Girl Guides

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The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts is the international governing body of the Girl Guiding/Scouting movement, which comprises the largest international youth organization for girls and young women, involving more than 10 million members in 144 countries. "Girl Scouts" redirects here; this is the name of the organization's United States branch.

Girl Guides was founded as the female counterpart of Sir Robert Baden-Powell's Boy Scouts, in 1910 with the assistance of his sister Agnes Baden-Powell. In September, 1909, a number of girls had turned up to the first Scout Rally at the Crystal Palace, calling themselves Girl Scouts. Baden-Powell set up the Girl Guides as a parallel movement for them, run by his sister Agnes Baden-Powell. While Agnes played a major role until her death, Baden-Powell's wife, Lady Baden-Powell, became Chief Guide of England in 1918, and World Chief Guide in 1930.

In 1914 a junior branch, Brownies of Girl Guides, parallel to Wolf Cubs in Boy Scouts, began.

Polish Girl Guides by the Monument to Small Partisan in Warsaw

The Girl Guides were named after the famous corps of guides in India. Baden-Powell thought that to call them Scouts might alienate the boys, as well as the girls' parents.

Guides have come a long way since they were founded after the Crystal Palace rally and the new programmes for all sections reflect modern values and interests. the UK branch of the organisation (Girlguiding UK) currently has around 50,000 girls on its waiting lists, indicating that the problems reside not in attracting the girls but in persuading adults to give their time to the organisation.

Girl Guides in UK

The Guides are split up into age groups. Rainbows are 5 to 7 year olds. Brownies are 7 to 10 year olds and Guides are 10 to 14 year olds. The Senior Section is for young people aged 14-26, and covers a wide variety of opportunities, from Young Leaders working with a younger age group, Guiders (18+), Rangers, member of a Look Wider group, member of a Senior Section unit participating in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, lone Senior Section member, In4mer (peer educator), Guide member of SSAGO, female member of LINK, appointment Holder or member of the Trefoil Guild.

Girl Guides of Canada

Canada is one of the many countries that take part in Girl Guides. In French, it is called Guides du Canada. In Canada, the levels of Guiding are: Sparks: Sparks dress in pink. The correct uniform is: pink shorts/leggings/sweatpants, and a pink t-shirt/sweatshirt. A pinny to wear badges on is also part of the uniform, and the pinny is pink. Every level of Guiding has a special promise recited at meetings. The Spark's promise is: I promise to share and be a friend.

Brownies: Brownies are the second level, and they wear orange shirts/t-shirts, blue pants/shorts/skirts, and white ties with orange leaves. A navy blue badge sash is worn, or a navy blue badge sash. The brownie promise is: I promise to be true to myself, my god, and Canada. I will help other people and keep the brownie law.

Guides: Guides are the third level. They wear pale blue shirts/t-shirts, navy pants/shorts, and white ties with blue leaves. The navy blue badge sash is also worn. The promise is similar to the brownie promise. It is: I promise to do my best, to be true to myself, my god/faith, and Canada. I will help others and respect the guiding law.

Pathfinders Considered to be the last juvenile level, Pathfinders come fourth. They wear green and white t-shirts/white long sleeved shirts, navy pants/shorts, and white ties with green leaves, and a navy badge sash is worn. The Pathfinder promise is the same as the Guides' promise.

Further details and history of the Girl Guides can be found in the article on Scouting.

Girl Guides

Girl Guides in UK

Girl Guides of Canada

See also