Girl Scouts Have To Follow These Rules

1. The Girl Scout Promise

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Girl Scouts are asked to uphold the Girl Scout Promise. This pledge states: 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." Members are allowed to substitute the word "God" in alignment with their personal beliefs.

2. It's more than just a pledge

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The Girl Scouts organization emphasizes that The Promise is more than just words, but it's something to live by. All troops recite this promise and uphold the ideals listed in it. It serves as a reminder to be kind, to respect others and yourself, and to make the world a better place.

3. The Girl Scout Law

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This also outworks in the Girl Scout Law which says that "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." It's safe to say that no matter who you are, we could all benefit from living by this ethos!

4. It goes on to say....

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The second half of the Girl Scout Law says that "I will respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout." While we all love the delicious cookies, this motto is what the Girl Scouts truly contribute to the world!

5. Upholding the Beliefs & Principles

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The Girl Scouts of America state under their Beliefs & Principles that they are united by a belief in God and hold the Girl Scout Promise and Law as the cornerstone of the entire Movement. The Girl Scout Movement was founded by Juliette Low who inspired the Promise and Law.

6. The Girl Scout mission is clear

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When joining the Girl Scouts, it's good to know their mission before getting involved. The organizations states that they build courage, confidence and character. Their goal is to help develop girls who will make the world a better place. Everything that a Girl Scout does must be done through this lens!

7. There is spirituality involved

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Many may not realize, but spiritual and Christian beliefs are at the center of the Girl Scouts. They state on their website that the motivating force within Girl Scouts is spiritual. This means that it is reflected in the morals and ethics of the organization. However, they do allow each member to identify and fulfill spiritual beliefs in a way that is comfortable to them, and it remains personal and private.

8. There are membership requirements

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The Girl Scout Movement is an open membership to any girl and adult who would like to join. However, they must commit to upholding the Promise and Law, as well as meet the membership requirements and pay the appropriate dues. The members must continually meet the requirements to maintain their membership.

9. They are big on patriotism

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Citizenship and community service are at the heart of the Girl Scout experience. They want to see their members invested in their community and country through local, national, and global acts of service. This service and action is considered a core element of being a Girl Scout.

10. Girl Scouts must strive for diversity in all things

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If you are part of the Girl Scouts organization, you should be actively advancing divert and pluralism. This should be both within the Girl Scouts Movement itself and the communities in which each of the members live. It creates a more holistic and well-rounded worldview.

11. They take ownership of the Movement

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Girl Scouts are responsible for the Movement and its democratic process. This gives members ownership over the organization they're involved in and allows them to participate in an effective and highly efficient democratic group and display leadership amongst their peers.

12. You have to wear a uniform

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Girl Scout uniforms outwardly display everything you've accomplished within the program. Every grade level has a uniform item such as a sash or vest to display their badges, pins and other awards. You must wear this item when you attend ceremonies, or attend to any official Girl Scout business. It is paired with a white shirt and khaki pants or a skirt.

13. The Girl Scout salute

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There's a specific hand gesture that makes up the Girl Scout sign. Raise the three fingers of your right hand keeping the pinky held down by the thumb. Girl Scouts make this sign when they are reciting the Promise and Law. The three lifted fingers are meant to represent the three parts of the Promise.

14. Do you know the Girl Scout motto?

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We've talked about the Promise and Law, but there's also a Girl Scout motto, which is "Be prepared." This motto is explained as a way to ensure a Girl Scout is always ready to help out wherever and whenever needed. It goes beyond just a willingness to help out or serve, but the ability to KNOW how to do a job well and how to handle yourself in an emergency.

15. There's also a slogan to follow!

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The Girl Scout slogan originated in 1912, and it has continued to be used by the Movement since. The slogan goes, "Do a good turn daily." This basically means that each member can find something every day where they can make a difference and create change, whether it is big or small.

16. Girl Scouts greet each other in a specific way

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When Girl Scouts go to greet one another, they need to use the Girl Scout handshake. This handshake is recognized by Girl Scouts and Guides all over the world. To do the handshake, you shake hands with your left hand and then make the Girl Scout sign with the right at the same time. You shake with your left hand because it's nearer to your heart and symbolizes friendship.

17. Friendship is held in very high regard

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Girl Scouts participate in a Friendship Circle where you stand in a circle and cross your right arm over your neighbors left to clasp hands with friends on both sides. Then, everyone makes a silent wish and a hand squeeze is passed from hand-to-hand around the circle. This is to represent an unbroken chain of friendship.

