GIRL SCOUTS

Girl Scouts of Little Cloud Council office in 2010 at 2644 Pennsylvania

GIRL SCOUTS. Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA), commonly called Girl Scouts, is a youth organization for girls in the United States and American girls living abroad. It was founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912, a year after she had met Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Boy Scouts.

The stated mission of Girl Scouts was to "[build] girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place" through camping, community service, and practical skills such as first aid. Members can earn badges by completing certain tasks and mastering skills. More senior members may be eligible for awards, such as the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards. Membership is organized according to grade level, with activities designed for each level. The organization is a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). Girl Scouts grew to near 3.7 million members. More than 50 million American women have participated in Girl Scouts throughout its history.

Girl Scouting in the United States began on March 12, 1912 when Juliette Gordon Low organized the first Girl Guide troop meeting in Savannah, Georgia. Low attempted mergers with similar organizations, including Camp Fire Girls and the Des Moines-based Girl Scouts of America, but was unsuccessful. In 1913, the organization was renamed to Girl Scouts of the United States. The organization was renamed for the final time to Girl Scouts of the United States of America in 1947. The organization received a congressional charter on March 16, 1950.

In 1923, Girl Scouts were organized into patrols, troops, local councils, and a National Council. Initially, troops had a high degree of independence, but over time, councils were formed between troops. Today there are 111 councils across the United States and Girl Scouts Overseas following a cycle of mergers in 2006.

The Juliette Gordon Low Historic District in Savannah, Georgia, became the national Girl Scout program center in 1956. Upon Low's death in 1927, she willed her carriage house, at 330 Drayton Street, which eventually became The Girl Scout First Headquarters, to the local Savannah Girl Scouts for continued use.

Most Girl Scout units were originally segregated by race according to state and local laws and customs. The first troop for African American girls was founded in 1917; the first American Indian troop was formed in New York State in 1921; and the first troop for Mexican Americans was formed in Houston, Texas, in 1922. In 1933, Josephine Groves Holloway founded unofficial African American troops in Tennessee. She also fully desegregated the Cumberland Valley council in 1962. The first official African American troop in the South was founded in 1932 in Richmond, Virginia. It was created by Maggie Lena Walker and Lena B. Watson, but was led by Lavnia Banks, a teacher from Armstrong High School. It first met in Hartshorn Hall at Virginia Union University.

By the 1950s, GSUSA had begun significant national efforts to desegregate the camps and maintain racial balance. One of the first desegregations, accomplished by Murray Atkins Walls in 1956, was at Camp Shattuck in Kentucky. Later the same year, Martin Luther King Jr. described Girl Scouts as "a force for desegregation". In 1969, a Girl Scout initiative called Action 70 was created that aimed to eliminate prejudice. Gloria D. Scott, an African American, was elected national president of GSUSA in 1975.

The Wing Scouts was a Senior Girl Scout program for girls interested in aviation. It was started in 1941 and ended in the 1970s. In July 1942, 29 troop leaders from 15 states met in Philadelphia for Wing Scout leadership training. They returned to their councils and began the creation of Wing Scout troops. In 1959, the council in San Mateo County, California was presented with an offer from United Airlines to start an aviation program for Senior Girl Scouts. A highlight of the Wing Scout program was a courtesy flight provided to Senior Girl Scouts using United Airlines aircraft. For many of the girls, the flight was their first time being in an airplane. Senior Girl Scouts who had been in the program for three years were given the opportunity to temporarily take control of a small aircraft during flight. The program was discontinued after United Airlines experienced financial issues in the 1970s.

In 1938, the age divisions consisted of Brownies (ages 7 through 9), Intermediates (ages 10 through 13), and Seniors (ages 14 through 18). In 1965, the age divisions were changed to include Brownies (ages 7 and 8, or 2nd and 3rd grade), Juniors (ages 9 through 11, or 4th through 6th grade), Cadettes (ages 11 through 14, or 7th through 9th grade), and Seniors (ages 14 through 18, or 10th through 12th grade). The Daisy program for kindergarten-age girls was started in 1984. The Daisy program succeeded a 1976 pilot program known as Pixies. (1)

Girl Scouts encouraged its members to work in cooperation with men's organizations to realize common goals. In a column appearing in the Telegraph-Herald in 1949, "Sally Scout Says", identified such groups as Lions International, Kiwanis International, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles for their efforts in providing camperships and especially projects involving cabin construction. (2)

In 2003, the Studio 2B program was introduced for Cadettes and Seniors. Under the Studio 2B programs, girls were able to work on traditional badges as well as Studio 2B activities, and the Silver Award and Gold Award requirements were altered to require both. Studio 2B activities differed from badges in that each booklet focused on a topic such as environmentalism or self-confidence rather than being skill-based like a badge.

