Submitted by Jennifer Lemm Metro Denver Broomfield Troop 68214 is inviting all Girl Scouts and their special female adult to celebrate together. Come enjoy tea, hot chocolate, and other beverages, along with small treats while decorating your very own mug to take home. There are two dates to choose from, Saturday, May 2 or Saturday, May 9, 2020 from 2:30 – 4 p.m. at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church (parish hall), 1700 W 10th Ave, Broomfield, CO 80020. Cost is $12 per person and all attendees need to register. Troops attending together are responsible for maintaining safety-wise ratios. Space is limited, so register now: https://mother-daughter-tea-79644.cheddarup.com Questions? Contact Jen Lemm at owenlemm@gmail.com This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #GSCOevents #motherdaughterteaparty #Broomfield #MetroDenver #teaparty

Submitted by Kelly Davidson Northern & Northeastern CO Longmont On Saturday, at their last troop booth of the season, five Brownies from Troop 77904 in Longmont earned their “Uniform to Uniform” patch while hitting their final goals and helping their sister Girl Scouts. Boulder County Sheriff’s Deputy Jennifer Mendez visited the troop’s booth at Safeway in Longmont, where she spoke with the girls about her job and life as a female law enforcement officer. The girls listened and asked great questions. They also shared with Deputy Mendez what they learned from selling cookies this season – hard work, goal setting, gratitude, and above all, teamwork. After Brownie Nina M. came down with a bad cold and was unable to work her final booths to sell the last 25 packages she needed, two Brownies from her troop – Claudia K. and Maible M. – stepped up to sell on her behalf, helping Nina reach her goal of 1,000 packages. Having reached her goal, Ava J. also gave Nina a some cookie sales as well. Then, after reaching her final goal of selling 1,250 packages on Saturday, Maible continued to sell to help another Brownie in her troop. Anagrace L. was short 21 packages of hitting her goal of 525. She had been hoping to earn the Build-A-Bear Experience, but her family had to shift their focus from selling to helping her grandmother, who is recovering from surgery. Claudia also gave some of her cookie sales to help Anagrace hit her goal! With their help, Anagrace is going to Build-A-Bear! For Troop 77904, cookie season was a true team effort among the parents and the girls this season. The troop of 11 second graders finished the season with three girls selling more than 1,000 packages! This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #BoulderCounty #UniformtoUniformpatch #NorthernampNortheasternCO #2020GirlScoutCookieProgram #Longmont #2020UniformtoUniformPatch #UniformtoUniform #cookies #GirlScoutCookies #GirlScoutCookieProgram #BoulderCountySheriffsDepartment

Submitted by Ana Martin del Campo Metro Denver Thornton These two sisters finished selling Girl Scout Cookies this year with an empty table.  Even though they are in two different troops (Troops 62816 and 66802), they worked as a team and reached their goals together. They sold 3,000 packages! We are so proud of them. They have a go-getter attitude and wanted to each reach 1,500 packages, (3,000 together)! They did it by working a lot of booths, selling online, and asking friends and neighbors. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #2020GirlScoutCookieProgram #cookies #GirlScoutCookies #GirlScoutCookieProgram #Thornton #MetroDenver

