Every year on 22 February, we celebrate World Thinking Day, and this year was extra special because it was the 100th anniversary.   

Thinking Day is a day for us to think about the 11.2 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts all over the world and volunteers and young members from across Scotland celebrated with lots of fun activities.   

Here’s some examples of how counties marked the day:  

Aberdeen and Shetland  

In Aberdeen, volunteers met on Aberdeen beach at sunrise to renew their promise. Alison, Lesley and Lynne from the county commissioner team lit candles in the shape of a trefoil.   

Dundee  

More than 300 young members from Dundee celebrated by making friendship bracelets, designing neckerchiefs and taking part in other crafts celebrating friendship around the world.  

East Renfrewshire  

7th Barrhead Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Rangers and young leaders marked Thinking Day at the church where their unit meets. They shared uniforms through the ages with the church congregation. Then they enjoyed a trip to a trampoline park in the afternoon.  

Edinburgh

More than 1,000 members gathered at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre where Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers renewed their promises.  

They then watched a flag parade, enjoyed an interactive performance from Edinburgh University’s West African Drum and Dance Society, and a showcase of Guiding traditions and songs from around the world. They also got to enjoy a fashion show marking the changes in Guiding uniforms across the decades.  

Edinburgh Castle was also lit up in Girlguiding blue for the evening to mark the occasion.

Gordon  

Members from Gordon enjoyed a cold but sunny Thinking Day. Kintore district took part in a parade, Ellon district had a treasure hunt, and in Inverurie, young members put together a Thinking Day display in the library. 

Glasgow  

Glasgow held an international-themed activity day attended by 300 members of all sections to celebrate World Thinking Day.  

They took part in activities related to Madagascar, Italy and the Winter Olympics. Plus, they attended a New Zealand poi session and circus skills workshop, and completed friendship challenges from the WAGGGS World Thinking Day pack.  

The young members also brought along 200 pre-loved books to donate to the GET free bookshop in Glasgow. 

North Ayrshire  

In North Ayrshire, over 500 members attended a day packed with activities across the decades. Young members learned traditional songs, some first aid skills and some fun gymnastics.   

The day finished off with a Disco and a special procession of flags from units across the county, with a special promise ceremony led by Ayrshire North’s county president.  

 South Ayrshire  

Over 800 young members and volunteers from South Ayrshire took part in a spectacular lantern parade through Ayr town centre. The 1st Crosshill Rangers also had the very exciting opportunity to carry four huge lanterns created by talented artists at CRAG Community Arts, representing Girlguiding uniforms from over the years.  

Each lantern carried represented the fact that no one walks alone in Girlguiding.