Here at Girl Scouts, we love social media—through Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, we can communicate with volunteers, parents, and girls, (and all those who care about them) in real time. It helps us celebrate our girls’ achievements in such a cool way and gives us a platform to join together and lift each other up when we need it most.

That said, the do’s and don’ts of social can sometimes be tricky even for seasoned adults to navigate. Add kids into the mix, and the terrain gets even more complicated. On one hand, you want to keep them safe—but on the other, you don’t want your child to be left out of their social circle when all of their friends are on Instagram, musical.ly, or Snapchat.

That’s why we’re excited to announce next week’s Facebook Live event, featuring Girl Scouts’ developmental psychologist Dr. Andrea Bastiani Archibald in conversation with Kayla Santalla, Girl Scouts’ senior digital media strategist on Wednesday, May 24th at 3:00 pm ET.

Andrea and Kayla are excited to take your questions about kids and social media both live and in advance. (You can direct-message them to us via Facebook starting today.) They’re eager to tackle topics including:

• How young is too young for social media?
• Should you check up on your kid’s account, or is that an invasion of privacy?
• What privacy settings and other tactics can you use to keep your kids safe online?
• Are there certain posts that parents shouldn’t share about their children?
• What’s the deal with screen time and kids overall? Is it really so bad? We’ll make sense of the confusing reports.

So don’t forget to RSVP and join us this Wednesday, May 24th at 3:00 pm ET. We’ll see you there!

Since its opening more than two years ago, tens of thousands of Girl Scouts and visitors from around the world have enjoyed Girls Writing the World: A Library, Reimagined, an installation at the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace in Savannah, Georgia. This week, the exhibition was awarded a National Recognition from the American Alliance of Museums for “Excellence in Exhibition” for “Creating Big Change in a Small Package.” This tremendous honor places Girl Scouts of the USA in the company of the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Getty, among other recipients this year.

What were these big changes in a small package? The library was transformed from the traditional historic house museum presentation (static and singular-sensory), with little connection to Girl Scouts or even Juliette Gordon Low, to an interactive and layered space. Visitors are encouraged to touch, listen, and see the importance of the written and spoken word as necessary tools to building girls of courage, confidence, and character. The exhibit includes different languages and learning styles, as well as a seamless intersection of art and history, resulting in a bright, creative, and thought-provoking space. Some of the first Girl Scout badges are displayed, highlighting the importance of learning different languages. iPads feature video content of a poetry recited at the White House by Rita Dove, the former Poet Laureate of the United States (and a Girl Scout!). The room’s historic furnishings are filled with a revolving collection of books by, for, and about girls and to underscore the multiple roles and contributions they’ve made at Girl Scouts and throughout history. Whether visitors are leaving their own lines of poetry under the “PoeTree,” inspired by a 1920s Girl Scout silhouette graphic; playing Scrabble in Spanish; or reading Juliette Gordon Low’s musings from her journal, there are plenty of opportunities for them to find their own voices and connect. All within the cozy heart of a library!

Today is the perfect day to encourage girls to use their science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills to make a real, positive difference in our communities and our world.

That’s because April 27 is International Girls in ICT Day (ICT = information and communication technologies), a day when Girl Scouts take the lead to explore how STEM can make the world a better place!

Since International Girls in ICT Day launched in 2014, more than 240,000 girls and young women have taken part in over 7,200 celebrations in 160 countries worldwide.

Let’s keep that going—and growing—in 2017 and beyond!

There are so many ways you can launch or enhance Girl Scout STEM activities in your community now to reap the benefits later:

1. Plan an event! Let’s get people talking, thinking, and learning more about information and communications technologies. Consider hosting hands-on workshops, career fairs, or one-on-one events with female role-models. Use your imagination, create some excitement, and watch girls’ interest in technology soar! Find more ideas and resources at www.itu.int/girlsinict.

2. Go exploring! There are super-simple ways to find teachable moments in your day-to-day life—and show girls how they can learn about STEM and have fun at the same time. You don’t need to be an expert to introduce girls to STEM, you just have to start the conversation, and she’ll learn the rest. Spark curiosity with these simple activities.

3. Get coding! Young girls are fascinated by science, but research shows that their interest declines as they reach their teens. Made with Code, a pioneering project from Google, reignites that interest in STEM through coding. When girls learn to code, they’re better able to communicate their ideas using technology, so those ideas are brought to life in bigger, brighter, and more creative ways.

On International Girls in ICT Day, let’s work to create a global environment that encourages girls and young women to consider careers in STEM fields. Because what’s good for girls is good for everyone. And the more girls become comfortable with science and technology, the more they can use those skills to forge a better world for all of us.

Let us know how you’re putting the “innovator” in G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader) ™ as you acknowledge International Girls in ICT Day. Share your story, and you could be featured on the Girl Scout Blog or in articles and videos on the Our Stories hub.

We know it, you know it, but do they realize it?

Our extraordinary volunteers are what make the adventurous Girl Scout world go round. And during April, we’re ensuring they hear how much girls and parents appreciate that.

Here are five fun ways to show your favorite volunteer your love and gratitude during National Volunteer Appreciation Month (and beyond!):

1. Make something. Who doesn’t love a handmade gift from the heart? Show the one-of-a-kind Girl Scout volunteer in your life just how much they mean to you by breaking out those arts and crafts supplies and getting creative. They’ll love it!

