To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
At Girl Scout meetings around the world, girls recite that promise. It's not a small number of girls either - there are currently 2.8 million girls in Girl Scouts, just in the United States alone. So just what is this Girl Scouting thing anyway?
Girl Scouts is an organization dedicated to helping girls realize their potential and build character and skills that will serve them well later in life. The first American Girl Scout troop was founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low in Savannah, Georgia. The Girl Scouts of the USA was chartered by Congress in 1950. Since its beginnings, more than 50 million American women have enjoyed Girl Scouting in some form or another.
Programs for girls start at the age of five, when most of them enter kindergarten. From their beginnings as Daisies, girls then become Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, and finally Seniors, spanning from kindergarten to high school. They have opportunities to earn badges on things that interest them, such as computers and language and camping. Many girls also participate in service projects, both on a local and a regional level.
Most Girl Scout troops meet in local schools or churches; if you're looking to get involved you can ask around or check for the local council in your area. Also check with the national website for more information on how to join or the history of Girl Scouting.