Girl Scout Traditions and Celebrations
Throughout the long history of Girl Scouts , certain traditions remain meaningful and important and are still practiced today . This section gives you an overview of annual celebrations in the Girl Scout year , as well as other revered Girl Scout traditions . Be sure to look in The Girl ’ s Guide to Girl Scouting and Leadership Journeys for more information on songs , historical anecdotes , traditions , and ceremonies .
Girl Scout Celebrations
Girl Scouts celebrate several special days each year , which you ’ re encouraged to include in your group planning .
● February 22 : World Thinking Day ( the birthday of both Lord Baden-Powell and Lady Olave Baden- Powell , the originators of Boy Scouts and the Scouting Movement worldwide ).
● March 12 : The birthday of Girl Scouting in the USA . The first troop meeting was held in Savannah , Georgia , on this date in 1912 . Note that Girl Scout Week begins the Sunday before March 12 ( a day known as “ Girl Scout Sunday ”) and extends through the Saturday following March 12 ( a day known as “ Girl Scout Sabbath ”).
● Third Week in April : Volunteer Appreciation Week centers on the long-standing National Girl Scout Leaders ’ Day ( April 22 ), but expands the definition of volunteers beyond troop leaders to include all the volunteers who work in so many ways on behalf of girls in Girl Scouting .
● October 31 : Founder ’ s Day ( Juliette Gordon Low ’ s birthday ).
Learn more about these special days at gswpa . org .
World Thinking Day : February 22
World Thinking Day , first created in 1926 , offers a special day for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from around the world to “ think ” of each other and give thanks and appreciation to their sister Girl Scouts . February 22 is the mutual birthday of Lord Baden-Powell , founder of the Boy Scout movement , and his wife , Olave , who served as World Chief Guide .
Today , girls honor World Thinking Day by earning the World Thinking Day award , which focuses on an annual theme selected by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts . They also show their appreciation and friendship on World Thinking Day not only by extending warm wishes but also by contributing to the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund , which helps offer Girl Guiding / Girl Scouting to more girls and young women worldwide .
Time-Honored Girl Scout Ceremonies
Ceremonies play an important part in Girl Scouts and are used not only to celebrate accomplishments , experience time-honored traditions , and reinforce the values of the Girl Scout Promise and Law , but also to encourage girls to take a short pause in their busy lives and connect with their fellow Girl Scouts in fun and meaningful ways . Many examples of ceremonies — for awards , meeting openings and closings , and so on — are sewn right into the Journeys , including ideas for new ceremonies girls can create .
Girls use ceremonies for all sorts of reasons . Here ’ s a brief list , in alphabetical order , so that you can become familiar with the most common Girl Scout ceremonies :