A New Leader's Grab Bag
(adapted from Leader's Landing and used with permission)
Contents
click on the topic you want to go directly there:Girl Scout Glossary
Girl Scout Special Days
Troop Government
Girl Scout History
Girl Scout Organizational Chart
Girl Scout Glossary
Here is a list of terms with definitions. If you think of a term that is not listed, email Sarah so she can add it!
Age level: There are five age levels in Girl Scouting: Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior
Association: a group of service units. (see organizational chart below)
Baden-Powell: Lord Robert Baden-Powell was the founder of the Boy Scout movement. His sister, Agnes Baden-Powell, was the founder of the Girl Guide movement. His wife, Olave, Lady Baden-Powell became involved in Girl Guides after their marriage and later became the World Chief Guide. (Scroll down to the bottom of this page for a link to the Girl Scout History Links page for more information.)
Badge/Proficiency Badge: Proficiency award for Junior Girl Scouts. (see Proficiency Awards)
Bridging: The process for girls leaving one level of Girl Scouting and moving on to the next. Daisies bridge to Brownies, Brownies bridge to Juniors, and Juniors bridge to Cadettes and so on. When Brownies bridge to Juniors they are also said to fly up.
Bridging Patch: The patch awarded to a Girl Scout who has completed certain requirements before moving to the next level. A girl can bridge without completing these requirements, but then she will not receive the patch.
Bronze Award: The highest award a Junior Girl Scout can earn. It was instituted in 2001.
Brownie Ring: Form of Government commonly used in a Brownie Troop. (Scroll down to the bottom of this page for a link to the Troop Government breakdown at The Leader's Landing)
Buddy System: A safety system where two girls stay together and watch out for each other.
Council: The governing body for the Girl Scouts in a geographical area. There are over 300 councils in the country. (see organizational chart below)
Court of Awards: A ceremony in which girls and/or adult volunteers receive awards. Awards include proficiency awards (Try-its, etc), event patches, earned patches and other awards.
Court of Honor: Part of the Patrol System of Government. (Scroll down to the bottom of this page for a link to the Troop Government breakdown at The Leader's Landing)
Daisy Circle: Form of Government commonly used by a Daisy Troop (Scroll down to the bottom of this page for a link to the Troop Government breakdown at The Leader's Landing)
Daisy Petals and Promise Center: Awards that Daisies earn by showing that they understand the Girl Scout Promise and Law. Instituted in 2000.
Dunk Bag: A mesh bag into which a scout puts her washed camp dishes and silverware. Holding the pull cord she dunks the bag into boiling water or cool water containing a little bleach for the prescribed sterilization time, then hangs it on a line to dry. Also called a "dip bag" or "ditty bag"
Earned patch: The patches girls earn which are not Try-its, Badges or Interest Project Awards. These are often earned through special programs like the "Strength in Sharing" service program or our council's "Discover Tejas!" patch program. These patches may go on the back of the sash or vest. They can also be put on a jacket, blanket or tote bag.
Eight Basic Skills: Skills such as dressing for the weather, firebuilding and knots that a Girl Scout should know before going camping.
Executive Board: A form of troop government which may be used in Junior, Cadette, or Senior troops (Scroll down to the bottom of this page for a link to the Troop Government breakdown at The Leader's Landing)
Fiesta Camping: Troop camping with some council provided staff (e.g., cook, waterfront, program director) at a Girl Scouts of Tejas campsite.
First Aider: Either a leader or other adult trained in a council-approved first aid course. Each troop needs to have a first aider to accompany them on outings beyond the meeting place
Flag Ceremony: Any ceremony including or honoring the flag.
Fly-up: see Bridging.
Founder's Day: October 31, the birthday of Juliette Low. (See "Juliette Low" below for more information and/or click here for ideas on celebrating our special Girl Scout days.)
Friendship Circle: A symbolic gesture in which Girl Scouts form a circle by clasping each other's hands. It is often used as part of a closing ceremony.
Girl Guides: Lord Baden-Powell's original name for Girl Scouts, still used in many countries.
Girl Scout Birthday: March 12th, the date of the first Girl Scout meeting in the USA in 1912. (Click here for ideas on celebrating our special Girl Scout days..)
Girl Scout Handshake: Execute the Girl Scout Sign with the right hand and shake hands with the left
Girl Scout Leader's Day: April 22, a special day to honor Girl Scout leaders.
Girl Scout Motto: Be Prepared
Girl Scout Sign: Three middle fingers of right hand raised shoulder high with thumb over little finger, given when saying the Promise or when doing a Girl Scout Handshake.
Girl Scout Slogan: Do a good turn daily.
Girl Scout Week: The week containing the Girl Scout Birthday
Girl Scout's Own: An introspective ceremony usually held at the end of an event. Girls and adults alike gather for a few moments to reflect on the events of the day. Inspirational readings or quiet songs are often included.
Gold Award: The highest award a Senior Girl Scout may earn.
