Goodbye from Helga & Lily

By: Pooja D.

Hello Everyone,

            It’s us! Lily and Helga, the renowned sister and friend of GiGi. We are taking off from out last adventure with GiGi for a little while.  It is the end of the 100^th anniversary celebration and that means it is time for GiGi to head back to Atlanta.

GiGi spent time away from her job at the Lime Green Giraffe to play with us, but now it is time for her to get back to work.

            We have had a lot of fun over the past few months and we have shared many memories.  As you may remember, in the last issue we were about to go camping.  It was so much fun. The best part was sitting around the campfire singing songs and dancing. 

GiGi also cooked for us! She used all the recipes she had learned from the Lime Green Giraffe staff and made us delicious meals.  I, Lily, can now honestly say that she has become a wonderful cook.  I remember when she was little and tried so hard to cook a simple meal, and here she is cooking this wonderful food with ease. 

At the cabin, we also did some of the DIY crafts from the Lime Green Giraffe magazine. We had so much fun!

            While at home, we watched movies and played hide-and-seek. Helga is the queen hide-and-seek.  We had so much fun, but our time together was ending. 

GiGi packed up her stuff because it was time for her to go back to her beloved Lime Green Giraffe staff.  We had a teary good-bye. We promised each other and that we would write often. 

Now, Helga and I are saying good-bye to all you wonderful readers of the Lime Green Giraffe.  We have enjoyed writing in this magazine. It has been a fun and an amazing opportunity.  Thank you for reading our adventures with GiGi.

Your 100^th anniversary friends,
Lily and Helga

Girl Scouts: From Past to Present

By Sabrina Y.

Girl Scouts of the USA wasn’t always like it is today.   A great evolution has transpired since it was first founded by Juliette Gordon Low, when she made her famous 1912 phone call to her friend and said; “I've got something for the girls of Savannah, and all of America, and all the world, and we're going to start it tonight!"  This event sparked a glorious group that has been here for generations.  The original Girl Scouts started with 18 members and it has grown to 3.7 million members.  Girl Scouts has changed over the past 100 years; volunteering, uniforms, and even cookies have not always been the same. Traveling back in time with Girl Scouts can be a powerful experience filled with delight, pride, and insight.

Patriotic and Committed Volunteering

Today, as Girl Scouts, it is important that we spend some of our time volunteering. We normally volunteer at places such as animal hospitals, elder centers, at food drives, and other charities. 

These things are all fantastic but imagine living in a time when the country is at war, your dad is in the army, and your mom is left to take care of the home and children. What can you do? How can you help as a child?  If you were a Girl Scout during World War I you would know how to help the army without putting yourself in any danger. Older girls would grow war gardens to help soldiers in need. In this process, girls would grow delectable food in their very own backyard. This benefits the soldiers because the food grown would supply your family, and this would help conserve more food that would go toward the soldiers. During those times, you would probably think to yourself, “Soldiers work hard for us, so why not work hard for them?”

For younger girls at that time, it was hard to do gardening, so the Girl Scout Brownies would make trench candles. Soldiers, during World War 1, would hide in deep ditches as a defense mechanism. These brave men would need a source of light and warmth, so the Girl Scout Brownies pitched in to aid them by making homemade trench candles. There were other activities that supported the war, however most girls preferred to build war gardens and create trench candles.  To encourage girls to contribute in the war effort, they recieved awards. For example, a pin was given to a girl if she did three tasks for the army. These tasks would total up to three points, and if you exceeded that amount of points you would earn color-coded ribbons. Working hard to do what is right is an excellent statement that Girl Scouts should always follow.

Classic and Cool Clothing

            Today, Girl Scouts wear either a vest or sash, and younger groups wear a cute little hat. The colors now depend on which group you are in (Daisy, Brownie, and Junior….etc.) however, the first uniform consisted of a white blouse, blue skirt, and a light blue neckerchief.  Early Girl Scout dresses were brown. The first uniform was made for many reasons, but it was mostly meant for girls to wear a sensible outfit for activities such as hiking, camping, and community service. In 1928, the first official Girl Scout shoe was created. It was part of the uniform, and as the years progressed, the style changed. However, Girl Scouts today are not required to wear shoes because the shoes were discontinued in 1963.

