Vintage Girl Scout Online Museum
The Bicentennial celebration across America
National Girl Scout Programs for the Bicentennial
![]() ![]() ![]() 1974-1976 |
![]() Finally found an image of the official GSUSA Bicentennial candle, sold only through NES branches at $2.00 each. They were to be lit in a special "Flames of Freedom" celebrations held at local councils on March 12, 1976. Red, White and Blue candle, 9" long, 1 1/2" wide, burned for up to 10 hours. |
This patch was the winner of the GS Bicentennial Task Group's contest. Each troop across America could submit 1 vote from the designs shown on the cover of the Girl Scout Leader magazine March 1975. The design was officially introduced at the Girl Scout National Convention in 1975. |
Triennium Pin 1975-1978
Triennium Patch |
Girl Scout Leader Nov/Dec 1975 with Bicentennial Quilt Making |
Girl Scout Leader magazine May-June 1976, promoting the American Camping Association's Big Camp on July 4, 1976 |
Probably the best remembered council patch program was the "If I were a Girl Scout in 1776." It was a wonderful program developed by the Connecticut Trails Girl Scout Council in honor of America's Bicentennial in 1976. This was before there were Try-its and Interest Project patches - so there were only badges offered. They covered a wide range of interest, focusing on how life would be for a girl in Colonial America. The handbook even included instructions on sewing your own uniform for the time!
At a time before council's own badge and patch program, the "If I were a Girl Scout in 1776" caught fire and spread through many councils. It was a program whose time had come.
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![]() The State House Bell |
![]() George Washington |
![]() My Flag |
![]() My Family |
![]() Clothing |
![]() My House and Yard |
![]() My Heritage |
Food |
Toys and Games |
My Country |
My Colony or My Town or City, presumably you would have had this embroidered |
Girl Scout Bicentennial Badges of unknown heritage
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Local Council Bicentennial Patches
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Bicentennial Festival, Conestoga Council - brochure and patch |
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"Wake Up America" Raintree Girl Scouts |
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Great Blue Heron Council
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![]() Girl Scout Council of the Pacific Bicentennial Patch |
![]() Hoosier Capital Girl Scouts Bicentennial Patch |
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Patch |
Patch on sash, GSC of St. Croix Valley |
Patch |
Scottsdale Girl Scouts |
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Becky Thatcher GSC |
Be Mine Valentine | A Merry Girl Scout Christmas | Girl Scout Birthday Week Give-Aways | 1776-1976 Girl Scout Bicentennial | Girl Scouts at the 1939 World's Fair
Girl Scout Weeks in Review | Girl Scout Anniversaries in Review | Girl Scout Conventions in Review