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GIRL SCOUT PROGRAM
PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES
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VOLUNTEER RESOURCE
DISC 2008-2009
WORLD THINKING DAY
 World
Thinking Day was first created in 1926 at the fourth Girl Guide/Girl Scout
International Conference, held at Girl Scouts of the USA's Camp Edith Macy (now
called Edith Macy Conference Center). Conference attendees decided that there
should be a special day when Girl Scouts and Girl Guides all around the world
think of each other and give thanks and appreciation to their "sister" Girl
Scouts. The delegates chose February 22 as the date for Thinking Day because it
was the mutual birthday of Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scout movement,
and his wife Olave, who served as World Chief Guide.
In 1932, at the seventh World Conference, held in Poland, a Belgian delegate
suggested that since birthdays usually involve presents, girls could show their
appreciation and friendship on Thinking Day not only by extending warm wishes
but also by offering a voluntary contribution to the World Association. This is
how the World Association's Thinking Day Fund began. The fund helps offer Girl
Guiding/Girl Scouting to more girls and young women worldwide. Girl Scouts of
the USA, through its Juliette Low World Friendship Fund, gives to the Thinking
Day Fund.
To emphasize the global aspect of Thinking Day, members at the 30th World
Conference, held in Ireland in 1999, changed the name Thinking Day to World
Thinking Day.
Activity Ideas
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Participate in a
Thinking Day event. Many service units plan a thinking day event that
troops can participate in. Usually it is organized that each troop
picks a country and then that troop is given the task of coming to the
event and sharing a craft, song or game, or food from the country they
have chosen. There is a World Association of Girl Scouts and Girl
Guides book in the volunteer resource center that gives descriptions of
Girl Scout and Girl Guides in other countries that troops have found
very helpful in their planning. The event turns out to be a real
international event which is usually a favorite of all girls. Contact
your service unit to see if they already have an event or if you are
willing to help organize the event in your area.
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Invite a speaker. Arrange for a former Girl
Scout who has become a leader in her community to speak about her
experiences in Girl Scouting and the way they helped her gain leadership
skills. This woman could be the director of a company, a popular teacher, an
energetic volunteer, a respected doctor, or anyone who would be an inspiring
role model for girls.
- Learn about girls and women around the
world. Before February 22, take a step back and find out about great leaders
who have come out of Girl Scouting. Or look up statistics on how well women
are doing all around the world. Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting is often one of
the only safe places where girls can learn skills and grow to their full
potential. On World Thinking Day, share the findings.
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Contribute to the
Juliette Low World Friendship Fund. It has become a tradition for many
troops and local Girl Scout councils to hold World Thinking Day festivals or
fairs highlighting one country or several and selling crafts or food, with
the proceeds going to the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund. At these
events, girls can have fun while learning about other cultures and thinking
of the way girls live in countries besides their own. These activities are
also a great way to show girls how to give back by giving to the Juliette
Low World Friendship Fund.
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Girl Scouts of Western
Ohio
Administrative Office
4930 Cornell Road,
Cincinnati, OH 45242-1804
T: 513.489.1025 or
800.537.6241 F: 513.489.1417
Chair - Nancy Dawes
Chief Executive
Officer -Barbara J. Bonifas
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