Girl Scouts Celebrate 90th Anniversary!

March 12, 2002 marks the 90th Anniversary of the founding of Girl Scouting in America. Local Council to celebrate this spring with events in greater Boston.

Boston, MA --- Tuesday, March 12th will commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the founding of Girl Scouting in the United States. Patriots' Trail Girl Scout Council, serving 30,000 girls in 65 towns in greater Boston will celebrate the Anniversary with special events throughout the spring. Just some of the celebrations planned include: A year long commitment to 90 Service projects by one troop in Marlboro, a Spring social in Waltham for volunteers and girls and a busload of Girl Scouts travelling to Washington D.C. in June to participate in the Still Singing after all These Years" Celebration at the National Mall.

Juliette Gordon Low wanted every girl to learn new skills and have experiences. When she began planning the first Girl Scout troop meeting she said 'I have something for all the girls of Savannah and all of America," said Laura Watkins, Executive Director, Patriots Trail Girl Scout Council. Ninety years later were still offering opportunities to help girls grow strong."

Milestones in Girl Scouting include:

 March 12, 1912-Juliette Gordon Low founded Girl Scouts with 18 girls in Savannah, Georgia
 In 1914 Girl Scouting began in the Boston Area.
 In 1917, Girl Scouts volunteered their services during World War I, by working in hospitals, staffing railroad station canteens, and collecting peach pits for use in gas masks.
 In 1936, the first official sale of commercially baked Girl Scout cookies took place.
 During the early 1960s, Girl Scout programs and projects focused on overcoming prejudice and building relationships with those of all ages, religions, classes and races.
 In 1984, a new Daisy Girl Scout age level for five-year-olds was established and Girl Scouts adopted both new uniforms and contemporary logo.
 By the 1990s, Girl Scouts reached the 3 million marks in its membership numbers, establishing itself as the largest organization for girls, with over 300 councils nation wide.

In the new millennium Patriots Trail Girl Scout Council is serving nearly 30,000 girls, one out of every seven girls ages five to seventeen in greater Boston. And girls represent only a part of those involved, 10,000 adult volunteers serve as troop leaders, adult trainers, and special event organizers for the Council. Members hail from diverse ethnic, linguistic, religious and socio-economic backgrounds and include girls with disabilities.

In Girl Scouting, girls, families and leaders take part in a wide range of activities that build skills and recognize accomplishment and growth. New Programs include Connections, Girl Scouting Beyond Bars, Computer Clubhouse and Party For Your Future. Girl Scouts also have opportunities to travel throughout the country and around the world. Through Girl Scouting, girls gain knowledge and experience, increase their sensitivity to cross-cultural differences and make new friends.

The 90th Anniversary of Girl Scouting is not just a time to reflect on our accomplishments," said Laura Watkins. But more importantly to move forward to make sure that every girl, everywhere can develop into tomorrows leaders."