Brownies (Scouting)

Brownies is the name for Girl Scouts—or in the United Kingdom, Girl Guides—who are about seven to ten years old or in the second or third grade in the US school system. Brownies wear brown uniforms and are named the brownies of folklore—industrious fairies or elves who help with chores. This origin is evident on the early Brownie badges, which depict an elf, and is reflected in goals such as the Brownie Household Elf Badge that is achieved by completing certain activities. Brownies are the second-youngest Girl Scouts. The first rank for the youngest girls in kindergarten and first grade is Daisies. Juniors, grades four to five, are the stage that follows Brownies. Older ranks are Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors.

Background

Robert Baden-Powell, who is considered the founder of the Boy Scouts, was a British Army officer and author who was considered a war hero for his actions in the Second Boer War (1899–1902). As a youngster, he enjoyed being outdoors and frequently slipped away from school to hunt and explore in the nearby woods. He served in the British Army from 1876 to 1910, during which time he wrote multiple military training manuals. His sixth, Aids to Scouting: For N.C.O.s and Men, was published in 1899. This unconventional title includes stories and activities with the aim of teaching members of the military skills for reconnaissance and scouting. Several years later, he discovered that teachers and youth group leaders were using his scouting manual to organize activities. He was persuaded to revise the book for youth groups and took twenty-two boys from various backgrounds on a camping trip on Brownsea Island in 1907 to try out his adaptations.

Scouting for Boys was published by Horace Cox in 1908 in six installments. Boys began gathering in informal scouting troops in England. The excitement and interest spread quickly in Europe. King Edward VII persuaded Baden-Powell to retire in 1910 to focus on scouting, which he characterized as an important service to the country. By the end of that year, England alone counted more than one hundred thousand scouts.

When Boy Scouts in the United Kingdom (UK) held a rally in 1909, a group of girls showed up and called themselves Girl Scouts. Baden-Powell believed girls should have their own organization and informally started Girl Guides, a movement that spread quickly from the UK to other nations. His sister, Agnes Baden-Powell, adapted the scouting guide for girls, titled How Girls Can Help to Build Up the Empire, and officially created the Girl Guides in 1910.

Juliette Gordon Low, an American widow who had moved with her husband to England, met Robert Baden-Powell in 1912. Low had been a rambunctious child and recognized the value of activity and nature for all children. Baden-Powell wanted to expand Girl Guides and persuaded Low to become involved. She established a US Girl Guide organization in 1912. She changed its name to Girl Scouts of the United States of America the following year as membership skyrocketed.

The first Brownie program began in England in 1914. Baden-Powell wanted to call them Rosebuds, but the girls rejected that. He next chose Brownies, a name based on a folktale in a book by Juliana Horatia Ewing. He approved of the story’s message of helpfulness and caring for home and family.

In the United States, leaders of the Girl Scouts also wanted to involve younger girls. Many unofficial Brownie troops formed, but the US Brownies program did not become official for some time. Edith Blair Staton of Maryland, a Girl Scout troop leader, met Low in 1922. Later that year, Staton organized the first Brownie Pow-Wow, a gathering of women who wanted to lead Brownie troops. Staton was the first Great Brown Owl, or main leader, for the Brownies in the United States.

Overview

Girls in second and third grade who join Girl Scouts are known as Brownies. They participate with other Brownies in small groups called troops led by one or more adults. They may work on community projects, spend time in nature, or visit museums and other interesting places. Troops may meet weekly, but the schedule is determined by leaders and families. They may pay dues to cover costs such as snacks or craft materials. All levels of Girl Scouting except Daisies are involved in annual cookie sales—this is optional for Daisies. Cookie sales help fund the troops and the organization.

A key aspect of scouting is having new experiences, which often involves exposing Scouts to unfamiliar activities or places. For example, in the twenty-first century, Girl Scouts added multiple STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) badges and activities, such as building robots. Although modern scouts still participate in exploring, hiking, and camping, they may also have opportunities to engage in STEM activities as scouts.

