History of Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio from 1912 to the Present

1908 Lord Baden –Powell established Boy Scouts in England

1910 Lord Baden-Powell asked his sister Agnes to adapt his book “Scouting for Boys”

for use by girls. His friend Juliette Low is very interested in this new Scouting

Movement.

1910 Girl Guides Association of the United Kingdom was officially established under

Agnes’s presidency. Juliette Low is eager to bring this GREAT NEWS to America.

1912 Juliette Low establishes Girl Scouts of the USA in Savannah, GA.

1912 Juliette comes up with the first Promise:

1. To do my duty to God and to my country

2. To Help other people at all times

3. To obey the laws of the Scouts

1912 Juliette comes up with the first Law:

1. A Girl Scout’s honor is to be trusted

2. A Girl Scout is loyal

3. A Girl Scout’s duty is to be useful and to help others

4. A Girl Scout is a friend to all, and a sister to every other Girl Scout

5. A Girl Scout is courteous

6. A Girl Scout keeps herself pure

7. A Girl Scout is a friend to animals

8. A Girl Scout obeys orders

9. A Girl Scout is thrifty

Girl Scout Motto: Be Prepared

The Traditional Girl Scout Trefoil

The traditional Trefoil, was designed by Juliette Low and

patented in 1913. She combined the British Girl Guide

Trefoil and the Great Seal of the United States of America.

This original symbol of Girl Scouts, the Trefoil, means that

Girl Scouts stand ready to aid their country in time of

Emergency

The Three broad parts of the Trefoil: Stand for the three parts of the Girl Scout Promise.

Eagle: Symbol of strength and Victory

Shield: Symbol of Self-Reliance

Thirteen vertical Stripes: Thirteen original States

Bar across top of Stripe: Congress holding States together

Eagle faces Right: Position of Honor

Scrolled Ribbon: Embossed with E PLURIBUS UNUM

In Eagle’s Talons:

The Olive Branch is a symbol of Peace and the Shaft of Arrows, a symbol of Might

1916 Lord Baden-Powell’s wife Olave established the Girl Guide Movement in Sussex,

England. Olave was elected to the Office of Chief Commissioner later that year

1917 Juliette Lowe writes the first manual “How Girls Can Help Their Country”

1918 Olave Baden-Powell was elected to the Office of Chief Guide

1919 Olave formed the International Council to provide a means of keeping in touch

with members of the Movement around the world.

1920 the Council had its first International Conference in Oxford, England, attended by

delegates and visitors from 15 countries.

1920 Lord Baden-Powel was elected World Chief Scout

*Lord and Lady Baden Powell. *Juliette Low with unidentified Girl Scout

1920:s saw the beginning of Girl Scout Cookies. Cookies were originally baked at home

and sold at “Girl Scout Shops.” Here is an early recipe provided by Fannie Farmer, there

is no way of knowing if this was the first.

Shortbread Girl Scout Cookies:

2 cups sugar ½ cup milk

1 cup solid shortening 2 tsp. vanilla

½ cup margarine 2 tsp. salt

3 large eggs 4 tsp. baking powder

5 cups flour

Cream sugar, shortening and margarine

Add eggs and mix thoroughly

Add dry ingredients alternately with milk and vanilla

Roll on floured board

Dough should be ¼ inch thick

Cut with trefoil cookie cutter – bake at 375 degrees – makes 115 cookies

1922 Lone Troops form in Riverside and Coachella Valley

1922 Riverside Council formed

1922 Coachella Valley Council Formed

1922 The uniform was introduced to the California Girl Scouts. It was a Khaki Cloth

dress and hat. For sports and play, bloomers or knickers were worn with a middy blouse

and a long narrow tie, tied in a low square knot.

1922-1941 Riverside Girls (a.k.a. region XII) attend Camp Conifer

1923 Hemet, Perris, Idyllwild, San Jacinto, Winchester troops start

1924 the first world camp combined with the 3

International Conference in Foxlease,

United Kingdom.

1925 First Brownie Troop formed in Riverside

1925 Region XII held its first conference in Riverside, CA.

1926 the 4

International Conference was held in New York, USA at the Edith Macy

Conference Center. The workmen were finishing the new center even as the delegates

were arriving for the conference. Delegates from around the world voted to devote

February 22, the joint birthday of Lord and Lady Baden-Powell, as Thinking Day. This

day is intended for Scouts to think of one another with love and friendship.

