Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
Our Commitment
Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital is committed to building and maintaining an inclusive community that respects and supports all our members. We value the diverse backgrounds and qualities of each youth and adult member – including race; ethnicity; national origin; culture; gender identity and expression; sexual orientation; socio-economic status; age; physical, intellectual, and emotional abilities; and religious and political beliefs – so that all members feel they belong. We strive to provide everyone with the opportunity to participate fully in the Girl Scout program and contribute to the Girl Scout community.
We do not have all the answers but pledge to work toward these goals as advocates and allies. We seek to address barriers that impede our members from reaching their highest potential.
Our mission is to help Girl Scouts become leaders with the courage, compassion, and confidence needed to build a more just community. We continue to commit ourselves to the values put forth in the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
This is who we are, and this is our promise to you.
Diversity 
Equity
Inclusion
Accessibility
Creating a Culture of Belonging
When girls feel they truly belong, they are more confident, more likely to lead, and more empowered to make change in their communities. A culture of belonging doesn’t happen by chance—it’s built through intentional DEIA efforts every day.
Who can Join Girl Scouts Nation's Capital?
What all members share is the Girl Scout Promise and Law, as well as our extraordinary strengths as go-getters, innovators, risk-takers, and leaders. Any girl—from kindergarten through 12th grade—can join Girl Scouts. Additionally, if a family with a child of any other gender identity and expression (other than cisgender males*) feels that Girl Scouting is the right community for them, they are welcome.
Our Council is as diverse as the communities we serve. There's no specific volunteer mold–our Girl Scout volunteers, staff, and board members come from various backgrounds and ages. Whether you’re a recent college grad, a parent, a retiree, or really, anyone with a sense of curiosity and adventure (all genders, who have passed the necessary background screening process), your unique skills and experiences help make Girl Scouting a powerful leadership experience for our youth.
*Cisgender: A person whose gender identity corresponds to their sex assigned at birth.
Increasing Equity Throughout our Program
Our goal is to make sure every girl has the opportunity to be a Girl Scout. We help make the Girl Scout experience equitable through:
Reducing economic barriers (no changes to this page)
Finding ways to eliminate the barriers to participation that geography can create
GSCNC is an Anti-Racist Organization
The Girl Scout movement has always been one that stood for inclusivity; however, it is not lost on us that, unfortunately, this is not the experience of every Girl Scout. Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital continues to strive to be a pillar for all youth and adult members, and especially for our communities of color.
Racism and prejudice have no place in our organization, our communities, and our world, and we stand in solidarity with communities of color throughout the world, the nation, and within our Council.
In the summer of 2023 at the 56th National Council Session, delegates representing councils from across the country voted to pass the DEIRJ language proposal that will insert the word “anti-racism” into the Preamble of the Girl Scouts Constitution, codifying our guiding principle to be an inclusive, anti-racist organization where all members feel welcome, respected, and empowered.
Making the world a better place is the highest principle of Girl Scouts, and as the premier organization dedicated to developing and modeling true leadership, now is the time for us to measure up to that principle for all the communities we serve.
Resources
Books & Short Video Stories
Our History of Inclusion
At Nation's Capital, we are proud of our tradition of including diverse members within our community.
LEARN MORELand Acknowledgment Statement
We acknowledge Girl Scouts of Nation’s Capital operates on the traditional and ancestral territory of the Nacotchtank (Anacostan), Piscataway, and Pamunkey peoples. These Indigenous Nations have stewarded this land for generations and continue to contribute to the vibrant communities here today.
As Girl Scouts, we commit to respecting Indigenous sovereignty, listening deeply to their stories, and supporting justice and equity for Native peoples. We recognize this acknowledgment as a step toward building stronger relationships rooted in respect, learning, and belonging.
We encourage you to continue learning about Indigenous peoples’ histories, culture, and contributions. Below, you’ll find resources and learning opportunities that can be first steps in becoming educated and engaged with organizations that advocate for Indigenous peoples.
Learn More About Local Indigenous Communities
Creating Culturally-Responsive Opportunities for Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital is working to create fun, flexible program opportunities that reflect the needs and voices of youth members across diverse communities. We have unique council patch programs like African Americans in Congress and CHICAS: Discovering Hispanic Heritage.
Multicultural Community Celebrations Patch
GSUSA created a Multicultural Community Celebrations Patch Program for Girl Scouts of all levels.
There are plenty of activities to choose from to earn each segment of this fun patch for:
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Hispanic Heritage Month
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Native American Heritage Month
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Black History Month
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Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month
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Pride Month
GSCNC is Committed to Being a Safe Space for LGBTQIA+ Youth
We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment for LGBTQIA+ youth and their families. We allow youth to join our program if they feel that this environment supports their gender identity and expression. Staff and volunteers are given additional training to help them best support LGBTQIA+ youth in our community.
Girl Scouts is about sharing the fun, friendship, and the inherent power of girls and women in an inclusive, supportive, girl-led environment.
What all members share is the Girl Scout Promise and Law, as well as our extraordinary strengths as go-getters, innovators, risk-takers, and leaders. Any girl—from kindergarten through 12th grade—can join Girl Scouts. Additionally, if a family with a child of any other gender identity and expression (other than cisgender males*) feels that Girl Scouting is the right community for them, they are welcome.
Our Council is as diverse as the communities we serve. There's no specific volunteer mold–our Girl Scout volunteers, staff, and board members come from various backgrounds and ages. Whether you’re a recent college grad, a parent, a retiree, or really, anyone with a sense of curiosity and adventure (all genders, who have passed the necessary background screening process), your unique skills and experiences help make Girl Scouting a powerful leadership experience for our youth.
Do I have to use Girl Scout’s pronouns?
How do I respond to or support parents or volunteers who argue or
question the policy?
Do I have to provide separate bathrooms/dressing rooms/showers for
trans+ and gender non-conforming Girl Scouts?
For overnight events, where should everyone sleep?
I don’t feel equipped to navigate gender issues. What can I do?
What if volunteers or employees identify as queer, trans+, or gender
non-conforming?
What are "pronouns"?
How can I be better with pronouns?
Accessibility and Disabilities
From camps to programs, Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital is dedicated to providing services to youth of all abilities. If a member of your group requires special assistance, please email to make arrangements. Reasonable accommodations will always be provided when feasible.
We celebrate, welcome, and affirm people living with disabilities and/or neurodivergence (such as people with learning differences, autism, or mental health factors). We strive to make our programs accessible for families with disabilities and/or neurodivergence. Reasonable accommodations will always be provided when feasible. Troop leaders must be thoughtful to meet each child’s needs without excluding or stigmatizing anyone for their differences.
