Feel free to exchange SWAPS during the weekend. SWAPS are a little something that you make that can be traded or SWAPPED with other. SWAPS generally have a safety pin, clothespin, or string to allow the SWAP to be attached to something.

Why SWAP? To promote friendship. To learn to talk other people. To have memories of a good time. To share our handiwork with others Scouts. Girls on wider opportunities and adults at national meetings swap patches and hand made items. These often reflect the area or council where the Scout lives.

SWAPS are sometimes referred to as potlatch, which is of Native American origin. POTLATCH is the ceremonial exchange of gifts practiced by Native North Americans of the Northwest Coast Tribes. The custom stems from the legend explaining why birds have colored feathers. As the story goes, two Indian girls plucked colored feathers from a magic bird and distributed the multicolored plumage to the colorless birds living in the forest. From that time on, birds have had brightly colored feathers, and those gifts were remembered at potlatch ceremonies.

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The GIRL SCOUTS name, mark and all associated trademarks and logotypes, including the Trefoil Design, are owned by GSUSA.

Last updated 03/05/2002

©copyright 2001 & 2002Dane S. Swimeley

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