Not long after the Girl Scouts started, the uniforms changed to a khaki color in 1914. Girls had a choice between a khaki dress and a khaki blouse with a skirt. Around that time period hats were particularly encouraged to be worn with the uniform.

By 1928, Girl Scouts was a well-known association and that’s when new uniforms were made with a grey-green fabric. That was the first time the color green (the official color of Girl Scouts) was linked to the Girl Scouts. Today, Girl Scout uniforms are a symbol used to recognize us when we are around the community helping out, or selling cookies.

Totally True Traditions

            Girl Scouts have many traditions, such as selling boxes of cookies, candies & nuts, singing campfire songs, camping, and earning badges. These are some of the most enjoyable things in Girl Scouts, but it wasn’t always like this. A common fact that almost all Girl Scouts know is that the Trefoil cookie was the first Girl Scout cookie. What most girls don’t know is that these cookies weren’t produced in factories, and the cookies didn’t even come in a designed box just for Girl Scouts. In 1922, the first cookies were made and sold.  The cookies were actually homemade and individually packaged by girls in the Girl Scouts organization.  Each girl followed an easy recipe to make plain old sugar cookies. These sugar cookies had to be special, so they were shaped as the Girl Scout symbol, a trefoil (hence the name).  Once the cookies were baked, the girls would package the cookies in wax paper bags and secure them with stickers. Twelve cookies were put in each bag, and sold door to door for 25-35 cents.

Today we have a variety of cookies to sell such as Savannah Smiles, Do-Si-Do’s, Samoas, Tagalongs, Thin Mints, and of course Trefoils, the first Girl Scout cookie. 

Another pleasurable tradition to is to learn and to sing Girl Scout songs which are a big part in the organization. Girl Scout songs are entertaining, encouraging, and can lighten up any mood. The first Girl Scout organized songbook was created in 1925 and filled with an assortment of songs. Some old Girl Scout songs are still sung today, for example, I Love the Daffodils and Make New Friends. Over the years, these Girl Scout songs have brought us together, and our passion for Girl Scout songs continues to grow today.  More songs are being written, and one of the largest Girl Scout sing along today takes place in Washington D.C. There’s even a patch you can receive if you attend a sing along. Traditions have gone way back, and may stick with us for longer than you can imagine.

            Girl Scouts has come a long way since the first meeting that took place with Juliette Gordon Low in 1912.  Looking back in the past is a valuable experience. Girls need to learn from the past, and continue to improve and develop our Girl Scout organization for all the girls in the future. It is exhilarating to know that Girl Scouts was founded over 100 years ago, and it is still growing strong.  These astounding stories should make you proud to be a Girl Scout and make you want to strive to be more involved and do additional activities for Girl Scouts.

90+ Years of Cookies

By: Becky F.

            Thin Mints, Samoas, Trefoils, Do-Si-Dos, Tagalongs, Savannah Smiles. You don't need to be a Girl Scout to recognize these names. Everybody knows the names of the Girl Scout cookies. The Girl Scouts have been selling these delicious treats for more than 90 years. The first cookie sale was in December of 1917 in Muskogee, Oklahoma. A troop was having a cookie sale at their cafeteria for a service project.

In the summer of 1922, a magazine published by the Girl Scout National Headquarters showed an article by Florence E. Neil. Miss Neil featured a cookie recipe that was given to the 2,000 girls in the council.

An Early Girl Scout Cookie Recipe:

Ingredients

1 cup butter


1 cup sugar plus additional amount for topping (optional)


2 eggs


2 tablespoons milk


1 teaspoon vanilla


2 cups flour


1 teaspoon salt


2 teaspoons baking powder

Directions

Cream butter and the cup of sugar; add well-beaten eggs, then milk, vanilla, flour, salt, and baking powder. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Roll dough, cut into trefoil shapes, and sprinkle sugar on top, if desired. Bake in a quick oven (375°) for approximately 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges begin to brown. Makes six- to seven-dozen cookies.

Click here to see this recipe at GirlScouts.org.

In 1934, the first commercially manufactured cookies were sold by the Greater Philadelphia Girl Scout Council. Quickly following them was the Girl Scout Federation of Greater New York, which consisted of the councils from Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island in 1935. They bought their own die in the shape of a trefoil and put the words Girl Scout Cookies on the box.

