Girl Scouts Use Girl Scout Cookie Boxes to Create National Park Designs

Girl Scouts working on their national park designs, which are made out of Girl Scout cookie boxes

Photo courtesy of Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas

Have you ever considered how Girl Scout cookie boxes could be used for something other than the cookies themselves? In March of this year, six teams from the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas in grades 6-12 partnered with local architects and engineers in Dallas Texas to compete in a design contest that transformed Girl Scout cookie boxes into National Park-themed structures.

The creations were on display at Galleria Dallas from March 1 through March 26, 2023. This allowed visitors to experience six different national park sites from across the United States right in their local community. The display aimed to highlight the historical accomplishments of Girl Scouting and the imagination of Girl Scout programming today.

This event is part of The Cookie Box Creations program, which is typically held each year and has a different theme from year to year. The program begins in the fall of the previous year for orientation and lasts through the building phase in March of the following year. It turns traditional learning into a hands-on learning experience for both the Girl Scouts and the adults alike.

A collage of images depicting different national park sites - from left to right: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Saguaro National Park, Saguaro National Park, Glacier National Park, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Glacier National Park

Photos courtesy of Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas

The parks featured were Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Saguaro National Park, and Mammoth Cave National Park.

The program helps girls develop new skills needed in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields and beyond. They get to apply their creativity, curiosity, critical thinking, and decision-making skills. These are transferrable skills that can be used in any career they decide to go into.

A panel of experts judged the works based on several criteria, including creativity in design, engineering difficulty, best use of color and materials, and adherence to the rules, regulations, and this year's theme, Discover America.

If Girl Scouts want to explore our national parks further, they can learn about the National Park Service Girl Scout Ranger Program. Girl Scouts are invited to participate in a variety of existing, organized educational or service projects at national park sites, or design their own experience or project to align with Journey work, badge activities, or a Take Action or Highest Award project. After five hours of service, they can receive a certificate, and after 10 hours of service, they can receive a patch.

Have a question about Youth or Young Adult Programs? Please e-mail us. Learn more about what we do. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.