From Humble Beginnings
Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low assembled 18 girls from Savannah, Georgia, on March 12, 1912, for a local Girl Scout meeting. She believed that all girls should be given the opportunity to develop physically, mentally, and spiritually. With the goal of bringing girls out of isolated home environments and into community service and the open air, Girl Scouts hiked, played basketball, went on camping trips, learned how to tell time by the stars, and studied first aid. Girl Scouting became immensely popular. Within a few years, Daisy’s dream for a girl-centered organization was realized.
Girl Scouts of the USA was chartered by the U.S. Congress on March 16, 1950.
Today, there are 3.7 million Girl Scouts—2.7 million girl members and 928,000 adult members working primarily as volunteers.
Girls at home and abroad participate in more than 236,000 troops and groups in more than 90 countries through USA Girl Scouts Overseas, and over 100 local Girl Scout councils offer girls the opportunity for membership across the United States.
Through its membership in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), Girl Scouts of the USA is part of a worldwide family of 10 million girls and adults in 145 countries.
GSUSA counts more than 50 million women in the U.S. today as Girl Scout alumnae.
The Girl Scout Mission
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
In 2012 the Girl Scouts will celebrate our 100 year anniversary….
And Girl Scouting is still offering girls important opportunities to learn new skills, to develop lifelong friendships, to engage in meaningful projects that make the world a better place, and beginning now is the unveiling of…
…The New Girl Scout Leadership Experience. This model engages girls in discovering themselves, connecting with others, and taking action to make the world a better place. This model begins with a definition of leadership that girls understand and believe in: a leader, girls say, is defined not only by the qualities and skills one has, but also by how those qualities and skills are used to make a difference in the world….Transforming Leadership (2008 GSUSA).
The Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails invites you to become part of the premier organization for girls’ leadership in the world. Contact us today to see how Girl Scouting can positively impact a girl in your life.
