⚠️ This page is under construction
“The work of today is the history of tomorrow, and we are its makers.”
— Juliette Gordon Low
This living collection brings together personal memories and historical records from Girl Scouts spanning over a century. What began as a grassroots effort to preserve one or two first-person stories from the 1920s–1950s has grown into a multi-decade archive, with contributions from real scouts, historical societies, journals, and community memories.
We’re capturing what has changed, what has endured, and what it means to wear the trefoil across time: from hand-sewn badges to modern leadership projects, campfire songs to global travel. Some stories are brief and heartfelt; others are rich with detail and preserved through handwritten logs, troop scrapbooks, and long-lost newsletters.
Originally inspired by the Across Generations retired GSUSA badge, this archive is a resource for troop history nights, legacy projects, and anyone curious what scouting looked like when your grandmother earned First Class.
Explore by Decade
Click a decade to read memories from scouts of that era
| Era | Highlights |
|---|---|
| 1920s | Early camping, and Girl Scouts on Foreign Soil founded. |
| 1930s | Golden Eaglets, orchid cataloging in the Everglades, and scouting before the national park was named. |
| 1940s | Wartime service, bugle calls at camp, and button-up uniforms shaped by WWII. |
| 1950s | Mariner Scouts, Morse code badges, First Class rescues, pen pals across continents, national conventions, and high-altitude backpacking. |
| 1960s | Sierra backpacking, Cadettes launched, Our Cabaña travel, and 25¢ cookies. |
| 1970s | CITs at Kenneydell, ghost stories in Sherwood, and lodge song traditions. |
| 1980s | Sit-upons, Brownie badges debut, Interest Projects, and global Thinking Day. |
| 1990s | Worlds to Explore badges and council mergers starting. |
| 2000s | Unified borders, CIT skits, camp beanbags, and the last days before Journeys. |
| 2010s | … |
| 2020s | … |
Featured Story: Scout First Aid — The 1963 First Class Challenge
They thought it was a drill. It wasn’t. That girl really broke her neck. But everything they practiced kicked in and she fully recovered.
— From the tale of Marilyn W., Girl Scout 1956–1963
This memory includes an international pen-pal friendship with a Finnish Girl Guide, and links to a wartime love story that began over Girl Scout radio operator training.
Memory Gallery
A brief look at some of the featured scouts across the decades.
- “Selling Girl Scout cookies for 25 cents a box (correct price, not a typo)”
(Kitsy A.-H.) - “I was a Cadette the first year they were added… I still have my handbooks.”
(Carolyn B.) - “I remember marching in the Memorial Day Parades in my Brownie dress and beanie. My favorite memory is going to day camp called Camp WhaChaWanna…”
(Kathy V.M.) - “Best memories are from Senior scouts because our troop backpacked through the Sierra Nevada mountains for 2 weeks each summer hiking between 150-200 miles!”
(Janet H.)
For Badgework & Troops
Learning about the traditions and memories of the past scouts can help with any of the Girl Scout Way badges. Consider making something to use like:
- A simplified version of each memory with discussion questions
- Printable story cards sorted by decade or theme
- Template for recording your own troop’s interviews
Want to Contribute?
Do you—or someone in your family—have a Girl Scout story to tell? Whether it’s a single sentence or a full saga, we’d love to include it. Submit a Memory
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For More Fun Ideas and Plans
for Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Scouts
Join the Girl Scout Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Leader Help Facebook Group
(Not an official GSUSA Group)
This is a supportive Facebook community for Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Girl Scout leaders. Whether you’re seeking advice, fresh ideas, or meeting plans, you’re in the right place! Let’s inspire each other, share our experiences, and make every troop meeting a memorable adventure.
for Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Scouts
Join the Girl Scout Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Leader Help Facebook Group
(Not an official GSUSA Group)
This is a supportive community for Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Girl Scout leaders. This group offers solutions to keep older scouts engaged in scouting amidst their busy lives. Share strategies, tackle challenges, and exchange ideas for fun, meaningful activities that resonate with teens and build lasting connections.
Find out how you can support The Badge Archive!
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- Return to the Daisy Badge List.
- Return to the Brownie Badge List.
- Return to the Junior Badge List.
- Return to the Cadette Badge List.
- Return to the Senior Badge List.
- Return to the Ambassador Badge List.
- See Multi-Level Themes
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The Badge Archive 