The wonderful thing about being a Girl Scout right now is that, every day, we stand exactly in between what came before us—a 105-year history of girl power—and what’s ahead of us: the impact this generation of Girl Scouts will make, and the legacy and opportunities we can provide for the newest Girl Scout on up to the alum who’s been a Girl Scout for decades.
This Girl Scout birthday (March 12), we are right between our Girl Scout past and our Girl Scout future. It’s such an empowering thought—we are part of the power of girls!
I love these pairings of photos from “then” and “now,” proving no matter how much things have changed, so much remains the same.
Then: Our founder Juliette Gordon Low knew how important it was to get girls out in nature.
Now: Although our idea of camp-appropriate attire may have evolved, the great outdoors is still one of the core pillars of Girl Scouting—anyone who’s been to a River Valleys camp can attest to that! Kids today are deficient in a life-sustaining nutrient—nature! Girl Scouts make sure girls get a steady dose of vitamin N!
Then: I love the power and confidence embodied in this photo.
Now: And it remains to this day. Girls gain confidence by trying new things—like archery at one of our camps!
Then: Girl Scouts has always been about sisterhood—“Here, let me help you!” is what I imagine is being said in this photo.
Now: The only thing we need to make this picture an exact match to the one on the left is a pair of glasses! The Girl Scout experience is and has always been about making new friends and supporting each other. Girl Scouts are always in every girls’ corner!
Then: The Girl Scout Cookie Program has always been fun (and delicious).
Now: It’s the largest girl-run business in the world, did you know that? Who else sells nearly $1 billion in cookies in just a few weeks, while learning financial literacy and entrepreneurship and earning funds to power their Girl Scout experiences and community service? No one else, that’s who.
Then: Looking at this photo, I like to imagine where these girls were and what their camp experience was like. I bet it wasn’t that different than girls’ camp experiences now.
Now: There’s no doubt that camp changes lives, and we know that changing girls’ lives changes the world. But you know what else, it’s just a really ridiculous amount of fun too. What could be better?
There’s a quote we often see from Juliette Gordon Low: “The work of today is the history of tomorrow, and we are its makers.” There’s a reason it’s so popular—what could be more true, more inspiring, more goose-bump-inducing. Girls need Girl Scouts in their corner, and we are proud to be here. The world needs girls to reach their highest potential. What better place in history could we be than right here, right now.
Carry on, Girl Scouts!
Jen Thorson – Jen is the Chief Operating Officer at River Valleys, where she is privileged to work with the volunteers and staff who make Girl Scouts happen in troops, at camp, through programs, in our shops, and at the cookie booth. Jen worked for many years in higher education and was previously the Sr. VP of Recruitment and Marketing for Girl Scouts. She’s a passionate advocate for girls and women, especially in the areas of health care and health outcomes equity. She’s a heart attack survivor, national spokeswoman for the American Heart Association, and serves on the American Heart Association-Twin Cities board. Jen lives in St. Paul with her husband and two sons–and a backyard hockey rink.