Girl Scouts of the USA facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Girl Scouts of the United States of America
The current Girl Scouts logo, introduced in 2009.
Headquarters	New York, New York
Country	United States
Coordinates	40°45′3″N 73°59′0″W / 40.75083°N 73.98333°W / 40.75083; -73.98333
Founded	March 12, 1912; 113 years ago (1912-03-12)
Founder	Juliette Gordon Low
Membership	1.7 million girl members 750,000 adults (2020)
CEO	Bonnie Barczykowski
Affiliation	World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts raising the flag at a Municipal Band concert in Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA), often called Girl Scouts, is a fun and empowering group for girls in the United States and for American girls living in other countries. It was started by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912. She met Robert Baden-Powell, who founded Scouting, a year before.

The main goal of Girl Scouts is to help girls become brave, confident, and good people. They learn to make the world a better place. Girls do this through activities like camping, helping their community, and learning useful skills such as first aid. Members can earn special badges by finishing tasks and learning new things. Older members can even earn big awards like the Girl Scout Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards. Girls are grouped by their school grade, and activities are planned for each age level. Girl Scouts is also part of a bigger group called the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).

History of Girl Scouts

How Girl Scouting Began

Juliette Gordon Low (center), with two Girl Scouts.

Girl Scouting in the U.S. started on March 12, 1912. This is when Juliette Gordon Low held the first Girl Guide meeting in Savannah, Georgia. Since then, the group has grown a lot, reaching over 3.7 million members at its peak. From the very beginning, Girl Scouts was created just for girls.

Juliette Gordon Low's grandmother wrote about her experiences on the frontier. Juliette used some of these stories to create traditions for the Girl Scouts. In 1913, the group changed its name to Girl Scouts of the United States. Its main office later moved to New York City. In 1947, it became the Girl Scouts of the United States of America.

By 1920, there were almost 70,000 members. By 1930, this number grew to over 200,000. In 2013, there were more than 3.2 million Girl Scouts. This included 2.3 million young members and 890,000 adult helpers. Over 50 million American women have been Girl Scouts!

In 1923, Girl Scouts were organized into small groups called patrols and larger groups called troops. There were also local councils and a National Council. Today, there are over 100 councils across the U.S. The Juliette Gordon Low Historic District in Savannah, Georgia, became a national Girl Scout center in 1956.

Becoming More Inclusive

San Juan, Puerto Rico Girl Scouts Troop No. 54, (Year 1945)

Many Girl Scout groups were once separated by race. This was due to state and local laws at the time. The first troop for African American girls started in 1917. The first troop for American Indian girls was in New York in 1921. A troop for Mexican Americans began in Houston, Texas, in 1922.

By the 1950s, Girl Scouts of the USA worked hard to end segregation in camps. In 1956, Murray Atkins Walls helped desegregate Camp Shantituck in Kentucky. Later that year, Martin Luther King Jr. said Girl Scouts was "a force for desegregation." In 1969, a program called Action 70 was created to help stop prejudice. In 1975, Gloria D. Scott, an African American woman, became the national president of GSUSA.

Wing Scouts Program

The Wing Scouts was a special program for older Girl Scouts who loved aviation (flying). It started in 1941 and ended in the 1970s. Wing Scouts learned about airplanes and even got to fly in them. For many girls, this was their first time on a plane! Some even got to briefly control a small aircraft. The program stopped when United Airlines had money problems in the 1970s.

Girl Scout Age Levels

Bess Truman with Girl Scouts and their leaders

Hillary Clinton posing with Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts has different age groups so activities are right for everyone. Here's how the levels have changed over time:

• In 1938, groups were Brownies (ages 7-9), Intermediates (10-13), and Seniors (14-18).
• In 1965, they became Brownies (ages 7-8, or 2nd-3rd grade), Juniors (9-11, or 4th-6th grade), Cadettes (11-14, or 7th-9th grade), and Seniors (14-18, or 10th-12th grade).
• In the early 1970s, Brownies included girls as young as six or in first grade.
• The Daisy program for kindergarten-age girls started in 1984.
• On October 1, 2008, all levels were renamed to start with "Girl Scout" (like Girl Scout Brownies). A new level, Girl Scout Ambassadors, was added for girls in grades 11 and 12.

