Around the world, it’s called Thinking Day, as Girl Scouts and Girl Guides everywhere celebrate together, and “think” globally about fellow sister Scouts in other countries.

The event is held each year around February 22nd, the birthday of both Lord Robert Baden-Powell and his wife Lady Olave.

Baden-Powell founded the Boy Scout and Girl Guide movements in England, and his wife was the World Chief Guide of the Girl Guide/Girl Scout movement. The Girl Scout program was subsequently introduced in the United States by Juliette Gordon Low.

This year, more than 180 Girl Scouts from Duvall and Carnation participated. Each troop picked a country to learn about. Brownie Troop 1173 choose New Zealand. “You learn about all these different countries,” said Girl Scout Rachael K. “The kiwi birds can’t fly…there’s no dangerous animals in New Zealand.”

Then on Thinking Day, the troops, 20 from the Valley’s Service Unit 441, gathered and learned from each other through interactive stations highlighting each country.

Even the youngest of scouts, Daisies who are kindergarteners, enjoyed the evening.

From Troop 383, Irena H.’s favorite part was making a necklace with a star on the bottom, while Karlie F.’s favorite was the SWAP she exchanged with her friend Rachael.

Each girl makes SWAPS (Small size What-cha-ma-call-it Adorning a hat, vest or scarf Passed between friends) representing their country, and then they swap them.

The first Thinking Day was held in 1926. Today Girl Scouts/Girl Guides are in more than 140 countries. Of course, since it was a birthday party, there was cake and juice.