Juliette Gordon Low and the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts
January 13, 2012 through January 6, 2013
On March 12, 1912 the American Girl Guides was founded; renamed Girl Scouts of the USA in 1913, the organization celebrates its centennial this year. Ms. Low was the founding force behind this beloved and respected educational organization. Born in 1860 and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Juliette Gordon Low was an artistic, humorous and active girl who later enjoyed traveling and philanthropy. Despite struggles with severely limited hearing and a turbulent marriage, Ms. Low sought to find a cause to which she could dedicate her life. In 1911, upon meeting the founder of the British based Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, Sir Robert Baden Powell, she knew she had found her cause. Eighteen girls registered in the first American Girl Guides troop and now, one hundred years later, there are 3.3 million members making it the largest educational organization for girls in the world. The Juliette Gordon Low exhibition will be an intimate celebration of 100 years of Girl Scouting.
Girl Scout-related programming 2012–13:
Women’s History Month Family Day March 3, 2012 | 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
This will be a fun-filled day of activities for the whole family. Planned events include music, dance, and hands-on activities, as well as a Girl Scout sponsored mini-art exhibition and a Girl Scout fashion show presenting older styles of uniforms.
The National Portrait Gallery, the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital are planning this program together. Senior Girl Scouts in need of federal volunteer hours should contact Geri Provost Lyons at (202) 633-8501 or at provostg@si.edu.
Celebrating 100 Years of Girl Scouting in America June 8, 2012 | 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and
June 10, 2012 | 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. NOTE: Program coincides with the Rock the Mall event
Enjoy an interactive, self-guided experience through the museum; get your hands on history (literally!) with the National Portrait Gallery’s hands-on activities; imagine the life of Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low during the reading of a short story about her life. Programs subject to change. Senior Girl Scouts in need of federal volunteer hours should contact Geri Provost Lyons at (202) 633-8501 or at provostg@si.edu.
Young Portrait Explorers :
Juliette Gordon Low
October 9, 2012 | 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Toddlers up to age five and their adult companions are invited to become a Young Portrait Explorer and discover the National Portrait Gallery through history and art. The activities include looking at a portrait or two, listening to a story about Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low, and participating in a hands-on activity. Registration required; follow this link to register http://www.eventbrite.com. Class size is limited to 25 participants. Parents and guardians must remain with their children. Gather in G Street lobby at 10:15 a.m.; program begins promptly at 10:30 a.m..
Portrait Story Days:
Juliette Gordon Low
October 28, 2012 | 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
October 29, 2012 | 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Education center, room E151, first floor
Special themed activities will feature a hands-on art project and a story. Young visitors may drop in to listen to a story about Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low and create a special piece of art in the Portrait Gallery’s education center in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts and Low’s birthday on October 31.
Facing History: Girl Scout Programs
Select Saturdays throughout the year from 10:30 a.m. to noon
The National Portrait Gallery will continue to offer exciting new programs that allow Brownie Girl Scouts, Junior Girl Scouts, and Cadette Girl Scouts to have an educational and culturally enriching museum experience while earning points toward specific badges or journeys. Registration and information on these programs will be available in mid-August 2012 for the 2012–13 academic year. Programs will take place October through May. Registration required, as is a minimum of ten Girl Scouts and chaperones.
