Girl Scouts Timeline
1940s

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Left: Girl Scouts collect scrap metal for recycling for the war effort. Right: Girl Scouts learn about aviation through the Wing Scout program.

The mood of the nation took on a serious tone after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The need for skilled American service people led to the creation of the women's auxiliary corps of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Women met the needs of the nation by taking on jobs in factories that were once occupied by men. The charter for the United Nations was signed by 51 nations.

• During the war, Girl Scouts operated bicycle courier services, invested more than 48,000 hours in Farm Aide projects, collected fat and scrap metal, and grew Victory Gardens.



• A publication, Senior Girl Scouting in Wartime, was created to encourage older girls to perform war-related service projects, like Hospital, Child Care, and Emergency Outdoor Aide.



• Girl Scouts sponsored Defense Institutes, which taught 10,000 women survival skills and techniques for comforting children during blackouts and air raids.



• Girls collected 1.5 million articles of clothing that were then shipped overseas to children and adult victims of war.