Founder’s Day

Happy Founder’s Day!

Let’s Celebrate a Visionary’s Birthday

Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of Girl Scouts, was born on October 31, 1860. In 1920, her birthday became officially known as Girl Scout Founder’s Day, and was celebrated with a recruitment campaign to sign up new Girl Scout members. Traditional activities to celebrate Founder’s Day include singing songs, performing skits, making crafts, playing games, or having a birthday or tea party.

Juliette, affectionately known as “Daisy” by her family and close friends, gathered 18 girls in her hometown of Savannah, Georgia, to share what she had learned abroad about a new outdoor and educational program for youth, and with this, the Girl Scout Movement was born. Along with Juliette, these first Girl Scouts blazed trails and redefined what was possible for themselves and for girls everywhere.

They played basketball. They hiked, swam, and went camping. They learned to read the world around them — for instance, by studying a foreign language and telling time by the stars. They shared a sense of curiosity and a belief that they could do anything. But most importantly, just like Girl Scouts across the country and around the globe today, they offered a helping hand to those in need and worked together to improve their corner of the world.

We hope you will take time to learn more about Juliette and plan to do something special in her honor — like earning a kindness patch or lending a helping hand to someone. Check out the links and resources below for ways you can celebrate, on Founder’s Day and every day!

Happy Founder's Day! “The work of today is the history of tomorrow, and we are its makers.”

Stand on Your Head

Daisy stood on her head every year on her birthday, just to prove she could still do it!

Throw a Tea Party

Juliette lived in England for many years and loved tea. (Have some birthday cake, too!)

Make a Daisy SWAP

Use Juliette-inspired items (pearls, daisies, etc.) to make a special Founder’s Day SWAP.

All About Juliette Gordon Low toggle arrow

Follow these links for further reading and learn more about the life and times of our founder.

American Women Quarters 2025: Juliette Gordon Low toggle arrow

Our very own trailblazer, Juliette Gordon Low, has made her mark on American currency with a special edition quarter as part of the American Women Quarters™ Program which celebrates the accomplishments and contributions made by women of the United States. GSCCC was on hand for a celebration of the historic launch in Washington, D.C. on March 26, 2025; view the story on our blog.

American Women Quarters 2025: Juliette Gordon Low

Flat Juliette toggle arrow

Travel with Flat Juliette

Going to the park, the museum or on a camping trip? Print, color and cut out your Flat Juliette so she can go with you! Be sure to include her in photos of your adventures, then tag us on social media @girlscoutscolonialcoast or send your pictures to marcomm@gsccc.org.

Flat Juliette Pen Pals

Print, color and cut out your Flat Juliette, then mail her to a girl in another troop. (Maybe someone you met at summer camp, or through a virtual event.) Ask that girl to take a photo with Flat Juliette and then mail her to someone else. See how far she can go! Try keeping a journal or scrapbook of her travels.

Download your Flat Juliette to print and color!

Flip the Pancake toggle arrow

Play a game of Flip the Pancake like Juliette would have done! (This was a common game when Juliette was alive.)

The rules are simple – see how many times you can flip a pancake in a row without it falling. Each participant would need a small pan or plate and an overly cooked pancake or slice of bread. Everyone places a pancake on their pan/plate and then, on the count of three, they gently flip the pancake with a light toss up into the air and try to catch it again in their pan/plate.

Girl Scouts playing a traditional game of pancake flipping during a special event at Camp Skimino

The “Daisy” Low Game for Girl Scout Daisies toggle arrow

The Leader says: Listen closely while I tell you the story of Juliette Gordon Low, who started the American Girl Scouts. Every time I say Mrs. Low’s nickname, “DAISY,” you have to say, “We’re Daisies, too!”

Let’s practice.

(Say “Daisy” and let the girls reply.)

STORY:

Once there was a girl named Juliette Low who lived in Savannah, Georgia. Her nickname was DAISY. DAISY was an artist, but she also loved pets, playing outdoors, and helping others. When DAISY grew up and got married, she moved to England, where she met Lord Baden-Powell, who started the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides. Lord Baden-Powell told DAISY about the Girl Guides, and she decided to become a leader. DAISY liked Girl Guiding so much, she wanted to share it with her friends and family in Savannah. So DAISY said good-bye to the Girl Guides in England and took the ideas that Lord Baden-Powell gave her home to Georgia. There, DAISY formed a group of girls who loved animals, art, the outdoors and helping others. These American girls called themselves Girl Scouts instead of Girl Guides, but they were still part of the same world-wide family. So aren’t you glad that:

[Speed up here!]

