The first Girl Scout handbook, How Girls Can Help Their Country, was written by Professor Walter J. Hoxie, a resident of Pinellas County.
Girl Scouts of West Central Florida: 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 Today
In the 2022–23 school year, Girl Scouts of West Central Florida served over 17,500 members consisting of approximately 10,200 girls and 5,500 volunteers across eight counties: Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sumter .
GSWCF produces annual financial statements and resources that can be found here.
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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.
We’ve been helping girls discover their sparkle and potential for more than 100 years. Join us today!