Most girls join a troop, but you can also be an individual Girl Scout. These girls, once called Juliettes, work on badges and awards on their own. They can still join in activities.

Mariner Scouts

The Mariner Girl Scout program started in 1934. It was for older Girl Scouts who liked water activities like kayaking. This program is still around, but it's smaller now. Many girls interested in water activities now join Sea Scouting, which includes both boys and girls.

Special Programs

Girl Scouts also has programs for girls in special situations. The "Beyond Bars program" helps daughters of mothers in jail connect with them. "Girl Scouting in Detention Centers" lets girls in detention centers be Scouts. Other programs help girls in rural areas, public housing, or those experiencing homelessness. There are also programs for American girls living overseas.

How Girl Scouts is Organized

Girl Scouts of Connecticut, Hartford, Connecticut

The main office for Girl Scouts is in New York City. It's led by a chief executive officer and a board of directors. Bonnie Barczykowski is the current CEO.

Below the national level are councils. These usually cover a large part of a state or region. Some councils even own and run camps for the troops in their area. Councils are then divided into smaller areas, like neighborhoods or service units. These areas have troops of all age levels.

The smallest group is the troop. Troops can have as few as 5 girls or as many as 30 or more. Sometimes, a troop is divided into smaller patrols.

Girl Scout Symbols and Traditions

Promise, Law, Motto, and Slogan

The Girl Scout Promise When Girl Scouts say their promise, they can use words that fit their own spiritual beliefs. This means if the word "God" doesn't fit, they can use another word like "Creator" or "my faith." The important part is believing in a spiritual idea.

On my honor, I will try:
To serve God* and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law

• Members may substitute for the word God
  

in accordance with their own spiritual beliefs.

The Promise is often said at meetings while holding up the three middle fingers of the right hand.

The Girl Scout Law The Girl Scout Law helps girls know how to act and treat others. It says:

I will do my best to be
honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong, and
responsible for what I say and do,
and to
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.

Motto Be prepared.

Slogan Do a good turn daily.

Girl Scout Uniforms

Girl Scout in uniform, 1973

Girl Scout uniforms have changed a lot over the years. Today, girls ages 5 to 14 wear a tunic, vest, or sash. They use this to show off their official pins and awards. They wear it with their own white shirts and khaki pants or skirts. High school Girl Scouts can also wear a scarf. This scarf connects them to Girl Scouts around the world.

For all levels, earned awards go on the front of the vest or sash. Fun patches can be put on the back.

• Girl Scout Daisies wear blue vests.
• Girl Scout Brownies wear brown vests.
• Girl Scout Juniors wear green vests.
• Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors wear khaki vests.

Logos

Designed by Juliette Low, the sole emblem of the Girl Scouts of the USA from 1912 until 1978

The first Girl Scout logo was designed by Juliette Low herself. The current Girl Scouts of the USA logo was updated in 2010. It is based on a design from 1978 by graphic designer Saul Bass.

Activities and Programs

One of the best parts of Girl Scouts is that girls learn to be great campers. They do many outdoor activities like canoeing or backpacking. Troops also do service projects, such as flag ceremonies, collecting food for food drives, or visiting nursing homes. Troops can also plan trips within the U.S. or even to other countries. They might also learn new skills like first aid or go to a play. The most famous Girl Scout activity is probably the yearly sale of Girl Scout Cookies. This started in 1917 to help troops earn money.

Girl Scouts and STEM

Girl Scouts has many programs and badges related to STEM. This helps girls get more interested in these fields. From 2005 to 2007, girls earned over 8.6 million STEM-related badges! The first STEM badges were for Electrician and Flyer in 1913. Computer badges appeared in the 1980s.

A 2012 study showed that 74% of teenage girls were interested in STEM subjects. However, only 25% of STEM jobs were held by women. Because of this, Girl Scouts has partnered with groups like NASA, AT&T, and Lockheed Martin. NASA even worked with the SETI Institute to create a 5-year space education program for Girl Scouts.

