Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) is the largest organization for girls in the world. The organization was founded by Juliette Gordon Low in Savannah, Georgia, on March 12, 1912. That was 102 years ago! Girl Scouts of the USA was defined as a formal organization by the United States Congress on March 16, 1950.
The Girl Scouts mission is to build “girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.”
FUN FACTS
- Juliette Low's nickname was Daisy
- Juliette Low's Birthday is Halloween October 31, 1860.
- One of founder Juliette Low skills was standing on her head. She stood on her head for every birthday to prove she could still do it. Once, she even stood on her head in the board room at the National Headquarters to show off the new Girl Scout shoes!
- During World War II, a “Liberty Ship” was named in honor of Juliette Low.
- Juliette Low became deaf in one ear during childhood. She lost the hearing in her other ear at the age of 26, when a grain of rice thrown at her.
- Over 50 million American women were Girl Scouts during their childhood.
- There are Girl Scout troops in more than 92 countries. And as part of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), scouts are part of a worldwide sisterhood of 10 million girls and adults in 145 countries.
- Today, there are 3.2 million Girl Scouts – 2.3 million girl members and 880,000 adult volunteers.
- There are Girl Scout troops in more than 92 countries. And as part of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), scouts are part of a worldwide sisterhood of 10 million girls and adults in 145 countries.
- Famous girl scouts include: comedian Lucille Ball and news anchor Katie Couric.
- A rainbow is embroidered on every bridging badge.
- "Be prepared" is the Girl Scout motto.
- They're are six levels Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador.
- Girl Scout cookies started by baked cookie sales to raise money during WWI.
- In the 1920s and 1930s, Girl Scouts in different parts of the country baked their own simple sugar cookies and sold them to raise money for their activities.
- The first documented council wide sale of commercially baked cookies took place in Philadelphia in 1934.
- The first national Girl Scout Cookie sale was held in 1936.
- The best selling Girl Scout cookie is the Thin Mint. It is also the third-best-selling cookie of any kind in the US.
- In 1948, a total of 29 companies were licensed to bake Girl Scout Cookies. Today there are two official Girl Scout Cookie bakers. ABC Bakers has been an officially licensed Girl Scout Cookie baker for more than 75 years.
- Each season, Girl Scouts sell almost 200 million packages of Girl Scout Cookies!
- Our Thanks-A-Lot Girl Scout Cookies speak five different languages: English, Spanish, French, Chinese, and Swahili!