2012: The Year of the Girl

On March 12, 1912, Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low assembled 18 girls from Savannah, GA, for a local Girl Scout meeting. She believed that all girls should be given the opportunity to develop physically, mentally and spiritually. With the goal of bringing girls out of isolated home environments and into community service and the open air, Girl Scouts hiked, played basketball, went on camping trips, learned how to tell time by the stars, and studied first aid. Within a few years, Daisy’s dream for a girl-centered organization was realized.

Today, Girl Scouts of the USA has a membership of over 3.4 million girls and adults, a significant growth from its modest beginnings nearly a century ago. In fact, more than 50 million women in the United States today are Girl Scout Alumnae.

In 2012, Girl Scouts of the USA will mark 100 years of inspiring girls and young women with the ideals of courage, confidence and character. This milestone provides a unique opportunity to reflect on the tremendous contributions the organization has made over the past century, and also to rally support for the next 100 years of Girl Scouting.

Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay will be celebrating this special occasion from August 2011–October 2012 through a variety of girl, Troop, Service Unit and Council-sponsored events. See the chart below for a list of fun activities. Be a part of history and join the Girl Scouts’ 100th Anniversary Celebration!

We are thrilled to be approaching the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts of the USA on March 12, 2012, and we’re gearing up to celebrate this occasion in style!  We are already hearing about fun projects and events that are being planned by Troops and Service Units throughout the Delmarva Peninsula. To keep up with all of the activity please post your ideas on the GSCB Facebook page. There are so many exciting plans and so many different ways to celebrate the 100th year of Girl Scouting! Stay tuned to see what cool new things are happening in honor of Girl Scouting’s biggest anniversary ever. Be a part of history; celebrate the 100th Anniversary of GSUSA and the 50th of Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay. Download our brief overview of events HERE.

Anniversary events are being created as we speak!
Check back often to stay up to date on the latest events!

Community Service Initiative

To help commemorate the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouting, we want to celebrate by giving back to the community! From August 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012, we are asking every Girl Scout across the Council to work together to give a combined total of 1 million service hours to the communities served by Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay. Although this is a large number, if everyone works together, we can achieve and even exceed our goal. All forms of service hours will be accepted. To submit your volunteer hours now!

100th Anniversary Birthday Celebration

WHEN: March 9 – 12, 2012, Ocean City, MD

Cost: $8 per girl

Registration Deadline: January 15, 2012

Come for the day, come for the night, come for the weekend to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts! Help us make memories for Girl Scouts of all ages that will last a lifetime! The weekend will include a Meet and Greet Friday night, activity stations on Saturday, birthday party Saturday afternoon, Talent Show Saturday evening for Girl Scouts of all ages, world’s largest batch of GORP, SWAPS, Alumnae Luncheon Saturday and a Closing Ceremony Sunday morning. Registration for this event has now closed, thank you.

Thin Mint 5K Run/Walk

WHEN: Sunday, April 15, 2012, Wilmington, DE

Registration start time: 9 a.m.
Kiddie Fun Run start time: 9:50 a.m. 5K Run/Walk time: 10 a.m.

The Thin Mint 5K Run/Walk is for all ages and is an event for the entire family. The course has been professionally designed and will be officially timed. A Fun Run for kids under 8 will take place prior to the 5k run/walk. Participants will receive a box of Thin Mints and Daisy thru Ambassador Girl Scouts will receive a Thin Mint Run/Walk patch. Register by March 1 to get a free T-shirt!

To register please fill out the Thin Mint 5K registration form HERE and follow instructions on where to send. -OR- REGISTER ONLINE!

100th Anniversary Sing-A-Long on the National Mall

WHEN/WHERE: June 9, 2012, National Mall, Washington DC

Want to “Rock the Mall” with thousands of your Girl Scout friends from across the nation? Here’s your chance! Join us for an once-in-a-lifetime trip to Washington, D.C., where, on Saturday June 9, 2012, we will celebrate the 100th Birthday of Girl Scouts of the USA with a special sing-a-long on the National Mall.

Bring your Troop, your daughters and friends and join your Girl Scout sisters from around the world on the National Mall in our nation's capital. While in Washington, DC, you'll also have the chance to visit some of the historic sites and museums. Girl Scouts has 3.4 million members around the world and over 50 million alumnae.

What is a Sing-Along?
The Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital and their co-host, the Girl Scouts of the USA plan to celebrate our 100th Anniversary in true Girl Scout fashion: with songs.