By the next year, the Girl Scouts were processing the license for the very first commercial bakers to make the cookies. 
The very next year in 1937, over 125 councils held cookie sales.

For a long time, there was only one type of cookie available. It was almost 15 years later that two more cookies were introduced.  In 1951, the cookies were: Sandwich, Shortbread, and Chocolate Mints. The Chocolate Mints would become what is our most popular cookie, the Thin Mint. By 1960, a fourth cookie was made available, a peanut butter sandwich cookie.

In 1978, the cookie boxes began showing pictures that we would be more familiar with today. They depicted different pictures of Girl Scouts in action. Since then, more cookies have been added and new box designs have been created.

Girl Scout Cookies have been around for over 80 years, and are now enjoyed by people across the world. Thin Mint cookies are shipped to soldiers who are overseas, and Samoas are used to help fund camps. 


Is it any wonder that even after all this time, people are still as crazy about them? 


Girl Scout Uniforms Through the Years

By Mary M.

Although the uniform has changed, the mission is the same …

Girl Scouts help to build tomorrow’s leaders today with Courage, Confidence and Character … no matter what you wear! 

This picture was taken at Juliette Gordon Low’s 100^th year Anniversary Celebration at Camp Timber Ridge when Girl Scouts CEO Ana Marie Chavez came to encourage us to continue what Juliette Gordon Low started.   The women, pictured above, dressed in some vintage Girl Scout uniforms showed us how Girl Scouts who came before us, dressed.

(It’s probably a good thing that our uniforms have changed because I’m not sure too many of us would really like wearing these now!)

Do you like having to wear your vest or sash to all Girl Scout meetings and events? Well imagine having to wear a Girl Scout dress or a really long skirt or a hat or long black socks!  Maybe your mom or grandmother was a Girl Scout, and she still has her old Girl Scout uniform.  My mom does. I’m sure you will keep your Girl Scout Vest or Sash for your children to see.  Girl Scouts is definitely something of pride.

When Juliette Gordon Low first started Girl Scouts in 1912 the uniform that she and her troop wore was: a very long blue skirt, a blue blouse, a tie made of blue satin and long black stockings with black shoes as seen in the picture above.

In 1914 the uniforms were going to be manufactured, and they changed to: a khaki blouse, a skirt, a kerchief tie, and a hat with the letters GS on the front. After another five years, girls had their choice of which uniform they wanted to wear either: a long coat dress or a short coat with a skirt, both with a khaki hat, neckerchief, and a belt. Which one would you chose?

If you were a Girl Scout in 1928 (as we call it today, Juniors), your uniform would have been: a one-piece dark green dress with embroidered GS letters on the collar and a dark green neckerchief.   They also wore a hat with the World Trefoil embroidered on the band.

Uniforms continued to change in the 1930’s for teenage girls. The main difference was that a pair of pleated shorts was now worn underneath a skirt that buttoned down the side so it could be easily removed for hiking.  This uniform made it easy for girls to follow Juliette Gordon Low’s ideals of getting girls outside to learn about the outdoors and earn badges and patches.

After that, Girl Scout uniforms continued to evolve according to the styles of the time but, the message remains the same! We are Girl Scouts.

Who Joined WAGGGS When?

By: Pooja D.

            The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts have 145 member countries.  This brings about an interesting question.  When was Girl Scouts or Girl Guides introduced to each country?  This is what this article is about: the history of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in different countries.

           

       New Zealand was the first countries to be introduced to Girl Guides.  It was introduced in 1908 a part of the Peace Scouts Movement and is called GirlGuiding New Zealand.  In 1928, New Zealand was one of the founding members of WAGGGS and New Zealand is a full member.  In New Zealand, they have four age groups: Pippins (ages 5-6), Brownies, Guides, and Rangers.  The GirlGuiding New Zealand is a girl only association

The United States of America was introduced to Girl Scouts in 1912.  The USA joined WAGGS in 1928 and they are a full member.  They have six age levels: Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador.  The GSUSA is a girl only association. 

