The first Girl Scout handbook, How Girls Can Help Their Country, was written by Professor Walter J. Hoxie, a resident of Pinellas County.
GSWCF 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 covers eight counties: Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sumter.
In the 2021–2022 school year, Girl Scouts of West Central Florida served over 17,600 members consisting of approximately 11,000 girls and 6,600 volunteers.
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Did you Know?
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 took up headquarters in the old Tampa Bay Casino.
Resources
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GSWCF Annual Reports
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Form 990s
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GSWCF Financial Audit
We’ve been helping girls discover their sparkle and potential for more than 100 years. Join us today!
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