Chapter I: Front Matter

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SCOUTING FOR GIRLS

Adapted from Girl Guiding

by

SIR ROBERT BADEN-POWELL K.C.B., K.C.V.O., LL.D.

Author of “Scouting for Boys,” etc.

New York 1918

Copyright, 1918, by Juliette Low

EXPLANATION

_Girl Scouting has a double meaning. To some it means the fun of playing the games of the Girl Scouts; to others, the fun of “playing the game” in Scouting Girls. Our desire in producing this Scout scheme is to offer help to parents, teachers, and patriots who may care to avail themselves of it when it comes to the duty of training girls._

_The object of the Scout training is to give our girls, whatever may be their circumstances, a series of healthy and jolly activities which, while delighting them, will afford them a course of education outside the school in four particular lines of which there is the greatest need:_

1. _CHARACTER AND INTELLIGENCE, through games,
practices and activities, and honours and tests for
promotion._

2. _SKILL AND HANDCRAFT, encouraged through badges for
proficiency._

3. _SERVICE FOR OTHERS and FELLOWSHIP, through daily
good turns, organised public service, etc._

4. _PHYSICAL HEALTH and HYGIENE, through development
up to standard by games and exercises designed for the
purpose._

_I have ventured to describe the above as a course of_ education _instead of a course of_ instruction _since the girls are led to learn of their own desire—which is education—instead of having the knowledge impressed upon them from outside—which is instruction_.

_The Scouts are divided into four grades, to each of which a corresponding Part of this book applies:_—

_PART I._ _Brownies, under 11._
_PART II._ _Scouts, 11 to 16._
_PART III._ _Senior Scouts, over 16._
_PART IV._ _Scouts, 18 to 81._

_The latter are what would otherwise be termed officers, but their position is rather that of elder sisters reviving their youth by playing among and leading the girls than of officers ordering them about, or repressing them._

_In each grade the training runs on the same four lines as that shown on the preceding paragraph, but on relatively higher standards at each stage, according to the psychology of the girl concerned in it._

_Experience has shown that the scheme is easily applicable, even by untrained leaders, to all kinds of girls, whether in town or country, at home or overseas; and that it is capable of bringing about most satisfactory results._

_This book merely offers an outline of principles, together with a few samples of details as an indication to guiders of the lines on which they can carry out the training. Further details are largely left to their own ingenuity to devise, according to the condition and character of their girls and of their surroundings._

_In any case the programme of the training should be kept as unlike a school syllabus as possible in order to give it novelty and freshness._

_The book is worded in such a way that it can be studied by the girls themselves in the different grades. The paragraphs in italics are more particularly addressed to the Scouters. In conjunction with this book the Book of Rules of the Association should be read, and where there may be any difference in detail between the two the Book of Rules should be taken as the guide, being more frequently under revision and, therefore, up to date; and also the monthly_ GIRL SCOUTS’ GAZETTE.

_For further suggestions on the work of Scouters and their aims and methods see Part IV. Perhaps the most important suggestion that I can offer here to Scouters may be summed up in the motto:_—

“Laugh while you work.”

_January, 1918._