Since the Girl Scout movement was founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low, we have used songs to celebrate friendship and express our commitment to girls' leadership. The Girl Scouts have a long tradition of holding a Sing-Along on the National Mall. We gathered for the 85th, 90th and 95th anniversary.

Over 250,000 Girl Scouts have lined the National Mall and sang some of our favorite Girl Scout songs, listened to the music and joined together to celebrate the strength of the Girl Scout movement. Become a part of the tradition!

When can I register?

Online registration, which includes a commemorative T-shirt and patch, will begin in January 2012. Visit Girl Scouts of the Nation’s Capital website at http://www.gscnc.org/singalong.html often for updates. You can also follow along on the Girl Scouts Rock the Mall Facebook page. "Like" them to keep up with important news and dates.

100th Anniversary Centennial Jamboree

WHEN: Oct. 19-21, 2012

WHERE: Delaware State Fairgrounds

Come experience history in the making and celebrate the 100th Year of Girl Scouting by discovering and learning new skills, connecting with friends and make new friendships that last a lifetime and taking action by learning about our world and making the world a better place. Visit the Jamboree's website for more information and to register!

100 Year History Patch Program

There’s a new patch program for girls to learn about the 100 year history of Girl Scouts with a focus on Girl Scouting in the Chesapeake Bay. This is a great opportunity to be involved in the Girl Scout Centennial patch program to help girls celebrate and to develop an appreciation of how their Council became what it is today.

Girl Scout History Exhibit

A Circle of Friends United By Ideals: Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of
Girl Scouting and the 50th Anniversary of the Chesapeake Bay Girl Scout Council

Camping, cookies, community service, and girl leadership and achievements over the last century will be the focus of an exhibit celebrating Girl Scouting, opening February 17, 2012 at the Delaware History Museum. The exhibit will feature uniforms, badges and pins, camping artifacts, collectibles and a hands-on “try-it” section, drawing from a rich archive of photographs, books and posters to illustrate the history of Girl Scouts in the region, from the earliest Troops formed in 1915 to the formation of the Chesapeake Bay Council in 1962 to the centennial honoring its legacy and future. A number of educational programs will be offered during the exhibition, which will run through June 16, 2012. The Delaware History Museum is located at 504 N. Market Street Wilmington, DE 19801 and you visit them online at www.dehistory.org | Download the promotional postcard HERE.

Forever Green Community Take Action Project

To mark our 100th anniversary and to honor founder Juliette Gordon Low, who loved nature and the outdoors, Girl Scouts of all ages, Volunteers and alumnae are engaging in Girl Scouts Forever Green. This nationwide, take-action project offers a meaningful leadership experience that makes a huge positive impact on the environment and increases the visibility of Girl Scouts in every community.

We are thrilled to be approaching the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts of the USA on March 12, 2012, and we’re gearing up to celebrate this occasion in style! We are already hearing about fun projects and events that are being planned by Troops and Service Units throughout the Council. To keep up with all the activity, please post your ideas on the GSCB Facebook page. There are so many exciting plans and different ways to celebrate the 100th year of Girl Scouting! Stay tuned to see what cool new things are happening. Be a part of history; celebrate the 100th anniversary of GSUSA.! In the meantime, visit our Forever Green page!

Tournament of Roses Parade

Be part of the 100th Anniversary Rose Parade Float by donating flowers for only $5 each. Your name or that of a loved one will be part of the float as it travels the 5½-mile parade route. It’s a great way to honor a loved one, Girl Scout alumnae, Troop Leaders, Gold Awardees and Girl Scouts (daughters, sisters, friends). To donate flowers, please visit the Tournament of Roses page at http://girlscoutsla.org/pages/events/TOR_parade.html

100 Ways to Celebrate the 100th Anniversary

Discover the rich history and exciting future of Girl Scouting by engaging in our 100 Ways to Celebrate the 100th activities. This is a list of creative and fun ideas and ways to help celebrate the centennial anniversary of Girl Scouting in the United States.

The Flat Juliette Program

Why Flat Juliette? Every Girl Scout should know who started the Girl Scouts and how amazing Juliette Gordon Low was! The Flat Juliette Program is a fun way to get to know our founder. The Flat Juliette Program is a penpal-type activity that promotes international literacy and friendship. It is based on the Flat Stanley/Stacie projects, started by a school teacher. As we gear up for the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts, GSCB’s Flat Juliette makes her debut and begins her travels.