Like older and younger Girl Scouts, Brownies work on learning skills. When they master specific sets of skills, they earn badges representing those skills. Some paths to badges are focused on important topics, such as democracy, science, and technology, such as basic coding, life skills, such as basic first aid, and fun activities, such as camping and making crafts. For example, to earn the Brownie Household Elf Badge, Brownies learn about saving energy and water, using natural cleaning products, and reusing or recycling. They will participate in several activities to help them learn about these topics. Earning the My Great Day Badge involves learning how to get and stay organized, plan ahead, and complete homework on time.

The Legacy badges cover Girl Scouting’s seven core categories, which are artist, athlete, citizen, cook, first aid, naturalist, and Girl Scout Way. Examples of activities include preparing healthy snacks for the cook category and using paint and leaves to make prints for the artist core category. Girls at each level of scouting work toward specific Legacy badges. The Brownie Legacy badges are Fair Play, Snacks, Celebrating Community, Painting, First Aid, Bugs, and Brownie Girl Scout Way.

Brownies can also work toward completing Brownie Journeys. These are A World of Girls, Brownie Quest, Outdoor, Think Like a Citizen Scientist, Think Like a Programmer, Think Like an Engineer, and WOW! Wonders of Water. The highest award a Brownie can achieve is the Journey Summit Award. To earn this pin, a Brownie must complete three Journeys, including a Take Action Project for each.

In 2022, the Canadian Girl Guides announced they would drop the "girl" from their name to be more inclusive. In 2023, the Canadian groups officially replaced the term "Brownies" with "Embers." Recognizing the need to update but remain true to its mission, the Brownies continue to adapt in the twenty-first century to remain relevant and continue to attract girls to its membership. Their shift to modern programs emphasizing STEM, the environment, and digital literacy are examples of this commitment. Along with their devotion to celebrating diversity, promoting mental health and physical well-being, and creating female leaders, the Brownies continue to offer traditional outdoor activities. Further, girls are now welcome to join the former Boy Scouts of America, which changed its name to Scouting America in 2024. 

Bibliography

Ewing, Juliana Horatia. The Brownies and Other Tales. E. & J.B. Young & Co., 1871.

Gambino, Megan. “The Very First Troop Leader.” Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Mar. 2012, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-very-first-troop-leader-116645976. Accessed 19 May 2024.

“Looking Back at the History Of Girl Scout Bridging.” Girls Scouts of Colorado, 24 June 2021, gscoblog.org/2021/06/looking-back-at-the-history-of-girl-scout-bridging. Accessed 19 May 2024.

LiVolsi, Liz. “How My Brownie Troop Earned the 7 Legacy Badges in 1 Year.” The Trailhead, 12 Apr. 2018, trailhead.gsnorcal.org/how-my-brownie-troop-earned-the-7-legacy-badges-in-1-year/. Accessed 13 Oct. 2021.

Morr, Rebekah. “Have the Girl Scouts Changed Since the Boy Scouts Let Girls In? They Haven’t.” KERA News, 25 Apr. 2021, www.keranews.org/news/2021-04-25/have-the-girl-scouts-has-changed-since-the-boy-scouts-let-girls-in-they-havent. Accessed 13 Oct. 2021.

“Our History.” World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, www.wagggs.org/en/about-us/our-history. Accessed 19 May 2024.

Radde, Kaitlyn. “Canada Girl Guides Renamed Brownies, New Name Embers Meant to be More Inclusive.” NPR, 12 Jan. 2023, www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148705587/canada-girl-guides-brownies-racism-racialized-embers-name-change. Accessed 19 May 2024.

Robertson, Ann. “From Blair House to Brown Owl.” Girl Scout History Project, 20 Jan. 2021, gshistory.com/category/girl-scout-program-levels/girl-scout-brownies. Accessed 19 May 2024.

Rogin, Ali. “Why Boy Scouts of America is Changing its Name.” PBS, 10 May 2024, www.pbs.org/newshour/show/why-boy-scouts-of-america-is-changing-its-name. Accessed 19 May 2024.

Spring, Kelly A. “Juliette Gordon Low.” National Women’s History Museum, 2017, www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/juliette-gordon-low. Accessed 13 Oct. 2021.

“What Brownies Do.” Girl Scouts of the United States of America, 2020, www.girlscouts.org/en/our-program/grade-levels/what-brownies-do.html. Accessed 13 Oct. 2021.