Monday, March 12, 2012

Happy Birthday, Girl Scouts!

Girl scouts play in the great out of doors in 1917. Library of Congress.
Inspired by Boy Scouts and Girl Guides in Great Britain, Juliette Gordon Low gathered 18 girls and established the first Girl Scout troop in Savannah, Ga., in 1912. Today the Girl Scouts is the largest educational girls' group in the world and boasts 3 million participants in the United States. While activities have changed over the last century, scouting still aims to educate and empower girls. Check out the Girl Scout Law, circa 1912 and 2012.

The Girl Scout Law (1912)
1. A Girl Scout's Honor Is to be Trusted
2. A Girl Scout Is Loyal
3. A Girl Scout's Duty Is to be Useful and to Help Others
4. A Girl Scout is a Friend to All, and a Sister to Every Other Girl Scout No Matter to What Social Class She May Belong
5. A Girl Scout Is Courteous
6. A Girl Scout Keeps Herself Pure
7. A Girl Scout Is a Friend to Animals
8. A Girl Scout Obeys Orders
9. A Girl Scout is Cheerful
10. A Girl Scout is Thrifty

The Girl Scout Law (2012)
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.

5 comments:

  1. As a GS leader who has one biological daughter, and many Girl Scout daughters, let me say thank you for this post, thank to Juliette for her vision, and thank all those who went before us and made GS the most fun you can have while being turned into a woman of courage, confidence and character!

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  2. I've subscribed in hopes that you pick up the blog again someday. Love this, and am very glad I found it! :)

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  3. Thanks so much, Kristen. Will pick up blog soon. Have been working on another writing project!

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  4. Wow, the Girl Scout promise sure has changed since I was a Girl Scout in the 1980s! (Although I think the 1912 Scouts would be pleased with the Manners Badge we had to earn.)

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  5. Hello Karin. Just found your blog. I'm a teacher doing a large project on women, poetry, and music all around the turn of the century. I'd love to ask you a Q or two via email. jclittle23@gmail.com. Thanks for this great blog! -Jeremy Little

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