What do North Plainfield Girl Scouts, Jamaica, Thailand, Argentina, Spain, Nigeria and other countries around the globe and February 22nd have in common?
World Thinking Day…celebrated March 11, 2017 this year, just one day shy of when Girl Scout Day was founded, March 12 (1912) and the date of Juliette Low’s first troop’s first meeting.
The day is a reminder of the connection with Girl Scouts and Girl Guides at home and everywhere. “It is a day to celebrate friendships with others from around the world. This year we chose five different countries from five different continents, some of their food, games and crafts to learn about,” said Ginny Mayer-Brown, event coordinator.
The two-hour “tour” of the globe had the “tourist” girls and leaders “visiting” the five countries. They viewed various displays, tasted some of each culture’s foods, experienced hands-on activities and crafts, did puzzles, word finds and coloring pages and earned World Thinking Day badges.
First stop: Jamaica. Where Jerk Chicken with Rice and Peas was served and cultural word searches featuring food, games and weather words indicative of Jamaica were explored.
Second stop: Thailand. Where Pad Thai, a chicken with noodles, carrots and peanut sauce dish was served and E Keb (throwing and catching rocks) and Dod Nang Yang (jumping and rubber band rope) were played.
Third stop: Argentina. Where Chimichurri Sauce was tasted and Football (U.S. Soccer) was played.
Fourth stop: Spain. Where Gazpacho (cold tomato and peppers-based soup) was eaten and bracelets were made.
Last stop: Nigeria. Where Jollof Rice (spicy rice) was sampled and Ayo (a game of capturing seeds) was played.
“This day is significant to our troop as we are a first-year multi-level troop. World Thinking Day gave us the opportunity to work together to present different aspects of cultures to the entire North Plainfield Girl Scout community,” said Hope Mitchelle, Troop 65942 leader.
Co-leaders of Troop 65012 Chris Coop and Carlie Dougherty said, “We contacted someone in Argentina. It made it so much more real. We learned it is amazing that the Girl Scout premise is the same: attention to sisterhood, community, nature and environment; yet, the specifics are different. Badges, uniforms, levels and specific wording of Girl Scout law is different.”
Girl Scout Junior Grace Klikus said, “It was fun to learn about many cultures and Girl Scouts and Girl Guides across the world.”
Donations from the event are designated for the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund.
The event, held at the North Plainfield Vermuele Community Center, hosted nine North Plainfield troops and 80 North Plainfield Girl Scouts of all ages.
According to the World Association of Girl Scouts and Girl Guides, there are millions of Girl Scouts worldwide, with the United States having the largest number-and growing!
(above) Tameka Lewis, Troop 65212 parent and Girl Scout Daisies “visit” Nigeria, play Ayo (collecting seeds game) and sample Jollof Rice (spicy rice) during North Plainfield Girl Scout World Thinking Day.
(above) North Plainfield Cadets and Brownies “visit” Spain and made bracelets.