What did you do for your Gold Award project? I read in The Gazette newspaper in March of 2019 that the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation had devastating flooding. They were in need of non-perishable food, so my sisters and I initially did a food drive in our immediate neighborhood and collected 1,200 pounds of food in two weeks for One Nation Walking Together to bring up to Pine Ridge in South Dakota. After doing that initial food drive in April of 2019, I really enjoyed helping the reservation so much that I decided to continue doing these worthwhile food drives. Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is one of the poorest communities in our country with over 33% of homes without water, electricity, and heat. I also found out from Kathy Turzi, the Executive Director of One Nation Walking Together, that young girls cannot even afford to buy feminine hygiene products, so they generally miss a week of school a month.  Missing school month after month, these girls become so behind that they eventually drop out. And, that was not okay with me at all. I was an orphan in China until I was adopted at age 11 and I virtually never went to school at all. I have only been here several years in America, but I cannot imagine not having the chance to go to school.  When I heard about this hygiene problem, I really wanted to help the girls stay in school and not drop out and give up. So, I concentrated on collecting non-perishable food and feminine hygiene products. I used a map of the City of Colorado Springs and did eight total food drives passing out flyers door-to-door to 300 houses at a time. I walked 126 miles in total and covered 2,400 houses! I also had my Girl Scout Troop 921 help pass out flyers on one food drive, did a four-week food drive with the downtown Rotary Club of Colorado Springs, and a three week food drive with the Rotary Interact Club at Palmer High School, and did a two week food drive with Habitat for Humanity and a food drive with the Palmer Alumni Association as well. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? As we picked up the food around town during each food drive, everything we gathered was weighed so that we knew just how much food and hygiene products were collected. I then took everything during one of my lunch periods at school and dropped off weekly at One Nation Walking Together so they could distribute everything. We are still getting donations, and my initial goal was to raise 4,000 pounds. So far, we have collected over 4,200 pounds total with 3,043 of food, 375 pounds of feminine hygiene products, and 844 pounds of furniture and clothing. Due to snow days, I am still working Habitat for Humanity’s food drive and the Palmer Alumni Association where I have been asked to be a guest speaker about this project and have a food drive as well, so I hope to reach over 4,500 pounds of food, or 300 more pounds. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? I received commitments to continue future food drives from my Girl Scout Troop 921, the downtown Rotary Club of Colorado Springs, and a retired firefighter I met on one of my food drives. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? My global connection is through the Rotary Club of Colorado Springs and the immense impact this group has on the world. Rotary is the largest community service based organization in the world and to have them interested in continuing food drives in the future is huge to me.  I am also proud to have my Girl Scout troop continue these food drives to help inspire the young girls to help others and perhaps do a Gold Award project like this one for themselves. What did you learn about yourself? I quickly learned that 300 houses for each food drive was a lot to manage, but as I did a food drive and collected more and more food and hygiene products and dropped everything off at One Nation, that they were so happy and grateful that it made me proud and wanting to do more and more drives. I started to get calls on furniture and clothing and my parents helped me pick up all sorts of things including donated heaters, tents, baby cribs, and sofas. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? I know that I can do anything. I was an orphan my whole life and lived in China, I knew that I was taken care of, but I never went to school until age 11 when I came to this country. I was also told I was just a girl and couldn’t do anything because I was a girl. Coming here to the U.S., I know from my family and through Girl Scouts that I CAN DO ANYTHING- that girls CAN do anything! I know now that something like this award is very, very hard work and determination and takes initiative and team work to pull it all together. I also know that I have a great family, Ms Aneida and Ms. Belinda my Girl Scout leaders, Ms. Turzi from One Nation; Ms. Caryn and Miss Samantha and Mr.Rodney with the COS Rotary Club; Ms. Michelle with the Palmer Alumni Association; Ms. Alvarez and Dr. Bach with the Palmer Interact Rotary Club; Mr. Jeff and Ms. Kris with Habitat; and Ms. Reddan my Girl Scout council mentor. I have a group of supporters that cheer me on and believe in me and my project. I feel that even though I walked 126 miles and 2,400 houses virtually by myself, I was able to do this project with the support of a whole bunch of people who supported and believed in me and what I was trying to accomplish. I am thankful they helped me so much. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? I am so proud and happy to have gotten my Gold Award. My mom got her Gold Award over 40 years ago, but she says it was called a First Class then and was a lot different. I am sad that this is my last year to be in my troop with Ms. Aneida and Ms. Belinda, sell Girl Scout Cookies, and everything, especially camping. I feel like doing this Gold Award is like graduating from high school, which I will do on May 20 from Palmer High School. It is a culmination of a big part of my life. I feel the Gold Award has prepared me to actively help others less fortunate than me and I hope I have had an impact on them and their futures, especially the girls and helping them not give up and stay in school on the reservation. How did earning your Gold Award help you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? I think I really was a “go-getter.” My mom had to explain these to me- I am still learning English, but I think that go-getter sounds most like me. I do not know any of these Native Americans at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, but I don’t need to know them to understand that they are desperate for help and assistance. My adopted mom says that I had three “moms” in my life. I had my birth mom, whom I never knew and left me at the orphanage at about 15 days old. I had my “second” mom, who raised me at the orphanage and where we just had enough to eat and survive with 60 kids there; and my mom and dad, who adopted me at age 11 and always say, “there’s always enough” whether she’s talking to me about what’s for dinner, whether I can compete in a tennis match, or ace a Chinese exam. I always have enough skill or mental focus or whatever I need. A go-getter is someone who does something not because they are told to, but despite how hard it is does it anyway, and tries to make a difference. I tried to make sure “there’s ‘enough'” for this reservation that clearly doesn’t have enough in their everyday lives. **IMPORTANT NOTE: This blog represents only a small fraction of the hard work, dedication, and requirements that go into earning a Girl Scout Gold Award. It is simply a brief summary, which is meant to inspire Girl Scouts to Go Gold in the future. For more information on earning your Gold Award, please email highestawards@gscolorado.org. #GoldAward #HighestAwards #RotaryClubofColoradoSprings #ColoradoSprings #GoldAwardGirlScout #WilliamJPalmerHighSchool #GirlScoutGoldAward #TakeAction #PikesPeak

