Girl Scouts Welcome Hundreds to Decatur Kickoff Event

October 21, 2025

Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta kicked off the new year this past weekend with a welcome event hosted at Agnes Scott College. Around 500 members and potential members from the metro area turned out to get a first glimpse of new badges, plan for fall family camping, and sample dozens of activities from community business partners.

Many girls were learning about the 113-year-old leadership organization for the first time. Others were returning Girl Scouts eager to see what was in store for the new year.

“Girls aren’t limited to just one activity in Girl Scouting,” said Leslie Gilliam, Communications Director of Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta. “There are hundreds of interests to explore, from learning to ride horses to building robots or writing for our girl-led magazine. And many of Atlanta’s top attractions offer exclusive Girl Scout behind-the-scenes opportunities and savings. There’s something for everyone.”

Coming in 2025/2026:

Body Acceptance Badges.These new badges are available for every Girl Scout grade level and encourage caring for themselves while celebrating what their bodies do. This comes at a time when struggles with body image begin as early as age 5, with almost 80% of 17-year-old girls reporting anxiety about their bodies*.
Sports and Physical Activities. New community partners mean new ways to get active, from Irish Dancing to field hockey to golf, one of the fastest-growing outdoor activities for girls.
Family Camping. Girls, their siblings, and caregivers can make memories at special family camp sessions this fall. Activities include horseback riding, archery, leatherworking, and outdoor cooking, as well as s’mores.
Financial Aid. Support is available to ensure that girls, regardless of their financial means, can participate. Financial aid may cover camping scholarships, membership dues, and event tickets.
New Cookie. It wouldn’t be Girl Scouts without a sneak preview of the new cookie coming in January. The Girl Scout Exploremores will debut on January 1st. For the first time, the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta are offering the public an opportunity to win a year's supply of cookies, with no purchase necessary, by texting the word "Cookies" to (770) 470-2625—more details are available at ShowMeTheCookies.com.

Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta serves more than 23,000 girls from 34 metro Atlanta counties.