HOW GIRL GUIDES BEGAN
Many years ago, in 1908, a famous soldier named Robert Baden-Powell wrote a book called “Scouting for Boys”. It was a book about camping, tracking and many other exciting things for boys to learn and do. Many boys in England joined the Scouts but lots of girls also wanted to become Scouts, so in 1910 Baden-Powell started up a new group for girls and asked his sister, Agnes, to look after them. He named the group “Girl Guides” after a regiment of very brave soldiers who fought in the mountains of India. Baden-Powell was married in 1912 and his wife, Olave, took over the running of the Guides.
Lots of younger girls also wanted to become Guides, so Baden-Powell planned another program for them. At first they were called “Rosebuds” but most of the girls did not like this name so Baden-Powell chose a new name for them, “Brownies”. He got this name from a story called “The Brownies” written by Mrs. Juliana Ewing. The story was about friendly little folk who liked helping other people.
Guides and Brownies quickly spread to other countries. In some countries they were called different names, but they all had a similar Promise and Law. Today there are more than 10 million Guides in over 140 countries around the world!
Baden-Powell was knighted in 1909 and became Lord Baden-Powell. His wife, Lady Baden-Powell, became the World Chief Guide in 1930. Lord Baden-Powell died in 1941 but his wife continued to serve Guiding until her death in 1977.
On the 22nd of February each year we have a special Guide celebration known as THINKING DAY when we think of all our sister Guides around the world. Thinking Day is held on this day because it was the birthday of both Lord and Lady Baden-Powell.