Photo courtesy of Macy’s
Yesterday, GSUSA celebrated the first day of spring by revealing the second annual Girls’ Choice badges at the grand opening of the 42nd annual Macy’s Flower Show at the NYC Herald Square location.
This year’s flower show theme, America the Beautiful, aligns with Girl Scouts’ Art in the Outdoors badge series that encourages all Girl Scouts—from urban areas to rural locations—to explore the art around them. This year’s badge series demonstrates the Girl Scout Movement’s commitment of more than a century to girls and the outdoors.
Girls’ Choice Outdoor badges will be shown in full bloom at Macy’s Herald Square from March 20 through April 3, 2016. The Girl Scout gardens, packed with colorful flowers in organic surroundings, will also be on display—showing that art is everywhere you look, from an urban garden to the intricate architecture of a skyscraper, from a rock sculpture to a vibrant sunset.
GSUSA released its first-ever Girls’ Choice badges last year to provide girls with beneficial experiences and enhance the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE). This was the first time girls had the opportunity to vote on a range of badge topics and designs. For the second year in a row, the Girls’ Choice badges theme is focused on the outdoors. The new Art in the Outdoors badges will inspire Girl Scouts to explore the art that exists all around them through fun activities like making “galaxy shirts” inspired by the night sky or filming an environmental documentary. Girls’ Choice Art in the Outdoors badges will be available through the Girl Scout Shop by June 15.
A special shout out to Girl Scouts of Greater New York who participated in Macy’s official ribbon-cutting ceremony and leading a simple nature journal craft activity for kids of all ages in celebration of Macy’s Family Fun Day. As part of yesterday’s flower show grand opening, Macy’s announced they will generously donate a variety of plants to Girl Scouts of Greater New York. The gesture speaks to both Girl Scouts’ ties to the outdoors as well as its legacy of girls taking action to make the world a better place. Girl Scouts in the New York area will plant the flowering shrubs, trees, and perennial flowers in two of GSGNY’s outdoor classrooms at its Camp Henry Kaufmann, located in Dutchess County, New York. The outdoor classrooms—The MetLife Butterfly Garden and Rita’s Organic Vegetable Garden—each play a leading role in the council’s environmental and outdoor leadership programming.
If you find yourself in NYC from now until April 3, swing by the Herald Square store to experience Art in the Outdoors at the Girl Scout displays.