Girl Scouts also has FIRST Robotics Competition teams. One team, the Space Cookies, is based at NASA Ames Research Center. They were the first all-girls team to reach the finals at the FRC world championships!

Girl Scouts currently has 127 badges and journeys in the STEM category. In 2020, they added 24 new badges in STEM, business, and leadership.

The Automotive, Coding for Good, Cybersecurity, Mechanical Engineering, and Robotics badges are groups of three awards. They cover different parts of each topic. These badges have similar names across levels, but the tasks get harder as girls get older.

In June 2017, Girl Scouts partnered with Palo Alto Networks to create 18 cybersecurity badges.

International Events

Every three years, Girl Scouts holds a big international meeting. They vote on rules and have guest speakers. The next one will be in 2023 at Walt Disney World in Florida.

Destinations

Destinations are travel chances for older Girl Scouts. These trips happen in the U.S. and other countries. They can be about science, outdoor adventures, or learning about different cultures. For example, girls might go kayaking in Alaska or learn about working for NASA.

A "Destination" can also be a trip to one of the WAGGGS World Centres:

• Our Cabaña in Cuernavaca, Mexico
• Our Chalet in Adelboden, Switzerland
• Pax Lodge in London, England
• Sangam World Centre in Pune, India
• Kusafiri in Africa

Girl Scout Traditions

A girl selling Girl Scout Cookies

Girl Scouts of the USA has many customs. These include camping, helping the community, singing, and earning money for activities. The Girl Scout Handshake and the signal for silence are used by Girl Guides and Girl Scouts worldwide. Other traditions include the Friendship Circle, using bandanas and sit-upons for camping, and the buddy system.

"Bridging" is when a Girl Scout moves from one age level to the next. Girls often walk across a bridge to their new level. They are greeted with the Girl Scout Handshake. A famous bridging ceremony happens in San Francisco, where Juniors bridge to Cadettes over the Golden Gate Bridge.

World Thinking Day is celebrated every year on February 22. This is the birthday of both Robert Baden-Powell and Olave Baden-Powell. On this day, Girl Scouts around the world think about their fellow Scouts in other countries. Many Girl Scouts in America also celebrate Juliette Gordon Low's birthday on October 31, called Founder's Day.

A "Girl Scouts' Own" is a special ceremony where girls think about their feelings about Girl Scouting and the world. It's a quiet time for Girl Scouts to create a special moment for themselves.

Badges and Awards

All Girl Scout levels can earn badges. Each level has its own badges.

• Daisies earn flower-shaped badges.
• Brownies earn triangle-shaped badges.
• Juniors earn circle-shaped badges.
• Cadettes earn diamond-shaped badges.
• Seniors earn rectangle-shaped badges.
• Ambassadors earn square-shaped badges.

Earned badges and awards go on the front of a Girl Scout's vest or sash. Fun patches go on the back.

• Daisies wear blue vests.
• Brownies wear brown vests.
• Juniors wear green vests.
• Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors wear khaki vests.

Skill-Building Badges

Girl Scouts can earn many skill-building badges in different areas. These badges help girls learn new things and develop their talents. Some examples include:

• Promise & Law: Learning about the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
• Cookie Business: Learning how to run a cookie business, from counting money to marketing.
• Financial Literacy: Learning about managing money, budgeting, and making smart choices.
• Troop Camping: Learning camping skills, from buddy camping to survival camping.
• Citizenship: Learning about being a good neighbor and understanding government.
• Mechanical Engineering: Designing and building things like model cars or roller coasters.
• Outdoors: Exploring nature, from outdoor art to hiking and climbing.
• Robotics: Learning about how robots work and how to design them.
• Space Science: Exploring space as an explorer, adventurer, or investigator.
• Cyber Security: Learning about online safety and how to protect information.
• Coding: Learning to code, design digital games, and develop apps.
• Environmental Stewardship: Becoming an eco-learner, friend, or advocate.
• Adventure: Trying new adventures like geocaching or night hikes.
• Animals: Learning about pets, animal habitats, and helping animals.
• Artist: Exploring different art forms like painting, drawing, or photography.
• Athlete: Learning about fair play, practicing, and good sportsmanship.
• Cook: Learning to make snacks, simple meals, or even plan a dinner party.
• First Aid: Learning important first aid skills for different situations.
• Healthy Living: Learning about staying fit and eating well.
• Investigation: Developing detective skills and learning to seek the truth.
• Naturalist: Learning about bugs, flowers, trees, and the sky.

