A Brownie Girl Scout is a member of an organization that promotes the education of girls in outdoor activities, entrepreneurial initiatives and arts. The Brownies are comprised of girls between the ages of seven and ten years. Depending on the exact location of the organization, the activities range from urban citizenship to outdoor camping. In general, the Brownie Girl Scouts are an inclusive group with a strong emphasis on diversity.
The Brownies are essentially a young girl version of the Girl Scouts. It represents the female version of the Cub Scouts. Unlike many other groups, the Brownies focus on supporting the different types of girls that exist within the United States. They were one of the first organizations to support the membership of handicapped and disabled people and also support religious diversity. The motto is allowed to be adjusted to fit whatever spiritual belief an individual Brownie Girl Scout may have.
One of the major features of the Brownies are the concept of “Try-Its.” These are activities and programs that earn girls badges and awards for different activities and programs. Brownies perform a range of actions from taking part in major events to attempting to complete a basic task. Examples of different activities include learning about veterinarian care for animals, assembling community clean-up projects, exploring early American life, decorating T-shirts, selling cookies, learning to swim or simply learning a magic trick.
Each Brownie Girl Scout belongs to a group called a troop. These troops are led by certified trainers called guides. The organization of the troop varies depending on the leader, however, most groups act as a guided democratic institution. The members work with the guide to come up with programs and ideas in which they will take part. Leadership skills are a major focus of this organization.
The Brownies were established as an offshoot of the Girl Scouts. Juliette Gordon Low created the U.S. Girl Guides in 1912 based on the organization in England. Lord Baden-Powell, the director of the Boys Scouts, created a branch of younger girls in 1914 to complete the different age groups of scouts. The original name for the group was the Rosebuds, however, this was changed by Baden-Powell’s wife after members complained about the name. The Girl Guides became the Girl Scouts a short time later, bringing with it the nomenclature for the Brownies.
Girls can join the Brownies by contacting a local Brownie Girl Scout council in their area or by calling toll-free (800) GSUSA4U [(800) 478-7248].