Be Prepared: It's Not What it Used to Mean

In the days of yore, "Be Prepared" was the motto of the day. Short and sweet. Girl Scouts earned such badges as Cow Milking, Cooking, and Ironing. Due to changing times the badges became more complicated like CPR, Camping and Swimming.

Nowadays the badges are completely different as societal changes continues to creep into the everyday life of a Girl Guide. Back in the day when Lord Baden Powell invented the Scouting Movement, better known today as the Boy Scouts, as a means to entertain, enlighten and raise up the "well to do" son, girls were not even allowed to wear pants let alone "do what the boys did". I jest here, but pants worn by women did not happen until the late 20th century, at which time, women wore their skirts over their trousers. Hmmm a fashion statement currently happening today. Men have worn them since the 16th century. Back to the article.... The movement began in the early 1900's and has grown exponentially into one of the largest youth organizations world-wide. Lady Baden Powell and the Lord's sister, Agnes encouraged girls to attend meetings and start their own movement including forming troops, units and packs. After attending the first Scout Rally (known as a Jamboree) in 1909, the Lord realized and recognized the first Girl Scouts, later to become the Girl Guides Of America. Now in more than 39 countries, the Girl Guides ain't learning the things they used to. Gone are the cow milking days when life was simple and badges were all about keeping a well run house. Living was certainly easy or less complicated than today....

Today, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) is the world's largest organization of girls and women (an estimate of 10 million members). Guides have come a long way since they were founded after the Crystal Palace rally and the new programmes for all sections reflect current values and interests.

Today the Guides are actively seeking to earn badges that better reflect their current situation:

In the poll, senior Guides, who are aged over 16, said that managing money was the most important skill to master as they contemplated leaving the family home. “Practising safe sex” was placed fourth, with “assembling flat-pack furniture” eighth. Younger Guides, aged from 10 to 15, valued more traditional skills. Top of their list was “cooking a healthy meal” and “pitching a tent”, although “standing up to boys” came fourth.

Surfing the net safely was also tops among the younger set. Also on the list are things like mastering Microsoft Word, preparing a CV (resume), holding down a job, saying Hello in three languages, taking an expert photograph and keeping your carbon footprint down.... Huh? Really.... What a difference from the earlier days.

Guides still learn first aid and how to cook on a camp fire, but today’s members are also able to earn badges in business and industry skills, making speeches in public and mastering a computer.

In another article it stated:

This year the movement began the Get Wise programme to train 450 older Guides to broach sensitive subjects with younger members. It covers eating disorders, stress management, binge drinking, sexual health and bullying. Organisers concluded that Guides were in a better position to talk to their peers about these subjects than adults.

As a youth I spent my summers and spare time within this organization, so much so that eventually the leaders could not go camping without me. I loved it and out-badged (out-learned) all those around me. The memories and the experiences were awesome. Yes I know, not everyone's experiences were the same but mine were great and this is one organization that has changed with the demands of the youth. Definitely a sign-oh-the-times.