Girl Scout Glossary

This page is designed to help new leaders and volunteers learn the Girl Scout lingo.  Please let us know if there are other terms you think should be included in this list. 

Accident Insurance - Provided as part of membership in GSUSA. Supplementary insurance for injuries incurred during Girl Scout activities.

Adult Development Program - Designed to recognize the effort made by an adult Girl Scout to increase their personal skills or knowledge through adult education opportunities.

Adventure Program Facilitators (A-Team) - Adults or Girl Scouts age 18 who have completed certification courses to lead other groups in rappelling, caving, teams course, rock climbing or other adventure programs.

Annual Council Meeting - The council-wide meeting held in April to which council delegates come to elect members to the Board of Directors and Council Nominating Committee and to vote on issues concerning the direction of the council. Delegates to the GSUSA National Council Meeting are elected triennially, and council delegates are advised about issues of importance to the membership.

Annual Giving - An annual program during which both Girl Scout families and friends are given the opportunity to financially support Girl Scouts-Wilderness Road Council.

Area or Area Association - All adults and girls over 14 years of age who are registered within a given geographical area. They meet each spring and fall to elect delegates to the annual council meeting, to recognize volunteers for service, and to discuss issues of importance to the members of the association and to the council. Is made up of individual service units.

Area Chair - Volunteer who chairs an Area Association and serves as a delegate to the Annual Council Meeting. is an elected position.

Baden-Powell, Lord and Lady - Sir Robert Baden-Powell was the founder of the Boy Scouts and Lady Olave founded the Girl Guide Movement.  They were friends of Juliette Gordon Lowe and introduced her to the idea of scouting.

Badges - Emblems earned by Junior Girl Scouts to indicate demonstrated growth in knowledge and skills in a specific area by completing a specific set of activities. Referred to as “proficiency” badges.

Blue Book - The Blue Book is published by GSUSA and includes national constitution, by-laws, policies and credential information.

Board of Directors - A group of volunteers elected by the council delegates to direct the affairs of the council. 

Bridging - Activities designed to introduce girls within an age level to what lies ahead in the next program level. Designed to show progression from one Girl Scout age level to the next.

Brownie Girl Scouts - Brownies are girls who are 6-8 years old or in grades 1-3.  Brownies do a wide variety of activities including camping, cookie sales and events.

Brownie Ring - This is troop government for Brownie Girl Scouts.  Girls are asked to share in planning, problem-solving and decision making for the troop. 

Buddy System - A safety practice which requires that two girls keep watch over each other during an activity, e.g. swimming or hiking.

Building for the Future - This publication is produces twice a year (Fall and Spring) and is aimed at those who help the Council financially.

By-Laws - The by-laws govern Girl Scout-Wilderness Road Council  and contain the basic rules relating to the organization.

Cadette Girl Scouts - Girls who are 11-14 years old or in grades 6-9.  Cadette Girl Scouts have a wide variety of opportunities including Destinations and High Adventure, as well as career exploration and the Silver Award.

Campership - A "scholarship" for girls to attend camp.  Financial assistance is available for almost all Council activities. 

Campus Girl Scouts - College students who register as Girl Scouts and who meet as a Girl Scout group. Generally provide service to the community or Girl Scout troops.

Cluster - A geographic area of the Council.  Our Council has four clusters:  Ken-O-Valley, Jenny Wiley, Mountail Laurel and Bluegrass.

Co-leader - Assistant leader of a troop. Is part of the troop’s leadership team, is responsible for planning and carrying out program with the leader, and is jointly responsible for the safety and well-being of the girls in that troop.

Contemporary Issues - Girl Scout leaders and volunteers often find they need to address sensitive material with their girls.  Activity booklets and programs are available through the Council on subjects such as peer pressure, cigarette smoking and drug abuse.  All girls participating in Contemporary Issues programming must have a signed permission slip.

Cookie Dough - Cookie Dough is awarded through the Girl Scout Cookie Sale as an incentive.  This can be used like cash for items in Girl Scout-Wilderness Road Council Shops or for Council programs and camp.  Cookie Dough can not be used for registration fees.

CIT (Counselor-In-Training) - A Girl Scouts age 14-17 who is taking a course to learn skills and knowledge needed to become a camp counselor.

Court of Awards - Organized presentation of symbols for awards, recognitions, and other achievements, completed by the girls.

Court of Honor - The group within a Girl Scout troop, which makes and coordinates the troop’s plans based on reports from each patrol. It is composed of patrol leaders, the troop scribe, troop treasurer, and troop leaders.

Daisy Circle - Troop government for Daisy Girl Scouts.  The circle is a method of planning troop activities and solving problems.

