Troops celebrate founding of Girl Scouts with Thinking Day

Every February, Girl Scouts of America and Girl Guides around the world celebrate the founding of this “girl-based” organization with a Thinking Day event. This year, Troop 4042 (third year Junior Girl Scouts) hosted the event at Potter Junior High School’s Bowers Auditorium. These girls represented the United States by portraying seven famous American women. In historical costumes, Jackie Griffin was Juliette Gordon Low (founder of Girl Scouts and Girl Guides), Laura Vilona was Betsy Ross, Nicki Myers was Sarah Winchester, Tatiana Brotherton was Louisa May Alcott, Hanna Cullinan was Emily Dickinson, Katie Van Dyke was Annie Sullivan (Helen Keller’s teacher) and Cori Johnson was Amelia Earhart. Other new members of the troop, including Marina Kroeger, assisted with a flag ceremony and refreshments.

A total of 138 girls, belonging to 18 troops from the Fallbrook and Bonsall areas, participated in this event, which was held on Tuesday, February 20. Each troop represented a different country and displayed their country’s flag and donated a jar of coins to the Juliette Low Fund during opening ceremonies. At their table, each troop also displayed information about the particular culture and food of that land and swapped pins with other Scouts. Many troops also performed songs, dances or skits demonstrating skills native to their country.

The Girl Scouts of Troop 4042 started planning this event in November and with the successful completion of Thinking Day 2007, plus the earning of related badges, have now completed all requirements for the Girl Scout Bronze Award, which is the top honor achievement for junior level Girl Scouts.