Girl Scouts USA Cookie Sale 2001 / 2000 / 1999 / 1998 / 1997 Home Page
Girl Scout Promise / Law Calendar 2001 / 2000 / 1999 / 1998 / 1997 Troop 2001 / 2000 / 1999 / 1998 / 1997
About Girl Scouts The Five Worlds Juniors / Brownies Activities 2001 / 2000 / 1999
Glossary / History / Songs Sign / View Guest Book Links
Girl Scout Logo

junior2.gif (3662 bytes)
Troop 1440
Wakefield, MA

Patriot's Trail Logo

Glossary of Girl Scout Terms

Baden-Powell
Lord and Lady Robert Baden-Powell were the founders of the Boy Scouts and Girl Guide movement for boys and girls. Olave his wife, was the World Chief Guide.
Badge
Round embroidered recognition for Junior and Cadette Girl Scouts to indicate increased knowledge and skill in a particular subject.
Bridging
The move from one program age level of Girl Scouting to the next (e.g.. from Junior to Cadette Girl Scouting.)
Buddy System
A safety practice in which girls of equal ability are paired to help and to keep track of each other.
Core Camping
Troop camping with some council provided staff (e.g., cook, waterfront, program director) at a given campsite.
Counselor-in-Training (CIT)
A Senior Girl Scout who is taking a course to learn outdoor group leadership skills as a camp counselor.
Court of Awards
A ceremony that can be held any time during the year at which badges, recognitions, and awards are presented.
Court of Honor
Committee made up of the leader, patrol leaders, troop secretary and treasurer for decision making purposes.
Day Camp
Camping by the day for a minimum of four consecutive days.
Fly-up
The ceremony in which a Brownie Girl Scout "graduates" to Junior Girl Scouts.
Founder’s Day
Juliette Low’s birthday, October 31.
Friendship Circle
The friendship circle is often formed at the end of meetings or campfires as a sort of closing ceremony. Everyone gathers in a circle where they cross their right arm over their left in front of them and hold hands with the people on either side. Once everyone is silent, the leader starts the friendship squeeze which is passed from hand to hand. Often the girls will make a wish after their hand has been squeezed before they pass the squeeze along. Also, in some larger groups, the girls put their right foot out into the circle when they receive the friendship squeeze, so that everyone can see it travel along the circle.
Girl Guides
The original name for Girl Scouts, still used in many countries.
Girl Scout Birthday
March 12 is the Girl Scout birthday because it marks the first meeting of Girl Scouts in the U. S. A. in Savannah, Georgia, in 1912.
Girl Scout Handshake
This is the way many Girl Scouts and Girl Guides greet each other. They shake their left hands while making the Girl Scout sign with their right hand. The left handed handshake represents friendship because the left hand is closer to the heart than the right.
Girl Scout Leader's Day
April 22, a special day to honor Girl Scout leaders.
Girl Scout Sign
The official Girl Scout greeting. The right hand is raised shoulder high with the three middle fingers extended and the thumb crossing over the palm to hold down the little finger. These three fingers represent the three parts of the Girl Scout Promise.
Girl Scout's Own
A quiet inspirational ceremony that has a theme and is planned by Girl Scouts and their leaders.
Girl Scout Week
An annual celebration during the week of March 12th, the Girl Scouts birthday.
GSUSA
Girl Scouts of the United States of America.
Interest Project
Rectangular embroidered recognition for Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts.
Investiture
A special ceremony in which a new member makes her Girl Scout Promise and receives her membership pin.
Kaper Chart
A chart that shows the delegation of jobs and rotation of responsibility day by day and/or meal by meal.
Leader-In-Training (LIT)
A Senior Girl Scout who is taking a course to learn leadership skills as a troop leader.
Low, Juliette Gordon (nicknamed Daisy)
Founder of Girl Scouting in the United States, she formed the first troop that met in Savannah, Georgia on March 12,1912.
Motto
"Be Prepared."
Program Aide
Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts who have been trained to assist younger Girl Scout groups with songs games, crafts, ceremonies or skills.
Patrol
A widely used form of troop government where the troop divides into small groups.
Program Trail
A diagram for planning program activities in which one idea sparks another.
Quiet Sign
The Girl Scout signal for silence in a group situation. In order to maintain order at lively Girl Scout functions, the leader raises her right hand for silence. The girls follow in the motion; as their hands go up, the conversation stops, until everyone has their hand up and the room is silent.
Rededication
A formal ceremony at which a girl or adult, who was previously invested, renews her Girl Scout Promise.
Resident Camp
A sustained camping experience for a minimum of six days, with overnight sleeping at a council owned, leased, rented or borrowed facility.
Safety-Wise
A GSUSA book with safety program standards and guidelines.
Service Team
A group of adult volunteers responsible for organizing and delivering service to Girl Scouts directed by service unit manager.
Service Unit
A geographic subdivision within the council.
Sit Upon
A "cushion" often made by Girl Scouts to use when the ground is damp or to keep their clothes clean.
Slogan
"Do a good turn daily."
Thinking Day
Celebrated by Girl Guides and Girl Scouts throughout the world, February 22 is the birthday of Lord Baden-Powell and lady Baden-Powell. This is the day for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides to think about their sisters around the world, through special projects, international program activities or pen pal projects.
Trefoil
The international symbol of Girl Scouting. The three leaves of the trefoil represent the three parts of the promise.
Try-it
Triangular embroidered recognition for Brownie Girl Scouts.
Wide Game
A game played by following a trail with stops at several stations.
Wider Opportunity
Any Girl Scout activity that takes girls outside their own troop or council.
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS)
An international educational association for girls with a membership of eight million.
World Trefoil Pin
A pin worn by all Girl Scouts and Girl Guides.
World Centers
Four program activity centers owned by WAGGGS. The centers are located in Mexico, England, India, and Switzerland.

WAGGGS Ring

Some of the graphics on this page are courtesy of Graphmaster

 graphmastersm.gif (7129 bytes)

© Copyright 1988 - 2003 by Dana J. Montgomery. Copying of this web page in whole or in part (logo, images, text, etc.) is prohibited without express written permission of Dana J. Montgomery. people have visited us since 4/29/97. Counter courtesy of Web Counter.
E-mail Email Dana Montgomery
digital productions Logo design by
digital productions
Revised: February 25, 2007
Netscape Navigator Logo Internet Explorer Logo Safe Surf Logo RSACi Logo Blue Ribbon Campaign Logo