Thinking Day 2020

22.02.2020

February 22nd is the birthday of our Guiding founder, Lord Robert Baden-Powell and his wife, Olave Baden-Powell, our World Chief Guide.

50 million Girl Guides, Girl Scouts and Scouts around the world celebrate the date by participating in special activities for ‘World Thinking Day’ (known as ‘Founders Day’ in the Scouting movement).

For Girl Guides, the date is:

• a day of international friendship to connect with the worldwide sisterhood of Girl Guiding
• an opportunity to speak out on issues that affect young women
• a chance to make a difference by raising funds to support projects in member countries

District Event

Guides from the Ballarat District gathered together at Lake Wendouree for a picnic tea and an evening of activities relating to the four World Centres combined with a scavenger hunt.

Each activity was linked to a World Centre and the country in which it is located.  The girls had a great time:

• Playing Rag Hockey
• Fitting as many people as possible into a hoola hoop
• Grass skiing
• Knocking over bottles with elephant trucks
• Feeding each other cocopops with long spoons
• Massive Jenga

Unit Meetings

As part of the standard weekly meetings, individual units also focused on Thinking Day:

• making Good Turn counters and  friendship knots
• learning about the World Flag
• holding a birthday party for Lord and Lady Baden-Powell
• making diversity bracelets
• various activities relating to the WAGGGS theme of Living Threads

Where it began

When Lord Baden-Powell started the Scouting movement in the early 1900s, he could not have foreseen the enormous impact he would have on society.

When a group of girls wearing uniforms turned up to a Boy Scout rally in 1909, he and his sister Agnus Baden-Powell established the Girl Guide movement that now encompass 150 countries.