GSUSA: Girl Scouts of the United States of America
IPA/Interest Project Award: Proficiency award for Cadettes and Seniors
Investiture: A special ceremony to welcome a Girl Scout where she receives her Girl Scout pin and officially makes her Promise for the first time. This is usually done soon after a new troop forms or when a girl joins an existing troop. Any leader who comes into Scouts without previous experience in Girl Scouting can also be a part of an investiture. Some leaders choose to give the World pin at this time, too.
JLWFF: Juliette Low World Friendship Fund, a voluntary fund that provides funds for Girl Scouts to travel to other countries throughout the world.
Juliette "Daisy" Low: Founder of Girl Scouting in the U.S.A. (Scroll down to the bottom of this page for a link to the Girl Scout History Links page for more information.)
Kaper Chart: A chart showing all jobs available and who is responsible for each job.
LIT: A Leader in Training is a Senior Girl Scout who is learning to be a leader. After receiving training she helps out with a troop of Daisies, Brownies or Juniors.
PAL: Program Age Level (See "age level" above)
Participation patch: Patch given for taking part in an activity (ex. cookie sale, service unit event, etc.). They are worn on the back of the uniform vest or sash. They can also be put on a jacket, blanket or tote bag.
Patrol System: A form of troop government which may be used in Junior, Cadette, or Senior troops (Scroll down to the bottom of this page for a link to the Troop Government breakdown at The Leader's Landing)
Proficiency Award: Award earned by a Girl Scout by demonstrating a skill or special knowledge. Requirements for these awards are set forth in the various age level publications. Proficiency awards are usually worn on the front of the uniform sash or vest. (See also: Daisy Petals and Promise Center, Try-Its, Badges, Interest Projects, Bronze Award, Silver Award, and Gold Award)
Program Aide: Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts who have been trained to assist younger Girl Scout groups with songs, games, crafts, ceremonies or skills.
Quiet Sign: Right hand raised above head - it means stop talking. The five raised fingers remaind us of the fifth Girl Scout Law "to respect myself and others".
Rededication: A ceremony where Girl Scouts reaffirm their dedication to the Promise and Law. Troops will often start the year with a rededication.
Safety-Wise: The publication put out by GSUSA detailing safety practices that should be adhered to.
Service Unit: (see organizational chart below)
Silver Award: The highest award that a Cadette Girl Scout may earn
Sit Upon: A waterproof cushion to sit on outside generally made by the girl herself.
SWAPS: Small Whatchamacallit Affectionately Pinned on Somewhere. Also: Share With A Pal. These are as a small, handmade crafts that usually symbolize the theme of an event. During the event there is sometimes time set aside for the girls to scatter and find other girls to trade swaps with. The possible kinds of swaps are endless! Tiny fishing poles, tiny bedrolls, even birthday cakes!
Thinking Day: February 22. The birthday of both Lord and Lady Baden-Powell, designated as a day to think about Girl Scouts and Guides worldwide. (See also Baden-Powell and/or click here for ideas on celebrating our special Girl Scout days.)
Town Meeting: A form of troop government which may be used in Junior, Cadette and Senior troops. (Scroll down to the bottom of this page for a link to the Troop Government breakdown at The Leader's Landing.)
Treat Camping: Troop camping at one of the council camps where meals are provided by camp staff, generally for older troops who have already learned the basic camping skills.
Trefoil: The international symbol of Girl Scouting. Our pins are in the shape of a trefoil. The three leaves symbolize the three parts of the Promise.
Troop Committee: Adults who assist the troop in some way either at the meetings or by taking on jobs such as Telephone Chair, etc.
Try-its: Proficiency awards for Brownies
WAGGGS: World Association for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
Wider Op/Opportunities: Programs, conventions, etc for older girls. Cadettes and Senior Girl Scouts can apply for the chance to attend events across the USA and in other countries.
World Centers: Four program activity centers owned by WAGGGS. The centers are located in Mexico, England, India, and Switzerland.
World pin: A blue and gold pin showing the WAGGGS symbol that is worn by Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world. Some troops award these pins at an Investiture, some wait and award them on Thinking Day.
Girl Scout Special Days
- Juliette Low's Birthday on October 31
- Thinking Day on February 22
- The Girl Scout Birthday on March 12
Click below for ideas on how to celebrate these special days:
Troop Government
Have questions about how to run your troop? Don't know what a Daisy Circle is? Confused about Patrols? Click below:Leader's Landing Troop Government page
Girl Scout History
Want to know more about our Girl Scout roots? Click below:
Girl Scout History Links Page
Organizational Chart
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS)I
Girl Scouts of the USA
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Council
There are over 300 councils in the United States. Service Unit 155 is a service unit in the Girl Scouts of Tejas Council. Tejas Council covers 20 counties and has its headquarters on Summerside Drive in North Dallas.
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Association
Girl Scouts of Tejas Council has 11 Associations areas. SU 155 is in Association VIII which covers Plano and Allen.
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Service Unit
Association VIII has 7 Service Units. We are in Service Unit 155.
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Individual Troops
We have around 50 troops in Service Unit 155 from 10 schools and 2 churches. The girls range in age from Daisies (Kindergarten) up through Senior Girl Scouts (High School and Senior High)
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