Page:Scouting for girls, adapted from Girl guiding.djvu/66

52 be asked to take up. Thousands of women have done splendid work in this war, but thousands more would have been able to do good work also had they only Been Prepared for it beforehand by learning a few things that are useful to them outside their mere school work or work in their own home. And that is what the Scouts are learning in all their games and camp work; they mean to be useful in other ways besides what they are taught in school.

How to Join

You join a Troop in your neighborhood and become a member of one of the Patrols in it. A Patrol is a group of eight girls, under the command of a Patrol Leader. Each Patrol is called after a bird or a flower, and has that flower or bird embroidered on its flag. The Patrol is the team for play or for work, and each Patrol endeavors—or at least considers itself—to be the best in the Troop.

If there is no Troop in your neighborhood you can become a "Lone Scout."

That is, you can make the promise, carry out the Scout Law and all the practices by yourself, and you can wear the uniform and win the badges.

For this you must report and be registered. That is, if you cannot hear of a Scout officer near you, write to the Secretary at Headquarters, tell her where you live and she will put you in touch with the nearest officer who will register you and help you.