1927 Juliette Gordon Low dies in January and the Juliette Low fund is established.

1927-1932 Girls from Riverside attend Camp Emerson, a Boy Scout Camp located in

the San Jacinto Mountains near Idyllwild, for 1 session each summer.

1928 Lone Troop forms in Palm Springs

1929 Lone Troop forms in Banning

1929 WAGGS a.k.a. World Association of Girl Guides/Scouts is established

1930 The World Pin was designed by a Norwegian Girl Guide

The design of the World Pin is on the World Flag of every Girl Scout and Girl Guide

anywhere in the world.

1. The Background: is blue for the sky that covers us and the oceans that surround

2. The Trefoil: is gold for the sun that we all live under and that warms us for

survival

3. The Trefoil: stands for the three parts of the Girl Scout Promise. The Promise is

furthered honored by the gold star on the right.

4. The Law: is honored by the gold star on the left.

5. The Gold Pointer: a compass point, guides us on our way. It points to the

heavens and represents our individual faiths.

6. The Base of the Trefoil: is called its roots and flame. The roots are the

friendships that hold us together while the flame is the burning desire in the hearts

of all Girl Scouts and Girl Guides to be friends with others throughout the world.

1930’s Lone Troops form in Indio and Fontana

1932 Troop #1, the first troop in San Bernardino led by Maude Cooley Barnes

1932 1

troop in Harlem Springs (Highland area)

1932 Banning Council forms

1934 Corona Council established

1934 1st troop in Mecca

1935 1

troop in Indio

1936 San Bernardino Council established

1936-1937 Lone troops start in Hemet

1937 San Bernardino holds 1

Day Camp at Lytle Creek for Girl Scouts and Brownies

1937 Girl Scouts celebrates 25 years

1938 Palm Springs Council forms.

1938 Girls attend Camp Metaka at Big Pines in LA County

1939 Redlands Council established

1939 Hemet Council forms

1940 1

Girl Scout listing in San Bernardino phone book

1942 Girls attend summer camp at Azalea Trail. Still in operation in 2012.

1942 Palm Springs Council re-activated

1945 Banning Council established

1946 Beaumont Council, Palo Verde Council established

1947 Coachella Valley Council forms

1947 Camp Tautona opens.

1948 Hemet Scout House dedicated (Hemet Council Office)

1950 March 16, Girl Scouts obtained a Federal Charter from the United States House of

Representatives:

1. Title 36: Patriotic and National Observances, ceremonies, and Organizations

2. Subtitle II: Patriotic and National Organizations

3. Part B: Organizations

4. Chapter 803: Girl Scouts of the United States of America

1954 Fontana Council Established

1956 Adelanto, Apple Valley Victorville (lone troops) joined San Bernardino Council

1958 Beaumont, Banning, Palm Springs, and Coachella Valley Councils merge into

Desert Sky Council includes communities of Eagle Mountain, Palm Desert, Desert Hot

Spring, Indio, and Thermal

1958 Riverside, Corona, and Hemet Councils merge into DeAnza Council includes

communities of Perris, Idyllwild and San Jacinto.

1958 San Bernardino Council name changed to Tautona Council

1958 Lake Arrowhead (lone troop) joins Tautona Council

1959 Daggett, Barstow, Yermo (lone troops join Tautona Council

1961 Desert Sky Council joined De Anza Council

1961 Lucerne Valley (lone troop) joins Tautona Council

1961 Redlands council renames itself San Gorgonio Council

1962 Girl Scouts celebrates 50 years serving girls

1963 Running Springs, Wrightwood, Big Bear Lake, Big Bear City (lone troops) joined

Tautona Council

1963 29 Palms, Yucca Valley, Joshua tree (lone troops) joined De Anza Council

1965 Palo Verde Council joins De Anza Council

1965 Lady Olive Baden-Powell, Chief World Guide visits Camp A.T. & Camp Tautona

1966 Redlands Council joins Tautona Council

1966 Lady Olave Baden-Powell, Chief World Guide visits Riverside in January

1968 DeAnza, Tautona and Fontana Councils merge in to San Gorgonio Council. At the

time of the merge San Gorgonio had 15,114 girls and 2,670 adults making up 691

troops.

