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Girl Scout Council # 105 covers roughly the same area as the Connecticut Yankee Council (BSA), but includes Greenwich.  It may be contacted at:

There are many opportunities for Jewish Girl Scouts to enhance their Scouting experience as individuals or part of a group.  The National Girl Scout Council prohibits any religious activity during regular meetings of heterogenous Troops.  However, a supplementary "Interest Group" may be created for Jewish Girls.  The CYC-JCoS has created this web page to assist anyone interested in establishing a Jewish-oriented "Interest Group" for Girl Scouts.  Many of the resources you will need are listed below.

JGSIGs participants may include Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior, and Adult Girl Scout members, either affiliated with troops or registered as individual girl members (IGMs).  Meetings may consist of scheduled programs and activities of interest to Jewish Girl Scouts, such as discussions about Jewish life and its relevance to Girl Scouts, demonstrations and/or hands-on sessions on Jewish arts and crafts, cuisine, music or Israeli dance, Jewish Holy Day and Festival get-togethers, field trips related to Jewish culture, Girl Scout Shabbat services, Jewish female role models as guest speakers, and brief updates on the progress of Jewish Girl Scouts in earning NJGSC religious recognition awards.

Goals

1. To inspire Girl Scouts who are Jewish to become more educated about their faith, as encouraged by GSUSA and the National Jewish Girl Scout Committee (NJGSC).
2. To promote the NJGSC's religious recognition awards and to assist interested Girl Scouts in earning them.  A Girl Scout does not have to pursue an award in order to participate in JGSIG activities.
3. To assist the Girl Scout Council of SouthWestern Connecticut in registering and involving girls in the Jewish Community by educating Jewish parents, Rabbis, and Jewish religious school teachers about the many benefits and advantages of Girl Scout membership.
4. To create awareness and understanding throughout the Girl Scout Council of SouthWestern Connecticut by educating all troop leaders and Girl Scouts, regardless of faith, about religious observances and customs of Jewish Girls in their troops.
5. To create a sense of community among Jewish Girl Scouts of all ages thereby encouraging them to renew their annual membership.

The local field member for the National Jewish Girl Scout Committee (NJGSC) coordinates all JGSIG activities.  JGSIG meetings are open to all interested Girl Scouts and leaders, regardless of faith.  Meetings consist of scheduled programs and activities, such as:

1. Discussions about Jewish life and its relevance to Girl Scouts
2. Demonstrations and/or hands-on sessions on Jewish arts and crafts, cuisine, music or Israeli dance
3. Jewish Holy Day and Festival get-togethers
4. Field trips related to Jewish culture
5. Girl Scout Shabbat services
6. Jewish female role models as guest speakers
7. Brief updates on the progress of Jewish Girl Scouts in earning NJGSC religious recognition awards

The JGSIG usually has no regular dues, therefore some meetings may involve a small fee to cover costs, such as supplies and admissions. Parents and adult Girl Scouts are needed to suggest and assist with group activities throughout the year.

The JGSIG usually meets at least once monthly during the school year. Additional meetings are scheduled as interest dictates (Sunday afternoons have proven convienent). The date and location of meetings vary, depending on the activity and the Jewish calendar.

The National Jewish Girl Scout Committee works in cooperation with GSUSA to promote the Jewish Girl Scout award programs in Girl Scout Councils.  Jewish Girl Scouts complete work toward an award under the guidance of a Rabbi, a religious school teacher, or a knowledgable layperson. The awards are:

• Lehavah Award for Brownie Girl Scouts (ages 6-8): Lehavah means flame. While working toward the Lehavah Award, the Brownie Girl Scout will learn about herself, her family and her religion.
• Bat Or Award for Junior Girl Scouts (ages 8-11): Bat Or means daughter of light. The Junior Girl Scout will learn about Jewish holidays and festivals, the Torah, the synagogue, Israel and how history and heritage relate to Girl Scouting.

