Pioneer Girls

 

 

 

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Pioneer Girls Membership Pin

The Christian centered Pioneer Girls Club began in 1939 in Illinois and was called the Girls Guild. This group was for girls of all ages and had four ranks; Royal Helper, Royal Maiden, Royal Lady and Royal Princess. They could earn badges in four fields; outdoor, nature, music and hostess. The program was the sister-program of the all-boy Christian Service Brigade.

In 1941 the program's name was changed to Pioneer Girls and the program was revamped. Girls under the age of 10 were Pilgrims and could earn a star and two badges; music and nature. Girls 11 and older were Pathfinder, Homesteader and Harvester ranks. Generally speaking girls 15 and older were considered Explorers, but at this time it was not a rank.

Later the Pioneer Girls had 3 age levels; Pilgrims, Colonists and Explorers, and in 1974 there were 5 age levels.

Through the years the program continued to grow and change. Finally the Pioneer Girls and the Christian Service Brigade merged to become the Pioneer Clubs and continues today.

The Early Years

In 1943 the Pioneer Girls incorporated and went national.

Slogan: Christ in every phase of a girl's life.

Colors: Sky blue and scarlet tanager red

 

1948 Pioneer Girls Handbook

This was the handbook for both the Pilgrims and the Colonists.

Until 1963 both programs were in the same book.

Uniform for Pioneer Girls

Pilgrims were in school grades 3-6 and worked on 3 ranks

Pilgrim ranks

Voyager

 

Settler

 

Townsman

 

Pilgrim badges had words on them, such as Sew Craft,

Example of a Pilgrim age level badge - Sew Craft

 

Colonist were in Junior High School and worked on 3 ranks

Colonist Ranks

Pathfinder

 

 

Homesteader

Harvester

pin is a sickle and grains of wheat

 

 Colonist badges had images on them.

Example of a Colonist age level badge - Service

 

Although Pioneer Girls in high school weren't an official rank yet, they did have their own embroidered emblem and were called Explorers.

The Pioneer Girls Club had its own series of juvenile fiction books:

1959

1959

1959

1959

1962

1963

1968

 

1963 brought program changes; a new program level - Explorer, ranks, new badges, and new handbooks.

Pilgrims

Pilgrims were now sub-divided into 2 groups; 3-4th graders and 5-6 graders

1963 First Edition

Pilgrim ranks

Voyager

 

Discoverer (added 1963)

 

Settler

(1620 has disappeared from the Rock on the Settler rank)

Townsman

 

Pioneer Girls uniform beanie

 

Pioneer Girls uniform beanie

 

Pilgrim badges continued as words embroidered in red on blue fabric.

Badge list for all Pilgrims: Book, Citizenship, Handcraft, Kitchencraft, Loyalty, Nature, New Life, Outdoor, Pets, Safety, Sewcraft, Song, Water, Advanced Water

Badge List for 5th and 6th grade Pilgrims: Advanced Kitchencraft, Air Riflery - Marksman, Air Riflery - Sharpshooter, Bible, Campcraft, Collections, Drawing, Games, Garden, Hiker, Home Care, Intermediate Swimming, Memorization, Missions, Naturecraft, Nature Exploration, Sightseeing

Colonists

In addition to a new rank and new badges, there were also now "group badges", to be earned in a group setting.

Trailblazer - pin is a tree stump

(added in 1963)

 

pin design changed from an open book to a Conestoga wagon

 

Homesteader

Harvester - pin is a sickle and grains of wheat

There were 82 badges a Colonist could earn

Missionary Badge

Group badges had a star in the corner

Explorers

The new rank of Explorer was added in 1963, and was for girls in high school. However, the term Explorer had been part of Pioneer Girls from the early days.

1960

Explorers worked on earning keys; Bronze Key, Silver Key and Gold Key

 

The highest honor for a Pioneer Girl to earn was a Wing in one of 3 categories

Camping was an integral part of Pioneer Girls experience. Generally all Pioneer Girls camps were called Camp Cherith.

 

The Pioneer Girls Club also offered jewelry and other items through their catalog.

1963 Pioneer Girls pin

 

Pioneer Girls ring

 

Pioneer Girls 25th Anniversary Pin

 

Pioneer Girls Sing - songbook

 

In 1974 the Pioneer Girls program changed it's program age levels - Voyager (2nd grade), Lavalier (3rd, 4th grade), Trailblazer (5th-7th grade), Shikari (7th-9th grade), Explorer (9th-12th grade).

   

During this time, Pioneer Girl badges were round, blue embroidery on yellow fabric.

In 1980 the Pioneer Girls, Inc. changed its name to Pioneer Ministries, and continued with the Pioneer Girls program, added a Pioneer Boys program, as well as added other programs. They continue today as co-ed. Visit their website to learn more:

Pioneer Clubs

The Pioneer Club symbol

past badge styles of the Pioneer Club

           

current badge styles of the Pioneer Club

 

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Last modified: 02/23/08