Girl Scout Lingo

Alum/Alumna toggle arrow

Alum/Alumna – A former Girl Scout girl member

Ambassador toggle arrow

Ambassador – A Girl Scout in grades 11-12

Badge

Badge – Official embroidered insignia earned by completing a certain number of requirements in the Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting. These earned awards are sewn on the front of the uniform and are distinguished from “participation patches” which are obtained by participating in various events

Bridging

Bridging – When girls move from one program grade level to the next; may include an award for the girls completing the bridging award requirements, and likely will include a ceremony

Bronze Award toggle arrow

Bronze Award – The highest award Girl Scout Juniors can earn. Earned by girls in the 4th-5th grades. The Girl Scout Bronze Award requires completion of a Journey, and then a minimum of 20 hours completing a take action project.

Brownie

Brownie – A Girl Scout in grades 2-3

Buddy System toggle arrow

Buddy System – Safety practice that groups two or three girls together to keep watch over each other in an activity (such as swimming or hiking). The system can place girls of equal ability in the same group or a more mature girl as a mentor.

Cadette

Cadette – A Girl Scout in grades 6-8

Council

Council – A corporation, chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA, organized for the purpose of developing, managing, and maintaining Girl Scouting within a defined geographic region.

Counselor in Training (CIT) toggle arrow

Counselor in Training (CIT) – A Girl Scout who is taking a course (called Counselor-in-Training) to learn camp counselor skills.

CSA

CSA – Abbreviation of Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador.

Daisy

Daisy – A Girl Scout in grades K-1

Day Camp

Day Camp – A camp program within a 12-hour period that lasts for a minimum of three days.

Destinations toggle arrow

Destinations – A trip or event beyond girls’ own troops and councils. Destinations are GSUSA programs organized locally and the events provide an opportunity for individual members to broaden their perspectives and give Girl Scouting enhanced visibility.

Digital Cookie toggle arrow

Digital Cookie – The Digital Cookie platform allows girls to customize the way they learn and earn during the Girl Scout Cookie Program, using technology in new and engaging ways, all while earning cool cookie business badges along the way.

Early Bird toggle arrow

Early Bird – Early renewal campaign that takes place between April and June (specific dates change each year) with added incentives like special programs, events and patches for girls who renew their membership before a certain date.

eBudde

eBudde – A program used by volunteers and parents during the Girl Scout Cookie Program.

Extended Year Membership toggle arrow

Extended Year Membership-

Fall Product Program toggle arrow

Fall Product Program – A product sale that begins in the fall, typically in October and allows troops to earn additional money. The products include a variety of nuts, chocolates and magazines.

Five Skills toggle arrow

Five Skills – These are the 5 skills every girl learns by participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program: (1) Goal Setting; (2) Decision Making; (3) Money Management; (4) People Skills; and (5) Business Ethics.

Flag Ceremony toggle arrow

Flag Ceremony – Honors the American flag as the symbol of our country and all the hopes, dreams, and people it represents.

Founder’s Day toggle arrow

Founder’s Day – Celebrated each year on October 31 in honor of Juliette Gordon Low’s birthday

Friendship Circle toggle arrow

Friendship Circle – Representing the unbroken chain of friendship among Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world. Involves Girl Scouts standing in a circle, crossing their right arms over their left, and clasping hands with their friends on both sides. Everyone then makes a silent wish as a friendship squeeze is passed from hand to hand around the circle.

Girl Guide toggle arrow

Girl Guide – The original name for Girl Scouts, it is still used in many countries.

Girl Scout Cookie Program toggle arrow

Girl Scout Cookie Program – The iconic Cookie sale! Girl Scouts sell Girl Scout Cookies to power new, unique, and amazing experiences.

Girl Scout Handshake toggle arrow

Girl Scout Handshake – Made by shaking hands with the left hand and making the Girl Scout Sign with the right. Used when Girl Scouts greet one another.

Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) toggle arrow

Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) – The engine for everything girls do in Girl Scouting. The experience identifies all the elements that need to be in place for Girl Scouting to achieve its mission; Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. When Discover, Connect, and Take Action activities are combined with the Girl Scout Processes of Girl-Led, Learning by Doing, and Cooperative Learning, girls achieve the desired and expected short-term leadership outcomes, ultimately resulting in Girl Scouting achieving its mission.

