The Bryan County Girl Scouts chapter plans to “power up” girls attending Caddo schools this coming spring semester.

The curriculum, titled “Powered Up,” is “aimed at creating an environment where girls and adults are in partnership to eliminate bullying behavior,” according to a press release.

The eight-week program uses learning activities, role playing and school examples and includes a one-hour lesson each week.

According to a press release, “Powered Up” teaches girls how to “recognize bullying and effectively intervene when they see it.”

The program includes a service-learning component, where students identify places in their schools that are safe and places where bullying is likely to happen, the press release stated. Also, adults in the schools are encouraged to learn about what’s going on in their building and offer solutions.

According to the press release, “Students can take on a strong role to advocate for their peers and partner with adults to make their school a safer place — physically and emotionally — where respect and positive relationships can drive learning.”

Nikki Wolf, membership executive for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma, said the program will be solely funded by the United Way. The Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma serves a 30-county area, including the Magnolia Service Unit in Bryan County.

“We are very excited that United Way has given us the opportunity to move forward with this,” Wolf said about the program.

She said the “Powered Up” curriculum has been taught to other school districts, including Tulsa, McAlester and Muskogee.

The program’s motto is “Doing nothing is not an option,” Wolf said.

She said students often don’t know how to handle a situation where someone is being bullied. The goal of “Powered Up” is to empower girls to step up against bullying.

The Girl Scouts hope to implement “Powered Up” at Caddo in January 2010, Wolf said.

The program has not been officially approved by Caddo schools, but Caddo Elementary Principal Brian Walker said school administration is very interested in “Powered Up.”

The program would be provided at no cost to the Caddo school or the girls attending, Wolf said.

Fifth and sixth graders would be eligible to attend the Caddo program, she said, adding that letters would be sent home with eligible students for parents’ approval.

Wolf hopes 40 to 50 girls at Caddo will attend “Powered Up” if it is implemented. Also, she would like to go beyond Caddo and offer it in other schools, such as Durant.

Girl Scouts is a volunteer-based organization and they are currently looking for local volunteers. The organization provides training, she said.

The “Powered Up” program will be led by Girl Scouts staff and local volunteers, Wolf said. Approximately 95 girls are in Bryan County’s Girl Scouts.

For more information about the Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma, visit www.gseok.org.