The Badge Archive

Campfire Story: WAGGGS World Thinking Day

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 list of dates.

WAGGGS World Thinking Day

The Start of Thinking Day

Imagine it is 1926. Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from all over the globe have traveled to the United States for a very special meeting: the 4th World Conference. They are gathered at Camp Edith Macy in New York (a place that became famous as the “University in the Woods”).

The delegates looked around the room and realized something powerful. Even though they spoke different languages and wore different uniforms, they were all sisters in Scouting. They wanted a specific day on the calendar dedicated just to this feeling. This would be a day when every Guide and Scout, no matter where they lived, would stop and think of each other.

But what day should they pick? They decided on February 22, a date that was already special to them. It was the birthday of Lord Baden-Powell (the founder of the Boy Scouts) and the birthday of his wife, Olave Baden-Powell (the World Chief Guide). It was the perfect match. They named it Thinking Day, a day to send happy thoughts to their sisters across the ocean.

Birthday Gifts

Six years later, in 1932, the World Conference met again in the beautiful countryside of Bucze, Poland.

During a discussion about Thinking Day, a delegate from Belgium raised her hand. She pointed out that usually, when you celebrate a birthday, you bring a present. She suggested that just “thinking” wasn’t enough. Girls should also give a “birthday gift” to help the movement grow.

The World Chief Guide, Olave Baden-Powell, loved the idea. She wrote a letter to all the Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in the world asking them to spare “a penny for your thoughts.”

The idea was that a single penny (or whatever coin was in your pocket) wasn’t much on its own. But if every Scout gave just one penny, together they could change the world. This became the World Thinking Day Fund, which is still used today to help start Girl Guide and Scout troops in countries where girls have very little.

Named World Thinking Day

For over 70 years, the day was known simply as “Thinking Day.” But as the world got smaller and technology connected us more than ever, the leaders wanted to make sure everyone understood how big our family really is.

In 1999, at the 30th World Conference in Dublin, Ireland, the delegates voted to change the name. They added one very important word. It became World Thinking Day. This change was made to remind every girl that she isn’t just a Scout in her town but a part of a worldwide movement of millions of girls in over 150 countries.

Today

Today, World Thinking Day is more than just a fun time to learn about different cultures. It is a global call to action.

Every year, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) chooses a specific theme for the day. This allows millions of girls to work on the same problem at the same time.

For 2026, the theme is “Our Friendship.” This is extra special because 2026 marks exactly 100 years since that first meeting at Camp Edith Macy. By celebrating “Our Friendship,” we are honoring the century of connections that have kept our global circle strong.

(Optional Addition)

Ironically, this centennial is also a fond farewell. GSUSA has announced that they are selling Camp Edith Macy this year. While the memories remain, the cost to maintain the historic property has become too high. The organization hopes that the funds raised from the sale can be used to invest in the future of Scouting, ensuring that the mission, just like the friendships made there, lives on for the next 100 years.

–

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)

–

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.

–

Short Link: https://tinyurl.com/456kprx2