The Badge Archive

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For over a century, Girl Scouts of the USA has been dedicated to building girls of courage, confidence, and character. What began with 18 girls in 1912 has grown into a global network, marked by significant moments of international friendship, such as the creation of World Thinking Day in 1926.

This timeline traces the major milestones in program development, including badge systems, age levels, awards, uniforms, and structural changes. It highlights how Girl Scouting has grown from a single troop in Savannah to a nationwide movement.

Explore the roots of retired badges, research how levels evolved, or simply learn curious information about how Girl Scouts earned their First Class in 1963.

• 1912 – Juliette Gordon Low founds the Girl Guides of the United States on March 12 in Savannah, Georgia. The first troop of 18 girls is organized. Proficiency Badges could be earned by any Girl Scout, ages 10-17.
• 1913 – The name changes to Girl Scouts of the United States. Headquarters moves to Washington, D.C.
• 1915 – The organization is incorporated, and headquarters moves to New York City. Convention (now known as the National Council Session) was held in Washington, D.C.
• 1916 – The Golden Eagle of Merit, the first highest award for Girl Scouts, is introduced. Marblehead, Massachusetts organized the first Brownie-age troop.
• 1917 – The Mistletoe Troop in Muskogee, Oklahoma, bakes and sells cookies in their high school cafeteria to fund a service project, the first known instance of Girl Scouts selling cookies.
• 1919 – The Golden Eagle of Merit is renamed the Golden Eaglet. An International Council was created.
• 1920 – The first International Conference of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts is held in England.
• 1922 – The Brownie level is officially recognized for girls in grades 2–3 (ages 7–9) and the first Brownie Book is published.
• 1923 – Girl Scouts were organized into patrols, troops, local councils, and a National Council. Girl Scouts used the term “Lone Girl Scout” (often shortened to “Lone Scout” in local records) to describe girls who were not attached to a troop.
• 1925 – Lone Troops on Foreign Soil (TOFS) started in Shanghai, China.
• 1926 – Thinking Day is established at the 4th World Conference held at Camp Edith Macy in New York. February 22 is chosen to honor the birthdays of Girl Guide founders Lord and Lady Baden-Powell.
• 1927 – The khaki uniforms changed to a new silver-gray fabric called “Girl Scout Green”.
• 1928 – The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) is founded at the 5th International Conference in Parád, Hungary. This formal association replaces the earlier International Council.
• 1932 – At the 7th World Conference in Poland, a Belgian delegate suggests that girls give a “birthday gift” to the movement on Thinking Day. Olave Baden-Powell asks girls to “spare a penny” for their thoughts, launching the World Thinking Day Fund.
• 1934 – The Girl Scout Council of Greater Philadelphia becomes the first to sell commercially baked cookies.
• 1936 – The national organization begins licensing commercial bakers to produce Girl Scout Cookies for councils nationwide.
• 1938 – The Golden Eaglet award is discontinued. The First Class award becomes the highest award for Intermediate Scouts.
• 1940 – The Curved Bar award is introduced as the highest honor for Intermediate Girl Scouts who have already earned the First Class rank. This was embroidered on the uniform.
• 1947 – The organization is officially renamed Girl Scouts of the United States of America. Proficiency badges are now only for Intermediate Girl Scouts (ages 10–14). Brownies and Senior Girl Scouts focus on group activities and leadership awards rather than badges. The Curved Bar award transitions from a wartime embroidered patch to a metal pin.
• 1950 – On March 16, the United States Congress grants GSUSA a Congressional Charter.
• 1951 – TOFS – North Atlantic was organized.
• 1953 – TOFS – West Pacific was organized.
• 1955 – New Senior Interest Patches were introduced.
• 1963 – New Cadette level was created, allowing four age levels: Brownie, Junior, Cadette, and Senior. The First Class award is reinstated as the highest honor (replacing the Curved Bar). Green Border Proficiency Badges were for Juniors (ages 9 through 11, or 4th through 6th grade) and Yellow Borders Proficiency Badges and four Challenge pins were for Cadettes (ages 11 through 14, or 7th through 9th grade). Brownies (ages 7 and 8, or 2nd and 3rd grade) still did not have any badges. Seniors (ages 14 through 18, or 10th through 12th grade) had expanded Senior Interest Patches alongside the new Eight Indispensables.