• Menorah Award for Cadette Girl Scouts (ages 11-15): The Menorah Award pin shows a seven-branched candelabrum (menorah) superimposed on a Star of David. The Cadette Girl Scout will complete meaningful activities which increase her knowledge and experience within the context of Jewish living. The topics of interest are: Ethics, Heritage, the Calendar, Israel, the Arts and Women.
• Or Emunah Award for Senior Girl Scouts (ages 15-17): The Hebrew phrase "Or Emunah" means Light of Faith. This program is value centered. The activities are meaningful and will increase knowledge and experience within the context of Jewish living. Learning sheds light on one's heritage and brings understanding to one's life. When she has completed this award, the Jewish Senior Girl Scout will have developed a deeper understanding and greater appreciation of Judaism.

Program workbooks for each level may be ordered by mail directly from The National Jewish Girl Scout Committee.

• Jewish Girl Scout Interest Group, Colorado Springs, Colorado
  
• Interest Group 8909, San Diego, California
  
• Girl Scout Troop 1205, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  

Jewish Girl Scout Resources

• National Jewish Girl Scout Committee (NJGSC)
  
• Other resources from the NJGSC
  
• Guidelines for Camping With Observant Jewish Girl Scouts
  
• Learn the Dreidel Game and earn a Patch
  
• Each year, the JGSC of Chaparrell Girl Scout Council sponsors a Heritage Day for local Jewish Girl Scouts to work on their religious awards.
  

Jewish Links

• Famous Jewish Women
  
• Learn about Anne Frank
  
• Jewish History Sourcebook
  
• Send a Jewish eCard
  
• Jewish Family Magazine
  
• Jewish Source Catalog check out the holiday gear!
  
• Devorah's Judaic Graphics and Letters
  
• Guide to Jewish Youth Groups
  
• North-East Region USY/Kadima
  
• New England Branch Women's League for Conservative Judaism
  
• Ramah Summer Camp
  

Jewish Field Trips

• Visit Ellis Island - Did your ancestors come to America through here?
  
• Many Jewish immigrants lived in the Lower East Side of New York City.
  
• Immigrant Trails/Walking Tours
  
• Jewish Museum
  
• Museum of Jewish Heritage (Holocaust)
  
• Israeli Embasy in New York City
  
• Jewish Theological Seminary, call for tour info
  

Girl Scout Links

• Scouting links, Resource Center
  
• Former Chris Welch GSRC Site
  
• Troop 24's Other Troops and Council Home Pages
  
• Just for Brownies
  
• OLD Girl Scouts of the USA web site
  
• NEW Girl Scouts of the USA web site
  
• Esther Heller's Girl Scouting Page
  
• Directory of Girl Scout Troop sites
  
• Send a Girl Scout eCard
  
• Graphmaster Girl Scout Graphics
  
• World Association of Girl Scouts and Girl Guides
  
• American Girls Club
  

Connecticut Service Units & Troops

• Ridgefield Service Unit, Ridgefield
  
• Great Oak Service Unit, Ledyard
  
• New Britain Service Unit, New Britain
  
• Junior Troop 281, West Haven (inactive link)
• Junior Group 358/711, Bethel
  
• Junior Troop 359, Stamford (no web site)
  
• Brownie/Junior Troop 421
  
• Brownie Troop 473, West Hartford
  
• Troop 597, Ridgefield
  
• Troop 2835, Guilford
  
• Junior Troop 2896, Middletown
  
• Junior Troop 3077, Ledyard
  
• Junior Troop 3414, Waterford
  
• Junior Troop 4574, Naugatuck
  
• Brownie/Junior Troop 5120, Brooklyn
  
• Brownie Troop 6371, Avon (inactive link)
  

Discussion Groups

• Yahoo Club for Jewish Girl Scouts
  
• Scoutlink's List of Fourms (Chat Boards)
  
• Scoutlink's Mailing Lists
  
• J-Scouts Mailing List - Jewish Scouts