+ DID YOU Know?
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.
By Kelly Gilmore and Lyndsay Fogarty
According to Girls Scouts of
America, the organization
unleashes the G.I.R.L.
(Go-getter, Innovator, Risktaker,
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.
The Girl Scout
Difference
44 Central Florida Lifestyle | March 2020