Girl Scout Terms 

Baden-Powell – Lord and Lady Robert Baden-Powell were the founders of the Boy Scouts and Girl Guide movement for boys and girls. Olave, his wife, was the World Chief Guide.

Badge – Round embroidered award for Junior and Cadette Girl Scouts to indicate increased knowledge and skill in a particular subject.

Bridging – The move from one program age level of Girl Scouting to the next (e.g. from Junior to Cadette Girl Scouting.) 

Buddy System – A safety practice in which girls of equal ability are paired to help and to keep track of each other. 

Core Camping – Troop camping with some staff provided by Council (e.g., cook, waterfront, program director) at a given campsite. 

Counselor-in-Training (CIT) – A Senior Girl Scout who is taking a course to learn outdoor group leadership skills as a camp counselor.

Court of Awards – A ceremony that can be held any time during the year at which badges and other awards are presented.

 Court of Honor – Committee made up of the leader, patrol leaders, troop secretary and treasurer for decision making purposes.

Day Camp – Camping by the day for a minimum of four consecutive days.

Edith Macy Conference Center – National Girl Scout training facility located just outside New York City. 

Emblems – Insignia that denote Girl Scout membership at the national council, and troop levels. 

Fly-Up – The ceremony in which a Brownie Girl Scout “graduates” to Junior Girl Scouts.

Founder’s Day – Juliette Low’s birthday, October 31. 

Friendship Circle – A symbolic gesture in which Girl Scouts form a circle by clasping each other’s hands. It is often used at a closing ceremony. 

Girl Guides – The original name for Girl Scouts, still used in many countries.

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 

Girl Scout Gold Award – The highest award in Girl Scouting earned by a Senior Girl Scout.

Girl Scout Handshake – A formal way of greeting other Girl Scouts by shaking left hands while giving the Girl Scout Sign with the right.

Girl Scout Leader’s Day – April 22, a special day to honor Girl Scout leaders.

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.

 Girl Scout Silver Award – The highest award in Girl Scouting earned by a Cadette Girl Scout.

Girl Scout’s Own – A quiet inspirational ceremony that has a theme and is planned by Girl Scouts and their leaders.

Girl Scout Week – An annual celebration during the week of March 12th, the Girl Scout birthday. 

GSUSA – Girl Scouts of the United States of America.

Insignia – The umbrella term used to refer to all official terms that girls may wear on the uniform. 

Interest Project – Rectangular embroidered award earned by Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts. 

Investiture – A special ceremony in which a new member makes her Girl Scout Promise and receives her membership pin.

Kaper Chart – A chart that shows the delegation of jobs and rotation of responsibility day by day and/or meal by meal.

Leader-in-Training (LIT) – A Senior Girl Scout who is  taking a course to learn leadership skills as a troop leader.

Learning Petals – Awards earned by Daisy Girl Scouts for showing appreciation for one part of the Girl Scout Law.

Low, Juliette Gordon – (nicknamed Daisy) – Founder of Girl Scouting in the United States, she formed the first troop that met in Savannah, Georgia on March 12, 1912. 

Motto –”Be Prepared.”

Participation Patches and Pins – Supplementary insignia whose focus is participation, not prescribed requirements. These insignia are developed at the national or council level. 

Patrol – A widely used form of troop government where the troop divides into small groups. 

Proficiency Awards – Insignia from the Girl Scout

age-level books that are earned by completing the requirements indicated. 

Program Aide – Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts who have been trained to assist younger Girl Scout groups with songs, games, crafts, ceremonies or skills. 

Program Trail – A diagram for planning program activities in which one idea sparks another. 

Promise Center – An award earned by Daisy Girl Scouts for understanding the Girl Scout Promise. 

Quiet Sign – The Girl Scout signal for silence in a group situation. The person in charge raises her/his right hand and the Girl Scouts present fall silent and raise their right hands. 

Rededication – A formal ceremony at which a girl or adult, who was previously invested, renews her Girl Scout Promise.

Resident Camp – A sustained camping experience for a minimum of six days, with overnight sleeping at a Council owned, leased, rented or borrowed facility. 

Safety-Wise – A GSUSA book with safety program  standards and guidelines. 

Service Team – A group of adult volunteers responsible for organizing and delivering service to Girl Scouts directed by a service unit manager. 

Service Unit – A geographic subdivision within the  Council. 

Sit Upon – A “cushion” often made by Girl Scouts to use when the ground is damp or to keep their clothes clean. 

S.W.A.P.S. – “Special Whachamacalits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere.” Small items used for trading.

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. 

Trefoil – The international symbol of Girl Scouting. The three leaves of the trefoil represent the three parts of the promise. 

Try-lt – Triangular embroidered awards for Brownie Girl Scouts earned by doing activities and completing projects. 

Wide Game – A game played by following a trail with stops at several stations. 

Wider Opportunity – Any Girl Scout activity that takes girls outside their own troop or council.

World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) – An international educational association for girls with a membership of eight million.

World Trefoil Pin – A pin worn by all Girl Scouts and Girl Guides 

World Centers – Four program activity centers owned by WAGGGS. The centers are located in Mexico, England, India, and Switzerland.