MADISON – This summer, Daisies and Brownies from across North Alabama earned patches, nurtured friendships and grew closer to adulthood in a positive way during the Girl Scout Day Camp at Huntsville Botanical Garden. The girls also enjoyed meeting a surprise guest.

“Huntsville Botanical Garden put on an amazing Girl Scout Day Camp for Daisies and Brownies of North Alabama,” volunteer spokesperson Beth Crocker of Madison said. “At this week-long camp in June, the girls earned several patches to show off what they learned.”

The grounds of the botanical garden offered the perfect setting for the girls to learn about the outdoors. “The girls earned the Bug Badge, Senses Badge, Outdoor Adventure Badge, Outdoor Art Badge and the Go-Eco patch,” Crocker said. “Girl Scouts feel very lucky to have such an amazing resource like Huntsville Botanical Garden, which is eager to help us with any event we need.”

Coincidentally, Sylvia Acevedo, who has been named CEO of Girl Scouts USA, was visiting Huntsville after accepting an invitation from Girls Scouts’ North Central Alabama Council to attend the Women of Distinction dinner. “Sylvia Acevedo resides in New York City near the headquarters of Girl Scouts. What you probably don’t know, Sylvia was a rocket scientist before she became our CEO,” Crocker said.

“What a treat! During her visit, Sylvia attended a luncheon at the botanical garden, which just happened to coincide with Girl Scout Day Camp. She dropped in for a meet-and-greet session with the girls,” Crocker said.

“What those little girls didn’t realize was this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to meet the national CEO in person,” Crocker said. “Most Girl Scouts will never get that lucky. I think I was way more excited than the girls, having been a Girl Scout myself.”

One of the benefits of serving as CEO is earning the opportunity to create her own CEO patch. “Sylvia did not disappoint and brought everyone a patch and told us all about it,” Crocker said.

Acevedo said her namesake patch “signifies that girls can achieve their dreams, because I did — thanks to Girl Scouts. I became an engineer and rocket scientist by training, thanks to Girl Scouts.”