Daisy Girl Scouts - Girl who are aged 5-6 or are in Kindergarten.  Daisies are able to participate in many programs, but are not allowed to sell cookies or participate in our Fall Product Sale.

Day Camp - An outdoor experience organized by service units or clusters that lasts for 5 to 8 days.  Girl Scouts come for the day to participate in activities in the out-of-doors. Girl Scouts grades 7-12 may serve as aides to assist the campers. Twilight camps are similar but occur during the evening hours.

Delegate - A person having the right to vote at the Annual Council Meeting. Four groups in the council have this right: members of the Board of Directors and the Council Nominating Committee, area chairs, and delegates
elected by each area association.

Destinations - Formerly known as Wider Opportunities, Girl Scout program activities beyond the troop level which are offered by local, national, and international Girl Scout organizations.

Diversity - The variance of socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, and disability groups within a community.

Dunk Bag - A mesh bag with a drawstring used at camp to put cleaned dishes in to dry. Sometimes called a “dunking” bag.

Edith Macy Conference Center - This is the location for the majority of National Trainings.  The Conference Center and Edith Macy Camp are owned and maintained by GSUSA and located in New York.

Event - Activity generally organized and facilitated by troops, service units, areas, or council-wide; commonly organized and facilitated by adults or girl/adult teams; sometimes done by volunteers alone or in partnership with professional staff.

Family Partnership Campaign - An annual council appeal to families of girls for financial support. This campaign provides income for the council’s operating budget.

First Aider - Adult with current American Red Cross Community First Aid certification or equivalent training.

Fly-Up Ceremony - The ceremony at which a Brownie Girl Scout receives Brownie wings from her Brownie leader, renews the Girl Scout Promise, and is welcomed into Junior Girl Scouting.

Friendship Circle - The friendship circle is symbolic of the unity of all Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world.  Girls and volunteers stand in a circle and hold hands with their arms crossed right over left.  Everyone stands in silence while the Girl Scout Squeeze is passed around the circle.

GEMS - Girls Enjoying Math and Science.  GEMS programs focus on presenting careers and activities that use math and science.

Girl Guide - The term used instead of Girl Scout in many countries.

Girl Scouts – Wilderness Road Council - The organization incorporated in Kentucky and chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA to provide an informal educational program for girls 5 to 17 years of age in its assigned jurisdiction.  Girl Scouts-Wilderness Road Council spans 57 counties in Central and Eastern Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee.

Girl Scout Bronze Award - The highest award a Junior Girl Scout may earn.

Girl Scout Gold Award - The highest award for girl members in Girl Scouting. It can be earned only by Senior Girl Scouts, and recognizes specific achievements and intense effort.

Girl Scout Law - The code of honor by which Girl Scouts try to live.

Girl Scout Promise - Pledge made by each girl and adult to try to live up to the ideals of Girl Scouting.

Girl Scout Silver Award - The highest award a Cadette Girl Scout may earn.

Girl Scout Week - Celebrated each year during the week in which March 12 falls. Begins with Girl Scout Sabbath (Saturday) and Girl Scout Sunday.

Girl Scout Handshake - A formal handshake, often used during  ceremonies.  The Girl Scout handshake is performed by shaking left hands while showing the Girl Scout sign with the right.

GSUSA - Girl Scouts of the United States of America (sometimes referred to as "National") is the parent organization of all Councils.  GSUSA determines policies that are carried out nation-wide.  They also audit and review all Councils on a regular basis to ensure consistency of program.

Group - Includes girls who participate in specific, short- or long-term interest areas of Girl Scout activities or events such as careers, arts, sports or camp. Is an alternate form of organizing Girl Scouts other than through troops. Groups can contain several Girl Scout age levels.

High Adventure - High Adventure is a program for Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts and allows girls to participate in exciting programs like sailing, rappelling, rock climbing and teams course.

Insignia - Official Girl Scout emblems, patches, badges, pins and other official forms of recognition that may be worn on the front of the uniform by registered members of Girl Scouts of the USA.

Interest Project Patches (IPP) - Emblems which may be earned by Girl Scouts ages 11-17 by completing a specific number of requirements in a specific area of interest.

Investiture Ceremony - The ceremony in which an individual becomes a member of the Girl Scout Movement by making the Girl Scout Promise and by receiving the membership pin.

Juliette Low World Friendship Fund - A voluntary fund to which Girl Scouts and Girl Guides contribute each year. Monies are used to sponsor Senior Girl Scouts and adults who participate in international events, to assist Girl Scouts/Girl Guides from other countries to visit in the USA, and to aid the Girl Scout/Girl Guide Movement in other countries.

