As you know, I am very interested in Girl Scout History! This week, I decided to gather some information about the Girl Scouts of America and the role that they played in World War Two. All the websites that I found this info on are listed at the bottom of this post-so click any one of them for more information if you're interested! The Girl Scout Website has tons more facts from GSA history @ http://www.girlscouts.org/who_we_are/history/ ! Check it out! Have a great week!
- Girl Scout Cookies were sold annually by local councils around the country until World War II, when sugar, flour, and butter shortages led Girl Scouts to begin selling Girl Scout calendars to raise money for their activities.
- During World War II, 1943–1945, many young Japanese-American girls were confined in internment camps with their families. Girl Scout troops were organized, even in these camps.
- When World War II began the Girl Scouts aided their communities and war-torn Europe. The group began a new publication-Senior Girl Scouting in Wartime. This program educated older girls on projects like Hospital, Child Care and Emergency Outdoor Aide. The Girl Scouts also collected clothes to send to victims of war.
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| Girl Scouts Collecting Scrap Metal for the War Effort Picture From: http://www.girlscouts.org/who_we_are/history/timeline/1940s.asp |
- During the war, Girl Scouts operated bicycle courier services, invested more than 48,000 hours in Farm Aide projects, collected fat and scrap metal, and grew Victory Gardens.
- Girl Scouts sponsored Defense Institutes, which taught 10,000 women survival skills and techniques for comforting children during blackouts and air raids.
- Girls collected 1.5 million articles of clothing that were then shipped overseas to children and adult victims of war.
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| This Intermediate Girl Scout uniform (ages 10-14) is the style worn from 1939-1948. Due to wartime shortages, a button down front replaced the metal zipper of previous years. The many badges earned by this scout include First Aid, Hostess, Handywoman and Child Care. Picture and info from: http://www.nww2m.com/2012/03/girls-scouts-and-wwii/ |
- The Liberty ship USS Juliette Low, named after the founder of the Girl Scouts, was launched on May 12, 1944.
Information from/For More Information:
- http://www.girlscouts.org/program/gs_cookies/cookie_history/1940s.asp
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girl_Scouts_of_the_USA
- http://www.nwhm.org/education-resources/biography/biographies/girl-scouts/
- http://www.girlscouts.org/who_we_are/history/timeline/1940s.asp
- http://sarahsundin.blogspot.com/2012/03/girl-scouts-in-world-war-ii.html
