Kelly Gilmore
Check out the rich history of the Girls Scouts of America organization and how it has transformed since its humble beginnings.
“On my honor, I will try to serve God and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law.” This promise is one that millions of girls have lived by since Girl Scouts of America was founded over 100 years ago.
In 1912, Juliette Gordon Low launched the organization as a small troop of just 18 girls in Savannah, Georgia. Its humble beginnings were built on the vision of building girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.
Through activities that promote leadership and community citizenship, such as volunteering and selling those cookies that we all know, love and crave every year, participating youth learn important life skills they will carry into adulthood. In fact, 52% of female business leaders, 69% of female U.S. senators and 100% of female U.S. secretaries of states were Girls Scouts, according to the Girls Scouts of America website.
The organization has had many notable contributions throughout its rich history, including the creation of “Kits for Korea” during the Korean War in the 1950s and hosting Speak Out conferences for racial inequality in the 1960s, among others. Modern Girl Scouts continue to make a difference in their communities.
Today, there are about 2.6 million Girl Scouts in 92 countries and more than 50 million alums, according to the Girl Scouts of America website. The program now centers around STEM, the outdoors, life skills development and entrepreneurship as it builds the next generation of female leaders.
While the organization has changed through the years to keep up with changing times, its values remain the same. And there is a wide circle of women and girls — some friends and some bonded only by their participation in the program — who continue to live by the Girl Scout Law, just as Juliette Gordon Low would have wanted
According to Girls Scouts of America, the organization unleashes the G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader) in every girl. Girl Scouts is proven to help girls thrive in five key ways.
1. Develop a strong sense of self.
2. Display positive values.
3. Seek challenges and learn from setbacks.
4. Form and maintain healthy relationships.
5. Identify and solve problems in the community.
This fall, G.I.R.L. 2020 is taking over Orlando for an exciting celebration of friendships, connections and trying new things. On Oct. 23-25, 2020, Girls Scouts of America will host an event that will inspire, teach and empower girls from around the world.
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