As of March 16, 2020, this event has been canceled. All girls in grades 6-12 are invited to connect with professional women in a variety of career paths at Girl Scouts of Colorado’s first “Secrets to Success” event in Northern Colorado on Saturday, April 18, 2020 at Aims Community College. Girls will personally engage with top women leaders in a variety of career fields such as law, emergency response, animal care, theatre, and more. This event joins today’s leaders with the next generation, to share their expertise and provide inspiration for success. Financial assistance and travel stipends are available. Register now: https://gscolorado.formstack.com/forms/2020secrets_to_success_nc_04_18_2020 In preparation for this exciting event, we are thrilled to announce some of the amazing women whom girls will be engaging with, including Lisa Denke, P.E., Project Manager/Engineer. Lisa graduated from Wind River High School in Wyoming and attended the local community college, earning an Associate degree in Music. Lisa moved to Laramie where she studied music and engineering, graduating from the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. After graduation, she took several jobs where she was doing things that would be considered Mechanical Engineering, such as job cementing, acidizing, and fracking.  Later, jobs required other skills, such as chemistry, leading her to retake basic chemistry at Colorado State University. Lisa believes what you learn in school can be very relevant to what you do in your job and learning shouldn’t ever stop! Currently, Lisa works as an engineering consultant, and recently taught Oilfield Operations in Dubai, showing you never know where your talents will be needed! She also leads the hymns at her church and sings special music selections. She enjoys learning about the history of this area, including Germans from Russia. #GSCOevents #STEM #NorthernampNortheasternCO #Greeley #Communitypartnerships #SecretstoSuccess #2020SecretstoSuccessGreeley #SecretstoSuccessConversationStationLeaders #communitypartners #AimsCommunityCollege #SecretstoSuccessGreeley #2020SecretstoSuccess

Submitted by Maria Cross Northern & Northeastern CO Lyons Calling all Girl Scouts! Join Ambassador Troop 78527 for a fantastic night playing laser tag, enjoying games, making crafts, and eating pizza! When: Saturday, April 18, 2020 Time: 11:20 p.m. until 6 a.m. Cost: $39 per girl, $8 per adult Where: Laser Quest- Denver 8988 E. Hampden Ave. To register: https://girl-scout-laser-tag-lockin.cheddarup.com You must register by April 6 to get a patch. Girls must be accompanied by enough adult chaperones to meet girl scout safety-wise ratios. Questions? Email cross.maria.e@gmail.com 40963104_laser_tag_lock_in_flyer This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #Lyons #NorthernampNortheasternCO

Submitted by Jamie Krewson Pikes Peak Colorado Springs Danicka, a second year Daisy, had big goals for this season. She wanted to sell 1,000 packages. After falling sick the second to last weekend, she wasn’t sure she would make it. But, her troop rallied together and found more booth shifts. The final weekend, she worked booths for nine-hours and even earned her “Booth Excellence” patch. Her last sale on Sunday was to a local firefighter outside of a Safeway. What she learned this season, “Always reach for your goals, they may seem impossible, but they are only impossible if you don’t try.” Danicka is a real go-getter. She set a goal and worked for it. She didn’t let a small setback stop her. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #ColoradoSprings #2020GirlScoutCookieProgram #cookies #GirlScoutCookies #GirlScoutCookieProgram #PikesPeak

