For World Thinking Day, Abby Renzelman, at left, with Girl Scout Troop 444 represented Thailand and Arden VanZoeren with Troop 708 represented Taiwan. CONTRIBUTED

MADISON – Approximately 200 Girl Scouts from troops in Madison observed World Thinking Day, a celebration that Girl Scouts in the United States enjoy with Girl Guides from around the world. 

More than 200 scouts attended the event at Asbury United Methodist Church on Feb. 17.

World Thinking Day serves as an occasion for Girls Scouts to connect with Girl Guides, to rally for global improvements and celebrate the relationship that these young girls share worldwide. The theme for World Thinking Day 2017 theme was “Grow.” (girlscouts.org)

Beth Crocker, leader of a Daisy/Brownie flex troop in Madison, explained that Girls Guides in other countries are the equivalent to Girls Scouts in the United States. The founder of the Girl Scouts, Juliette Gordon Low, was best friends with the founder of the Boy Scouts, Lord Baden-Powell.

“Baden-Powell and his wife were a huge influence on Low’s decision to start Girl Scouts in America in 1912,” Crocker said. “Lady Powell was one of the founders of the Girl Guides in England.”

The first World Thinking Day was observed in 1926 and continues as an annual tradition. 

In Madison, girls from 24 different troops gathered at Asbury UMC. Each troop created displays as a tribute to a foreign country and offered background information, food, crafts and relics. For example, Abby Renzelman with Girl Scout Troop 444 represented Thailand, and Arden VanZoeren with Troop 708 represented Taiwan.

In other Girl Scout activities, the annual Cookie Rally was staged as a type of pep rally to generate excitement and train troops to sell cookies. “We concentrate on goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics,” rally organizer Crocker said. “This event was for Service Unit 212, which includes all troops in Madison City. We are the largest unit north of Birmingham.”

Columbia Elementary School hosted the even this year, which marks the centennial anniversary for Girl Scout Cookie sales. The cookie sale “is our largest fundraiser. The funds we earn help sustain our troops, our service unit and council. We are also very proud of the option to donate cookies to our service men and women,” Crocker said.