On March 12 , 1912 , a venerable new women ’s group call the Girl Scouts of the United States of America was organized . Far beyond being cooky merchants , Girl Scoutshelpinstill skills that reward leadership and can comply a Scout throughout her life . Currently , 1.7 million Girl Scouts areactiveacross the macrocosm , and more than 50 million are alumni . For more on the story of the mathematical group , keep reading .
1. The first Girl Scouts were known as Girl Guides in England, and society disapproved of them.
Girl Scoutsbeganwith an American subsist overseas . Born in Savannah , Georgia , in 1860 , Juliette Gordon Low marry William Mackay Low in 1886 . Because Low was to begin with from England , the couple actuate there . In 1905 , William died ; Juliette Gordon Low remained in the country . In 1912 , Low had a uncaused meeting with Lord Robert Baden - Powell , the founder of the Boy Scouts . Baden - Powell told Low he was interested in setting up a similar organization for girls after hewitnesseda number of girls “ crashing ” a Boy Scouts group meeting in 1909 and proclaiming themselves Girl Scouts ; Low expressed interest in aiding the cause . With thehelpof Agnes Baden - Powell , Robert ’s babe — who had been working on the estimate beginning in 1910 — two troops of Girl Guides were dress up in Scotland and one in London .
These other girl groups were not perceived as a positive twist of events in England . According to author Stacy A. Cordery , who publishedJuliette Gordon Low : The Remarkable Founder of the Girl Scoutsin 2012 , the Girl Guides met with resistance from the governance . “ There were complaints , in England , about mannish girls and girls not being peaceful if they were in a uniform that looked like a military uniform , ” CorderytoldSmithsonian in 2012 . “ There were concerns about girls being too acrobatic or indulging in sports , game or outside action that were not appropriate for their sex . But , in the United States , there were already progressive epoch movements afoot suggesting that youngster needed outdoor exercising , to play , to get out of the schoolroom and to be able to run and be detached . ”
In other words , Low ’s ambitions were head for America . She revert to Savannah in 1912 and begin recruit the girls of family in town as well as her own youthful relation . Members learned mapping reading , first aid , and knot tying , among other science . The virtue badge system was adopted from England . Low alter the name from Girl Guides to Girl Scouts in 1913 , the same yr the organization went national . ( Girl Guides finally became a part of England ’s culture . The futureQueen Elizabeth IIwas firstcrowneda Girl Guide in 1937 . )
2. There’s tension between Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts.
When the Girl Guideschangedtheir name to Girl Scouts in 1913 , James E. West , Chief Boy Scout Executive , was n’t happy . He felt both groups having “ scout ” in their name would adversely move his Boy Scouts group , potentially “ sissifying ” its member and making young men wary of participating in an organization they believe was open to girls . He also need issue with their khaki uniforms , which were the same stuff as the son ’s version . West far favor the Camp Fire Girls , another miss ’s group that rate an vehemence on domesticated acquisition like cookery and cleaning . West even tried bringing sound action against Girl Scouts , to little avail . He continued to bemoan the existence of Girl Scouts until he retired in the 1940s .
The competition is not yet over . In 2018 , the Girl Scoutsfileda causa over trademark infraction when the Boy Scouts changed their name to Scouts BSA , a move the Girl Scouts take would promote discombobulation . In 2020 , they sued again , say that levy tactics perpetuate by the Boy Scouts , which began allow girls into its ranks , was prejudicious Girl Scouts .
3. Girl Scout skills helped out during World War I and World War II.
The Scouts were direct just metre for a Brobdingnagian indigence for help handspromptedby America ’s entering into World War I. Membership was bolstered by young women look to assist in the warfare effort , and Scouts take part in activities as diverse as tending to victory gardens , labor ambulances for the Red Cross , and selling war bonds . It was during the war that the Scouts first startedofferingtheir Girl Scout Cookies .
World War II was no different . Girl Scoutsaddedscrap metal collection to their duties , along with becoming bike couriers and assisting children during atmosphere raids . Cookies , however , were off the card — supply shortages induce a dip in inventory , so Girl Scouts take to selling calendar or else .
4. Saul Bass designed the Girl Scouts logo.
In 1978 , the Girl Scouts recruit Saul Bass todesigntheir now - iconic logotype , a “ medick ” shape of three girls in visibility . Bass was a renowned in writing architect best known forcreatingthe title credits to several classic films and posters , include 1959’sAnatomy of a Murder . The logotype was updated in 2010 to reflect more contemporary hairdo .
5. The record industry tried to shake down the Girl Scouts.
6. Girl Scouts have a special hand sign and promise.
When a Girl Scoutrecitesthe Girl Scout Promise , she ’s to hold up the middle three finger of her odd deal with the thumb hold the pinky . The Promisereads :
Girl Scouts also have a special handshaking used when greeting other Girl Scouts . member bear up the hand sign with their right bridge player and shake with their left , because the left over hand is closelipped to the heart .
7. Girl Scouts have produced a lot of astronauts.
For proof of the strength of Girl Scouts to instill smell of leading and ambition in fellow member , look no further than NASA . Over 20 Girl Scouts have gone on tobecomeastronauts , including Dr. Kathryn Sullivan , who was thefirstAmerican woman to perform a blank walk in 1984 .
8. Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low was buried in her Girl Scout uniform.
Once a Scout , always a Scout . When Girl scout founder Juliette Gordon Low died on January 17 , 1927 , she wasburiedin Laurel Grove Cemetery in Georgia in her Scout uniform . A telegram from the national office of the Girl Scouts was put in her air hole . It read : “ You are not only the first Girl Scout , but the good Girl Scout of them all . ”
