April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month!
Without YOU, there is no US. So, thank YOU! Volunteers like you make all the difference in the quality of a girl’s experience and the amazing things she learns she is capable of accomplishing.
During Volunteer Appreciation Month — and every day — we thank you for all the AMAZING work you do! Because the work you do with girls is not just for a better today but also ensures the best tomorrow, Girl Scouts of Colorado has made a donation to the Restoring Colorado’s Forest Fund in YOUR HONOR. Our partnership with the Colorado State Forest Service is a perfect fit. The gift of seedling trees to be planted in areas impacted by wildfires and other natural disasters will make a difference for generations to come.
Together, we are preparing girls to lead, and we will see them make a difference in their world. This gift too will continue to grow and make an impact on our future. Watch to learn more about the impact of the gift made in your honor.
Join us June 16 to celebrate World Environment Day
We will continue the celebration into the summer with a new event focused on our environment, hosted by the Girl Scouts of Colorado Global Action Committee. Girl Scouts, families, and friends are invited to celebrate World Environment Day at Meadow Mountain Ranch. This is also a wonderful way to celebrate Father’s Day, as the whole family is invited to attend.
Girls will have the opportunity to participate in several activities across the camp property throughout the day. The event is open-house style and you’re welcome to come for the whole event, or part of it, and participate in whichever activities interest you.
Celebrating your dedication
Throughout April, Girl Scout lifetime membership will be available at a special 50% discount—— from $400 down to $200—— for volunteers who have served for ten years or more.
Lifetime membership is an investment that ensures girls have a place to reach their full potential and grow into the courageous leaders we need—— now and always. When you upgrade to lifetime membership through MYGS in April, you can expect:
Continuous membership in Girl Scouts
$25 of your dues to fund one year of Girl Scout membership for an underserved girl in Colorado
A lifetime membership card and pin
10% off Girl Scout merchandise purchased from girlscoutshop.com
An invitation to join an annual call hosted by GSUSA’s CEO
A monthly enewsletter
Thank you for your years of service and all you’ve done to help create the next generation of female leaders. We couldn’t do it without you!
Be a Super Early Bird
Now’s the time to talk with your girls about their next steps in Girl Scouts! Get them excited about what’s to come. Progression is a huge part of The Girl Scout Leadership Experience.
Be a Super Early Bird! Renew your troop between April 29 and May 1 for the 2019-20 membership year for a chance to win fantastic prizes. Families can win a Colorado family staycation and troops can win Girl Scouts of Colorado event passes! Renew your troop or family by logging into MyGS. Register by May 1 for a chance at these great incentives!
All girls renewed by June 26 will receive the Early Bird patch. Troops with at least two Troop Leadership Team members and three girls renewed and an Annual Troop Report submitted by June 26 are eligible to earn a $25 shop credit.
Your voice matters
You should have received a link to a Your Voices Count survey from GSUSA this month. We care about your experiences (good or bad). Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and help us make Girl Scouts the best it can be!
Cookie program rewards are coming
Cookie rewards will begin shipping to SUCMs on April 22. The last day to report any missing or damaged rewards to council is May 6 at 5 p.m. Cookie Credits will be mailed directly to girls starting today.
The shipping time frame for the S’mores Club rewards is still being determined and will be announced as soon as possible.
Volunteer Training
May 4, Longmont
Troop leaders and parents are invited to learn how to enhance Girl Scout’s global experience with activities relating to global related awards and an introduction to other global programs for girls at every grade level.
Cooking and Camping
If your troop plans include camping outdoors and/or cooking outdoors, you’ll need to take the Cooking and Camping class. The class is taught in-person at outdoor settings around the state. Check our events calendar for classes in April, May, and June. For questions about in-person volunteer learning opportunities, please contact Brandi Martinez, Training Manager, at (303) 607-4856, or email at Brandi.Martinez@gscolorado.org.
In July, GSCO will have a new, interactive online learning site which will host a variety of required and enrichment training. In the meantime, Nuts and Bolts, Overnight Trips and Extended Trips are on our interim eLearning site. Each class page also has links to forms and additional resources. All classes are mobile-friendly and are an hour or less in length. Volunteers can access the site by going to the Volunteer page -Training and Online Support, and clicking on “ Visit Our eLearning Site.” Volunteers will receive credit for taking the class by completing a survey on the class page.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Shannon Weaver, Adult Experience Manager, at 303.607.4897 or email her at Shannon.Weaver@gscolorado.org
Outdoor Trainings
Check out the event calendar for our upcoming outdoor trainings, including: Small Craft Safety certification – Kayak and Canoe, May 18 at Bear Creek Lake Park and Archery Level 1 Certification, May 11 at Twisted Pine Lodge.