Juliette Low from Savannah, Georgia,

who was an artist and loved the outdoors,

went to England and met Lord Baden-Powell,

learned about the Girl Guides,

and came home to start the Girl Scouting in the USA

where the youngest Girl Scouts are called Daisies!

The “Daisy” Low Game for Girl Scout Brownies and Juniors toggle arrow

The Leader says: Girl Scouts was started in 1912 by a woman named Juliette Gordon Low. Listen closely while I tell you her story, because you’re going to make sound effects and do the actions for the story!

Whenever I say “JULIETTE” you wave and say, “Daisy!” [practice]
If I say “GIRL GUIDES/GUIDING or GIRL SCOUTS/SCOUTING” you give the Girl Guide/Girl Scout sign [demonstrate] and say, “Be prepared!” [practice]
And if I say “WORLD” you spin around once and say, “Wheeee!” [practice]

Remember: Juliette = wave and say Daisy; Girl Guides or Girl Scouts = make the Girl Scout Sign and say Be prepared; and when I say world, spin around and say whee!

STORY:

A long time ago, there was a lady from Savannah, Georgia, whose name was JULIETTE GORDON LOW. Her family and friends all called her Daisy. Daisy was an artist, but she also loved riding horses, putting on plays, and helping others. When JULIETTE grew up and got married, she moved to England, where she learned about GIRL GUIDING from her English friend Lord Baden-Powell who had also started the Boy Scouts. JULIETTE Low became a GIRL GUIDE leader in Scotland and in London. She had so much fun, she wanted to tell the girls in Savannah and all of America and all the WORLD, about GIRL GUIDING! JULIETTE started her first troop in America on March 12, 1912, with 18 girls—but soon there were thousands of members! American girls decided they wanted to be called GIRL SCOUTS and JULIETTE agreed—but even with different a name, GIRL SCOUTS are still part of the same WORLD family. JULIETTE Low thought GIRL SCOUTING and GUIDING was such a fine thing, she wanted to see troops all over the WORLD. She knew GIRL GUIDING AND SCOUTING would help girls from different countries become friends and would help build WORLD peace and understanding. So aren‘t you glad that:

[speed up here]

JULIETTE Low from Savannah, Georgia,

who was an artist and loved the outdoors,

went to England and met Lord Baden-Powell,

learned about the GIRL GUIDES,

and came home to start the GIRL SCOUTS in Savannah, Georgia in 1912!

Kim’s Game: Juliette Low Edition toggle arrow

Kim’s Game is a traditional Girl Scout game based on the book “Kim” by Rudyard Kipling. Items are arranged on a table or tray and covered with a cloth. The cloth is lifted and players have 30 seconds to study them closely before they are covered again. Players then need to list as many items as they can remember.

For this edition, all items are related to the life of Juliette Low. Pick items and descriptions from the list of fun facts below to build your game. (Don't have access to any of these kinds of items? Use this photo instead.)

