Connect with Girl Scouts Across the Country!

U.S. Girl Scout Pen Pal Network

Connect with Girl Scouts across the country!

What is a pen pal?A pen pal is a friend you get to know through letters. She usually lives in another state (or country) and will write about her hometown, school, family, pets, customs and traditions, special interests or talents. Pen pals share things like games, recipes or photos.

The national pen pal network connects troops/groups of all levels with girls across the country to form lasting friendships.

Who can participate? If your troop/group is from Girl Scouts of West Central Florida Council, click here for the Pen Pal Request Form. Form link:

If your troop/group is from another Girl Scout Council, please contact the Pen Pal Coordinator at your council. In order to ensure girls’ safety, West Central Florida Council will only match girls from other councils who have come through their council’s Pen Pal Coordinator.

How to get started:

Girls decide that they would like to become pen pals and choose the areas of the country they would like pen pals from.

Leader/Advisor submits the U.S. Girl Scout Pen Pal Network form to the Council Pen Pal Coordinator.

The Pen Pal Coordinator will contact Pen Pal Coordinators in the areas of the country selected to find a troop/group that best matches the request.

Leader/Advisor will receive a confirmation letter with contact information of the troop/group they have been paired up with.

Leaders/Advisors may determine the best way for the girls to communicate (individual letters, email, etc.) – each Pen Pal match will work differently.

If you have written to your pen pal match and have not heard anything in six weeks, please contact the Pen Pal Coordinator. This is important, as we will follow-up with troops that are not connecting.

Check the price of postage. A visit to the Post Office may be part of the learning experience.

What to include in your first letters/emails:

Name, age and grade in school

Something about where you live

Something about your family

Something about your pets

What school you attend

Favorite subject(s) in school

Favorite foods, colors, music groups, etc.

Your special holidays

Share fun things about your troop/group

Ask questions – what you do you want to know about your pen pal?

Sometimes it’s hard to write to someone you don’t know. Start talking about what you want to say with a buddy in the troop. Then turn the conversation into a letter or email to your pen pal. You may want to send a troop/group photograph (check if this is okay with your troop leader and parents first).

You may want to visit the library or internet to learn more about your Pen Pal’s town/state.

TROOP/GROUP PEN PAL LINK REQUEST FORM

U.S. GIRL SCOUT PEN PAL NETWORK 2014-2015

For Girl Scouts – Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior & Ambassador Troup/Groups

Pen pals are available throughout the country. It is an opportunity to learn about Girl Scouting in other areas, share stories about your interests, school, Girl Scout troop/group and family. Girls should not plan to use pen pals just to complete badge or bridging activities or to provide input for a Thinking Day activity or project. Use this form (to be completed by Girl Scout leader/advisor) to request pen pals. The more flexible you are on location of potential pen pals, the easier it will be to find a match. Please be patient – keep in mind that it takes time and effort to establish a pen pal link, but when it happens, it is worth it! Many Girl Scouts keep their pen pals for years, even into adulthood! Keep in mind that the councils in Hawaii and Alaska receive numerous pen pal requests from the 50 states every day!

If your troop is not from Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, please contact the pen pal coordinator at your local Girl Scout council. In order to ensure girls’ safety, Girl Scouts of West Central Florida will only match pen pals that have been requested through council pen pal coordinators.

Troop/Group Leader/Advisor’s Name:______

Daytime Telephone #:______Evening Telephone #:______

Email Address:______

Troop/Group #:______Community:______Grade in School:______

Number of Girls in Girl Scout Troop/Group:______Grade Level: B J C S A

Troop/Group Leader/Advisor’s Address:______

(If a multi-level troop please list number of girls in each next to grade level)

Area of the Country (Please mark 1st, 2nd & 3rd choice)

Please send this form to:

Pen Pal Coordinator

Girl Scouts of West Central Florida

4610 Eisenhower Blvd.

Tampa, FL 33634

Fax: (813) 282-8285

Rev. June 2014