2. Shout ‘em out on social media. What better way to make your favorite Girl Scout volunteer feel special than to broadcast your thanks far and wide? They’re the best, and you’ll shout it loud and clear: I love my Girl Scout volunteer!

Be sure to include a line about why this volunteer (or volunteers!) is so special to you, and include the hashtag #NVW2017 to call out National Volunteer Week, which runs April 23–29.

3. Write them a love letter. Imagine their surprise when they open their mailbox and find a love letter from you. Need a little inspiration? Check out the letter Girl Scouts put together for these amazing volunteers!

4. Send an eCard. Is your Girl Scout volunteer a digital genius? Get innovative and send them a personalized eCard! It’s easy; pick your favorite G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ design, type their name, and share the card on social media or through email. Get started today!

5. Have your girl decide. Girl Scouts is girl-led, after all! The relationships between a Girl Scout and her volunteers are precious, so her thank you can be, too! Ask your girl how she would like to give back to volunteers this month. Does she want to sing a song, cook a delicious meal, or save up to buy flowers? Get those creative juices flowing, and help her take the lead!

Today is International Women’s Day, when women (and girls!) all around the planet come together to celebrate women’s accomplishments and advocate for a more inclusive, gender-equal world.

This year’s theme is “Be Bold for Change.” Count us in! Girl Scouts always work to change the world for the better!

Each year, International Women’s Day prompts discussions about and next steps for achieving gender parity. It’s a day when everyone can help women and girls achieve their ambitions, challenge bias, call for gender-balanced leadership, value the contributions of women and men equally, and create inclusive cultures. From raising awareness to taking concrete action, International Women’s Day is a global springboard to making the world a better place.

So this year, let’s take the lead like a Girl Scout and tackle some awesome projects that will help us build a better world. Where to start?

International Women’s Day is the perfect day for girls to begin earning their Global Action award (if they haven’t earned it already). Developed in partnership with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS, for short), the Global Action award is an exciting and enriching way for Girl Scouts at every level to work together to make a difference on important issues. Because it’s an official national award, Girl Scouts can wear it just like a badge on the front of their vests or sashes. So awesome!

This year, there’s a special focus on the theme “Increasing Girls’ Access to Education.” In many parts of the world, it’s difficult for girls to go to school and finish their education, whether because of poverty, lack of schools, or cultural factors. We believe every girl deserves the chance to get an education. Let’s be bold—and make it happen!

For inspiration, check out how two troops from Girl Scouts of Orange County explored girls and education and earned their Global Action award in the process.

Junior Troop 3273 members Emma, Ava, Loanne, Kayla, and Madison interviewed women about their experiences in school growing up. Whether interviewing an 80-year-old grandmother or other family friends, the girls were fascinated by how different school was “back in the day,” when school subjects were tailored specifically for boys or girls (shop for boys, homemaking for girls) and girls were not allowed, or not encouraged, to participate in sports. Not surprisingly, the girls were thankful they didn’t grow up in that era!

Girl Scout Juniors Mayanjali, Abigail, Ella, and Leyna from Troop 5300 explored education differences around the world. They interviewed troop leaders Dr. Sangeeta Gupta Bodla and Maura Marbutt, who shared their vastly different experiences attending UCLA. Interestingly, Sangeeta, who was pursuing her Ph.D., was told she “should be at home having kids” instead of getting an education, while Maura, who was studying to be a teacher, did not encounter those obstacles. The girls also discussed rural education in the United States and learned about Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate. Way to go, girls!

To learn more about how girls can raise awareness about and help solve education disparities worldwide (and earn their Global Action award), check out these guides for Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors (PDF) and for Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors (PDF).

How you are you celebrating International Women’s Day? Share your activities or plans on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, using the hashtag #BeBoldForChange and #IWD2017.

Here at Girl Scouts, we love Women’s History Month! It’s a time to celebrate the women who struggled for equality, who’ve broken barriers. To remember the women who have made discoveries and put in the hard work to make the world a better place.

This of course brings to mind the fearless and visionary women who appear in history books—women like Amelia Earhart, Madam C.J. Walker, and naturally the great Juliette Gordon Low, who founded Girl Scouts over 100 years ago. Think about it: In 1912, long before American women could vote or attend most Ivy League colleges, Juliette knew girls were natural-born leaders, and dedicated her life to helping as many girls as possible reach their potential. Join us on social media this March as we celebrate those incredible trailblazers alongside many others who’ve carved their own paths in history.

Just as importantly, though, we should be recognizing the drive and dedication of women and girls around us today—and even of ourselves! Before they were leading scientists, military leaders, journalists, athletes, politicians, artists, or writers, so many women were Girl Scouts themselves and celebrated Women’s History Month with their troops—just as you will be for the next few weeks. When you think about that, it’s easy to realize the potential that each and every one of us has to make an impact.

That’s why we’ve created an exciting project to help today’s girls learn and celebrate the history of all the incredible women in their lives—including moms, grandmothers, troop leaders, and Girl Scout volunteers. With our new printable activity, girls get to take on the role of journalist, interviewing the women they admire with exciting questions and jotting down the answers as they go.

Get your printable activity sheet now, and start the fun!