Our History
Juliette Gordon Low had a dream.
When she brought that first group of girls together in Savannah, Georgia, in early March 1912, she wanted them to explore new possibilities and the wonders of the world around them—and she wanted them to do it together.
Along with Juliette Gordon Low—also known as Daisy, these first Girl Scouts blazed trails and redefined what was possible for themselves—and for girls everywhere. They played basketball. They hiked, swam and they camped. They learned to tell time by the stars. But most importantly, they shared a sense of adventure and a belief that they could do anything. And just like Girl Scouts do across the country and around the world today, they offered a helping hand to those in need and worked together to make their corner of the world a better place.
Over the past century, Daisy's small circle of girls has grown to include more than 59 million Girl Scout alumnae—united across distance and decades by lifelong friendships, shared adventures and the desire to do big things to make the world a better place.
Read more about Juliette Gordon Low and Girl Scout history.
“Truly, ours is a circle of friendships, united by our ideals.”
— Juliette Gordon Low
Girl Scouting Comes to Nebraska
Girl Scouts flourished throughout the nation, establishing itself in Nebraska in 1926 with the formation of troops in Omaha. From there, Girl Scout councils sprung up westward across the state with troops in Fairbury (1932) and Lincoln (1941). Guiding Star was created in Ogallala (1953), and then the Prairie Hills Council in northeast Nebraska (1956) was formed. The Goldenrod Council in Kearney (1976) was created by a later merger.
For many years, these original councils have been an essential thread in the fabric of our communities. Hundreds of thousands of Nebraska’s girls grew up with equal access to Girl Scouting – learning about their potential and discovering how to make their mark in the world.
In 2005, Girl Scouts across the country adopted a new mission statement, which remains the same today: Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.
Spirit of Nebraska is Formed
In 2008, five thriving Girl Scout councils in Nebraska merged to become one. This was part of an organizational restructuring by Girl Scouts of the USA, designed to create councils that could more effectively serve girls in our ever-changing world. The Spirit of Nebraska council spans 92 Nebraska counties and includes the community of Carter Lake, Iowa.