18. Despite what people think, you don't HAVE to sell cookies

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Perhaps the most well known fundraising program is the selling of Girl Scout Cookies. They're beloved everywhere! These cookie sales help finance Girl Scout activities and programs throughout the year. Selling the cookies is completely voluntary though and requires written permission to participate!

19. There are lots of ceremonies to attend

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Girl Scouts attend several ceremonies throughout the year that signify special achievements and milestones. For example, the Bridging Ceremony marks when a girl moves from one level to the next. There are also Flag ceremonies where the American flag is honored. This requires the girls to observe flag etiquette.

20. You also have to plan a ceremony

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There's a ceremony called Girl Scouts' Own where the girls are able to explore various topics. This ceremony is planned by the participants. It could be around themes like friendship, the Promise and Law code, or community. They usually include something like spoken word, poetry, music, and various creative expressions. They may not be religious in nature.

21. This ceremony is the big deal

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One other ceremony that Girl Scouts must attend is the Court of Awards. This is a ceremony where badges, pins and recognitions are handed out. It's also one of the few ceremonies where Girl Scout volunteers may be recognized and awards. The Court of Awards can happen as often as the troops wish and at any point during the year.

22. Volunteers have rules too

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Any volunteer coming into the Girl Scout Movement must pass a background check. They also pay annual dues and commit to belief in the Girl Scout Mission. They help uphold the Promise and Law and go through a training program. They are able to give feedback and must also work under certain supervisions.

23. Do you know about SWAPS?

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SWAPS is something Girl Scouts are required to participate in, and it stands for “Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere.” This is when the Scouts exchange tokens of friendship with each other. The SWAP reflects the individual and their group. It's used to get to know Girl Scouts across the country, and even around the world.

24. There are guidelines around making SWAPS

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When participating in SWAPS there are some rules to follow. You shouldn't spend a lot of money, but rather look at making something or upcycling something. Hand-crafted items are encouraged. You need to have one for each participant AND staff member. It should also be small and portable as someone may need to travel with it.

25. There are also SWAPS safety and etiquette rules

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There's a particular etiquette that you must follow for SWAPS. You can never refuse to swap with someone. The swap must take place face-to-face, and address or email exchanges should only happen in person. You may not include any glass or sharp objects. You also cannot use food items.

26. If you're traveling, do this

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When girls are traveling with their groups, an approved adult volunteer must drive the troops. Every Girl Scout is required to wear her seat belt at ALL times and obey all instructions from the driver and adult volunteers. The safety of the troop is of highest importance.

27. Girl Scouts focus on ability rather than inadequacy

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Inclusion is a huge part of the Girl Scouts. So much so, that it's a guideline and a rule as part of the code of ethics. This means that troops must take into consideration those who are differently abled and how to make activities accessible for everyone. This also means that regardless of race or religion there is a place for you in the troops!

28. Girl Scouts own up to their mistakes

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As part of the Girl Scout Law, members are encouraged to own up to any mistakes they make. Of course, no one is expected to be perfect, but admission and acceptance are the fastest ways to moving on. As the Law say, you are responsible for what you say and do. This means, whether good or bad, you are in control of your thoughts, words, and actions.

29. You are mindful of what you have

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Another part of the Girl Scout Law is to use resources wisely. This means that when you're given something, whether big or small, it's your responsibility to handle it with respect and care. Girl Scouts are not to squander materials or resources that are given to them, but rather to use discernment.

30. You want to make the world a better place

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We've touched on this a bit already, but by and large, everything summed up here is basically a way to leave the world better than you found it. Whether it's your immediate circle, your broader community or the world, a Girl Scout is required to contribute to society in a positive way that will make the world a better place to live, and we think that's pretty cool!

31. Celebrities you didn't know were Girl Scouts: Kristen Bell

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Actress Kristen Bell was actually a Girl Scout - and she loved it! As if this smiling picture doesn't prove that already. She loved the Girl Scout cookies, but her favorite thing of all about being part of the Girl Scouts was their 'Paint Your World Purple' collaboration that they did with her. Together with the Girl Scouts, Kristen created a patch for 'Paint Your World Purple', which would celebrate, and give a shout out to, the Girl Scouts trying to make the world a better place. She already put this message out there in her book, 'The World Needs More People People'.