Girl Scout Sign toggle arrow

Girl Scout Sign – Official Girl Scout greeting. The right hand is raised shoulder high with the three middle fingers extended and the thumb crossing over the palm to hold down the little finger. The three fingers represent the three parts of the Girl Scout Promise.

Girl Scouting 101 toggle arrow

Girl Scouting 101 – A 45 minute video provided by GSUSA that provides a quick breakdown and understanding of Girl Scouting. This tool is a requirement for new leaders to watch.

Girl-Led

Girl-Led – Girls play an active role in planning activities, while adults provide guidance, ensuring that planning, organization, and set-up are age-appropriate. Evaluation of all activities is done jointly with girls and is integral to a high-quality Girl Scout experience.

Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting toggle arrow

Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting – A handbook with earned badge requirements, traditions, and Highest Awards requirements used by the girl and/or troop.

Gold Award toggle arrow

Gold Award – The highest award in Girl Scouts. Open to Girl Scouts in high school, Gold Award projects find a sustainable way to solve community problems.

GORP

GORP – An acronym with two possible meanings, depending on who you ask! Good Old Raisins & Peanuts, or Granola, Oats, Raisins, & Peanuts. A camp snack favorite!

GSUSA

GSUSA – Girl Scouts of the USA, the corporation that promotes the Girl Scout movement in the U.S.A., which includes the United States, its territories, and possessions.

Highest Awards toggle arrow

Highest Awards – Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards. They are the highest honors a Girl Scout can earn. All three awards give girls the chance to do big things while supporting an issue they care about.

Insignia

Insignia – Every Girl Scout item worn on the uniform (badges, awards, patches, stars, strips, etc.)

Investiture toggle arrow

Investiture – A special ceremony in which a new member makes her Girl Scout Promise, receives their membership pin, and becomes a member of Girl Scouts.

Journey

Journey – A fun and challenging experience spread over a series of sessions (usually 6-8 but with the potential to last far longer). The journey invites girls to explore a topic and culminates in a take action project to make the world a better place. Once done, girls can wear their journey awards on the front of their Girl Scout vest.

Juliette Gordon Low toggle arrow

Juliette Gordon Low – Founder of the Girl Scout movement in the United States of America.

Juliettes

Juliettes – First name of Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low. Term also used to refer to registered Girl Scouts who are not part of the traditional troop program. These girls, also known as IRGs (individually registered girl) still work towards the same badges and activities, they simply do not belong to a troop. They can join other girls at council-wide events and can participate in all Girl Scouts has to offer.

Junior

Junior – A Girl Scout in grades 4-5

Junior Counselor toggle arrow

Junior Counselor – A Girl Scout who has already completed both Counselor in Training (CIT) I and II programs and would like to further enhance her leadership skills by learning what it’s like to be a camp counselor.

Kaper

Kaper – A temporary job or responsibility

Kaper Chart toggle arrow

Kaper Chart – A chart showing each girl’s or each group’s job on any given project. It provides for rotation of jobs and sharing of responsibility.

Law

Law – I will do my best to be
honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong, and
responsible for what I say and do,
and to
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.

Lifetime Membership toggle arrow

Lifetime Membership – Granted to any person 18 years of age or older or a high school graduate or the equivalent who: 1. Accepts the principals and beliefs as stated in the Preamble of the Girl Scout constitution. 2. Has paid lifetime membership dues of 25 times the annual membership dues. 3. Meets applicable membership standards. 4. Has 10+ years of service as a volunteer.

Membership Dues toggle arrow

Membership Dues – $25 fee paid annually to Girl Scouts of the USA for registration which goes directly to National Headquarters. One of the requirements for becoming a member of GSUSA.

Membership Pin toggle arrow

Membership Pin – One of 5 pins; the trefoil with three faces (contemporary style), trefoil with eagle (traditional style) pin, Girl Scout Daisy membership pin, Girl Scout Brownie membership pin, and lifetime membership pin. These pins signify the acceptance of the membership requirements.

Membership Year toggle arrow

Membership Year – October 1 through September 30.

Mission

Mission – Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

Motto

Motto – Be Prepared

myGS

myGS-

National Gold Award Girl Scouts toggle arrow

National Gold Award Girl Scouts – An honor given to 10 Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors each year whose Gold Award projects demonstrated extraordinary leadership, had a measurable and sustainable impact, and addressed a local challenge related to a national and/or global issue.

On Time

On Time – The membership renewal period running from the end of Early Bird until the end of the membership year, September 30.

