Special Girl Scout Days

World Thinking Day- February 22

World Thinking Day, February 22, celebrates the birthdays of the founder of the worldwide Guiding and Scouting movement, Lord Robert Baden-Powell (1857-1941) and World Chief Guide, Lady Olave Baden-Powell (1889-1977), who served for many years as the World Chief Guide.

World Thinking Day was created in 1926 at the Fourth International Conference. Thinking Day is celebrated by Girl Scouts and Girl Guides throughout the world to celebrate diversity and international understanding. On Thinking Day, girls gather to think about their sister Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world and give thanks and appreciation to them. Thinking Day celebrations often include activities about the food, culture, native dress, and songs or games from countries outside your own. Countries celebrated are traditionally countries that are members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).

In the United States, Girl Scouting grew out of the friendship between Juliette Gordon Low and Lord Baden-Powell and his sister, Agnes, who began Girl Guiding. World Thinking Day celebrates that friendship and the sisterhood of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the globe. The day is also a time to donate funds to the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund.

How do we celebrate Thinking Day?

Thinking Day is the perfect time to give Daisy Girl Scouts (or any new Girl Scout) the World Trefoil Pin.

Brownies and Juniors should learn what each part of the pin represents. They might want to play games from around the world, make special origami Thinking Day peace doves, WAGGGS friendship knots, do an international craft, plan a special ceremony, or attend a Girl Scout Community event that includes these activities. Girls may want to have a “pounding” by donating a coin for every pound they weigh or a Silver Tea by donating nickels, dimes or quarters to the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund.

Girls ages 11 to 17 may want to embrace Thinking Day on a deeper level by planning a special service project that would benefit children living in another country.

To learn about this year's World Thinking Day focus, visit the World Association website.

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Girl Scout Week

Girl Scout Birthday, March 12, commemorates the day in 1912 when Juliette Gordon Low officially registered the organization's first 18 girl members in Savannah, Georgia.

Girl Scout Week is celebrated each March, starting with Girl Scout Sunday and ending with Girl Scout Sabbath on a Saturday, and it always includes the Girl Scout Birthday, March 12. Girl Scout Week begins on Sunday and concludes the following Saturday. This arrangement allows for our membership of diverse faiths to celebrate on their chosen day of worship.

• 2008-Sunday, March 9 to Saturday, March 15
• 2009-Sunday, March 8 to Saturday, March 14
• 2010-Sunday, March 7 to Saturday, March 13

Girl Scout Sunday and Girl Scout Sabbath give girls an opportunity to attend their place of worship and be recognized as a Girl Scout. If a place of worship is the group sponsor, girls may perform a service, such as greeting, ushering, or doing a flag ceremony. These days can also be a time when girls explore other faiths.

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Girl Scout Leader's Day is April 22

Girl Scout Leader's Day, April 22, honors all the volunteers who work as leaders and mentors in partnership with girls. Girls, their families, and communities should find a special way to thank their adult Girl Scout volunteers.

Do you know that, on average, a Girl Scout troop leader spends 150-200 hours on event and meeting preparation? The leader of your daughter's troop gives selflessly her/his time to make Girl Scouting a meaningful and fun learning experience for your girl.

Most leaders volunteer simply because they love to work with girls and young women, but wouldn't it be nice for them to receive a small token of appreciation from you and/or your girl?

Parents, let your daughter's leader know she's appreciated!

Say “thank you” to your Girl Scout Leader!

Girl Scout Leaders give so much – time, talent, patience, caring. Being appreciated means everything to them. Show your Girl Scout Leader how much she is appreciated all the time, but especially on Girl Scout Leader’s Day, April 22. Here are some ideas about how to thank your Girl Scout Leader:

• If you don't already, lend support in a troop activity
• Have a song played on the radio dedicated to her
• Bake a cake, dinner or make her favorite treat
• Make a gift as a small token of your appreciation
• Call her just to say “thanks” or send a thank you card or letter
• Create a troop cheer for your leader
• Dedicate a service project to your leaders
• Design and present a special award or certificate
• Do a good deed or random act of kindness for your leader or her family
• Give your leader movie passes or a coupon for dinner out
• Have a picture taken of the entire troop for your leader
• Make a contribution in your leader’s honor to Girl Scouts – Circle T Council
• Make and present a scrapbook of the troop’s activities
• Make yard signs that say “A great Girl Scout Leader lives here!”
• Make a huge card signed by everyone or individual cards or letters
• Nominate one or both leaders for Outstanding Leader
• Place an ad in your community newspaper thanking your leaders
• Write a letter to the editor about everything your leader inspires in you
• Plan a surprise “thank you” party, potluck or tea (and invite the parents!)
• Send flowers
• Announce Girl Scout Leader’s Day in your church’s bulletin
• Create a display about Girl Scout Leaders for your local library
• Involve religious and community representatives in recognizing Girl Scout Leaders.
• Remind other troop parents that Leader Appreciation Day is April 22.
• Send flowers or balloons.

And remember, a simple thank you or other words of appreciation after each meeting is always a great idea.

GIRL SCOUT LEADERS’ DAY CEREMONY

Girl Scout Leaders’ Day is April 22.

ADULT CARRYING U.S. FLAG (advances): "I am the United States flag. I can hold my head high when I am with all Girl Scouts. I am proud of my daughters."

ADULT CARRYING WORLD ASSOCIATION FLAG (advances): "I am the World Association flag. I have watched over the Girl Scouts and Girl Guides throughout the world. I have seen them grow in friendship and sisterhood."

ADULT CARRYING THE GIRL SCOUT FLAG (advances): "I am the Girl Scout flag. I protect all Girl Scouts. As my blue, green, and white colors blow in the wind, all Girl Scouts across the country can take pride in me"

HONOR GUARD: Please stand. Girl Scouts, the Pledge of Allegiance (audience recites pledge)

HONOR GUARD: Color guard, post your colors, (post colors)

HONOR GUARD: Color guard dismissed. Please be seated.