Junior Girl Scouts - Girls who are 8-11 years old or in grades 3-6.

Kaper - From KP (Kitchen Patrol) - means “jobs” such as firebuilder, refreshments, clean-up, etc.

Kaper Chart - A chart showing the job or assignment of each girl or patrol on any given project.

Latrine - Outdoor restroom.

Leader - Adult who is in charge of troop functions and is responsible for the safety and well-being of the girls in their troop.

LIT (Leader-In-Training)  - A leadership training program for Girl Scouts grades 9-12. Involves participating in educational experiences and serving in a leadership capacity with a Daisy, Brownie, or Junior troop.

Leader Connection - This publication is sent to leaders with important communication from the Council.  Leader Connection often contains forms for special events and information on new programs.

Leader’s Digest - A GSUSA publication of national policies specifically for troop leaders to use. Is an edited version of the Blue Book of Basic Documents.

Leader’s Guides - Books to accompany the basic handbooks in each age level to assist leaders in interpreting the Girl Scout program and putting it into practice. These books guide an adult in working with a particular Girl Scout age level; contain information about helping girls work with the Girl Scout program.

Leader Notebook - The Leader Notebook is a publication that leaders will receive upon training.  This is a resource for Council procedures, programs and forms.

Library - Located in each service center office; contains Girl Scouts publications as well as information that would assist leaders in working with girls and planning program.

Lifeguard - A person at least 16 years of age who has completed the American Red Cross Lifeguard training (or an equivalent) and is currently certified as a Lifeguard. Adult lifeguards (at least 18 years old) are required for most Girl Scout aquatic activities.

Life Line - Safe place, usually a rope strung between two trees, on which lunches, jackets, mittens, hats, etc., are hung so they are off the ground.

Low, Juliette Gordon - Founder of the Girl Scout movement in the United States.  Juliette was a world traveler from Savannah, Georgia who brought scouting for girls to the US after meeting Lord and Lady Baden-Powell.  (October 31, 1860-January 17, 1927)

Membership - Status of being a member of the Girl Scouts of the USA Movement.

Membership Specialist - An individual employed by the Council to oversee the recruitment of girls and volunteers to Girl Scouting within a given geographic area, to provide support and guidance so as to retain them in the organization, to provide outreach services and to coordinate community relations.

Mess Kit - Unbreakable cup and plate; often a compact metal set including cooking pans; generally used in camping.

Minimum Impact - Having as little impact on the natural environment as possible.

Mission of Girl Scouting - As stated in the Preamble “...inspiring girls with the highest ideals of character, conduct, patriotism and service that they may become happy and resourceful citizens.”

Motto - “Be Prepared,” a maxim adopted as a guiding principle for members.

National Board of Directors - The body of volunteers elected by the National Council to govern the affairs of Girl Scouts of the USA between sessions of the National Council.

National Council - The body of delegates from all councils in the United States; meets triennially to set the direction for Girl Scouts of the USA.

NES (National Equipment Service) - The department of GSUSA which sells Girl Scout clothing and equipment to retail outlets. NES publishes a merchandise catalogue once a year.

National Girl Scout Centers - Owned and operated by GSUSA: Juliette Low Birthplace, Savannah, Georgia; Edith Macy Conference Center, Briarcliff Manor, New York.

Orientation - An initial educational leadership session given to volunteers new to Girl Scouting or to Girl Scouts – Wilderness Road Council.

Parent Handbook - A Girl Scouts – Wilderness Road Council publication which provides helpful information and guidance for parents of Girl Scouts.

Patrol - A group of girls with a girl leader.

Patrol System - A form of government for Junior, Cadette, and Senior troops.

Pluralism - A response to diversity which accepts and values the differences among individuals or groups. Allows for the development of a common tradition while keeping the cultural heritage of each group.

Policies - Practices which are required of Girl Scouts by the National Council or the local council.

Program Aide - Girl Scouts, grades 7-12, who has taken training to assist with day camp or a troop of younger girls.

Promise and Law - The spiritual force and ethical code accepted by all Girl Scouts that serve as a “guide” of value and conduct.

Quiet Sign - The Girl Scout signal for silence in a group situation.  The quiet sign is made by raising the right hand.  All five fingers are held up to remind members of the fifth part of the Girl Scout Law, "I will do my best to be friendly and considerate."  Each person who sees the sign will, in turn, raise their own right hand in the quiet sign.  This will spread through the room until everyone is quiet.

Rededication - A ceremony in which an individual renews the Girl Scout Promise and reviews what the Girl Scout Law means. This ceremony may be held when new members are being invested or at a separate ceremony sometime during the troop year.