Overseas Committee Management Team (OCMT) toggle arrow

Overseas Committee Management Team (OCMT)-OCMT's manage the Girl Scout program in a designated geographical region, such as a city or military installation.

Patch

Patch – Also known as a “fun patch.” Supplementary insignia received by girls for simply participating in an event or activity. Girls wear participation patches and pins on the back of their Girl Scout uniform.

Patch Program toggle arrow

Patch Program – Patches earned by completing programs unique to individual councils or organizations. The required activities to complete the patch programs are generally found on the council or organization’s website.

Petals

Petals – Earned awards by Girl Scout Daisies. Girls earn the Promise Center by showing they understand the Girl Scout Promise. Girls earn Petals by showing they understand the 10 parts of the Girl Scout Law.

Program Aide toggle arrow

Program Aide – Girl who is currently in the 6th grade, who has taken a specialized training to help troop/group leaders with activities for their girls.

Promise

Promise – On my honor, I will try:
To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.

Quiet Sign toggle arrow

Quiet Sign – Raising the right hand over the head to signal for attention and quiet at any Girl Scout gathering. When the hand goes up, mouths go quiet, and everyone joins in giving the quiet sign.

Regional Camporee toggle arrow

Regional Camporee-

Resident Camp toggle arrow

Resident Camp – Overnight camp. Sessions are generally for at least five days (and four nights) and may be multiple weeks in length. The program is operated and staffed by the camp, and the supervision of campers is a camp responsibility. Campers stay overnight, and camp is responsible for campers 24 hours a day.

Sash

Sash – A type of uniform available to Brownies through Ambassadors. The sash sits on the right shoulder and crosses the body, resting on the left hip.

Senior

Senior – A Girl Scout in grades 9-10

Service Project toggle arrow

Service Project – A project that helps the community with a specific and short-term need.

Service Unit toggle arrow

Service Unit – Geographic unit of troops/groups within a region which facilitates delivery of services and the Girl Scout program to girls and adults.

Silver Award toggle arrow

Silver Award – The highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can receive. Earned by completing a Girl Scout Journey and the suggested minimum of 50 hours building a team, exploring the community, picking a Take Action project, developing the project, and spreading the word.

Sit-Upon

Sit-Upon – Lightweight pad or mat the girls make to “sit-upon” when the ground is dirty or damp.

Slogan

Slogan – Do a Good Turn Daily

S’mores

S’mores – A sandwich made with graham crackers, chocolate, and a roasted marshmallow.

SWAPS

SWAPS – Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere. Small tokens of friendship to exchange with Girl Scouts you meet while traveling.

Take Action Project toggle arrow

Take Action Project – A project that helps the community by identifying the root cause of the community need, has long-term benefits, and has sustainable community support.

Tunic

Tunic – A type of uniform available to Daisies. It is worn over the shoulders and ties at the waist.

Trefoil

Trefoil – The official emblem of the Girl Scout movement in the United States of America, registered in the United States Patent Office by Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.

Troop

Troop – This group of girls and adults (minimum of 5 girls and 2 adults) who meet on a regular basis to engage in Girl Scout Program activities. Troops are organized according to “Grade Level” which places girls together with others in the same social/developmental stage.

Troop Crest toggle arrow

Troop Crest – A Girl Scout tradition that helps leaders easily identify Girl Scouts belonging to different troops while on a hike or other activity. There are currently 16 official troop crests available, and they are displayed on uniforms between the Girl Scout Council Identification Set and the troop numerals.

Troop Leader toggle arrow

Troop Leader – A registered Girl Scout adult, background checked and trained volunteer who meets regularly with girls to help them achieve the purposes of Girl Scouting.

Uniform

Uniform – An article of clothing that symbolizes the high ideals for which Girl Scouts stands. The main uniform pieces are a tunic, sash, or vest, and Girl Scouts wear one to display official pins, awards, badges, and patches.

USAGSO

USAGSO-

Vest

Vest – A type of uniform available to all grade levels.

Volunteer Toolkit toggle arrow

Volunteer Toolkit-

WAGGGS

WAGGGS – The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, a global association supporting female-oriented and female-only Guiding and Scouting organizations in 150 countries.

World Thinking Day toggle arrow

World Thinking Day – Celebrated annually on February 22. Official Girl Scout day where girls traditionally learn about the cultures and traditions of WAGGGS member countries. This day also commemorates the birthdays of Lord and Lady Baden-Powell the founders of the Scouting Movement worldwide.