Celebrating Laura McKie: 2026 National Treasure

Each year, Girl Scouts Nation's Capital (GSCNC) presents a lifetime member with the title of "National Treasure"—an individual who has made a long-lasting impact on the organization and lives on the values of Girl Scouting.

This year, we chose to honor Laura McKie, a Girl Scout, cultural anthropologist, and women’s rights advocate!

Growing up with a father in the military, Laura’s surroundings were always changing. Girl Scouts, however, provided her with consistency and community no matter where she moved.

Laura has been active in Girl Scouting since she was eight years old! From earning badges and attending camp, to serving as a camp counselor and co-leader of her daughter’s troop, Laura’s extensive involvement in Girl Scouts has made a positive impact on both the organization and the people she met along the way.

Looking back on her time in Girl Scouting, Laura shared one of her most memorable experiences with us:

“In the summer of 1954 I, along with six other Scouts from around the United States was selected to attend an encampment of French Girl Guides in the Maritime Alps near Cannes. All expenses for the five-week trip were provided by the Girl Scout US Council. Traveling with one chaperone, we started our journey at Camp Edith Macy outside New York City. We traveled third class on the famous passenger ship the SS United States. We disembarked in South Hampton, England and were met by a crowd of English Girl Guides and Brown Owls. We spent a few days in London sightseeing. A memorable moment was meeting Lady Baden Powell at her ‘grace and favor’ apartment at Hampton Court Palace.

We took the boat/train to Paris (no Chunnel in those days) and then on south by rail to Cannes. We spent two weeks on the top of a beautiful mountain overlooking the Mediterranean. We participated in all the activities at camp and took day trips to surrounding towns and beaches. It was the experience of a lifetime for a girl raised in the middle of the US who had never seen the ocean nor traveled abroad. After leaving camp we traveled in the region for another few days visiting Nice, Monaco, Avignon and Marseilles, sleeping on the floor of schools and churches. The trip concluded with 5 days in Paris. Again, our group visited many of the familiar tourist attractions of that famous city. The return trip, again on the United States, departed from the port of Le Havre.”

Apart from Girl Scouts, Laura also made a positive impact through her work at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History for 23 years, until she retired as the Director of Education in 2002. In her “retirement,” Laura has been an almost full-time volunteer as the Lucy Burns Museum’s director, serving as curator, project and collections manager since 2009.

The museum tells the story of the Women’s Suffrage Movement, a decades long fight by women for their legal right to vote. Laura worked for years to uncover and collect artifacts that told the suffragists’ powerful story to ensure they would always be remembered for their strength and bravery. Laura’s commitment to collecting artifacts and securing funding led to the Lucy Burns Museum coming to life and opening its doors in 2020.

The Women’s History Month committee of the Fairfax County Commission for Women selected Laura to be honored with a special proclamation by the Board of Supervisors on March 10, 2020, saying “We are honoring you for your years of devoted work on the suffrage museum and making the Lucy Burns Museum a reality. We cannot think of a worthier person to honor during the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment.”

Laura’s attributes much of her professional success to her time in Girl Scouts, stating:

“Scouting has been incredibly important to me. The leadership skills I developed in high school have lasted me a lifetime. The opportunities for travel in the US and abroad were enriching and encouraged my choice of major in college. I owe my successful career as a museum educator in part to my teen experiences.”

We are honored to present Laura Mckie with the title of “National Treasure," and share her story of lifelong courage, confidence, and character.