Girl Scout Days & Traditions

Traditions give Girl Scouts a sense of history—and inspire them to be the best they can be.

Sharing traditions with millions of Girl Scouts—and the huge network of Girl Scout alumnae who came before them—helps remind girls they belong to a big, powerful sisterhood.

Learn more about Girl Scout Traditions.

World Thinking Day - February 22

Every February 22 on World Thinking Day, Girl Scouts participate in activities and projects with global themes to honor their sister Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in other countries. Thinking Day not only gives girls a chance to celebrate international friendships, but also unites them to focus on one issue, or theme, to make the world a better place.

Check out GSUSA's site for some awesome activities by grade level for girls to earn their World Thinking Day award.
Download the World Thinking Day Activity Pack from the World Association for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).
Find out how to give girls the gift of travel through the Juliette Gordon Low World Friendship Fund.
Find World Thinking Day resources on Pinterest.

Girl Scout birthday & Girl Scout Week - March 12

Girl Scout birthday

Girl Scouting was founded on March 12, 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low in Savannah, GA. Juliette gathered 18 girls from her cousin’s school and broke the conventions of the time—reaching across class, cultural, and ethnic boundaries to ensure all girls, including those with so-called disabilities, had a place to grow and develop their leadership skills.

Celebrate Girl Scout birthday by collecting and assembling birthday bags for shelters, hopitals, senior living facilities, foster agencies, etc. Remember to always contact an organization to verify that they will be able to accept the donation.

Girl Scouts Celebrate Faith

Girl Scouts Celebrate Faith gives girls an opportunity to attend their place of worship and be recognized as a Girl Scout. Girls and volunteers 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.

Girl Scouts Celebrate Faith can be celebrated with any faith partner, on a day that works best for the faith partner and you. In general, the Christian holy day is Sunday, the Muslim Jummah holy day is Friday, and the Jewish Sabbath (Shabbat) holy day extends from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. 2021 celebration dates include:

Girl Scout Sunday—Sunday, March 7, 2021
Girl Scout Jummah—Friday, March 12, 2021
Girl Scout Sabbath/Shabbat—Friday/Saturday, March 12–13, 2021

Girl Scouts Celebrate Faith Toolkit

This toolkit includes resources for councils to plan, promote, and host an event and to share with troop leaders to host their own event, especially leaders of faith-based troops. The toolkit includes virtual and in-person options.

Help share Girl Scouting through your faith with resources for Christian, Muslim, and Jewish Girl Scouts.

Volunteer Appreciation - April & Leader's Day - April 22

Volunteer Appreciation Month - April

This April, we want girls to celebrate their Girl Scout volunteers by showering them with gratitude and appreciation. Check out great resources from GSUSA, including a digital group thank-you option and new printable thank you cards for older and younger girls.

And to all of our volunteers, you bring the power of Girl Scouting into girls’ lives and are the source of the Girl Scout experience. Thank you for your time, your work, and your unwavering commitment to create girls of courage, confidence, and character. By teaching her to make the world a better place, you’re doing it, too. Happy Volunteer Appreciation Month. You’re amazing!

Leader's Day - 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.

Girl Scout Spirit Celebration - September

You make the world a better place each and every time you act with kindness, serve your community, and share Girl Scouts with others. To you, it’s just living the Girl Scout Promise and Law, but your impact on the world around you is much, much bigger than that.

That’s why Girls Scouts Western Pennsylvania celebrates all it means to be a Girl Scout through the September Girl Scout Spirit Celebration—because we’re celebrating you!

The first 175 Girl Scouts in our council to submit their 2021 Girl Scout Spirit activity card will receive a Girl Scout Spirit patch—for FREE!

Click to download and print the 2021 Girl Scout Spirit Celebration activity card.

Templates and resources:

Troop Invite Slips: Ask your troop leader if you can invite a friend to your troop meeting. Then, print these slips and hand them out with a frienship bracelet or SWAP.
- Daisy & Brownie: Color | Black and White
- Daisy, Brownie, Junior & Cadette: Color | Black and White
Thank You Flyer: Use this printable, fillable PDF to create a thank you note for local businesses or organizations that support your higher award projects, your troop, or your service unit. Consider adding your own photo on the top for an extra personal touch!

Enter to receive your Girl Scout Spirit patch.

Begin by selecting 'Spirit Celebration final submission' on the form below!

Fill out my online form.

GSWPA Service Day - September 24

Mark your calendars—GSWPA Service Day, September 25!

As part of our month-long Girl Scout Spirit Celebration in September, Saturday, September 25 will be Girl Scout Service Day. Girl Scouts of all ages can make an impact in a big way by coming together as a council to benefit our local communities across western Pennsylvania. Plan a project with your troop, friends, and family; gather needed supplies; and share your plans with us!

>>Check out some ideas for your project

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Founder's Day - October 31

Juliette Gordon Low's 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.