STOCKBRIDGE, MASS.- In 1977, Norman Rockwell was approached by the Franklin Mint to create a dozen designs for medallions depicting the ideals of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America on the occasion of the organization’s 65th anniversary. The artist, a long-time supporter of Scouting, created engaging scenes illustrating such tenets of the Girl Scout Law as “respectful,” “resourceful,” “be prepared,” and “on my honor.” On Saturday, September 22, Norman Rockwell Museum will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts with a special centennial celebration to be held at the Museum from 1 to 4 p.m. Discover Rockwell’s ties to the Girl Scouts with gallery tours of a special exhibition of related works, at 1 and 3 p.m. At 2 p.m., meet Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low as portrayed by actress Kate Carney; learn about the woman who challenged girls to find their talents, and then discovered her own. Other activities include outdoor watercolor painting sessions throughout the day, and a demonstration of basic horse grooming with a live horse on Museum grounds, courtesy of Ken Whelihan of the Berkshire Equestrian Center. Admission to the Girl Scout Festival is $5 per Scout or Scout leader in uniform, or with an active Girl Scouts membership card; or free with regular Museum admission. For more information about the program and National Leadership Journey opportunities, please contact the Museum at 413.931.2221.

An American institution, The Girl Scouts of The United States of America was founded in March 12, 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low. In Girl Scouts, girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together. Through a myriad of enriching experiences, such as extraordinary field trips, sports skill-building clinics, community service projects, cultural exchanges, and environmental stewardships, girls grow courageous and strong. Girl Scouting helps girls develop their full individual potential; relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect; develop values to guide their actions and provide the foundation for sound decision-making; and contribute to the improvement of society through their abilities, leadership skills, and cooperation with others. Today, there are 3.2 million Girl Scouts—2.3 million girl members and 890,000 adult members working primarily as volunteers. Learn more at: http://www.girlscouts.org

To learn more about Scout guided visits and workshops held year-round at Norman Rockwell Museum, visit http://www.nrm.org/visit/scouts

Norman Rockwell Museum is the preeminent museum of American illustration art. Dedicated to art education and art appreciation inspired by the enduring legacy of Norman Rockwell, the Museum stewards the world’s largest and most significant collection of Rockwell art, and presents the works of contemporary and past masters of illustration. The Museum’s holdings include Rockwell's last studio, moved from its original location to the Museum grounds, and the Norman Rockwell Archives, a 200,000-object collection undergoing digital preservation through ProjectNORMAN, “A Save America’s Treasures Project.” The Museum is also home to the Rockwell Center for American Visual Studies, the nation’s first research institute devoted to the art of illustration. In 2008, Norman Rockwell Museum became the first-ever museum recipient of the National Humanities Medal, America’s highest honor in the field.