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On February 22 Girl Scouts and Girl Guides of all ages across the world will think about nearly 10 million other girls similar to them but living oceans away to celebrate their international friendships during World Thinking Day 2005. World Thinking Day celebrates the birthdays of Boy Scouts' founder Robert, Lord Baden-Powell (1857-1941) and World Chief Guide, Olave, Lady Baden-Powell (1889-1977).
In the United States, Girl Scouting grew out of the friendship between the movement's founder Juliette Gordon Low and Lord Baden-Powell and his sister, Agnes, who began Girl Guiding. World Thinking Day celebrates that friendship and the sisterhood of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the globe.
World Thinking Day, which began in 1926, focuses on international connections among girls. On this day, Girl Scouts nationwide will learn about different languages, plant flowers found in other countries, sample international foods, and celebrate at international festivals and bazaars.
"This year especially, as girls are aware of international events like war and tsunamis, it's important to embrace and celebrate the differences among our international friends," said Suzanne Blatchford, executive director of the Girl Scouts - Seven Lakes Council, Inc. "By encouraging girls to think globally today, we are helping to develop tomorrow's decision makers and world leaders." This year's World Thinking Day is all about food. Girl Scouts may celebrate the cooking of various cultures and become aware of issues concerning food within our communities and beyond.
Girl Scouts and others approaching the theme on a broader scale can discover how food is produced, where various foods come from, and what dishes are associated with particular countries. Think of how your own diet here in the U.S. has changed with the number of international foods you enjoy. While celebrating this year's World Thinking Day, Girl Scouts can also remember the millions of people all over the world - including the United States - who are facing hunger and malnutrition.
Girl Scouts are also encouraged to raise awareness of, and contribute to the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund. This fund, created in memory of the founder of Girl Scouts of the USA, helps to extend Girl Scouting to girls worldwide, enables girls to travel abroad and supports international friendships through community service projects. Often girls give pennies or hold penny carnivals.
Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) has a membership of more than 3.8 million girls and adults. Now in its 93rd year, GSUSA continues to help cultivate values, social conscience, and self-esteem in young girls, while also teaching them life skills that will enable them to succeed as adults. In Girl Scouting - with its special, girls-only environment - girls discover the fun, friendship and power of girls together. Visit www.girlscouts.org. The Girl Scouts - Seven Lakes Council, Inc. serves nearly 11,000 girls in 13 counties of the Finger Lakes and the Southern Tier Regions of New York and Northern Tier of Pennsylvania. To volunteer, join as a member or make a donation, please call 315/539-5085 or 607/796-6202. Check out Seven Lakes at www.girlscoutssevenlakes.org.
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