Scouting for Girls

Girl Scouting has a double meaning. To some it means the fun of playing the games of the Girl Scouts; to others, the fun of "playing the game" in Scouting Girls. Our desire in producing this Scout scheme is to offer help to parents, teachers, and patriots who may care to avail themselves of it when it comes to the duty of training girls. The object of the Scout training is to give our girls, whatever may be their circumstances, a series of healthy and jolly activities which, while delighting them, will afford them a course of education outside the school in four particular lines of which there is the greatest need: 1. CHARACTER AND INTELLIGENCE, through games, practices and activities, and honours and tests for promotion. 2. SKILL AND HANDCRAFT, encouraged through badges for proficiency. 3. SERVICE FOR OTHERS and FELLOWSHIP, through daily good turns, organised public service, etc. 4. PHYSICAL HEALTH and HYGIENE, through development up to standard by games and exercises designed for the purpose. [iv]I have ventured to describe the above as a course of education instead of a course of instruction since the girls are led to learn of their own desire—which is education—instead of having the knowledge impressed upon them from outside—which is instruction. The Scouts are divided into four grades, to each of which a corresponding Part of this book applies:—...