl Scouting movement, Girl Scouting has evolved to address some of the most prevalent systemic causes behind illiteracy, poverty, obesity, hunger, homelessness, and violence.

Annually SGSC serves more than 15,000 girls ages 5 to 17 throughout Southern Arizona, over one-third of whom are served through outreach programs for low-income, sheltered, and at-risk girls who live in areas that lack resources and volunteer support yet have the greatest need for quality programming. SGSC delivers proven curriculum. Our programs supplement resources girls may lack in school to help them develop critical thinking skills and to Discover, Connect and Take Action. SGSC was founded in 1935.

The goals of Sahuaro Girl Scout Council, Inc. (SGSC) are to serve girls ages 5 to 17 through a wide range of contemporary programs that reflect the unique needs and interests of girls living in Southern Arizona; to provide preventative strategies that help girls succeed in school and life; to empower girls to reach their full potential; to give girls a voice in the community and their own lives; to provide access to programs to girls in need; to support a diverse adult leadership; to develop effective community collaborations; and to remain fiscally sound to ensure that Girl Scouting is available to girls long into the future.

Girl Scouts value diversity and inclusiveness and therefore do not discriminate on any basis. Forty-five percent (45%) of SGSC Girl Scouts are non-white and many Girl Scouts come from economically disadvantaged households.

Explanation of Activities

Through structured supervised weekly activities and special events Girl Scouting helps cultivate values, social conscience and self-esteem in girls while enriching them with valuable and positive life experiences. Girl Scouting is not a cookie cutter program. We build capacity in girls by tailoring their Girl Scout experience to meet their individual needs and interests. All programs are girl-led and involve cooperative learning and experiential learning based on a shared model of leadership. Depending on their needs and areas of interest girl participate in proven Girl Scout curriculum that include literacy programs; science, math, engineering and technology (STEM) programs that inspire girls to embrace the sciences; physical fitness, nutrition and obesity prevention programs; environmental awareness and financial literacy which help break the cycle of poverty by teaching girls important lessons about earning, spending, saving and investing.

Pathways to participation include: volunteer led traditional troop activities; LeaderCorps led troops for underserved, low income girls living in challenged communities; Juliette Girl Scouts work independently with mentors; Campers for girls who want to participate in our outdoor education and camping programs; and Episodic scouting which focus on special interest projects.

Our Mission

Girl Scouting builds girls
of courage, confidence and character,
who make the world a better place.

Membership

Sahuaro Girl Scout Council serves more than 13,000 girls and over 3,000 adult volunteers. Girl Scouts, girls ages five to 17 years, are divided into different age levels:

Girl Scout Levels by Grade:

• Daisy Girl Scouts grades K-1
• Brownie Girl Scouts, grades 2-3
• Junior Girl Scouts, grades 4-5
• Cadette Girl Scouts 6-8
• Senior Girl Scouts 9-10
• Ambassador Girl Scouts 11-12

One in every eleven girls in Southern Arizona is served by Girl Scouting.

Sahuaro Girl Scout Council Board of Directors 2009-2010

Executive Committee

*Bill Holmes, Chair
*Betsy Green, 1st Vice Chair
*Thomas Sayler-Brown, 2nd Vice Chair
*Mary Cochran Wolk, Secretary
*Georgia Hale, Treasurer

Members-at-Large

Frank Camp
Chris Elliott
Cheryl Horvath
Catherine Locke
Karen Mathey
Tamara McKinney
Cassandra Meynard
Dan Montoya
*Cindy Petti
*Cindy Regens
Pat Sturmon
Pamela Traficanti

 

Our Charter

Serving Southern Arizona

Sahuaro Girl Scout Council is one of more than 100 councils chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA for the purpose of bringing the Girl Scout program to all girls ages five through 17 years. Sahuaro Girl Scout Council serves all of Pima, Cochise, Greenlee, Yuma and Santa Cruz Counties, and southern parts of Graham, Maricopa and Pinal Counties. (Redistricting in 2006 moved Yuma to our Council and Gila to Arizona Cactus-Pine.)

Financial Sources

We Support Ourselves

The council is supported by:

• Annual cookie program proceeds

• Program fees

Contributors Who Care About Girls

We are also supported by contributions from:

• Individuals in the community
• Parents of the girls we serve
• Businesses and Corporations
• United Fund of Globe-Miami, Inc.
• Combined Federal Campaign
• Grant Funds

Your help is greatly appreciated, and is tax deductible. Click here to learn how you can give a gift to Sahuaro Girl Scout Council.

Organization

Working together to build the future

The Board of Directors, composed of outstanding community volunteer leaders, governs the corporate and business affairs of the council. Susan C. Villarreal is Chair of the Board. The chief executive officer is the chief administrator and is responsible to the board of directors for the council's day-to-day management. Debbie Rich is the CEO.

Properties

Corporate Headquarters

The council's corporate headquarters and service center are located at 4300 East Broadway Blvd., Tucson, Arizona 85711. A full-service resource center, including a retail sales shop, opened at the same location in 1995.

Program Centers

Whispering Pines Program Center, located on Mt. Lemmon in the Coronado National Forest, is where many Girl Scouts attend year-round outdoor activities.

The Hacienda Program Center on Sabino Canyon Road in Tucson serves girls and adults with educational outdoor and environmental activities.

Both Whispering Pines and Hacienda properties as well as the Resource Center Conference Room, are available for group rentals by non-Girl Scout organizations. See Facility Rentals for more information.