Campfire Story: The Spark Across the Ocean

Campfire stories are written in a format to be read aloud.

This one aims to keep the facts accurate but weaves them into a narrative rather than a dry information.

The Spark Across the Ocean

Have you ever had an idea so big that you felt like you might burst if you didn’t share it right away?

That is exactly how Girl Scouts began.

In 1911, Juliette Gordon Low (our founder, nicknamed Daisy) was visiting Scotland and England. While she was there, she didn’t just see girls playing games. She saw girls doing important work. She saw a group called the Girl Guides learning how to survive in the outdoors, how to give first aid, and how to be leaders in their towns.

Daisy saw a spark in those girls. It was a spark of confidence and friendship. She looked at them and thought, ‘My girls in America can do this. They need this.’

She hopped on a ship to come back to Savannah, Georgia, carrying that spark with her. She was so sure that this was important that she rushed to the telephone. She called her cousin and said the words that started it all:

“I’ve got something for the girls of Savannah, and all of America, and all the world, and we’re going to start it tonight!”

That ‘something’ wasn’t just a club. It was a promise that girls could be strong, helpful, and kind. It started with just 18 girls in that first troop, but that spark Daisy brought across the ocean grew brighter and brighter, until it reached all the way to us sitting here tonight.

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For More Fun Ideas and Plans

Join the Girl Scout Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Leader Help Facebook Group
_{(Not an official GSUSA Group)}

Join the Girl Scout Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Leader Help Facebook Group
_{(Not an official GSUSA Group)}

See other Recommended Facebook Groups for some Scouting Organizations
_{(No official Groups)}

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Published on January 19, 2026, by:

Tia Kennard

Click Here -> To see information References:

Disclaimer: The information published on The Badge Archive is built from the references listed below. These sources demonstrate that our content is grounded in facts and research, not opinion or speculation. Readers may consult them directly when looking for additional material.

Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. “World Thinking Day 2026 Activity Guide, Our Friendship, Fun activities for Girl Scout Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors.” GirlScouts.org, 2025, https://www.girlscouts.org/content/dam/gsusa/forms-and-documents/members/global/WorldThinkingDay_DBJ_ActivityGuide.pdf. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.

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