How World Thinking Day Started… |
 | The Founder, Lord Baden-Powell, and the World Chief Guide, Olave, Lady Baden-Powell at the 4th International Conference, 1926.
~ GSUSA archive photo. ~ |
World Thinking Day was first created in 1926 at the fourth Girl Guide/Girl Scout International Conference, held at Girl Scouts of the USA's Camp Edith Macy (now called Edith Macy Conference Center). Conference attendees decided that there should be a special day when Girl Guides and Girl Scouts all around the world think of each other and give thanks and appreciation for their "sister" Girl Guides/Scouts. The delegates chose February 22 as the date for Thinking Day because it was the mutual birthday of Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scout movement, and his wife Lady Olave, who served as World Chief Guide.
In1932, at the seventh World Conference, held in Poland, a Belgian delegate suggested that since birthdays usually involve presents, girls could show their appreciation and friendship on Thinking Day not only by extending warm wishes but by offering a voluntary contribution to the World Association. This is how the World Association's Thinking Day Fund began. The fund helps offer Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting to more girls and young women worldwide.
To emphasize the global aspect of Thinking Day, members at the 30th World Conference, held in Ireland in 1999, changed the name Thinking Day to World Thinking Day.
Letter from the World Chief Guide (22 February 1932)
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The Thinking Day Symbol |
 The Thinking Day symbol was introduced in 1975. The World Trefoil in the centre represents the World Association, whilst arrows pointing towards it represent action and direction. The circular design represents the World of the Girl Guide/Girl Scout Movement.
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