Journey Awards

Each Girl Scout level has "Journey" programs. A Journey is a series of lessons on a specific topic. Girls must complete all parts of a Journey to finish it. If a Girl Scout completes three Journeys at one level, she earns a Summit Pin. Before starting a Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award project, a Girl Scout must complete at least one Journey for her level.

Highest Awards

The highest awards in Girl Scouting are the Girl Scout Gold Award, the Silver Award, and the Bronze Award. These awards require big service projects where girls show leadership and help their community.

• The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn. It's for Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors. This award shows a girl's strong dedication to Girl Scouting and her community. Earning it takes hard work and responsibility. The Gold Award project takes at least 80 hours to complete.

• The Silver Award is the highest honor for a Girl Scout Cadette. It lets girls do big things to make their community better. Girls follow a seven-step process, from finding an issue to planning and doing a project. The Silver Award project takes at least 50 hours to complete.

• The Bronze Award is the highest honor for a Girl Scout Junior. It teaches girls leadership and planning skills. They use these skills to complete a project that helps their community. Working on this award shows a Girl Scout's commitment to helping others and making the world better. The Bronze Award project takes at least 20 hours to complete.

Impact on American Life

Many famous American women were once Girl Scouts! These include Taylor Swift, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, actress Dakota Fanning, comedian Lucille Ball, journalist Katie Couric, and politician Elizabeth Dole. Many Girl Scouts have become successful leaders in law, medicine, politics, and science.

Since Lou Henry Hoover, the wife of a U.S. President, the current First Lady has served as the Honorary President of GSUSA. Lou Henry Hoover was also the actual President of the Girl Scouts from 1922 to 1925.

During World War I and World War II, Girl Scouts helped the country. They sold defense bonds, grew victory gardens, and collected waste. Girl Scouts also helped their communities through projects like soup kitchens and food drives.

Over twenty of NASA's female astronauts were former Girl Scouts. The first American woman to walk in space, Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, was a former Girl Scout.

Girl Scout Publications and Events

From 1917 to 1979, Girl Scouts published a magazine called The American Girl. It was very popular, reaching over 500,000 readers by 1949.

Girl Scout Senior Roundups

Big international Girl Scout gatherings called Senior Roundups were held every three years from 1956 to 1965. Thousands of girls attended these events:

• Milford, Michigan (1956) with 5,000 girls.
• Colorado Springs, Colorado (1959) with 10,000 girls.
• Button Bay, Vermont (1962) with 9,000 girls.
• Farragut Reservation, Idaho (1965) with 12,000 girls.

100th Anniversary

Girl Scouts of the USA celebrated its 100th birthday in 2012! They had a "Bridge to the Second Century" event. The Girl Scouts also had a float in the famous Pasadena, California Tournament of Roses Parade in 2012.

U.S. President Barack Obama signed a law to create special silver dollar coins to honor the 100th Anniversary. These coins celebrated Girl Scouts and the achievements of the 50 million women who have been part of Girl Scouting.

Many special events happened across the country. The Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin hosted "The Great Girl Gathering" for 140,000 girls at the Mall of America. The Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital held a "Girl Scouts Rock the Mall" sing-along in Washington, D.C., which drew over 200,000 people.

Girl Scouts also made a new cookie called Savannah Smiles to celebrate the anniversary. In Savannah, Georgia, where Girl Scouting began, they had a "Party in the Park." The city even closed part of the Talmadge Bridge so girls could walk across it and "Bridge to the next century."

Similar Groups

Camp Fire was started in 1910, before Girl Scouts. In 1975, it began including both boys and girls.

Some religious groups have their own youth clubs for girls. For example, the American Heritage Girls (AHG) started in 1995. It is a Christian group that helps girls become "women of integrity through service to God, family, community and country." As of 2020, it has over 50,000 members.

Images for kids

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  Cover story from The Saturday Evening Post on the Girl Scouts (Oct 25, 1924)