On October 1, 2008, all levels were renamed to begin with "Girl Scout" (e.g., Girl Scout Brownies instead of Brownie Girl Scouts). Additionally, levels were changed to an exclusively grade-based system, A new level, Girl Scout Ambassadors, was created for girls in grades 11 and 12. Sixth grade girls were reclassified from Junior level to Cadette level in order to conform with the broad reclassification of 6th grade as a middle school grade. The new levels were tested in approximately six councils during the spring of 2008 and were instituted nationally after October 1, 2008.

As of 2024, Girl Scouts could begin in kindergarten and join all the way through 12th grade. The age divisions were Daisies (kindergarten and 1st grade), Brownies (2nd and 3rd grade), Juniors (4th and 5th grade), Cadettes (6th through 8th grade), Seniors (9th and 10th grade), and Ambassadors (11th and 12th grade).

Although troop membership was the most common way to participate in Girl Scouting, girls who do not have a local troop, or those who are unable or unwilling to participate in their local troop, could still sign up as individual Girl Scouts. Individual Girl Scouts were known in the early years of Girl Scouting as Lone Scouts and later as Juliettes; they attend activities independently and work individually on badges and awards. In 2015–2016, the term "Juliette" was phased out at the national level, in favor of the term Independent Girl Scouts, although some councils continued to use the term, Juliette.

The 20th National Council of GSUSA began the Mariner Girl Scout program in October 1934. Similar to the Boy Scouts of America's Sea Scouting, the program was designed for older Girl Scouts interested in outdoor water-based activities. By the end of 1934, 12 Mariner ships were registered and the first two handbooks, Launching a Girl Scout Mariner Ship and Charting the Course of a Girl Scout Mariner Ship, were published. The Mariner Girl Scout program in 2025 remained active but in a smaller form; most girls have instead joined Sea Scouting, which has been coed since 1971. (3)

The claim to being the first Girl Scout Troop in Dubuque is in question. On April 13, 1924 the TELEGRAPH HERALD displayed a picture in the front page showing what was claimed to be the members of the first troop. Organized by Miss Maybelle Weitz, the troop included Miss Anita Wiedner, chairman; Miss Dolores Graas, secretary; Miss Geraldine Hoop, treasurer; and Mrs. Blunt--the advisor. Members included Neva Skemp, Myrtle Edison, Gertrude Widemeyer, Edith Meyer, Margaret Tonnerson, Maybelle Weitz, Mabel Schara, Virginia Bauer, Isabelle Smith, Leola Klein, Marion Brown, Marion Shaw, Marie Ernest, and Amanda Rafoth.

On November 24, 1942, a second article in the Telegraph Herald identified another troop as the first in Dubuque. Girl Scout Troop Number One in Dubuque, according to this article, began in September 1932. Annette Christianson (a public school teacher), had been a Girl Scout leader in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was assisted by Hedwig Salzmann, and Myrtle Faldorf in organizing girls from ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH beginning with Margaret Salzmann, Hedwig Salzmann's daughter. Troop I, the "Lone Troop," registered with national Girl Scout headquarters in 1933, had listed Christianson as the captain and Faldorf as first lieutenant. A second troop was soon formed. The belief that Christianson was the first girl scout was affirmed in 1985. (4)

By 1935 with nine other troops developed in other parts of the city, a council was organized to coordinate and direct the work of the ten troops. A Girl Scout Leaders Club was organized and by 1952 had begun planning work sessions on the weekends at CAMP LITTLE CLOUD. (4)

By 1940 the Girl Scouts were using Camp Burton for a variety of activities including constructing and using a reflector oven. (2) Spreading news of the Girl Scout program was a focus of "Girl Scouting Begin at Seven," a short news reel shown at local theaters during Girl Scout Week in 1938. (6) Girl Scout Leaders Coffee Hours implemented around 1948. featured Mrs. Kenneth Gordon, leader of Troop 47 at WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH described the swimming, wood craft, nature study with the benefits to the girls' general health and development of self-confidence. Newcomers to scouting were encouraged to attend one of two training sessions held on Monday and Thursday evenings for three weeks. (7) Five Dubuque Girl Scouts attended a Clinton meeting of the Girl Scout senior area planning board in Clinton in 1950. The topic of discussion was the senior conference for freshmen and sophomore Girl Scouts to be held in Dubuque in the spring of 1951. (8)

Dubuque Girl Scouts, chartered by Girls Scouts of the U.S.A. in 1935, became the Little Cloud Girl Scout Council in 1966.

