Girl Scout Traditions

Helping girls plan ceremonies

Girl Scouting operates on the principal that girls grow, learn and have fun by doing things for themselves (“girl-led”). Ceremonies are opportunities for girls, not adults, to make decisions and express themselves. Girls should have a part in making their own memories. Yes, even Girl Scout Daisies!

Planning tips for beginners of all ages

If girls have never seen a ceremony or have very limited experience in planning and choosing, offer them choices to talk about and decide on:

  1. “We need to choose a beginning for our ceremony. After Mrs. J. and I welcome your families, should we do a flag ceremony or sing a Girl Scout song to open our ceremony?”
  2. “The main part of our ceremony is your investiture. That’s when you make the Girl Scout Promise and are invested with your membership pins. Would you like to act out the Brownie Story so you can do ‘Twist me and turn me’ at a make-believe pond? Or would you like to light candles for the different parts of the Girl Scout Promise and Law?”
  3. “Now we need to choose a closing, or way to end our ceremony. Would you like to sing “Taps” to you families, or ask them to be part of a big friendship circle?”

If you have eight or more girls in your troop, consider having the girls work in smaller groups (3 to 5 girls) to get ready for the ceremony. Use a Kaper Chart to divide the work fairly:

One group could be in charge of the opening part, another the main part and a third the closing. At a campfire, this could include laying and lighting the fire, keeping the fire going, and putting out the fire. Or, one group could decorate the room and welcome guests; one group could be in charge of the actual ceremony; another group could make or buy refreshments, set the table, serve and clear away. By middle school age, girls may prefer to take turns being in charge of the whole ceremony, start to finish and rotate which patrol or committee will be responsible for which ceremony.

About WAGGGS

WAGGGS Logo

The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) offers girls and young women in Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting an international family. Girls and young women across the world are joined by common bonds of understanding, friendship, the Promise and Law and their aspirations to make the world a better place. WAGGGS is the official umbrella organization for all national Girl Guide and Girl Scout organizations in the world. It comprises 145 member organizations, which are organized into five regions – Africa, Arab, Asia Pacific, Europe and Western Hemisphere. The World Trefoil (pictured right) is the unifying symbol of WAGGGS. Through its member prganizations, WAGGGS provides a high quality non-formal educational program that provides dynamic, flexible and values-based training in life skills, leadership and decision making. WAGGGS offers projects and program at an international level that enable Girl Guides and Girl Scouts to be responsible world citizens through teamwork, service and action in the community.

Focus on Ability

Girl Scouting provides activities that allow girls to develop through experiential learning—whether they're planning a ceremony, exploring a park, working in a team, leading others in song, creating an image on a computer, or helping others in a service project. Guidelines for conducting safe Girl Scout program activities can be found in Safety-Wise and through your local Girl Scout council. Ways to adapt common activities for girls with special needs can be found in Focus on Ability.

Including All Kids provides web resources to assist young people with disabilities as they travel the pathways of life or the pathways in Girl Scouting. Organizational leaders, like Girl Scout volunteers can benefit from the inclusion and disability resource links.

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.

Thinking Day was first created in 1926 at the fourth Girl Guide/Girl Scout International Conference held at Girl Scouts of the USA's Camp Edith Macy (now called Edith Macy Conference Center). Conference attendees decided that there should be a special day for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from around the world to celebrate diversity and international understanding; to "think" of each other and give thanks and appreciation to their "sister" Girl Scouts.

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.

In 1932, at the seventh World Conference, held in Poland, a Belgian delegate suggested that since birthdays usually involve presents, girls could show their appreciation and friendship on Thinking Day not only by extending warm wishes but by offering a voluntary contribution to the World Association. This is how the World Association's Thinking Day Fund began. The fund helps offer Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting to more girls and young women worldwide. Girl Scouts of the USA, through its Juliette Low World Friendship Fund contributes to the World Thinking Day Fund.

To emphasize the global aspect of Thinking Day, members at the 30th World Conference, held in Ireland in 1999, changed the name from Thinking Day to World Thinking Day.

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 Web site.

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.

  • 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.
In 2012, Girl Scouts will celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouting on March 12, while also participating in activities and events throughout the year.

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.

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.

Do you have a Girl Scout Tradition to share? Please send it to us at editor@gswpa.org.

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