Registration - Membership registration is accomplished by submitting a completed member registration forma and membership dues ($10).  Financial Assistance is available for membership dues.  Registration is renewed annually.  The registration dues are sent to GSUSA to fund insurance and other national initiatives.  None of the $10 registration fee stays with Girl Scouts-Wilderness Road Council to fund local initiatives.

Religious Recognitions - Programs for girls and adults designed and administrated by religious groups.

Resident Camp (“Summer” Camp) - Sometimes called “established” camp, it is attended by girls who register as individuals for sessions lasting from
4 to 10 days. A trained adult staff oversees the program.

Ropes Course - A series of challenge elements located off the ground using specialized climbing equipment; designed for personal development experiences. Can only be used with trained facilitators.

Safety-Wise - GSUSA publishes Safety-Wise for the use of all volunteers and Councils.  This publication includes all safety regulations and policies and should be kept by the leader of each troop.

Scout’s Own - Special, girl-planned, inspirational occasion held in troops or camps; an opportunity for girls to express their deepest feelings about their Girl Scout ideals. This is not a religious service, nor a substitute for a religious service.

Senior Girl Scouts - Girls who are 14-17 years old or in grades 9-12.  Seniors participate in many exciting opportunities including Destinations, High Adventure, and the Gold Award.

Service Center - A building containing staff offices plus a council shop and training facilities.

Service Unit - A geographic subdivision and the adult volunteers who provide Girl Scouting within the unit (usually neighborhood or county).

Service Unit News - This publication is sent 6 times a year to Service Unit Managers for use at Service Unit Meetings.  SUNews often contains important communication from the Council, new program information and/or forms for new programs or events.

Service Unit Manager - An adult volunteer who is responsible for directing and maintaining Girl Scouting within a service unit.

Service Unit Team - A team of volunteers who work together to bring service to the leadership and troops within a geographical division. This team is chaired by a service unit manager. Could include troop organizers, troop consultants, service unit cookie manager, press corps volunteer and others.

Sign, Girl Scout - Made by raising the right hand shoulder high, palm forward, three fingers extended upward, the thumb holding down the little finger.

Sit-Upon - A lightweight pad or mat to sit upon when the ground is damp or dusty.

Slogan - “Do a good turn daily,” a maxim adopted as a guiding principal for all members.

Standards - A guide for doing an activity well and in a safe way.

Tag-Along - A younger girl (who is not a member of the troop) or a brother to a girl in the group.  (Sometimes called Pixies.)  Tag-Alongs may or may not be allowed on outings.

Taps - A song used traditionally for closing an activity; goodnight, lights out.

Teams Course - A series of initiatives designed to be completed through group (or team) problem solving and involvement.
Can be used only with trained facilitators.

Thinking Day—February 22 - The birthdays of both Lord and Lady Baden-Powell. Emphasis of this day is on international friendship.

Trainer - A volunteer who is selected and trained by the Training Director to give instruction to adults in leadership and specific program activities.

Training and Program Calendar (TAP) - This publication is produced twice a year (Fall and Spring) and lists Council sponsored programs during that time period.  TAP is distributed to all troops and Cadette and Senior girls.

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 USA. It takes two forms—the traditional, with the eagle and the initials GS, and the contemporary, with silhouettes of three girls’ faces and the words Girl Scouts. Both are outlined with a three-part emblem (trefoil) symbolizing the three parts of the Girl Scout Promise.

Troop - A traditional form of organizing girls in Girl Scouting.

Troop Camping - Camping for one or more nights, planned and executed by the girls and volunteers of one troop on a site approved by the Council.

Troop Committee - A group of women and men currently registered with a troop who help girls and leaders carry out their plans.

Troop Organizer - An adult volunteer who identifies which girls want to be in Girl Scouting and recruits adults who will work with them in the program.

Try-Its - A proficiency recognition system developed by Girl Scouts of the USA for Brownie Girl Scouts. Are worn
on the front of the Brownie sash or vest.

USA Girl Scouts Overseas  - The name for Girl Scouting provided for girls and adults living temporarily in other countries, usually because the girls’ families are on military, business, or governmental assignment.

Volunteer - An adult who gives unpaid service to the Girl Scout organization.

WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts) - An organization begun in 1928 and consisting of member countries having national Girl Guide or Girl Scout associations.

WSI (Water Safety Instructor) - An adult who is certified by the American Red Cross to teach swimming; includes Lifeguard training.

World Centers - Residential program centers operated by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts where older Girl Scouts and adults can come together for fellowship or special programs.

World Trefoil Pin - Official insignia showing membership in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.