On May 7, 1985, Hedwig and Margaret were honored at the annual council dinner during the 50-year anniversary celebrations.

In 2013 Girl Scouts nationally was faced with daunting problems. The national membership stood at 2.2 million, down from more than 2.8 in 2003. Donations to the national office and local councils had fallen froM $148 million in 2007 to $104 million in 2011.

Perhaps the largest change was a realignment nationally which slashed the number of local councils from 312 to 112 in the years 2006 to 2009. The new council consisted of 38 c9ounties--31 in eastern Iowa and 7 in western Illinois. The total served was approximately 20,000 out of a potential membership of 126,000. (9) While intended to increase efficiency, the reduction resulted in longtime employees and volunteers leaving the program. (10) The mergers affected the Girl Scouts national pension plan. A lawsuit filed claimed that 1850 employees had been added to the pension fund who had never contributed to it. The suit contended that while the pension plan had a surplus over $150 million in 2007, it now had a deficit of $347 million. Financial stress led councils in many states to consider selling off the camps. Iowa was one of the states which attacked the sell-off plans. Some people believed that camping had always been a part of scouting. Others believed camping should be replaced with programs to boost girls' competency with money matters and aid them in pursuing careers in science and technology. (11)

In 2013 declining numbers of Scouts signing up for camp resulted in a proposal to sell to sell four Iowa camps including Little Cloud. In March, however, the board chose to reconsider the idea and keep the camps. Camp Little Cloud, Camp Tahigwa near Decorah, and Camp L-Kee-Ta near Danville would be used for daytime activities and overnight camps. Plans were made to develop cost-effective, self-guided activities with existing facilities including nature trails, adventure hikes, and activity kits. The reconsideration came after a strong grass roots movement had been organized. (12)

While maintaining many of their programs, the Girl Scouts for many years had been updating their programming. In 2019 the eighth annual "Ra .ise Your Voice" leadership and self-awareness conference was held in Dubuque with 80 Scouts in attendance. A variety of environmental and other issues were posed for the Scouts to figure out a solution or way to raise awareness. With the assistance of guest speakers, the Scouts presented their findings to an audience of their peers, Scout officials, and parents. (13)

The future of Camp Little Cloud and the Girls Scouts was made brighter by the donation in May from the David L. HAMMER and Audrey Lowe HAMMER estates of $3.8 million. Both were longtime supporters of the Girl Scout movement in Dubuque. Plans announced called for using part of the money for renovations at the camp including construction of cabins capable of handling from twelve to fourteen girls--the size of an average troop. (14)

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See: Margaret DEMING

See: CAMP LITTLE CLOUD

Source:

1. "Girl Scouts of the USA," Wikipedia. Online: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girl_Scouts_of_the_USA

2. "Sally Scout Says," Telegraph-Herald, January 19, 1949, p. 17

3. "Girl Scouts of the USA,"

4. Ward, Lori, "Little Cloud Honors Its First Girl Scout," Telegraph Herald, May 8, 1985, p. 2

5. "Sally Scout Says..." Telegraph Herald, October 9, 1952, p. 21

6. "Dubuque Girl Scouts Enjoy First Week of Outdoor Life at Camp Burton," Telegraph-Herald, June 23, 1940, p. 10

7. "Girl Scouts Review Film," Telegraph-Herald, October 30, 1938, p. 35

8. "Mrs. Delbert Hayford Hostess at Scout Leaders Coffee Hour," Telegraph-Herald, January 29, 1948, p. 15

9. "Girl Scouts Councils Merge," Telegraph Herald, December 21, 2006, p. 1

10. "5 Dubuque Girl Scouts to Attend Clinton Meeting," Telegraph-Herald, November 11, 1950, p. 18

11. Crary, David, "Dissension, Fiscal Woes Beset Girl Scouting," Telegraph Herald, June 24, 2013, p. 20

12. Hogstrom, Erik, "Girl Scouts Take Aim at Environmental Issues," Telegraph Herald, June 24, 2019, p. 5

13. "Camp Little Cloud News Brightens Local Outlook," Telegraph Herald, March 31, 2013, p. 11

14. Reese, Kayli, "Girl Scout Council Announces $3.8 Million Donation," Telegraph Herald, May 30, 2023, p. 23