• 1968 – International Friendship Recognition was introduced.
• 1971 – Pants were an option for Senior level uniforms.
• 1972 – Eight new Challenge pins were available for Cadettes.
• 1973 – Brownie, Junior, and Cadette level uniforms were updated to allow a mix-and-match style, which included pants as an option.
• 1976 – A Pilot program of Pixies was formed (later became the Daisy level).
• 1977 – Badges were reorganized into Worlds to Explore and Proficiency Badges were officially retired. Some Proficiency Badge images were kept with new badge requirements, but were often renamed.
• 1978 – A second logo was voted on and now two logo options were available for scouts to wear and use.
• 1980 – The Girl Scout Gold Award and Silver Award are introduced as the highest award in Girl Scouting, replacing the First Class award. Troops on Foreign Soil (TOFS) changed name to USA Girl Scouts Overseas (USAGSO).
• 1984 – The Daisy Girl Scout level is introduced for kindergarten-aged girls (age 5).
• 1986 – Brownie Try-It badges were introduced.
• 1987 – Cadette and Senior level Interest Project badges were introduced.
• 1989 – Additional Brownie Try-Its were introduced.
• 1999 – At the 30th World Conference in Dublin, Ireland, Thinking Day was renamed to World Thinking Day. Brownie Try-Its started to be changed from Worlds to Explore to a single brown border. Junior badges started to be changed from Worlds to Explore to a single green border.
• 2000 – Brownie Try-Its officially changed from Worlds to Explore to a single brown border. The Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI) was established.
• 2001 – Junior badges officially changed from Worlds to Explore to a single green border. Images were kept but requirements changed. The Bronze Award was introduced. Daisy Petals were introduced with no requirements to earn.
• 2002-2003 – The Studio 2B program is launched for Cadettes and Seniors to appeal to teen girls with a focus on “by girls, for girls” activities. Silver Award and Gold Award requirements were altered to require Studio 2B activities.
• 2004 – The GSUSA National Board of Directors consolidated 312 councils into 109 councils. Cadette and Senior level Interest Project badges were changed from Worlds to Explore to a single blue border. The requirements to earn The Silver and Gold Award were redone.
• 2008 – The Ambassador level is introduced for girls in grades 11–12.
• 2010 – The second GSUSA logo was updated.
• 2011 – The 2011 program is released with new Journeys and Take Action Projects. The Worlds to Explore program was officially retired. Age levels are officially defined as Daisy (K–1), Brownie (2–3), Junior (4–5), Cadette (6–8), Senior (9–10), and Ambassador (11–12). The USAGSO Pin was redesigned.
• 2012 – The GSUSA National Board of Directors raised dues without the National Council involved. USAGSO Sunrise Ceremonies began in Guam
• 2015 – The term Juliette for Independent Girl Scouts was officially retired and now called Individually Registered Member (IRM). However, the term “Juliette” still is in use today.
• 2016 – GSUSA started adding new badges to their 2011 program.
• 2017 – Daisy level received their first badges beyond the Petals, Leaves, and Journey badges with a flower shape.
• 2021 – GSUSA started retiring some badges and replacing them with updated versions.
• 2022 – GSUSA Daisy petal requirements were completely redone.
• 2025 – Journeys were announced to be retiring in October of 2026. New Global Action, Take Action, and True North awards were released to replace the Journeys and Take Action Projects. Junior Aide, Program Aide, Volunteer in Training, and Counselor in Training were updated to new pins and requirements.

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For More Fun Ideas and Plans

Join the Girl Scout Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Leader Help Facebook Group
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Join the Girl Scout Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Leader Help Facebook Group
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See other Recommended Facebook Groups for some Scouting Organizations
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