Juliette Gordon Low: Founder of Girl Scouts
Council: A non-profit corporation, chartered by GSUSA, that manages Girl Scouting in a specific geographic region. They have the unenviable task of coordinating cookie season, among other jobs.
Girl Scout Service Unit: A group of volunteers who provide support for neighborhood troops. They run membership drives, provide cookie training, organize camps, throw events, and basically do whatever is needed in their area. And they do all this for free.
Girl Scout Promise: 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.
Girl Scout Law: I will do my best to be, honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to, respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.
Tag-A-Long: A person who is not part of Girl Scouts, but knows a scout, and comes along for a Girl Scout activity. They can be a friend, sibling, or other relative. Often dropped off without money, parental contact info, or proper attire.
SWAPS: Little trinkets made by Girl Scouts to share with others. These are generally attached to a hat or some sort of cloth banner with a safety pin. SWAPS stands for Special Watchamacallit Affectionately Pinned Somewhere. They are all at once a delight and a nuisance…kind of like soft-serve on a hot July day.
Badge: Official insignia earned by completing requirements. These are placed on the front of the uniform.
Patch: Unofficial insignia placed on the back of the uniform. DO NOT place these on the front. There are people who will find you and make you pay if you mess this up.
Bridging: The ceremony where girls from one level to the next. Leaders get teary. Girls do not.
Bronze Award: The highest award a Girl Scout Junior can earn. Requires at least 20 hours and the completion of a sustainable community project.
Silver Award: The highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn. Requires at least 50 hours and the completion of a sustainable community project.
Gold Award: The highest award a Girl Scout can earn. Requires an individual sustainable community project with at least 100 hours of work. Open to high school Girl Scouts. Think Eagle Scout, but without the publicity.
Daisy: A scout in grades K-1. In one word…cute!
Brownie: A scout in grades 2-3. In one word…loud!
Junior: A scout in grades 4-5. In one word…capable!
Cadette: A scout in grades 6-8. In one word…sarcastic!
Senior: A scout in grades 9-10. In one word…helpful!
Ambassador: A scout in grades 11-12. In one word…amazing!
Kaper Chart: Chart listing each girl’s responsibilities for an activity. Likes to become very complicated. Generally teaches girls life is not fair. Generally teaches leaders K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid).
*The views in this blog are my own and in no way affiliated with Girl Scouts USA
The Marvel of the Ordinary Life 