Flat Juliette Travels
Send Flat Juliette to friends and family. Ask them to send her back with an entry in her journal page and photos of the places she went with them. Create a scrapbook of her travels.  Imagine what a map of her travels or her personal travel journal would show! But be sure to get her back in time to take her to Ocean City on March 10, 2012 for GSCB’s 100th Anniversary Birthday Celebration.

Flat Juliette’s Challenge
Keep Flat Juliette with you as you meet her monthly challenge. Each month, Flat Juliette will ask for advice on places to go, things to do or make, and people to meet. Take up her challenge, dress her appropriately for the activity and share what you did.

You can download Flat Juliette, her Uniform Outfit and Journal Pages by clicking here.

100 Year History Patch Program

There's two new patch programs for girls to learn about the 100 year history of Girl Scouts with a focus on Girl Scouting in the Chesapeake Bay. This is a great opportunity to be celebrate the Girl Scout Anniversary year and to develop an appreciation of how their council became what it is today.

Hats off to Girl Scouting: 100 Years of Scouting:  1912 – 2012

Welcome to the world of Juliette Low.  Life 100 years ago was very different from our experiences today.  We hope you enjoy going back in time as you earn this patch and learn what life was like for Juliette Low and the first Girl Scouts in the United States. Download a copy of the Hats Off to Girl Scouting Patch Program here.

Girl Scouting on the Delmarva Peninsula: Empowering Girls for 100 Years

Girl Scouting has a rich history on the Delmarva Peninsula.  This patch program is designed to celebrate the history of Girl Scouts in the USA and  how Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay became what it is today on the Delmarva Peninsula. Download a copy of the Girl Scouting on the Delmarva Peninsula Patch Program here.

Girl Scout History Resources

Troop Service Project: Birthday Party in a Box/Bag

Make a Birthday Party in a Box/Bag containing items needed for a child’s birthday party. Collect the birthday box/bag items and place them in a wrapped/decorated box/bag. Attach a card on the outside describing the items included and donate the box/bag to a local food pantry, shelter or group home to be given to a family with a birthday child.

Download a copy of the Birthday in a Box/Bag Flyer here.

Alumnae

All adult Girl Scouts (18 years and older), including former girls and former and current volunteers can register for the Girl Scouts Alumnae Association: Online Alumnae Community. This is the place to reconnect with old friends, make new friends and learn about plans for the 100th Anniversary! To reconnect with other alumnae and the Girl Scout organization click HERE. GSCB will be hosting some special 100th Anniversary events throughout the year for those adults who have ever been or still are involved in Girl Scouting.

Commemorative Items

Celebrate Scouting Stamp

Girl Scouts Commemorative Coin- January 2013

Girl Scouts’ Centennial Commemorative Coin will be minted in 2013, marking the end of the celebration of our first 100 years and the beginning of our second century of leadership. The designs shall be emblematic of the centennial of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America. Ten dollars from the sale of each coin will help fund much-needed renovations at the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace in Savannah, Georgia.

Tough Cookies: Leadership Lessons from 100 Years of the Girl Scouts Book

Under current CEO Kathy Cloninger's leadership, the Girl Scouts has transformed and enhanced its ability to develop leadership in young women. Tough Cookies outlines the rise of the Girl Scouts, this recent and dramatically successful shift, and lessons that are applicable to make any business or organization a success. The book include an inspiring story of the Girl Scouts founding, along with leadership and business lessons that can be applied to organizations of any size.  

Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay Help Celebrate
the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts with Daisies

Let’s plant Daisies all over GSCB, from the top to the bottom of the Peninsula, in honor of our founder Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low. Each Service Unit or Troop chooses the place for planting their Daisies and whether to use purchased plants or start their own from seeds. Packets of Girl Scout Anniversary personalized daisy seeds will be available for Troops to purchase from Girl Scouts of Chesapeake Bay. Just think of the program and service possibilities, as Troops plant Daisy gardens where they meet, in local parks, or at their homes. Troops may also want to purchase the special Daisy seed packets to give as gifts when customers purchase three or more boxes of Girl Scout Cookies at their Booth sales. It will be so nice next summer to see Daisies blooming everywhere as a reminder of the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts and Daisy Low. To order daisy packets, please fill out this form and send to Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay, Attn: 100th Anniversary, 501 S. College Ave., Newark, DE 19713 by January 15, 2012.