Five Ways to Celebrate Girls Scouts' Birthday

By Helen Orloff

Girl Scouts is 93 and looking great! The Girl Scout Birthday, March 12, commemorates the day in 1912 when Juliette Gordon Low officially registered the organization's first 18 girl members in Savannah, Georgia.

Here are some fun ideas to get the celebration going.

1. Throw a Girl Scout Bash

Everyone loves a party, but keep in mind that the definition of "party" can vary. Ask the girls how they want to celebrate the Girl Scout birthday as a group.
You may suggest cooking foods from Savannah, trying Girl Scout Cookie recipes, or decorating cupcakes with green frosting. Ask the girls if they would like to invite their friends or families to join in the celebration. The more the merrier and a good opportunity for parents to see their daughter's Girl Scout group in action.

2. Visit with Juliette Low

Birthdays can be a time of reflection. Let the girls design an event around Girl Scouting's early years. Activities can include music, art, and the culture of Savannah or their own hometown. The girls may even decide to hold a mock interview with Juliette Low. To get the process started, ask the girls:

• How would Juliette Low react to today's girls?
• What did she do for fun at the ages of 5, 10, and 15?
• What kinds of jobs were available to women in 1912?

Each girl can have a turn at portraying Juliette.

3. Create a Scrapbook

A scrapbook of pictures can conjur up fond memories and is a great way to record events. Suggest the idea to the girls—they can bring in photos, drawings, and poems of what Girl Scouting has meant for them. The girls can decorate the pages and the cover together.

4. Focus on Environment

Explain how Girl Scouts prides itself on making a positive impact in communities and the natural environment. Talk with the girls about leaving the world a better place than they found it. Ask them how they might make a difference in their neighborhoods. The ideas can be placed in a hat and one can be selected for the girls to do as a group. If the girls are stuck for ideas, suggest planting a tree in a local park or a recycling activity.

5. See a Movie

With everyone's hectic schedules, take time out for a movie. The girls can choose the movie, then go out for pizza and a chat about the movie. It may be just the thing to celebrate. Welcome and encourage girls to exchange their ideas and opinions about the movie. After all, that's what Girl Scouts is all about—girls learning to express themselves and respond to others in a respectful way.

Whether the girls decide to have a birthday party or plant a tree, the important thing is to provide an opportunity for the girls to celebrate together. Happy Birthday Girl Scouts!