In England, 1908, Lord Robert Baden-Powell started the Boy Scouts. Based on the program he started for the boys, his sister Agnes Baden-Powell organized the Girl Guides in 1910. Juliette Gordon Low also knew the Baden-Powells and was helpful in starting Girl Guide troops in Scotland and in London, England. Two years later, in 1912, Lord Baden-Powell married Olave Baden-Powell, who helped Agnes with the Girl Guides.
It was at this time, in 1912, that Juliette Gordon Low returned to the United States and started the Girl Scouts here.
The concept of these two Scout organizations became very popular throughout the world. In 1920, an international meeting was held and 19 countries were represented. The idea of Girl Scouts and Girl Guides spread to many countries and by 1928, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) was formed by 26 countries.
They decided to honor Lord and Lady Baden-Powell by making their birthday, both on February 22nd, a special day for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides world-wide. On this day every year, all Girl Scouts and Girl Guides all over the world have a special meeting to 'think' about the world-wide community of Scouting and what it means, thus creating Thinking Day!
As of 1999, there are 136 countries that belong to WAGGGS. In all these countries, the Girl Scouts and Girl Guides have many things in common. We have the same Promise and Law, with only slight wording variations. We have the same Scouting program and symbols of the trefoil, salute, WAGGGS pin, motto and we all share Thinking Day.
In honor of Thinking Day each troop in Benton County choose a country to represent. Each troop was to come up with a flag and display about their country. Each girl was to become a Girl Scout from their troop's country for the afternoon and show the other Scouts what Girl Scouting is like in their country. Each Girl was given a passport when she arrived at Thinking Day and as she visited the other booths she got her passport stamped. The Scouts got to see maps and flags of each country and even got to taste food and play a game that originated from each country. All the Girl Scouts and Leaders worked really hard to make this day a true success! Thank you, ladies!
Now that you've read about Thinking Day, let's see all the fun the girls had, click on the link below to begin the photo album...
