Changes in Girl Scout Bronze, Girl Scout Silver, and Girl Scout Gold Awards

1809-2009

It’s the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth this year! Many will celebrate across the country, but none like the celebrations planned for Illinois. Home to many events that changed the course of history, cities throughout the state will plan events to commemorate this historic time in our history. Watch for local events in your area, or travel to surrounding areas to see history come alive! As you’re planning your field trips or end of the year events, check out Springfield, IL. This city witnessed Lincoln's marriage to Mary Todd, the birth of four sons, and to the highest office in the land. Lincoln called Springfield home for over 30 years, and it will have the same spirit of celebration as the day he departed for Washington, D.C. To learn more about the upcoming celebrations, events, and plans to honor the legacy, check out www.lincolnbicentennial.gov  or go to www.visit-springfieldillinois.com  You can request a visitor’s guide from the city of Springfield which lists maps of the city, sites and attractions, restaurants, as well as other important information to plan your trip. Don’t forget to take your IP or Girl Scout Junior Badge Book as you complete requirements for various badges/IP’s during your visit. Did you know Lincoln was the first president to be photographed at his inauguration? John Wilkes Booth (his assassin) can be seen in the image.

• View an original copy of the Gettysburg Address penned in his writing.

• The Mason-Dixon line, traditional boundary between the North and the South, is less than 5 miles south from the state capital.

• Visit the home the family lived in prior to entering the White House.

• Visit the Lincoln-Herndon Law offices where he practiced law.

• See the Air Combat Museum

• Tour the splendid Dana-Thomas House, one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most elaborate Prairie style homes.

• Take a stroll down Main Street of America and enjoy a delicious corn dog at the place where they were invented on nostalgic Route 66.

• There are over 30 outdoor exhibits that depict the Lincoln family’s life and visitors are encouraged to take rubbings of the medallions that symbolize each story.

If you’ve had enough of Lincoln, there are numerous sporting events, outdoor areas and plenty to do in Springfield.

The International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) will be a global celebration of astronomy and its contributions to society and culture, highlighted by the 400th anniversary of the first use of an astronomical telescope by Galileo Galilei. To celebrate this monumental anniversary, Girl Scouts are invited to check out our council telescopes and have a Galileo party, use the binoculars in the Bird Watching kit to crater gaze, and stay tuned to the Notes to Leaders and the website for upcoming programs that highlight astronomy in Girl Scouting! To help plan your stargazing, consult these websites!!

• http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/index.html  NASA’s photo database - great to print out and share with your girls, or just bring them to a PC near you. Look at Jupiter in the sky this month and then see a photo of what you are looking at!

• http://www.spaceweather.com/flybys/  Will give you the names and times of satellite flyovers.

• http://www.skymaps.com/downloads.html  You can print out a map to help girls identify the stars above their heads.

• http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/vphase.html  Helps you figure out when the moon is rising, and what it will look like. (The best star gazing nights are ones with little to no moon, but if you are using the binoculars, you will want a moon phase that is ¾ or less)

• http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/en/kids/girlscouts/index.shtml  has activities to help earn Space themed Girl Scout Junior badges and Girl Scout Cadette, Senior and Ambassador IPs.