Girl Scout History

March 12:

Juliette Gordon Low establishes the first Girl Guide troop in Savannah, Georgia with 18 girls. 108 girls enrolled as members following the first troop meeting.

1917

Mrs. Edith Wilson, the country’s First Lady, becomes the first honorary president of Girl Scouts.

First troop of physically disabled girls in the U.S. organizes in New York City.

May 6: Toledo Girl Scout Council receives first U.S. charter. Later in May, Cincinnati Girl Scout Council receives the second charter.

1920

Milestone

Nearly 100 Girl Scout Councils in the U.S., with almost 70,000 girl members.

October 31:

Juliette Gordon Low's birthday, becomes known as Founder's Day in Girl Scouts.

Service Hours

Girl Scout check for 15,430,000 hours of service is given to President Roosevelt.

Milestone

1 million members register in Girl Scouts. More than a quarter of a million girls go to Girl Scout camps.

1980

Silver and Gold Award

The Silver and Gold Award become the two highest awards Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts can earn.

100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts

In May, the Toledo Art Museum dedicates a State of Ohio historical marker to celebrate being the first council chartered.

Cookie Program

First nationally-franchised Girl Scout Cookie Program.

GSUSA Announces STEM initiative

GSUSA announces a national initiative to reduce the gender gap in STEM fields by bringing 2.5 million girls into the STEM pipeline over the next eight years.