SPEAKER #1: "I have something for the girls of Savannah and the nation, and we are starting tonight!' In these words, full of promise, Juliette Low called the first Girl Scout troop meeting in the United States of America. Today we assemble to renew the promise we make to girls and to ourselves. Let us join together to reaffirm our principles & beliefs as written in the Blue Book of Basic Documents."

SPEAKER #2 We, the members of Girl Scouts of the United States of America, united by a belief in God, hold that the

Girl Scout Promise and Law is the cornerstone of our Movement, And inspired by the Founder of the Girl Scout Movement in the United States, Juliette Low, and by the aims of the Founder of the Scout Movement, Lord Baden-Powell, attest to the following:

SPEAKER # 3 Mission

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

SPEAKER #4 Spiritual Force

The motivating force in Girl Scouting is spiritual. The ways in which members identify and fulfill their spiritual beliefs are personal and private.

SPEAKER #5 Open Membership

The Girl Scout Movement is open to all girls and adults who accept the Girl Scout Promise and Law and meet membership requirements.

SPEAKER #6 Patriotism, Citizenship, and Community Service

Local, national, and global service and action are core elements of the Girl Scout experience.

SPEAKER #7 Diversity and Pluralism

Girl Scouts advance diversity and pluralism in our Movement and in the communities in which we live.

SPEAKER #8 Responsibility for the Movement and the Democratic Process

The ultimate responsibility for the Girl Scout Movement rests with its members. We govern by an efficient and effective democratic process that demonstrates our leadership in a fast-changing world.

SPEAKER #9 Girl/Adult Partnership

Adults partner with girls to guide and inspire growth and achievement. Volunteers are essential to the strength and capacity of our Movement.

SPEAKER #10 World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS)

We are active partners in a worldwide sisterhood through our affiliation with WAGGGS. We work with WAGGGS to address the needs of girls and to build a network of global citizens.

SPEAKER #2: Each Girl Scout adult here has committed herself to leadership--- with girls or for girls. As these adults come forward to make their special promise for all troop leaders, let us

respond together."

A DAISY GIRL SCOUT LEADER: "I promise to try to help each girl discover the joy and fun of being a Girl Scout."

AUDIENCE RESPONSE: "I will help Daisy Girl Scouts begin to see they have the ability to make good things happen in their lives and the world around them."

A BROWNIE GIRL SCOUT LEADER: "I promise to help each girl do her best."

AUDIENCE RESPONSE: “I will help Brownie Girl Scouts to discover the wonders and beauty of the world, to find true companionship in their troops, to know the joy of sharing with others."

A JUNIOR GIRL SCOUT LEADER: "I promise to try to help each girl find meaning for herself in her Girl Scout Promise."

AUDIENCE RESPONSE: "I will help Junior Girl Scouts learn the satisfactions of accepting responsibility to know and follow the truth that is within them, and to appreciate the differences in people.

A GIRL SCOUT 11-17 ADVISOR:

"I will help Girl Scouts 11 - 17 have the opportunity to know themselves, to stretch their knowledge and imagination and to envision their place in their communities.

AUDIENCE RESPONSE: "I will help Girl Scouts 11 – 17 to find and develop their own special abilities, to know that the world is their community, to face the future eagerly and confidently, with faith and love for all people."

SPEAKER #3: "As we return to our homes, we accept with humility our opportunity to work for the youth of our country. We stand firm in our conviction that through our attitudes, our actions, and our leadership, our communities will be stronger. We promise to give of ourselves, because we believe in Girl Scouting: we accept its ideals as our own."

SPEAKER #4: "The green candle stands for our Girl Scout program reminding us that we have a mission - to instill in our girls the practice of the Girl Scout Promise and Law. It also means we are not to lose sight of these principles when emotions run high. If problems arise, we go back and review the purpose and ideals of Girl Scouting, for, above all, our thoughts and actions must be for the girls we are serving."

SPEAKER #5: "The red candle stands for fire, one of humanity's greatest blessing, but fire can also destroy. We can use fire for good or evil. We can be kind and considerate or we can hurt each other if our fires are uncontrolled.

SPEAKER #6: "The blue candle stands for faith and loyalty, our faith in each other and our loyalty to our beliefs - our love of God, home, and country.

SPEAKER #7: "The white candle stands for honesty towards ourselves and others in thought, word, and deed."

SPEAKER #8: "The yellow candle stands for sunshine, the sun that warms us all. Just as the sun warms us, may we in turn spread warmth and friendship to those we meet. Let's make Girl Scouting fun for our girls but at the same time not lose sight of the Promise and Law."

SPEAKER #9:  Let us stand and join together to repeat the Girl Scout Promise:

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.

SPEAKER #10:  I will do my best to be

SPEAKER #11:         honest and fair,

SPEAKER #12:         friendly and helpful,

SPEAKER #13:         considerate and caring,

SPEAKER #14:         courageous and strong, and

SPEAKER #15:         responsible for what I say and do,

SPEAKER #16:  and to respect myself and others,

SPEAKER #17:         respect authority,

SPEAKER #18:         use resources wisely,

SPEAKER #19:         make the world a better place, and

SPEAKER #20:         be a sister to every Girl Scout.

SPEAKER #21: Please be seated.

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Juliette Low Birthday

Juliette Low Birthday or Founder's Day, October 31, marks the 1860 birth of Girl Scouts of the USA founder Juliette Low in Savannah, Georgia. Juliette started the organization in 1912.

Girls Scouts celebrate Juliette Gordon Low's birthday in various ways—with parties, service projects, events to thank donors, even special cakes.

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