AGirl GuideorGirl Scoutis a member of a section of someGuidingorganisations who is between the ages of 10 and 14. Age limits are different in each organisation. Robert Baden-Powell chose to name his organization for girls "the Girl Guides". In the United States and several East Asian countries the term "Girl Scout" is used instead. Female scouts go under the name of "girl scouts" in many more languages. The two terms are used synonymously within this article.
Girl Guides are organised intounits/troopsaveraging 15–30 girls under guidance of a team ofleaders.Units subdivide intopatrolsof about six Guides and engage in outdoor and special interest activities. Units may affiliate with national and international organisations. Some units, especially inEurope,have beenco-educationalsince the 1970s, allowing boys and girls to work together as Scouts. There are other programme sections for older and younger girls.
Foundation
editFollowing the origin of the Boy Scouts in 1907 many girls took up Scouting. A group of Girl Scouts were prominent at theCrystal Palace Rally in 1909.[1]After Robert Baden-Powell formed The Boy Scouts Association in 1910 he formed the Girl Guides and asked his sister Agnes to look after the Girl Guides organisation. A few years later Baden-Powell's new wifeOlave St. Claire Baden-Powell(commonly referred to as "Lady Baden-Powell" ) became involved and, in 1918, was appointed Chief Guide.[1]
Activities
editMost activities are now similar to those of the (Boy) Scouts, but when the movement started two central themes were present: domestic skills and "a kind of practical feminism which embodiesphysical fitness,survival skills,camping,citizenshiptraining, andcareerpreparation ".[2]
Unit affiliation
editTroop
editLocal groups, called variously units, companies or troops, are the fundamental unit of the Girl Guides. These are run by an adult, normally a woman who is between 18 and 65 years of age. She has responsibility for the girls in her group and plans out activities for the girls as well as leading the meetings. These leaders are supported by assistants. Meetings are held anywhere from weekly to monthly depending on the commitments of the participants and the activities in progress.[3]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^abBaden-Powell, Olave(25 April 2004). Mary Drewery (ed.)."Window on My Heart. Chapter X. The War Years".Archived fromthe originalon 18 April 2007.Retrieved21 June2018.
- ^Aickin Rothschild, Mary (Autumn 1981). "To Scout or to Guide? The Girl Scout-Boy Scout Controversy, 1912–1941".Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies.6(3). University of Nebraska Press: 115–121.doi:10.2307/3346224.ISSN0160-9009.JSTOR3346224.
- ^"Who We Are".Girlguiding UK. Archived fromthe originalon 7 May 2007.Retrieved5 January2007.