Girl Scouts are part of a global sisterhood, rich with shared traditions and activities that have been delighting girls and volunteers for over 100 years.Why not explore those traditions and share them with your girls this troop year? Sounds like an excellent idea, right? But if you’re not a big walking encyclopedia of Girl Scout traditions, how do you find some good ones to try? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. There are so many ways to add a little tradition to your troop activities and to help your troop choose, here are a few of our favorite places to explore Girl Scout Traditions. Check them out and let your girls choose some new traditions to add to their Girl Scout experience this year!

• Earn the Girl Scout Way Badge! Brownies and up can discover special Girl Scout traditions like songs, leaving a place better than they found it, and our sisterhood through fun activities (some dating back over 100 years) as they fulfill the requirements for these legacy badges. Check the Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting for your age level, the Volunteer Tool kit resource tab or the badge explorer for more information about these awesome badges.
• Check the GSWOBlog! Use the search bar on the blog (type in traditions) to see what past posts we have on Girl Scout Traditions like ceremonies (flag retirement and ash are the most recent), World Thinking Day, Juliette Low Birthday, Outdoor Progression, Highest Awards and many others. Seriously, there’s some great stuff in our archives!
• Attend a Girl Scout Way Event! You asked and we delivered. Fall 2016 we have two program events scheduled whose theme is Girl Scout Traditions. Attend either one (or both) with your troop (or just your daughter) and expand your Girl Scout Ways knowledge. Both events require advance registration so look them up on My Activities and don’t miss out!
  • Girl Scout Ways Badge day for Brownies and Juniors at Camp Libbey in Defiance is Saturday September 17, 2016 12:00 PM-04:00 PM. You’ll join troops from across Western Ohio as you celebrate time-honored Girl Scout traditions, including flag ceremonies, games and songs, fire building, knots, and more.  All levels will earn and take home the Girl Scout Way Badge!
  • Girl Scout Traditions day for all levels at Camp Whip-Poor-Will in Morrow is Saturday October 22, 2016 10:00 AM-04:00 PM. You’ll join Girl Scouts of all ages for a day of Girl Scout fun.  Participate in traditional Girl Scout activities and learn a little about the history of the organization and our founder, Juliette Gordon Low, while you earn the Girl Scout Way badge.
• Ask Our Alumnae! Know some seasoned Girl Scouts? Do you have girls in your troop whose grandmother, aunt, or better yet Great Grandmother/Aunt were Girl Scouts? Perfect. Ask these living resources of Girl Scout history to share with your troop their favorite Girl Scout activity or song from when they were a girl. You might get campfire recipes from the 1950s, a God’s Eye craft demonstration, semaphore instruction (if you find that one, invite other troops-that’s a rare gem), orienteering hacks from the 1970s, or vintage camp songs.

So are you ready to add some traditions to your Girl Scout year? We sure hope so! Here’s to inspiring the next generation of girls to live the Girl Scout way and usher in another 100 years of Girl Scout traditions.