100 Years Series: Girl Scouts

Welcome back to our 100 years series that looks at a handful of great organizations that are hitting 100 years in 2012. Last week, we covered Steelcase (one of our favorite vendors) and gave a brief over of their history and awesome firsts!. Today's organization...Girl Scouts! Who are celebrating "the year of the girl".

As a girl scout member from 1989-1994 (troop #316 from Milford, CT, representing!), I have fond memories of camping and silly songs and crafts. Marching in the parade and learning about assembly lines and teamwork. It was a fun and rewarding experience and one that I cherish and hope to offer future generations. But the history and motto of the organization, as well as its evolution and continued effort to provide more options and education to girls is truly wonderful.

"Girl Scouts is dedicated to every girl, everywhere". - probably my favorite quote from the website

I am taking the rest of my information from their website: http://www.girlscouts.org/who_we_are/facts/ - there is waaay to much information to share, and so I highly recommend taking time to go through it yourself. But here are the general facts:

Girl Scout Mission
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

100 Years
Founder Juliette Gordon Low organized the first Girl Scout Troop on March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Ga.

An American Institution
Girl Scouts of the USA was chartered by the U.S. Congress on March 16, 1950.

Still Growing Strong
Today, there are 3.2 million Girl Scouts—2.3 million girl members and 890,000 adult members working primarily as volunteers.

Empowering Girls
In Girl Scouts, girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together. Through a myriad of enriching experiences, such as extraordinary field trips, sports skill-building clinics, community service projects, cultural exchanges, and environmental stewardships, girls grow courageous and strong. Girl Scouting helps girls develop their full individual potential; relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect; develop values to guide their actions and provide the foundation for sound decision-making; and contribute to the improvement of society through their abilities, leadership skills, and cooperation with others.

At Home and Abroad
Girls at home and abroad participate in troops and groups in more than 92 countries through USA Girl Scouts Overseas, and over 100 local Girl Scout councils offer girls the opportunity for membership across the United States.

An International Family
Through its membership in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), Girl Scouts of the USA is part of a worldwide family of 10 million girls and adults in 145 countries.

A Pivotal Part of Women's History
More than 59 million American women enjoyed Girl Scouting during their childhood—and that number continues to grow as Girl Scouts of the USA continues to inspire, challenge, and empower girls everywhere.

 Such an amazing organization and one which will continue to change the lives of girls everywhere!