Congratulations to Emily Kretschmer, who was awarded the Stephanie A. Foote Leadership Prize for Gold Award Excellence!
For her Gold Award project, Emily addressed a lack of resources to support families of first responders. She created a documentary in partnership with the nonprofit Status: Code 4. Her documentary raises awareness of the hardships families of first responders can face and to start meaningful conversations between first responder families. She also created a comprehensive curriculum to help families address these issues with each other and start having open, honest conversations about the difficulties they face.
The Stephanie A. Foote Leadership Prize selection committee also chose Honorable Mentions:
Madeline Ford, who created a five-session, volunteer-run literacy program to promote a positive reading environment for children.
Maya Hegde, who addressed the stigmatization girls in some countries experience during their periods and taught girls to make, clean, and use reusable sanitary pads with materials they already had available.
Keaton Maring, who built a life jacket loaner station at Standley Lake. Along with the station, she created an educational sign and a sustainable loaning program for the life jackets to provide more people with lifesaving equipment.
Congratulations to Mykaela Ryan, who was awarded the Debbie Haskins Spirit of Girl Scouting Award!
Mykaela Ryan was awarded the Debbie Haskins Spirit of Girl Scouting Award. She drew on her personal experiences to create a video and educational presentation to inform high school students about how to interact with someone who stutters. Mykaela demonstrated bravery and pride by presenting her project directly to students at her own school, and beyond, to raise awareness and stop bullying. This award is given in memory of Girl Scout Gold Award Mentor Debbie Haskins, who had a passion for working with older Girl Scouts.
Highest Award Ceremonies
If your troop earned a highest award this year and wants to attend a celebration you must RSVP for the celebration through the GSCO Events webpage. The event registrations will be available in mid-March and all troop leaders with highest awards girls will receive an email reminder.
Register early as events may reach capacity and close before the posted RSVP deadline.
Questions? Contact Highest Awards Manager, Kaitie LoDolce at highestawards@gscolorado.org.
April 26 – Pueblo Highest Awards Ceremony at the Center for American Values, 6 p.m.
April 28 – Northern Highest Awards Ceremony at the Embassy Suites Loveland, 2 p.m.
May 3 – Pikes Peak Highest Awards Ceremony at the Penrose House, 6 p.m.
May 5 – Metro Denver Highest Awards Ceremony at the DTC Marriott, 2 p.m.
May 9 – Mountain Communities Highest Awards Ceremony at the Silverthorne Pavilion, 6 p.m.
May 19 – Western Slope Highest Awards Ceremony at Colorado Mesa University, 2 p.m.
Register for camp today
There are still sessions with available spots for GSCO summer camp! Early Bird Pricing ends April 30, so don’t delay!
Upcoming Events
April 27 and 28
Girl Scout Daisies will tour 10 activity stations and complete fun gardening-themed activities to meet Journey requirements.
May 4, Cañon City
Celebrate national bridging week! Join Girl Scouts from across Colorado at our special statewide bridging ceremony on the Royal Gorge Bridge – the highest suspension bridge in the United States! We are organizing an official crossing of the bridge at 11 a.m. and will host a reception after. Can’t go to the bridging ceremony at the Royal Gorge? Here are some ideas to celebrate bridging with troop or service unit.
May 4 and 5, CommonGround Golf Course, Aurora
Learn the basics of golf and earn the Brownie Fair Play badge or Junior Practice with Purpose badge. Daisies will have a workshop geared specifically to their age group. Space is limited to 20 girls per session.
June 16, Meadow Mountain Ranch, Allenspark
In partnership with the Colorado State Forest Service, Girl Scouts of Colorado is excited to offer members a way to focus on and celebrate the environment. Girl Scouts of all ages, families, and friends invited to this free, exciting event. This event is hosted by the GSCO Global Action Committee.
June 20, Federal Heights
Girl Scouts of all ages are invited to Water World to celebrate the World’s Largest Swim Lesson! Swim lesson 8 –10 a.m., park opens to all at 10 a.m.
July 15-18, Meadow Mountain Ranch, Allenspark
Women 18 years of age or older are welcome at Women’s Week. You don’t have to be a current or past Girl Scout, you just have to want to come and play in the outdoors with other like-minded friends. Some of the best experiences were had by a few women who had never been to camp before. Mom and daughter and granddaughter groups have had great family experiences and come back every year to be sure they don’t forget what it’s all about.
August 4, Coors Field, Denver
All Girl Scouts, family, and friends are invited. Cheer on the Rockies as they take on the San Francisco Giants. All Girl Scouts attending are invited to participate in pre-game parade and will receive a special event patch.