GSEOK and Global Sisterhood

Every three years, Girl Scouts from across the country and around the world have the opportunity to come together for the Girl Scout National Convention. In 2026, that gathering took place in Washington, D.C., where thousands of Girl Scouts, volunteers, families, alumnae and supporters gathered at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center for Girl Scouts Unite, a three-day celebration held July 23–25.

The event centered on the theme “Girls Make History” and celebrated the leadership, ideas and accomplishments of girls and women. from interactive workshops and hands-on activities to inspiring speakers, live performances and opportunities to connect with other Girl Scouts. More than 100 booths and activities filled the Hall of Experiences, while special events celebrated milestones and the impact Girl Scouts have made in their communities and beyond. The convention followed the 58th National Council Session, where delegates from across the Girl Scout Movement gathered to discuss issues, vote on proposals and help shape the future of Girl Scouts.

For Ruby and Courtney, who attended representing Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma, the most important part of Girl Scouts Unite wasn't simply being part of a large convention. It was the opportunity to meet people from different countries, hear their perspectives and discover how much they had in common.

Ruby was initially drawn to the experience because it sounded like “an awesome experience to go and meet girls from across the world.” One of the highlights of the trip was a visit to the Council on Foreign Relations, where participants took part in a mock advisory board focused on increasing women's representation in politics. Ruby served as one of the two presidents of her group and found herself learning not only about leadership, but about how governments work in other countries.

“I learned so much, especially from the girls from the different countries,” Ruby said. “It is so interesting to learn about how their governments work.”

Courtney also found the Council on Foreign Relations experience memorable because it gave her a firsthand look at efforts to increase women's representation in the U.S. government. Experiences like this helped both girls see leadership and public service in a new way.

The girls also discovered that some of the most meaningful lessons happened during informal moments. Courtney enjoyed sharing and learning dances from different cultures, while Ruby remembers an art breakout session where girls crafted together while talking and getting to know one another. At a national commissioner dinner, Ruby and her friends even turned the sticks from their many fruit kebabs into a small statue—a silly moment that became one of her favorite memories.

Those experiences reinforced a powerful lesson: despite living in different countries and having different cultures and government systems, girls can find common ground.

“My biggest takeaway is that we are all just girls who might live somewhere different but are still able to relate and make friends with,” Ruby said.

For Courtney, being a global citizen means learning from other people's perspectives in order to better understand one another and “create the best world possible.” She said the summit broadened her perspective because she was learning about different countries directly from people who live there, rather than only learning about them in school.

The experience also changed the way both girls see their futures. Ruby came away with a greater interest in government and a new confidence that a career in the field could be within reach. Seeing strong women working in government, business and other leadership positions gave her new role models and showed her that she could pursue those paths, too.

For Courtney, the experience sparked an interest in environmental science. She hopes to help make the global environment a better place for the friends she made around the world.

Ultimately, Girl Scouts Unite showed Ruby and Courtney that being a Girl Scout means being part of a sisterhood that reaches far beyond Oklahoma—or even the United States. They returned home with new friendships, broader perspectives and a stronger belief in their own ability to lead.

“This has been one of the best Girl Scout trips I have been on,” Ruby said. “It is just so cool to be in a room full of all strong girls and women. It is definitely so empowering.”