Edith Macy Conference Center

The Edith Macy Conference Center complex is the site of skill enhancement courses for Girl Scout volunteers and staff. Courses provide many benefits for both local Girl Scout councils and individuals. Participants learn basic job-training skills or further their professional development at high-level management programs. Macy has state-of-the-art equipment in its computer lab, utilizes the services and expertise of professionally trained facilitators, and is a downlink site for teleconferencing events.

Edith Macy Lamp of Knowledge

“The Lamp of Learning” symbol is not unique to Macy. While planning for the International Conference of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting at the opening of Camp Edith Macy, it was decided to have a camp pin. The idea for the pin came from the screen of the movie theater which always projected a lamp of knowledge to announce the feature presentation.

When Dean Sarah Louise Arnold, president of the Girl Scouts in 1926, presented the pin at the conference she said, “The pin is a symbol of this place — the Lamp of Knowledge which stands for light and truth — the light that is a lamp to our path and teaches us to follow the true way, the truth that makes us free, the knowledge that our hearts hunger for.”

The small brass pin is given to all participants during their first Macy experience. Thus Macy alumni know that when they see another person wearing the familiar lamp, they have shared a special experience.

The Macy pin has changed little in the 60 years of its existence. The first one was about two inches long, and was inscribed with the initials CEM for Camp Edith Macy. This later became MACY.  In 1951, it was silver in observance of Macy’s 25th birthday.  In 1976 it was gold for the 50th birthday. In 2001 a commemorative 75th pin with an elegant diamond stone was given to all Macy participants, and in 2006 a green stone was added to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Girl Scouting.

Visit the Edith Macy Conference Center Website for more information about this facility.

Courses at Edith Macy

For details about Edith Macy courses and how to apply for them, download the following PDFs:

• 2006-2007 Professional Development Courses at Edith Macy Conference Center (PDF, 177KB)

• 2006-2007 Professional Development Course Descriptions
  (PDF, 205KB)

• Professional Development forms (PDF, 232KB)

To register for an Edith Macy course, contact your local Girl Scout council at least 10 weeks prior to the course start date.