Girl Scouts of West Central Florida

Our Mission

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.

Our Local Council

Girl Scouts of West Central Florida serves more than 20,500 members across eight counties: Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sumter.

Our History

Our extraordinary journey began more than 100 years ago with our founder, Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Low, who believed in girls’ ability to empower themselves and make a difference in their communities. She organized the first Girl Scout troop on March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Georgia.

Just one year after Girl Scouts of the USA was founded in 1912, the second troop in the nation found its roots right here in our council, at Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa. It all started when Juliette reached out to her close friend Jessamine Flowers Link, who too was a fearless blazer of trails. Jessamine led Tampa’s first troop of nine girls to earn badges, go camping, and help others—just as Girl Scouts do today!

Girl Scouts Today

Today, as yesterday, we continue the Girl Scout mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. We’re the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. With programs for girls from coast to coast and across the globe, Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to do something extraordinary.

Girl Scouts of West Central Florida (GSWCF) serves and empowers girls through programs that inspire them to develop courage, confidence, and character. By offering hands-on, girl-led, and cooperative learning experiences, GSWCF fosters leadership, personal growth, and a commitment to community impact.

Girls engage in leadership opportunities, earn skill-building badges, and participate in meaningful community service through our four core program pillars: STEM, Life Skills, Outdoor Education & Adventure, and Entrepreneurship. These experiences are delivered through the troop model, as well as through camping, travel, high awards, and a variety of enriching program activities—all designed to help girls become tomorrows community leaders.

Volunteers are a core part of what we do. A majority of our troops are run by volunteer troop leaders and volunteers also serve our organization through many other avenues including administrative volunteers, volunteer trainers, volunteering at events, on committees, council teams, and more!