Girl Scouts of Jamaica

Scouting came to Jamaica in 1910, the first troop being started by the Anglican clergyman Rev. Joseph William Graham in St Ann. Scouting spread quickly and in 1912 the first scout troop in St Catherine was established in Spanish Town.

It was at the home of the first Spanish Town Scoutmaster, Mr Fitz Herbert Messias, that the first group of girls met. On March 11, 1915, his daughter invited over friends to discuss beginning a Girl Scout Troop. Clare Messias wrote a letter, dated March 16, on behalf of the group asking Miss Daisy Jeffrey-Smith to be their troop leader. Miss Daisy agreed and regular meetings began. Miss Marguerite Aitken was her assistant. The group met at "Durham House", home of the Jeffrey-Smiths. These Girl Scouts were renamed Girl Guides when they received their warrant from Miss Agnes Baden-Powell. This Spanish Town Scout troop was also responsible for the establishment of Cub Scouts in 1916. Brownie Guides began in 1917 and Ranger Guides in 1919.

The Girl Scouts of Jamaica were established in August 2008, due to concerns about administration and the changing of the programme of the Girl Guides Association of Jamaica. The Girl Scouts of Jamaica desire was to have a democratic structure and to embrace the traditions of the eight point programme and camp craft. They joined the Order of World Scouts, with whom they shared ideals and vision, right after their first promise ceremony on October 5, 2008.

IMPORTANT DATES

August 5, 2008 - The Official website was launched introducing the programme for the new school year.
October 5, 2008 - The first Junior Scout promise ceremony was held.
October 29, 2008 - The first Doctorbird promise ceremony was held.

February 13, 2009 - The first Peenie Wallie promise ceremony was held.

References: 1.WikiPedia (Lord Robert Baden-Powell, Sir Francis Vane, Ernest Thompson Seton, Daniel Carter Beard, Scout Association, British Boy Scouts, Order of World Scouts, Woodcraft Indians, Sons of Daniel Boone, Scouting in Jamaica)  2. ernest thompson seton and woodcraft (http://www.infed.org/thinkers/seton.htm)  3. The Birch Bark Roll (http://www.inquiry.net/traditional/seton/birch/index.htm)  4. Boy Pioneers (http://www.inquiry.net/traditional/beard/pioneers/index.htm)