32. Reese Witherspoon

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Not only was actress Reese Witherspoon in the Girl Scouts, but she's also blessed her fans - and the world - with a little throwback photo or two! She captioned this adorable photo which she posted on her Instagram page: "I bet you can guess who sold the most cookies for Troop 1007" - and we have to say, she definitely has a point. Who could say no to that face? Imagine growing up and then realizing that you bought cookies from none other than Reese Witherspoon before she was famous! And it looks like she earned a fair few patches, too.

33. Abigail Breslin

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Unlike some other well known celebrities on this list, actress Abigail Breslin actually became a Girl Scout officially, after she'd already appeared in movies and even been nominated for an Oscar! That's child actors for you. Abigail became a Girl Scout actually on the studio lot of 20th Century Fox, back in 2008, after she'd been nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars. Which do you think meant most to her: the Oscar nomination, or the Girl Scouts patch? Either way, that deserves to be celebrated with a cookie!

34. Dakota Fanning

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Another actress who started young appearing in movies, Dakota Fanning joined the Girl Scouts when she was 11 years old - and she looks pretty proud about it! She actually became officially sworn into the Girl Scouts while she was out and about promoting her movie, Dreamer, where her registration was given during a special ceremony. As an extra celebration of her becoming a Girl Scout, the film was then screened for the members of the Girl Scouts of the San Fernando Valley! So apparently being a Girl Scout can get you into the film premieres, too.

35. Hilary Clinton

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You might expect most leaders and politicians to have been in groups like the Girl Scouts or the Boy Scouts when they were younger, and Hilary Clinton is no exception! The former first lady of the United States and secretary of state was first a Brownie, and then a Girl Scout, which she spoke about in her memoir Living History that she released back in 2003. She explained how she used to take part in Fourth of July parade as part of her Girl Scout duties, as well as selling cookies (naturally), food drives and anything else that would get her a badge!

36. Mariah Carey

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Mariah Carey was a Girl Scout long before she was a pop diva! She first got her singing lessons when she was only four years old, so there's no doubt she was probably already hitting those high notes by the time she'd enrolled in the Girl Scouts! Maybe she got a badge for singing team-building songs on Scout trips? We can definitely imagine a young Mariah Carey charming the pants of people to sell a ton of cookies! It's a shame she hadn't released All I Want For Christmas at this point because that would have been a winner for knocking on people's doors.

37. Debbie Reynolds

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Famous Hollywood starlet Debbie Reynolds was also part of the Girl Scouts! And she was very proud of it, too. The star of Singin' in the Rain actually had a tribute paid to her by the Girl Scouts themselves following her death. During the tribute, it was actually revealed that Debbie had earned a whopping 42 badges during her time in the Girl Scouts, and they shared a fond memory that Debbie Reynolds had said she had ambitions to be the oldest ever Girl Scout! Debbie Reynolds passed away in 2016, but not before she'd passed this on to her daughter...

38. Carrie Fisher

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Carrie Fisher was of course the daughter of Debbie Reynolds, and a famous actress herself. Not only had she gained the acting bug from her mother, but Carrie had also been passed down the pride and love for the Girl Scouts. She followed in her mom's footsteps to become part of the Girl Scouts, but also tragically shared in her mom's passing when she herself passed away in 2016. The Girl Scouts paid a tribute to both Debbie Reynolds and her daughter, Carrie Fisher, when they shared memories of the two and their time in the Scouts.

39. Gwyneth Paltrow

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Gwyneth Paltrow is another famous actress who was also in the Girl Scouts. Seriously, do the Scouts have any girls that don't grow up to be famous singers or actors? Not only that, but Gwyneth Paltrow may actually have her famous acting mother to thank for that, too - because Blythe Danner was a member of the Girl Scouts, who made a pledge to "always be prepared". And like mother like daughter, Gwyneth became a Scout too - and Blythe definitely 'prepared' her daughter for the honor! Gwyneth is listed on the official Scout site as an alum.

40. Meghan Markle

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Meghan Markle may have married into the British royal family, but she's American - which means she definitely had the opportunity to be a Girl Scout when she was younger. And she absolutely was one! We can definitely see her as a Scout, no doubt she'd be determined to sell each and every one of those cookies down to the last crumb. One of the pledges of the Girl Scouts being 'always be prepared', we wonder if anything really could have prepared Meghan for the future that was in store for her... but no doubt what she learned at Scouts has helped her through!

