Basic Girl Scout Vocabulary

The Girl Scout Promise and Law are shared by every member of Girl Scouting. The Girl Scout Promise is the way Girl Scouts agree to act every day toward one another and other people, and the Girl Scout Law outlines a way to act towards one another and the world.

The Girl Scout Promise

·                                On my honor, I will try:

To serve God* and my country,

To help people at all times,

And to live by the Girl Scout Law. 

The Girl Scout Law

·                                I will do my best to be

honest and fair,

friendly and helpful,

considerate and caring,

courageous and strong, and

responsible for what I say and do,

and to

respect myself and others,

respect authority,

use resources wisely,

make the world a better place, and

be a sister to every Girl Scout.

o                                                       The word "God" can be interpreted in a number of ways, depending on one's spiritual beliefs. When reciting the Girl Scout Promise, it is OK to replace the word "God" with whatever word your spiritual beliefs dictate.

·                                Girl Scout Birthday 

March 12 is the Girl Scout birthday because it marks the first meeting of Girl Scouts in the U. S. A. in Savannah, Georgia, in 1912. 

·                                Slogan 

"Do a good turn daily." 

·                                Sit Upon 

A "cushion" often made by Girl Scouts to use when the ground is damp or to keep their clothes clean. 

·                                Juliette Gordon Low (nicknamed Daisy) 

Founder of Girl Scouting in the United States, she formed the first troop that met in Savannah, Georgia on March 12,1912. 

·                                Quiet Sign 

The Girl Scout signal for silence in a group situation. In order to maintain order at lively Girl Scout functions, the leader raises her right hand for silence. The girls follow in the motion; as their hands go up, the conversation stops, until everyone has their hand up and the room is silent. 

·                                Girl Scout Handshake 

This is the way many Girl Scouts and Girl Guides greet each other. They shake their left hands while making the Girl Scout sign with their right hand. The left-handed handshake represents friendship because the left hand is closer to the heart than the right. 

·                                Friendship Circle 

The friendship circle is often formed at the end of meetings or campfires as a sort of closing ceremony. Everyone gathers in a circle where they cross their right arm over their left in front of them and hold hands with the people on either side. Once everyone is silent, the leader starts the friendship squeeze, which is passed from hand to hand. Often the girls will make a wish after their hand has been squeezed before they pass the squeeze along. Also, in some larger groups, the girls put their right foot out into the circle when they receive the friendship squeeze, so that everyone can see it travel along the circle. 

·                                Girl Scout Sign 

The official Girl Scout greeting. The right hand is raised shoulder high with the three middle fingers extended and the thumb crossing over the palm to hold down the little finger. These three fingers represent the three parts of the Girl Scout Promise. 

·                                Thinking Day 

Celebrated by Girl Guides and Girl Scouts throughout the world, February 22 is the birthday of Lord Baden-Powell and lady Baden-Powell. This is the day for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides to think about their sisters around the world, through special projects, international program activities or pen pal projects.