           

             Girl Guides were introduced in Australia in 1911.  Girl Guides Australia are one of the founder members of WAGGGS and are also full members.  It joined WAGGGS in 1928 when it was founded.  Australia has two age groups: Australian Guide Program (ages 5-18) and the Olave Program (ages 18-30).  The Australian Guide Program is a girl only program. 

            

             Egypt was introduced to Girl Scouts in 1913.  It joined WAGGGS in 1931 and is a full member.  The Egypt Federation for Scouts and Girl Guides has four groups: the Baream Rainbow (ages 5-7), the Zahrat Brownie (ages 6-11), the Morshidat Guide (12-15) and the Gawalat Ranger (ages 16+).  The Egypt Federation for Scouts and Girl Guides is a girl only federation.

            

             Brazil was introduced to Girl Scouts in 1919.  They are a full member on WAGGGS and joined in 1930.  They have four groups: Ciranda Brownies (ages 6-8), Bandierante 1 Junior Guide (9-11), Banderainte 2 Guide (ages 12-14), and Guia Ranger (ages 15-18).  The Federação de Bandeirantes do Brasil is a boys and girls federation.

Mongolia is currently the last country that was introduced to Girl Scouts.  It was introduced in 1996 and joined WAGGGS in 2005.  They are called the Girl Scout Association of Mongolia. There are four groups in GSAM.  The Yargui branch (ages 5-7), the Boronlzgono branch (ages 8-11), the Guide branch (ages 12-15), and the Sarnai branch (ages 16-18).  The GSAM is a girl only association.

Color Blocking: Trending Fashion

By: Nia A.

Color blocking is to mix different types of colors to make an outfit that is like a rainbow for all color spectrums and fashion tastes.  September 6- 13 2012, was Fashion Week in New York City and color blocking is hot off the runway and the top fashion trend for Fall.  Fashion Week is a time where the world’s most famous fashion designers and models show their true fashion talents and Rip the Runway!  New York City is noted as one of the fashion capitals of the world after Paris and Milan. The world is always watching for the hottest trends and styles.  Designers and fashion houses use this opportunity to be creative and put their best “stitches” forward. 

If you love the bright colors and the option of being able to mix and match them all together in just one-outfit, then the color-blocking trend is just for you!  First, look in your closet and look at all of the colors you have. Use your inner fashionista and creative style, to put outfits together that you would wear out, and put bright color accessories with it. If you wanted to draw attention to your ears, you should put on brighter colored earrings.  If you wanted to draw attention to your entire outfit, then you should wear bright colored bottoms with even brighter tops!  Rich and bright colored purses and shoes help make an outfit more eye catching.  Color blocking not only adds different types of color to your look, but it also draws attention to whatever you want. 

Color blocking can be a hobby or a trend that you adopt for a long time!  It also shows your creative side even if you think you do not have one!  I found that mixing, and matching my colors and outfits brings a happier look to my personality, and once I began to experiment, I could not stop!  I even mix and match my nail polish to top off my looks.  For example, I am obsessed with ombre nails.  My nails are a bright pink, but one finger on each hand is gold.  For a more contrasting color to help it pop against your skin pink and shock blue are two completely different colors; however, they contrast each other enough to make the blue and the pink look great together.

Color Blocking is a unique fashion trend that girls all over the world are following. It is a great way to be an individual and a trendsetter!  It is a way to freshen up your style frequently while staying within the latest fashions.  Have Fun with your look, stay true to yourself, and follow these simple tips to keep your fashions top notch:

1. Start with two colors
2. Add a third or fourth color
3. Use bright colored accessories
4. Consider the use of prints to add edge to your look

Have fun!

Girl Scouting in Other Countries

By: Brittany G.

I’m sure that those of you reading this know pretty much all there is to know about Girl Scouts in the United States. Our levels of Girl Scouts are Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors. Girl Scouts strives to build courage, confidence, and character within young girls. You should be familiar with Scout Promise and Law as well. Have you ever thought about what Girl Scouting is like beyond the United States? Have you ever wondered what other girls are doing in other countries?

The first difference that you may or may not already be familiar with is that, in most places, Girl Scouts are referred to as Girl Guides. Our bordering countries, Canada and Mexico, have Girl Guides instead of Girl Scouts. In fact, Mexico is one of the countries I will be informing you about in this article. The countries I’m focusing on are the countries that are home the four World Centers: Our Cabana in Mexico, Our Chalet in Switzerland, Pax Lodge in England, and Sangam in India. 

