Submitted Photo Girl Scouts of Western New York staff member Laurie Marucci (left) and Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation grants committee member Ann Eckman are seen with the donation check of $5,000 to the GSWNY from NCCF.

The Northern Chaut-auqua Community Found-ation has awarded $5,000 to Girl Scouts of Western New York in support of Art in the Outdoors, a new Girl Scout program for girls ages 5-17 in afterschool and summer programs in Northern Chautauqua County.

The new Girl Scout badge program provides a unique combination of art-related experiences in the natural world. The program features fun, hands-on, developmentally appropriate activities. Younger girls participate in activities such as nature photography and building houses for bats, birds, and owls.

Older girls can create artwork with natural materials and make projects that can impact the community such as creating play spaces for young children.

Art in the Outdoors will run in conjunction with after-school programs at the following locations: Dunkirk Schools 3, 4, 5; Dunkirk Middle School; Brocton; and Westfield YWCA. Summer sites include Dunkirk High School and Dunkirk Boys & Girls Club. Girl Scouts of Western New York works with community partners to offer Girl Scout programs, and anticipates that 100 girls will participate from December 2016 to August 2017.

To learn more about Girl Scouts of Western New York or to become a member or volunteer, visit gswny.org.