Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida is marking the 100th anniversary of World Thinking Day, a global Girl Scout tradition that celebrates international friendship, cultural understanding, and girls’ leadership, with immersive events across Southwest Florida.

On Feb. 1, Girl Scouts will gather at Camp Caloosa in North Fort Myers for a vibrant international celebration featuring 139 registered participants, including girls and adult volunteers, representing 20 countries. The event will showcase cultural and educational displays, traditional foods, live performances, and a colorful parade of flags, providing strong visual storytelling and interview opportunities.

Founded in 1926, World Thinking Day is celebrated annually on Feb. 22 by Girl Scouts and Girl Guides in more than 150 countries around the world. The milestone anniversary marks a century of girls learning about global issues, building cross-cultural understanding, and recognizing their shared responsibility to make the world a better place.

“World Thinking Day reminds girls that they are part of something much bigger than themselves,” said Mary Anne Servian, CEO of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida. “For 100 years, this day has helped girls develop empathy, global awareness, and the confidence to lead — values that are just as important today as they were a century ago.”

The celebration at Camp Caloosa builds on an earlier World Thinking Day event held on Jan. 17 at GSGCF’s Camp Honi Hanta in Bradenton, where more than 50 Girl Scouts participated, representing five countries through hands-on cultural activities and educational exhibits.

The global celebrations coincide with Girl Scout Cookie Season, when girls put leadership and entrepreneurship skills into action. Cookie booths open Feb. 6 at 4 p.m., with proceeds supporting local Girl Scout programming, leadership development, and experiential learning opportunities like World Thinking Day.

Community members can find Girl Scout Cookies by texting “Cookies” to 59618 or visiting www.gsgcf.org.

Event Highlights Include:

• Cultural and educational country displays
• International food tastings
• Live performances and traditional attire
• Parade of flags representing participating nations