Figure 1.--The inscription here reads "No.9477 Camden Scouts of Camden Indiana at Devils Den-Gettysburg PA=August 3rd, 1926". This suggests they were in the same troop, but thius would not have been allowed by the national organizations. Note that none of the boys, but a few of the girls are wearing neckerchiefs.

The Boy Scouts as the name suggests was an all boy organization. Girl Scouting was introduced to America by an entirely separate organization. This was the general practice around the world. The Girl Scouts of America (now the Girl Scouts of the USA) were founded in 1912. The founder was Juliette "Daisy" Low. The Girl Scouts are the only U.S. youth organization, other than the BSA, to obtain a Congressional Charter. It was, however, granted years after the BSA charter. The Girl Scouts did not manage to gain their charter until 1950. The term Girl Scout was an American inovation, due primarily because Low wanted girls to match the boys. She wanted a separatre organization, but did not want the girls to have a different which would have been preceived to have been a weaker program than the boys. In other countries girl Scouts were called girl Guides to differentiate themselves from the boys. The Scout/Guide distinction has been ended in many countries, where boys and girls now participate in coed associations troops. In other countries, the Boy Scout and Girl Guide programs have common national organization, but with separate troops for Scouts and Guides. In still other countries (such as the United States), the boys' and girls' organizations are entirely separate. Actually the BSA in the 1980s gave some thought to combining, but they the Girl Scouts dismissed the very idea of it.

Boy Scouting

The Boy Scouts of America were founded in 1910. As the name suggests was an all boy organization. We note some early images suggesting an association between Boy and Girl Scout trops. HBU is uncertain how to interpret this. We believe that the most likely explanation is that the sponsofring organiozation such as a church or school were tghe same so on some outuings both Boy and Girl Scout tropos went together even though they were actually different organizations.

Girl Scouting Founded

Girl Scouting was introduced to America by an entirely separate organization. This was the general practice around the world. The Girl Scouts of America (now the Girl Scouts of the USA) were founded in 1912. The founder was Juliette "Daisy" Low.

Family Role

The Girl Scouts like the Boys Scouts were a family based youth program. This wa epecially true of the Brownie and Cub orograms. But even at the Scout level, parents were very important. Most Scout leaders were recruited from parents, many of whom were former Scouters. We note a home sceen with Brownies and Girl Scouts in 1952.

Uniforms

We have few details on Gorl Scout uniforms. I believe that Early Girl Scouts wore bloomers and in the 1920s they appear to be wearing rather a cross between knickderts and bloomers (figure 1).

Congressional Charter

The Girl Scouts are the only U.S. youth organization, other than the BSA, to obtain a Congressional Charter. It was, however, granted years after the BSA charter. The Girl Scouts did not manage to gain their charter until 1950.

Guidery

Modern Gender Trends

The Scout/Guide distinction has been ended in many countries, where boys and girls now participate in coed associations troops. In other countries, the Boy Scout and Girl Guide programs have common national organization, but with separate troops for Scouts and Guides. In still other countries (such as the United States), the boys' and girls' organizations are entirely separate. Actually the BSA in the 1980s gave some thought to combining, but they the Girl Scouts dismissed the very idea of it.