World Thinking Day

February 22 is World Thinking Day or just Thinking Day for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world. It is a day to think about the meaning of Guiding and Scouting and about Scouts and Guides in all the countries of the world. Many troops use it as an opportunity to study about other countries and cultures. Donations are collected for the Thinking Day Fund which supports projects to help Guides and Scouts around the world. February 22 was chosen as it was the birthday of Scouting founder Robert Baden-Powell and of Olave Baden-Powell, his wife and World Chief Guide.

On the nearest weekend to World Thinking Day, Girl Guides and Girl Scouts from across the world come together on ScoutLink to chat with each other and celebrate their Founders. Others are involved with Thinking Day on the Air (TDOTA) using amateur radio.

Other Scouts celebrate it as B.-P. Day or Founders Day.

World Thinking Day themes

The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts choses a theme for each World Thinking Day and proposes related activities. Themes include:

• 2005: Think about food
• 2006: Think about, talk about and do something about adolescent health issues; often shortened to Think about adolescent health
• 2007: Discover your potential by taking the lead, growing friendships, and speaking out; often shortened to Discover your potential
• 2008: Think about water
• 2009: Stop the spread of AIDS, malaria and other diseases; often shortened to Stop the spread of diseases
• 2010 “Together we can end extreme poverty and hunger”
• 2011: “Empowerment”
• 2012: “Environment”

                                                

    World Thinking Day is February 22
According to GSUSA, Thinking Day was first created in 1926 at the fourth Girl Guide/Girl Scout International Conference held at Girl Scouts of the USA’s Camp Edith Macy (now called Edith Macy Conference Center). Attendees decided that there should be a special day for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from around the world to “think” of each other and give thanks and appreciation to their “sister” Girl Scouts. The delegates chose February 22 as the date for Thinking Day because it was the mutual birthday of Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scout movement, and his wife, Olave, who served as World Chief Guide.

Each year on February 22, Girl Scouts participate in activities, games, and projects with global themes to honor their sister Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in other countries. World Thinking Day not only gives girls a chance to celebrate international friendships, but also is a reminder that Girl Scouts of the USA is part of a global community—one of nearly 150 countries with Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

In many local councils, World Thinking Day events take place on or near February 22. The World Thinking Day event coordinator for my service unit does a great job planning this event. She encourages Girl Scout troops to sign up for a WAGGGS country. Only one troop is allowed to sign-up (first come, first served) for each country. Troops then prepare for the event by researching Girl Scouts/Girl Guides of their chosen country.

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