The Gift of Trees Patch Program
As the Festival celebrates the Centennial anniversary of the gift of trees in the spring of 2012, the Girl Scouts are also celebrating their own historic milestone.
Together, the Festival and the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital have developed The Gift of Trees Patch Program. The program was launched on Saturday, October 22, 2011 with a dedication ceremony of a Centennial Tree Grove at Camp Brighton Woods in Brookeville, Maryland.
The Patch Program commemorates the gift of 3,020 cherry blossom trees from Tokyo to Washington, DC in 1912, the same year Juliette Gordon Low founded the Girl Scout movement in Savannah, Georgia. Activities to earn the patch focus on three key themes: international friendship, arts and culture and the environment.
The program aligns with the Festival’s dedication to Youth Education and Girl Scouting’s Three Keys to Leadership: Discover, Connect, and Take Action. By completing a set of required activities, including learning about Japanese culture and the people involved in bringing the trees to Washington, Girl Scouts of all levels are eligible to receive the special patch.
The Festival is proud to work with the Girl Scouts to help inspire the next generation who will learn about and enjoy the gift of trees and celebration of spring during the National Cherry Blossom Festival!
Contact Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital for more information.
