YOUNGSTERS in South Cumbria will be aiming to make and maintain new contacts around the world as part of activities linked to World Thinking Day.

The annual event is organised by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts - which has 10 million members spread across 150 countries.

Today’s pictures feature previous Thinking Days and other Guide movement activities in South Cumbria.

The Mail, on Wednesday, March 1, in 2000, noted: “Youngsters in Barrow braved the wind and the rain to show their true colours at the weekend.

“Hundreds of Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers shrugged off the winter chill to team up and hold their annual Thinking Day service.

“With waterproofs on and umbrellas up, the youngsters paraded down Hawcoat Lane to St Paul’s Church on Sunday where the service was held."

World Thinking Day has a different theme each year and for 2020 it is called Living Threads - which aims to celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion.

Many youngsters will be working towards a special badge by striking up penpal links and exchanging letters and electronic messages between countries.

The traditional event  marks the shared February 22 birthday of Scouting and Guiding founder Lord Robert Baden-Powell and his wife Lady Olave Baden-Powell.

In 1999 the First Dalton St Mary’s Brownies raised £75 for the Dalton sports hall fund with a evening of entertainment for parents featuring dancing from around the world inspired by Thinking Day.

In 2000 A Barrow Guide was presented with the highest possible award for her work.

The Mail, on Tuesday, November 7, noted: “Dawn Teale, 13, of Abbots Vale, has won all 17 badges available in the past four years as well as learning fire-fighting and knot tying.

“Girl Guides district commissioner Helen Beard handed over the Baden-Powell Trefoil Award. Dawn’s mother Rhona Teale, a leader with the eighth troop, has been in the movement for 34 years.”