Mexico, our neighbor down south, contains Our Cabana in Cuernavaca, a 47 mile drive from Mexico City. The levels of Girl Guides in this county are very close in ages compared to our levels here in the United States. These levels are Girasol Sunflower (ages 4-6), Hadita Fairy (ages 6-9), Guia Guides (ages 9-13), Guias Intermedia (ages 13-15), and Guias Mayor Ranger (ages 15-18). Though the program’s focus has changed throughout the years, it currently focuses on the importance of international education and the knowledge of ecology, which helps the environment. In accommodation to the importance of ecology, members of the Girl Guides program are currently working on a project to combat environmental problems, as well as many other service projects to help the community. Also, much like camps in the United States, there are yearly camping opportunities for girls of different ages.

One year there is a camp for Guides and Intermediates, and the next year there is a camp for Rangers and leader. Brownies, however, just have a gathering every two years. 

Another one of the world centers, Our Chalet, is housed in Adelboden, Switzerland. The levels of Girl Guides in Switzerland are slightly different than ours. The levels are Bienli & Wolfe which is also called “Bees and Wolves” (ages 7-11), Pfadi (ages 11-15), Pioniere (ages 15-17), and Rover (ages 17+). The Guide and Scout activities focus on a few distinctive approaches: enhancing the personal progress, respecting our law and promise, living in a group, cultivating rituals and traditions, participating in a responsible manner, living in nature and playing. These focuses help the young girls find and practice skills that will make life easier for them and a lot more exciting. 

The Pax Lodge, the third world center, is located in London, England. Here, each level of Girl Guides has specific programs and focuses. Rainbows, consisting of girls ages 5-7, focuses are about learning, developing confidence, building friendships, and having fun. They follow a program called Rainbow Jigsaw that is broken into the four areas of Look, Learn, Laugh, and Love. Brownies, consisting of girls ages 7-10, are members of a Six, such as Badger, Fox, Mole, Squirrel, Hedgehog, and Rabbit. These girls follow a program known as Brownie Adventure, which has three parts: you, community, and world. They also have the opportunities to achieve Brownie interest badges, which cover many hobbies and activities, such as the Science Investigator badge or the Circus Skills badge. Guides, consisting of girls ages 10-14, work together more in small groups, or patrols, in planning and running events. The Guide programs that they follow have the five groups of discovery of new experiences and challenges, healthy lifestyles, global awareness, skills and relationships, and celebrating diversity. Guides can strive for Guide interest badges, such as Film Lover and Independent Living, and challenge badges that recognize participation. Their badges build up to what’s called the Baden-Powell Challenge Award, named after the creator of Guides and Scouts. Last, but not least, the Senior Section of Girl Guides in England is for young women ages 14-25. The Look Wider program deals with a range of different activities and encourages trying new things. Senior girls have many awards and qualifications they can work for, including a Leadership qualification and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. Many international opportunities are open to these girls, as well as the choice to join the British Young Council and participate in the Innovate meeting to have a say in future events in Girl Guiding. 

Now we are to India, where the Sangam World Center lies in Pune. Here, Girl Guides is the girl section of the Bharat Scouts and Guides Program. In India, there are three, potentially four, levels to Girl Guides. There is Bulbul (ages 5-10), Guide (ages 10- 17+), Ranger (ages 16-25), and in some regions they are experimenting with a new Bunny group for girls ages 3-5. The basis of Guides in India is community service and development. The general public is informed of these scouts and guides through the press, the radio, and the television, which has resulted in the doubling of the Guides over the last ten years or so. Literature in both English and the regional language is offered to these Guides and Scouts, as well as training skills by the introduction of computers, and they have a monthly newsletter and magazine. Guides actively participate in the National Adventure Institute that was founded by the Bharat Scouts and Guides in 1992. 

I encourage all of you to look into the activities of Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world, as this information could be very helpful if you run into a visiting scout or your troop goes on an international trip. This topic was very interesting for me to research, and I hope that it was interesting for you to read. For more information, please go to the WAGGGS website here. http://www.wagggsworld.org/en/world.