About Our Council
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Girl Scouts of West Central Florida: Council 320
We are Girl Scouts of West Central Florida (GSWCF). Just one year after Girl Scouts was founded in 1912, the second troop in the nation found its roots right here in Tampa at Hyde Park United Methodist Church (lucky us!). It all started when Juliette reached out to her close friend Jessamine Flowers Link, who too was a fearless blazer of trails. Jessamine eagerly took the reins and led Tampa’s first troop of nine girls to earn badges, go camping and help others—just as Girl Scouts do today!
The rest, as they say, is history.
Girl Scouts of West Central Florida Today
Today, Girl Scouts of West Central Florida serves more than 20,500 members across eight counties: Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sumter.
Did You Know?
- The first Girl Scout handbook, How Girls Can Help Their Country, was written by Professor Walter J. Hoxie, a resident of Pinellas County.
- During the influenza epidemic of World War I, Girl Scouts donned trousers (gasp!) to help Western Union deliver messages on Tampa’s streets.
- The first Tampa Girl Scout council was headquartered in the old Tampa Bay Casino.
We’ve been helping girls discover their sparkle and potential for more than 100 years. Join us today!
