ost fully. So dancing, sports
of all kinds, hiking, camping, boating, athletics and story-telling
are encouraged not only as a means of recreation and for physical
development, but are made a basic part of the Girl Scout program.
Methods
The activities of the Girl Scouts are, of course, not peculiar to this
organization. Every one of them is provided for elsewhere, in schools,
clubs, and societies. But the way in which they are combined and
co-ordinated about certain basic principles is peculiar to the Girl
Scouts.
In the first place all these activities have a common motive which is
preparation for a fuller life for the individual, not only in her
personal, but in her social relations. It is believed that the habits
formed and the concrete information acquired in these activities both
contribute to the girls being ready to meet intelligently most of the
situations that are likely to arise in their later life. This concept
is expressed in the Girl Scouts Motto--"Be Prepared."
The method of preparation followed is that found in nature whereby
young animals and birds _play_ at doing all the things they will need
to do well when they are grown and must feed and fend for themselves
and their babies.
To play any game one must know the rules, so the Girl Scouts have Laws
that they believe cover most of the needs of the Game of Life.
The Girl Scouts Laws are ten:
I A Girl Scout's Honor is to be trusted.
II A Girl Scout is loyal.
III A Girl Scout's Duty is to be useful and to help others.
IV A Girl Scout is a friend to all, and a sister to every
other Girl Scout.
V A Girl Scout is Courteous.
VI A Girl Scout is a friend to Animals.
VII A Girl Scout obeys Orders.
VIII A Girl Scout is Cheerful.
IX A Girl Scout is Thrifty.
X A Girl Scout is Clean in Thought, Word and Deed.
These Laws are known by all Girl Scouts, but the _Promise_ to obey
them is made only after they are understood and voluntarily accepted.
The Promise summarizes the Laws and is:
On My Honor, I Will Try:
To be true to God and my country
To help others at all times
To obey the Scout Laws
The heart of the Laws is helpfulness and so the Scouts have a
_Slogan_: Do a Good Turn Daily. By following this in letter and spirit
helpfulness becomes second nature.
Because the Girl Scouts are citizens they know and respect the meaning
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