GSCB Receives "Moon Tree" for Camp Todd
Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay (GSCB) is excited to announce they are the recipient of a "Moon Tree" from the Artemis I space mission. After careful review of hundreds of applications, NASA selects organizations from across the country to receive ‘Moon Tree’ seedlings that flew around the Moon on the agency’s Artemis I mission in 2022, to plant in their communities.
The Artemis I Moon Trees, rooted in the legacy of the original Moon Trees flown by NASA astronaut Stuart Roosa during Apollo 14, journeyed 270,000 miles from Earth aboard the Orion spacecraft. A diverse array of tree species, including sycamores, sweetgums, Douglas firs, loblolly pines, and giant sequoias, were flown around the surface of the Moon. After the flight, Moon Trees were grown in eight United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service facilities, including the six nurseries that are part of the National Nursery System, two research facilities, and one state nursery. The seedling that Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay has received was grown at the Coeur d’Alene Nursery in Idaho.
GSCB is a proud steward of an Artemis I loblolly pine tree and has selected Camp Todd in Denton, Maryland as it's home. The tree was planted on Thursday, November 14th by the GSCB Properties team. A formal ribbon cutting and tree-naming ceremony will take place in the spring with the support of Girl Scouts from Delaware and the eastern shores of Maryland and Virginia. GSCB staff are in the process of creating special programming for Girl Scouts to complete when visiting the Moon Tree, supporting NASA's initiative to "maximize educational opportunities around the life and growth of the [trees]".
To learn more about Moon Tree Programming, visit our Moon Tree webpage for updates.
The Moon Tree will be available to visit by Girl Scouts and the public. However, visiting GSCB's Camp Todd property does require a reservation. Options include an overnight stay, day use with building access, or a day pass with no building access. Visit Reserve Camp Todd or contact MemberCare@cbgsc.org to learn more.
