MEXICO — Girl Scouts of Maine will hold a week-long “Be a Friend First” Series. All girls entering fifth through eighth grade in the River Valley area are invited to participate. The series will be held the first week in August from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Mexico area.

With incidents of bullying reaching almost epidemic proportions and, in some cases, ending in tragedy, the Girl Scouts of the USA is launching an innovative, national anti-bullying experience for middle school girls.

BFF (Be a Friend First), a name selected by girls, is based on Girl Scouts of the USA national leadership curriculum aMAZE! and sets itself apart from other anti-bullying efforts in five key ways:

1. BFF helps prevent bully behavior before it happens. Rather than addressing or punishing bullying behavior after it happens, BFF gives girls the social and leadership skills necessary to prevent it in the first place.

2. BFF was created with girls in mind. While boys tend to use physical aggression when they bully, girls are more likely to engage in relationally aggressive behavior: teasing, forming cliques, excluding others and using social media in negative ways, such as spreading rumors.

3. Girls shaped the BFF experience. GSUSA listened to girls who said they seek a place where they can openly share their feelings. BFF provides a safe, all-girls environment where girls interact through skill-building games, creative exercises and role-playing activities, led by trained community and school volunteers. Girls learn how to resolve conflict, deal with peer pressure and understand the pitfalls of stereotyping.

4. BFF helps girls “lead with friendship.” This means that girls define and strengthen qualities that contribute to a healthy relationship, and develop the leadership skills to stand up for their peers and themselves, or disarm a bully when a situation arises.

5. Girls become peacemakers and impact change. BFF inspires girls to develop a project to educate and lead others in their schools and communities to prevent bully behavior.

Research shows that bully behavior peaks in middle school when social acceptance is also becoming increasingly important. Middle school girls need the support, information and strategies to help navigate relationships and to know that they are not alone when confronted with bully behavior.

“We know that a girl’s relationships with her peers are critical components of her well-being and ability to succeed in school and throughout her life,” said Andrea Bastiani Archibald, Ph.D., developmental psychologist for the Girl Scouts. “According to our research, about one-third of all girls worry about being teased, bullied, threatened or having their feelings hurt when spending time with their classmates. BFF helps girls develop relationship skills when they need them most. And it gives girls the space and time to come together and practice these skills — girls told us they want this.

“Girls also told us they want to lead the positive change for their schools and communities. They will have the opportunity to consider what they have learned and develop a project to educate and inspire others to Be a Friend First and prevent bully behavior.”

Registration deadline is July 29. Cost for the week-long series is $2 per girl. To register or for more information, contact Jeanie Duguay at 364-3639 or email jduguay@gsmaine.org.

For more information on how to join as a girl member or adult volunteer, call 1-888-922-4763 or visit www.girlscoutsofmaine.org.

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