| WHO WERE THE BADEN-POWELLS? On February 22nd, Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world celebrate the heritage and worldwide movement of Scouting founded by Lord Robert Baden-Powell. Robert Baden-Powell was born in London in 1857, the eighth of ten children born to an Oxford professor. B-P joined the military, serving in India, the Balkans, South Africa and Malta. He was proclaimed a national hero during the Boer War in South Africa. In 1903, he wrote a small handbook called Aids to Scouting, which was written to help soldiers develop observation and survival skills. In England, child labor laws greatly changed society’s views on youth. Instead of being put to work at a young age, children attended schools. Town administrators were also looking for programs for boys to keep them out of mischief. When Aids to Scouting was published, many youth leaders and teachers began using it to teach skills to boys. When B-P returned to England, he was surprised at the interest in his book and program. He revised the book into Scouting for Boys in 1908. Scout troops began forming all over England and the British Empire. In 1909, a Scout rally was held in London. To B-P’s surprise, girls also attended, wanting to be a part of Scouting. B-P asked his sister, Agnes, to develop a program for girls to be called Guiding. Agnes Baden-Powell was known as a good musician and artist. In addition, she was interested in natural history, outdoor sports, astronomy, nursing and cooking. She kept bees and a butterfly colony. Agnes adapted Scouting for Boys into How Girls Can Help to Build up the Empire-the Handbook for Girl Guides. While many parents were afraid that the Guides would be tomboys, they had only to look at Miss Agnes and see a perfect, gentle lady. In 1910, B-P attended a dinner party, where he sat next to a lively American widow. They shared a common interest in sculpting, and he also shared his enthusiasm about Scouting and Guiding. The lady was Juliette Gordon Low. She quickly caught B-P’s enthusiasm and started several Guide troops in Scotland. Rumor has it that there was a romance between the two, but no one really knows for certain. In 1912, Juliette returned to the United States to begin Girl Scouting. On the same ship was B-P, who was visiting Scout troops around the world. Also on board the ship was a young lady named Olave Soames. Despite a 32-year age difference, B-P and Olave fell in love and were married. At B-P’s urging, Olave became involved in Guiding. At first, her services were turned down because she was though to be too young and inexperienced. But Olave persevered, and in 18 months she had organized Guiding in every county in England. Olave and B-P had three children, and moved to Kenya in the 1930s due to B-P’s failing health. B-P died in Kenya in 1941. While suffering depression from her grief, Olave turned to Guiding for occupation. She was named “World Chief Guide” and she traveled extensively to visit and promote Guiding and Scouting. Olave finally had to stop traveling in 1971 due to poor health, and she died in 1977. By coincidence, Olave and B-P shared the same birthday, February 22nd. To commemorate two such important figures in Guiding and Scouting, all WAGGGS member countries celebrate “Thinking Day” to understand the importance of our movement and those who founded it. |
| Celebrations |
| Brownie Cadette/Senior Cookies Council Forms Crafts Daisy Events Fall Product Field Trips Junior Leader Tips Patches Scrapbook Service Projects Songs, Poems & Graces Workshops |
| Thinking Day Thinking Day Guide World-Thinking-Day Girl Scout Week Happy Birthday Girl Scouts Girl Scouts of Rolling Hills Activity Sheets Scouting Web |
| World Thinking Day, celebrated on February 22, was created in honor of Lord and Lady Baden-Powell and their role in the international Girl Guides and Girl Scouts programs. It is an INTERNATIONAL day of refection on the sisterhood that extends around the world. Girls are supposed to be learning about how Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in other countries live, what we share in common as members of WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guide and Girl Scouts) and how our lives are different/same. How is our Promise and Law(s) the same/different? It's a time to try new games, food, songs, words, discover new places, dress, cultures and beliefs. The purpose of the day is to think globally and act locally. In the words of Lord-Baden Powell, "Look Wide! And when you are looking wider, look wider still." Let's help the girls "think wider still." |
 |
 |
| 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 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. 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. |