Sample items for playing Kim's Game - Juliette Low Edition

Juliette was born on October 31, 1860 — Halloween! (pumpkin)
Juliette was born in Savannah, Georgia. (Georgia map)
Her uncle took one look at her and said, “She looks like a Daisy” — this nickname stuck with her for the rest of her life. (daisies)
Daisy was an excellent swimmer and at the age of 8 rescued a boy who had fallen in the water. (Life Saver candy or swim goggles)
At age 13 Daisy left home to go to boarding school where she liked art and reading; she was awful in spelling and math. She loved to draw and paint pictures so much that she created a children’s magazine with all of the articles and pictures done by children. (crayon, art supplies)
Daisy attended boarding school at Virginia Female Institute (now Stuart Hall School) in Staunton, Virginia and other schools in Virginia and New Jersey. She later attended Mlles. Charbonniers, a French finishing school in New York City. While at boarding school, Juliette learned French. She used to write letters home to her parents in French. (photo of Stuart Hall School, or the Eiffel Tower or other French symbol)
Daisy loved animals, especially dogs and mockingbirds, and two of her favorites were a horse named Fire and a parrot named Polly Poons. She would bring home stray cats and dogs which she nursed back to health. (toy horse, dog or parrot)
As a girl at home and school she loved to start clubs. The first club she started was called The Helpful Hands, a sewing club to help the weak and unfortunate, but she couldn't sew very well, so her brothers named the club The Helpless Hands. (sewing kit)
Another one of Juliette’s nicknames was “Little Ship” which she got while living with her grandparents in Chicago during the Civil War. Juliette’s great-grandmother was captured by Native Americans and was called “Little-Ship-Under-Full-Sail”. She was the adopted daughter of the Seneca chief Cornplanter in the years she dwelt with the tribe, but he later granted her request to be returned to her parents. The shorter version of the nickname was bestowed on young Juliette. (toy or photo of a ship)
Juliette loved fishing, in fact she would go out with the men after a formal dinner. It was not unusual for her to go fishing in her evening dress. (rubber worm or fishing lure)
She and her girls loved the stories she used to tell around the campfire. She also loved to read. (book of ghost stories)
Juliette could sometimes be found cleaning the house in her evening wear. (white glove)
Juliette was friends with Rudyard Kipling. (The Jungle Book, Kim, or other work by Kipling)
Juliette forged the iron gates at the “Birthplace” in Savannah, Georgia with her own hands. Because of this heavy, demanding iron work, the muscles in her arms got very large. She had trouble making her evening dresses fit over the muscles! (iron bar or dumbell)
She was married to William Mackay Low (“Willie”) on December 21, 1886, which happened to be her parents’ 29th wedding anniversary. (wedding ring)
Some of the rice thrown at Juliette’s wedding became lodged in her left ear, causing her to become deaf in that ear. (bag of rice)
Juliette and Willie both loved adventure, so together they decided to move to England. (teapot, cup and saucer, or teabag)
After Willie passed away, Juliette met Lord & Lady Baden-Powell. She very much enjoyed what they had done with the Boy Scout movement, and got involved with the Girl Guides there. (a Girl Guide or Boy Scout item)
Juliette returned to Georgia and made the famous phone call which was heard around the United States: “Come right over. I’ve got something for the girls of Savannah, and all America, and all the world, and we’re going to start it to-night.” (telephone)
Girl Scouting in the USA was born on March 12, 1912 and continues today with over 2 million members. (Girl Scout membership pin)
Juliette Low was 52 years old when she started Girl Scouts in the United States. Troop #1 had 18 girls. (the numbers 52 and/or 18, on blocks, paper, or as cake candles)
Unusual for a time when exercise was regarded as quite possibly deleterious to a growing girl's health, the girls in Juliette’s first troop played basketball and tennis — behind heavy curtains to protect their privacy, as they often played in their bloomers! (basketball, tennis ball or raquet)
In 1914, Juliette sold her strand of rare matched pearls to pay the rent for the national Girl Scout office. She said, “Jewels are not important, but my Girl Scouts are, they need money more than I need pearls.” (pearls)
Juliette would trim her hat with carrots and parsley to go to fashionable luncheons. “Oh, is my trimming sad?” she would ask as the vegetables drooped. “I can't afford to have this hat done over — I have to save all my money for my Girl Scouts. You know about the Scouts, don't you?” That was one way of fundraising! (vegetables and/or a fancy hat)
The first Girl Scout Handbook had instructions on how to tie up a burglar with only 8 inches of rope. (rope)
Juliette Low died of breast cancer on January 18, 1927 and was buried in her Girl Scout uniform. (breast cancer ribbon)
During World War II, there was a liberty ship named in her honor, the S.S. Juliette Low. (photo of battleship)
The United States Mint put a new quarter design featuring Juliette into circulation in 2025 as part of the American Women Quarters™ Program. (quarter)

Halloween Message from Juliette toggle arrow

In the spirit of the other event celebrated today, here is a special Halloween message from Juliette, originally penned in 1924, as it appeared in the 1933 edition of the Girl Scout Handbook.

A special Halloween message from Juliette, originally penned in 1924, as it appeared in the 1933 edition of the Girl Scout Handbook.

The Juliette Gordon Low Society toggle arrow

Did you know? Juliette promised the first legacy gift in the Girl Scout Movement. After converting the carriage house of her home into the first Girl Scout national headquarters, she gifted the property to Girl Scouts in her will.

The Juliette Gordon Low Society is a special group of friends who will leave a legacy for the next generation of Girl Scouts. You can become part of this distinguished group by adding a gift to your will, trust, or other account for Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast. Please let us know when you have added a provision for girls; JGL Society members enjoy special benefits! Learn more at gsccc.org/legacy.