Girl Scouts begin a new membership year on October 1! That means a whole new year of friendship, fun, and adventure.
Did your Girl Scout get a new uniform this year? We have resources available to help families find out where to put badges, patches, insignia and awards.
Girl Scout Traditions:
Here are a few traditions that every Girl Scout knows:
Girl Scout sign: Girl Scouts make the Girl Scout sign—raising three fingers of the right hand with the thumb holding down the pinky—when they say the Girl Scout Promise. The three fingers represent the three parts of the Promise.
Motto: The Girl Scout motto is "Be prepared." In the 1947 Girl Scout Handbook, the motto was explained this way: "A Girl Scout is ready to help out wherever she is needed. Willingness to serve is not enough; you must know how to do the job well, even in an emergency." The same holds true today.
Slogan: The Girl Scout slogan is "Do a good turn daily." The slogan, which has been used since 1912, is a reminder that Girl Scouts can make a difference in big and small ways.
Greeting: Girl Scouts can greet one another with the Girl Scout handshake, used by Girl Scouts and Girl Guides all over the world. The handshake is made by shaking hands with the left hand and making the Girl Scout sign with the right. The left hand is nearer to the heart and signifies friendship.
Friendship Circle: Representing the unbroken chain of friendship among Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world, the Friendship Circle involves Girl Scouts standing in a circle, crossing their right arms over their left, and clasping hands with their friends on both sides. Everyone then makes a silent wish as a friendship squeeze is passed from hand to hand around the circle.