The Girl Scouting movement began in the United States in March 1912 when Juliette Gordon Low started the first troop in Savannah, Georgia. Inspired by her friendship with Lord Baden Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts in the United Kingdom, Low wanted to provide a similar opportunity "for the girls" in America. Although her first troop only had 18 members, the Girl Scout movement has since grown to include over 4 million girls in the United States alone.

Girl Scouting helps girls to grow strong in a supportive, fun atmosphere. The Girl Scout Program has four major goals: a girl will develop to her full, individual potential; she will relate to others with increased understanding, skill, and respect; she will develop values to guide her actions and to provide the foundation for sound decision-making; and she will contribute to the improvement of society.

Members of the Girl Scout movement, both girls and adults, follow both the Girl Scout Promise and Girl Scout Law.

Girl Scout Promise
On my honor, I will try:
To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.

Girl Scout Law
I will do my best to be
     honest and fair,
     friendly and helpful,
     considerate and caring,
     courageous and strong, and
     responsible for what I say and do,
and to
     respect myself and others,
     respect authority,
     use resources wisely,
     make the world a better place, and
     be a sister to every Girl Scout.

The Girl Scouts of the USA is the organization that governs the Movement in the United States. GSUSA charters individual Girl Scout councils to deliver the Girl Scout Program to girls on a local level. 

Black Diamond Girl Scout Council was formed in 1974 when four councils merged. Click on each council for a history of that council.

Mountain Laurel              Charleston-Huntington, WV area.

Upper Ohio Valley           Northern Panhandle of WV and 
                                     several counties in Southeastern Ohio.

Vandalia                         North Central and Eastern WV

Four Rivers                     Athens, Ohio and Parkersburg, WV

Originally chartered as Black Diamond Girl Scout Council, the new council's name was chosen through a contest. Girls from throughout the council's jurisdiction were invited to submit their names.  In April 2000, delegates voted to change the council name to Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council as a symbol that girls are always first.

Click Here for a Historical Timeline.(Adobe Acrobat Reader required.)

Click Here for an Age Level History.(Adobe Acrobat Reader required.)

Click Here for a History of Camps in Black Diamond.(Adobe Acrobat Reader required.)

Click Here for a listing of Notable People in Black Diamond's History.

NOTE: This history is a compilation of written documents and verbal interviews with long-time volunteers. If you have a correction or something to add, please send it via email to info@bdgsc.org.