41. Karlie Kloss

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Model Karlie Kloss, who also founded the Kode with Klossy initiative which offers learning opportunities for young women, young trans students and gender nonconforming students, was also a member of the Girls Scouts! Maybe that's what set her up to build her own iniative for young people. When talking about her time in the Girls Scouts, Karlie has said that has "many fond memories" and especially of selling cookies with her friends. She also had more fun due to the fact that her sisters were all Girl Scouts with her at the same time!

42. Tyra Banks

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Model Tyra Banks is also another celebrity that was once a Girl Scout - and not only is it a happy memory for her from her own childhood, but she's taken it into her adulthood, too, where she's even supporting what the Girl Scouts are doing now. During social distancing, she helped the Girl Scouts to sell their cookies online but promoting what they were doing and Tweeting to encourage people to support the Girl Scouts. She was also presented with the Gold Award from the Girl Scout organization after being a former member.

43. Taylor Swift

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You can definitely imagine Taylor Swift selling cookies as a young Scout! Not only was she once a member - though she's long since left her adorable Scout uniform behind - but she also still supports them in what its members are doing today. Being a stadium-sell-out performer will allow you to bring in a lot of favors, and one thing she's done for the Scouts is providing hundreds of tickets to her show during the 'reputation' tour - and free tickets at that! She gave the Girl Scout troops in Northern New Jersey the good news - and the tickets!

44. Martha Stewart

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Martha Stewart is a household name, known for being a successful business woman with a huge focus on interiors and the home. It's no surprise that she learned the importance of how to work as a team for her career building from the Girls Scouts when she was actually a previous member. She's even spoken about it on her socials, where she said that the Girl Scout camp of South Mountain Retreat, which is based in the city of Orange, New Jersey, was what taught her the "real love of the outdoors, camaraderie and friendship".

45. Lisa Ling

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Lisa Ling is a famous and successful American journalist, and when you're a young woman with her sights on a big career, it's very important to surround yourself with the right people, and the right organization - and that she did! Lisa Ling was a Girl Scout in Southwest Indiana, and speaking about her experience within the Scouts, she's said that the Girl Scouts is where she found the idea that "a woman can do anything". And if that's not what the Girl Scouts is about, we don't know what is! And clearly it worked for Lisa.

46. Lucille Ball

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Yes, legendary actress Lucille Ball was a Girl Scout, too! The I Love Lucy star was a very high-profile alum from the Girl Scouts, and so much so that she was honored by the Girl Scouts organization during Women's History Month back in 2017. Lucille has a long and successful life and career after the Girl Scouts, which no doubt helped her to build a solid foundation, and went on to becoming an award-winning actress, writer and producer, as well as a comedian. She even had two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! When one isn't enough.

47. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

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The New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has accomplished a lot as a Congresswoman - and she owes a lot of that to what she learned when she was a Girl Scout! And we're not talking general making friends and team building skills, either. Alexandria has openly Tweeted in the past about what the Girl Scouts taught her, and why she's proud she was one, including being able to change brake fluid, learn self-defense, how to start a fire and even "recreate the NASA Challenger mission". She also gave a shoutout to other Congresswomen being Scouts.

48. Condoleezza Rice

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So it turns out that every female secretary of state in the history of the United States of America was actually... drum roll... a Girl Scout! Apparently the Girl Scouts encourages a lot of women to be politicians! No surprise there if it's teaching women how they can change the world. Condoleezza Rice is one secretary of state who was a Girl Scout, and she's even spoken to younger Girl Scout members to encourage them, saying how important "a strong sense of values" is and to make sure to do something because you believe it's right.

49. Laura Bush

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Laura Bush is another former first lady who grew up as part of the Girl Scout organization! Not only that, but she's encouraged the importance of the Girl Scouts in her adulthood, meeting up with current Scouts and in particular helping them to celebrate their 90th anniversary! She did so while she was actually the First Lady of the USA at the time, so that must have been a pretty nice surprise for them to see Laura Bush turn up! After being a member herself when she was younger, she was also named Honorary National President of Girls Scouts.

50. Vanessa Hudgens

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We best know actress Vanessa Hudgens for her role in High School Musical, Bandslam and her acting career after she shed her 'high school student' label. Well, it was actually during the premiere of her movie Bandslam, back in 2009, that she was officially named an honorary member of the Girl Scouts! Now 34 years old - making us all feel old, time for another HSM binge - Vanessa has also released studio albums on top of her acting career, and Girl Scout accolades! She also revealed on Instagram that she was engaged to Cole Tucker.