When life gets busy, Girl Scout meetings aren’t always easy to fit in. But that doesn’t mean the Girl Scout experience has to stop. For girls who want flexibility without losing the fun, leadership, and adventure, becoming an Independently Registered Member, better known as a Juliette, can be the perfect fit.
We spoke with two Juliettes, Alex from Perry County and Olivia from Susquehanna County, along with their moms, to learn how this path lets their daughters craft a Girl Scout experience that matches their passions, schedules, and family lifestyles.
Q: Can you still have a full Girl Scout experience as a Juliette?
A: Absolutely!
Olivia didn’t hesitate.
“I’ve done a bunch of Journeys, went to the State Capitol, and one of my favorite things is choosing the badges I want to do instead of compromising with everyone,” she said.
Alex, a Cadette, has built her Girl Scout story in unforgettable ways. When her troop canceled a long-planned trip to Savannah, Alex and her family went on their own, visiting the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low.
“I bridged to Cadettes while completing the sunrise hike up Cadillac Mountain in Maine,” Alex said. She also attended Winter Survival Camp as a Juliette, completed several badge workshops through our council, and recently earned a Highest Award.
Q: Why should girls consider becoming Juliettes?
A: It’s Girl Scouts on your schedule, tailored to your interests.
Alex has been a Girl Scout for eight years and was in a traditional troop from Daisies through Juniors. When her interests began to vary from what the girls in her troop wanted to do, she didn’t want to quit Girl Scouts altogether. Becoming a Juliette was the perfect solution.
“Girl Scouting, whether in a troop or as a Juliette is a lot of fun,” Alex said. “However if you want a more individualized approach or have a super involved family that also loves to travel, camp, and experience new things like mine does, then I would encourage you to try Juliette.”
In Olivia’s case, her mom had been her troop leader since 2013, but gave up that role to focus on running a small business. Olivia transitioned to Juliettes in 2021.
“Being a Juliette is a huge opportunity where you can do things that interest you and at your own speed, all while earning awards and badges,” she said.
Q: What’s the biggest misconception about Juliettes?
A: That they’re less involved, when the opposite is true.
“As a Juliette, you have the opportunity to participate in ways that you wouldn’t otherwise,” said Laura, Olivia’s mom. “You can make family trips part of a badge-earning process. You can earn fun patches and include your whole family, and you have the option to tailor your Girl Scout journey to your Girl Scouts’ specific interests.”
Juliettes can do it all: Fall Product and Cookies, international travel, camp, earn Go! Dough, become Lifetime members of Girl Scouts, earn Highest Awards, and make lasting friendships.
Juliettes can participate in Service Unit activities, events that GSHPA offers, and with a troop if they invite you.
Amber, Alex’s mom, emphasized that Juliettes don’t miss out on the traditional side either. including operating a cookie booth.
“I think some of the biggest misconceptions are that you are not able to participate in all the things that a troop can when really you can participate in more and with other councils,” Amber said.
Q: Why does being a Juliette work for your family?
A: Every Juliette story is different, and that’s a beauty of it.
“Being a Juliette works best for our family because we love hiking, camping, and travel,” Amber said. “Even when we find a cool badge event, we try to find something fun to do family wise in the area of the badge event.”
For Laura, Juliettes provided a way for the hands-on mom to stay connected to her daughter’s Girl Scout journey.
“When GSHPA has events that she is interested in, like the Democracy Badge and a tour of the State Capitol, we were able to do it together,” Laura shared.
Q: What would you tell other parents about the Juliette experience?
A: It’s a flexible, meaningful way to stay in Girl Scouts.
“Juliettes is a great option when you still want your daughter to have the rewarding experience of Girl Scouts (but) you may be limited on time,” Laura said. “Give it a try, and you may realize you enjoy Girl Scouts as much as your daughter does.”