It constitutes the female branch of the Polish Scouting Association. It fulfills the organization’s mission through programs and activities for girls, carried out using the scouting method based on Robert Baden-Powell and guided by the Scouting Law and Promise.
Join us and experience unforgettable adventures. This is where lifelong friendships are formed, passions are discovered, and future leaders are shaped.
At each scouting level-Skrzaty (Beavers), Zuchy (Cubs), Harcerki (Scouts), and Wędrowniczki (Rovers)-girls develop their skills, earn badges, and learn teamwork, responsibility, and a love for nature. The school year is filled with joyful meetings, and the highlight of their efforts are the two-week summer camps: colonies, stationary camps, and traveling camps.
Work with the girls is carried out across four levels under the guidance of trained leaders (instructors):
It is the primary organizational unit of the girl scouts within the country division. In Canada, the Polish Girl Scout Organization has been operating continuously since 1952 in the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec, and currently has over 1,000 members.
At the head of the organization in Canada is the Chief Commissioner of the Polish Girl Scouts, elected by the Conference of Girl Scouts in Canada and appointed by the International Commissioner of the Girl Scout Organization.- komendantka@zhp.ca
In March 1952, hm. Zofia Stohandel was appointed as the Chief Commissioner of the Polish Girl Scouts in Canada, and in September of the same year, the first Polish Girl Scouts Leaderhip Team was established. All existing Girl Scouts units in Canada at that time were transferred to that organization by hm. Stefan Czerwiński, then Commander of the Canada Area, and from that point onward they reported directly to the Polish Girl Scouts Organization Leadership Team.
In the early years of its existence, the main focus of the Leadership Team was on establishing new units, training patrol leaders and troop leaders, and developing work programs and supporting materials.
It was necessary to raise funds and acquire camping and operational equipment. Efforts also had to be made to establish contacts with parishes and clergy, Polish community organizations, and to build and maintain relationships with Canadian scouting and other ethnic scouting groups.
The development of the first packs and troops was rapid, supported by positive responses from parents and the wider community. Between 1952 and 1954, cub packs were established in Toronto, Ottawa, Noranda, Hamilton, London, St. Catharines, and Windsor—a total of eleven packs. Three Girl Scouts troops were formed in Toronto, St. Catharines, and Hamilton, along with a patrol in Windsor. In Montreal, new packs, patrols, and troops were also created. The movement expanded as far as Western Canada. In 1955, a Girl Scouts patrol and a cub pack (zuchy) were formed in Edmonton; in 1960, a troop and two packs were established in Winnipeg, along with a patrol and pack in Calgary, and a Girl Scouts patrol in Vancouver.
As the number of units grew, it became necessary to improve organization, leading to the grouping of units into districts (hufce). In November 1954, the “Watra” district for Girl Scouts was established, covering Ontario. In May 1956, it was divided into two districts: “Watra” and “Nurt.” In 1958, “Nurt” was merged back into “Watra.” To further streamline operations, “Watra” was reorganized, creating troops (szczepy) in major Polish communities, including:
Toronto – “Zarzewie” “Rzeka,” “Szarotki”
Hamilton – “Wisła”
Burlington – “Kartuzy”
St. Catharines – “Kujawy”
Welland – “Beskidy”
London – “Bór”
Sudbury – “Mazury”
Ottawa – “Jutrzenka” (formerly “Tęcza”)
Scarborough – “Zorza”
Mississauga – “Wieliczka”
Brampton – “Kaszuby”
In March 1955, the “Ogniwo” district was established in Quebec, encompassing numerous Girl Scouts units in Montreal. Additional districts were formed in Western Canada: “Prerie” in Manitoba (1960), later renamed “Białowieża”; “Młody Bór” in Edmonton (1966); and “Tatry” in Vancouver, which replaced the earlier “Jelenia Góra” troop in 1982 but has since been suspended due to a lack of youth members. The “Orla Perć” troop was also formed in Calgary.
Within the division, instructor teams were also established, each with their own programs and supporting the Girl Scouts Organization Leadership team, districts, troops, and the Board of Directors. These included:
In Toronto: a troop for senior instructors named after J. Falkowska, the “Bądź Gotów” troop (formed after the 2nd World Jamboree in Kaszuby in 1976), and the “Młode Orlice” troop
In Montreal: the “Szczyty” troop
In Winnipeg: the Ewa Grodecka patrol
The Polish Girl Scouts Organization is made up of districts (hufce), which bring together troops (szczepy) and units operating in a given area.
Districts are led by Commisioners (hufcowe), while troops are led by Local Commisioners (szczepowe).
HUFIEC MŁODY BÓR
email: hufcowa.mlodybor@zhp.ca
EDMONTON
Szczep “Beskidy”
email: beskidy@zhp.ca
website
CALGARY
Szczep “Orla Perć”
email: orlaperc@zhp.ca
website
WINNIPEG
Scouting units in Winnipeg
email:
website
HUFIEC WATRA
email: hufcowa.watra@zhp.ca
website
BRAMPTON
Szczep “Zarzewie”
BURLINGTON
Szczep “Kartuzy”
email: kartuzy@zhp.ca
ETOBICOKE (TORONTO)
Szczep “Rzeka”
HAMILTON
Szczep “Wisła”
email: wisla@zhp.ca
KITCHENER I WATERLOO
Szczep “Sudety”
email: sudety@zhp.ca
website
LONDON
Szczep “Bór”
MILTON
Szczep “Kresy”
MISSISSAUGA
Szczep “Szarotki”
Szczep “Wieliczka”
OAKVILLE
Szczep “Kaszuby”
OSHAWA
Szczep “Mazowsze”
OTTAWA
Szczep “Jutrzenka”
SCARBOROUGH
Szczep “Zorza”
ST. CATHARINES
Szczep “Kujawy”
WINDSOR
Drużyna “Lilie” i gromada zuchów "Biedronki"
email:
website
HUFIEC OGNIWO
email: hufcowa.ogniwo@zhp.ca
MONTREAL
Jednostki hufca Ogniwo
email: hufcowa.ogniwo@zhp.ca
Girl Scouts Supply Store in Canada