HAPPY 101st BIRTHDAY, GIRL SCOUTS
BEDFORD, NH – What has influenced 50 million American women so far and is still going strong after 101 years? Girl Scouting! On March 12, more than 14,500 thousand Girl Scouts from across New Hampshire and Vermont join sister Girl Scouts nationwide in celebrating the 101st birthday of the founding of Girl Scouting in the United States. For more than a century, Girl Scouts has stayed true to founder Juliette Gordon Low's vision of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
“During Girl Scout Week, we renew our commitment to making the world a better place,” said Patricia Mellor, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains. “We know that if a commitment to helping others is learned early in life, it leads to a commitment for all of one’s life.”
Girl Scout Week begins with Girl Scout Sunday on March 10, and ends with Girl Scout Sabbath on March 16, recognizing that the motivating force in Girl Scouting is a spiritual one. Girl Scouts are encouraged to participate in religious services of their choice in uniform on these days to show that Girl Scouting is a vital part of the community.
Juliette Gordon Low founded Girl Scouting on March 12, 1912 in Savannah, Georgia, with one troop of 18 girls. Since then more than 50 million girls have built leadership skills through Girl Scouting. Low believed that young women should be self-sufficient. From its inception, the movement taught girls the art of hospitality, civic and community service, kindness to animals, and also how to survive in the woods. Before women had the right to vote, Girl Scouts were earning their Aviation Badge. Now, Girl Scouts have piloted the Space Shuttle!
Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains serves more than 14,500 girls thanks to 5,500 trained and dedicated volunteers. See www.girlscoutsgwm.org or call 888-474-9686 to join, volunteer, sign up as an alumna—or see where to buy cookies (while they last!).
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