1969 Debbie Reynolds, actress and Girl Scout Leader visits Riverside County as part of

a membership drive known as Pied Piper. Ms. Reynolds lead Girl Scout troops on the

back lots of the movie studios she worked at.

1974 San Gorgonio Council was chosen to pilot a program for younger girls called

Mini’s

1978 The New Trefoil Emblem is introduced by GSUSA. The emblem shows three light

and dark profiles within the familiar trefoil. It was designed to symbolize the acceptance

of all girls into Girl Scouting regardless of race, color or religion.

1982 ETWOL (Exploring the World of Leadership) an adult training weekend started.

Now called ABC a.k.a. All Basic Classes

1983 “From the Mountains to the Sea” SGGSC Wider Opportunity for older Girls

1986 “Summer Special” a SGGSC Wider Opportunity for Older Girls to work with

special needs children

1987 Southern California Diamond Jubilee Round Up to celebrate the 75

Anniversary

of Girl Scouting, was held at Glen Helen Regional Park in Ca. Girls from 9 Southern

California councils participated. 15,000 members attended.

1989 AWOL (Advanced World of Leadership) an adult training weekend for more

experienced leaders, now known as ATTA, a.k.a. Azalea Trails Training Academy.

1995 Construction begins on new Redlands Corporate offices

1996 March, new Redlands Corporate offices are dedicated and opened for business

1997 Alyssa Wildish completes her Gold Award by creating a “Clown Troop” for

GSSGC. This troop receives a $5000 grant and personalized training from Disney to get

started. The troop becomes a council wide service troop, the first of its kind in the

nation.

1998 “Exploring the Night’s Candles” SGGSS Wider Opportunity for Older Girls

focusing on Space and Astronomy

1999 At the 30

International Conference held in Ireland, Delegates from all over the

world changed the name of Thinking Day to “World Thinking Day” emphasizing

international friendships and awareness to the challenges faced by our fellow Scouts

around the world on a daily basis. The international community now benefits from funds

raised.

2000 Council name change from San Gorgonio Girl Scout Council to Girl Scouts of San

Gorgonio Council

2000-2009 GSSGC participates in the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Rodeo and

10,000 Scouts attend the first event, held at Glen Helen Regional Park in Ca.

2003 GSSGC is spotlighted on Good Morning America with a story about how troop

1356, the Clown Troop, is working to calm and reassure juvenile disaster victims of the

California Wildfires. We also arranged for thousands of dollars in donations from our

fall product nut supplier to help the firefighters on the front lines.

2005 Girl Fest is kicked off at California Baptist University in Riverside, Ca.

2007 GSSGC holds its first camp experience especially for physically and mentally

challenged girls called “Camp Forward Motion”

2008 BIG (Believe In Girls) Expo is held at the Ontario Convention Center. This is an

expansion of Girl Fest and an introduction and training to our membership about the

new Journeys, the GSLE (Girl Scout Leadership Experience) and the new Discover,

Connect and Take Action.

2009 BIG (Believe in Girls Expo) moves to the Palm Springs Convention Center

2010 was the first year Elizabeth Locke-Thomas began the “Sparkle” program. That

year we had an 11% increase to the fall sale 42% to the cookie sale subsequently from

2010 to 2013 we have had a 75% overall increase to the product sales department. We

changed the Girl Scout cookie program to a whole girl program, it wasn't just about

business, it was about helping a girl become her best and utilizing the cookie program as

that catalyst. That is what the sparkle program was and that is why the cookie sale

increased as much as it did. In 2010, this was cutting edge programming. GSSGC was

the first council to embrace the "whole girl" and create a foundation around each girl’s

unique abilities. We truly created the first entrepreneurial program for girls and taught

her how to network and become CEO of her own business.

2012 Girl Scouts celebrate 100 years in the USA

2013 United States Mint celebrates 100 years of Girl Scouting with a Centennial Silver

Dollar. Cost, $59.95

2013 GSSGC has its first Hispanic Female Board President

2013 Former Board President, Dawn Mead-Duffy chairs a new Alumni group and with

the help of Fund Development staff, gets our Alumni group up and running.

2014 GSSGC’S B.I.G. (Believe in Girls) Expo hold’s its Finale