The Smithsonian American Art Museum offers Girl Scout patch programs for Scouts of all ages.
Girl Scout programs are led in the galleries by docents and last 45-60 minutes. Programs are available free of charge, and reservations are accepted based on docent availability. All programs can either be in person or offered virtually unless otherwise noted.
Scouts who complete a museum program will receive a Smithsonian American Art Museum patch.
To schedule a program or to learn more, e-mail AmericanArtMuseumTours@si.edu
Jeweler Patch
This museum visit, with completion of recommended activities, fulfills two requirements.
Before museum visit, Scouts will:
- Review a list of related artworks to be included in Scout program
- Review the museum’s guidelines and policies to learn about appropriate etiquette.
- Watch a video of jewelry artist Joyce Scott discussing her craft
- Optional—Bring sketch books and pencils (no pens allowed in the museum) for the program
- Agree to actively participate in a 45-to-60-minute tour
At the museum visit, the docent will introduce Scouts to artist-made jewelry and miniatures in open storage in the Luce Foundation Center for American Art, as well as artworks that include depictions of jewelry. Skills and materials, meanings, symbolism, and influences will be discussed. Scouts will sketch jewelry.
Recommended Post-Visit Activities:
Scouts create their own jewelry, keeping in mind what they learned on their tour and/or investigate individual birthstones. Search online for "jewelry making video" instructions.
Art and Design Badge
This museum visit, with completion of recommended activities, can help you fulfill all badge requirements.
Before museum visit, Scouts will:
- View and discuss an online video about appropriate museum etiquette
- Optional—Bring a pencil (no pens allowed in the museum)
- Agree to actively participate in a 45- to 60-minute tour
At the museum visit, the docent will take the scouts on a tour of the third floor of the museum, where they will complete a museum-provided worksheet and practice close looking skills on an artwork that inspires them
Recommended Post-Visit Activities:
Scouts use their sketches/photographs of artworks and notes from their tour as inspiration to create their own work of art and share their creations with each other.
STEM Career Exploration Badge
This museum visit, with completion of recommended activities, fulfills all badge requirements.
Before museum visit, Scouts will:
- Watch videos on museum conservation
- Agree to actively participate in a 45- to 60-minute docent tour
At the museum visit, the docent will lead a tour that focuses on artworks with an art conservation story. The tour will end at the Lunder Conservation Center where scouts will learn about the center, careers in art conservation, and how art conservation connects to STEM.
Recommended Post-Visit Activities:
- Explore the Lunder Conservation Center webpage and learn about six types of conservation that are conducted at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. You can view additional SAAM conservation videos here.
- Research the experience and education needed for a career in art conservation. Discuss why it is important to preserve art for future generations.
- Complete a museum conservation-related activity (examples may include removing or adding paint/ varnish, putting together broken objects, etc).