Girl Scouts Centennial :10 Ways to Celebrate

In 2012, we celebrate the Girl Scouts Centennial - the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts. The program began March 12, 1912, when Juliette Low organized the very first troop of 18 girls as American Girl Guides. By the following year, the name changed to Girl Scouts, and the program encouraged "every girl" to take part in the outdoors, in her community, and to prepare for careers in homemaking or in the office. It was important to Juliette that girls were prepared to be leaders, and that the Girl Scout movement reflected a nurturing of a girl's talents and skills that could take her anywhere she desired.

Now, with over 50 million past and current Girl Scouts, scouting continues to have a positive impact on the lives of girls. Join in the Girl Scouts Centennial celebration by choosing to participate in a community service project or other activity with your troop, in honor of the woman who started it all. Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Take the Girl Scouts Forever Green Pledge! This is the official 100th Anniversary Take Action Project from GSUSA. Local Councils will select one of three projects to complete during the early part of 2012. The projects include

• Reduce Plastic Waste: During the month of February, learn about and help to reduce plastic waste in the community. Help keep plastic waste out of the landfill while raising awareness.
• Earth Hour: During March, learn about saving energy and money, and then replace incandescent light bulbs at home. Participate in Earth Hour by turning off the lights for one hour during the last Saturday in March.
• Building a Rain Garden: During the month of April, learn about, construct, and then maintain rain gardens in schools or in the community. Increase green space and wildlife habitat.

2. Do 100 Hours of Service: With your troop, complete 100 hours of community service during 2012. Have girls brainstorm ideas as to where and who you can help.

3. Teach100 girls CPR or Safety: Organize a safety fair and invite the Red Cross or other organization to conduct CPR demonstrations. Have girls conduct a badge workshop to teach safety and first aid techniques to younger girls. Make a goal of reaching 100 girls!

4. Make 100 cookies for the local fire department: Have a baking day and bake 100 cookies and deliver them to your local fire fighters. Thank them for keeping the community safe.

5. Hike or walk a total of 100 miles: Earn an outdoor skills patch or badge by walking 100 miles over several hikes. Learn about new parts of the community by walking them and take younger girls along to teach them about the outdoors.

6. Organize a clean-up day: Make a trip to a Girl Scout camp property or local campground and pull 100 weeds. Be sure to ask the ranger to help you identify weeds!

7. Organize an e-waste recycling event: Every community has electronic waste that is difficult to get rid of properly. Call an e-waste recycler and organize a collection event for the community. Make a goal of collecting 100 pounds!

8. Hold a Candle Ceremony: For Thinking Day in February 2012, close with a candle ceremony with 100 candles. (You'll need at least 10 adults to light 10 candles each.)

9. Have a Centennial Eve party: Have a party to celebrate the Girl Scout Centennial on March 11, 2012, and ring in 100 years at midnight!

10. Have a concert or sock hop: Put together songs from each decade of Girl Scouts and hold a community concert or Girl Scout sock hop.

Congratulations to every Girl Scout past and present, for participating in a wonderful organization that truly celebrates everything amazing about every girl.