This event is cancelled as of March 13, 2020. Girl Scout Brownies and Juniors are invited to try activities inspired by Girl Scouts’ brand new Outdoor High-Adventure badges and meet professional rock climber Margo Hayes! When: Sunday, April 5, 2020 1 – 4 p.m. Who: Brownies & Juniors Cost: FREE – limited capacity Where: Estes Park Mountain Shop Estes Park Register online: https://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/events-repository/2020/high_adventure_badge.html Registration will close when capacity is met OR on April 1. Girls will walk away inspired to earn one of the new Snow, Climbing Adventure, or Trail Adventure badges! They’ll rotate through hands-on and age-appropriate activity stations that will spark curiosity and challenge girls to push their boundaries. Run Climbing Hike Leave No Trace Visit from Margo Hayes! In 2016, she won both the Bouldering and Lead Climbing events at the World Youth Championships. This is not a drop off event. All Girl Scouts must attend with a parent, troop leader, or guardian. All attendees must have a current Girl Scout membership. Girls attending without their parent must be with an approved volunteer. All Girl Scouts attending will be required to submit a GSUSA/The North Face waiver and a waiver for Estes Park Mountain Shop. Both waivers will be emailed directly to participants before event in a reminder email. Troop leaders – make sure to collect signed waivers for each girl! Questions? Email aimee.artzer@gscolorado.org. 40963104_gsco_tnf_estes_park_4.5.2020

This event has been canceled as of March 13, 2020. Join GSCO for Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame patch workshops on Saturday, April 4, 2020 in Grand Junction! Girl Scouts of all ages are invited to special workshops at the GSCO service center to earn their Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame patch! Supporters of the COWHF will lead girls through activities adapted from the online instructions and girls will receive their patch at the workshop. Girl Scout Daisies and Brownies are invited to a morning workshop from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Girl Scout Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors are invited to an afternoon workshop from 1 – 3 p.m. Register online: https://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/events-repository/2020/colorado_women_s_hal.html This is not a drop-off event. All Girl Scouts must attend with a troop leader, parent, or guardian. Registration will close when the workshops have met capacity OR on Wednesday, April 1. This patch program launched in 2019 to provide girls across the state an opportunity to learn the stories of women who have shaped our state and the nation’s history with courage, leadership, intelligence, and creativity. Questions? Email aimee.artzer@gscolorado.org 40963104_gsco_cwhf_4.4.2020_patch_workshop #ColoradoWomensHallofFame #GSCOevents #ColoradoWomensHallofFamepatch #GrandJunction #Communitypartnerships #communitypartners #WesternColorado

. Submitted by Lenore W. Pikes Peak Colorado Springs Our troop is unique! We always have girls moving, coming, and going with our military lifestyles. Our troop can fluctuate from five girls to 35 in the blink of an eye. Very few of us have been in the troop from Daisy to the Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador levels. I am one though. I have made friends with girls in my Daisy year who have moved and I still consider them my “sisters.”  We help each other and we work together always. Girl Scouts of Colorado is proud of our commitment to military families. In honor of the Month of the Military Child in April, we are excited to announce The Carla Montana – Distinguished Military Veteran – Memorial Girl Scout Adventure Fund honoring its namesake, Girl Scouts, military service, and adventures through travel. Learn more here. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #AirForceAcademy #ColoradoSprings #2020GirlScoutCookieProgram #cookies #GirlScoutCookies #GirlScoutCookieProgram #2020MonthoftheMilitaryChild #UnitedStatsAirForceAcademy #USAFA #MonthoftheMilitaryChild #PikesPeak #military

Submitted by Jennifer Jurgens Western Colorado At a council booth in front of one of our local grocery stores, we saw a police car pull up next to us and out come two officers, walking casually. Georgie (first year Brownie) asked if they would like some cookies and to take a picture with her. One officer replied “we gotta go help someone, but then we’ll be back.” Time goes by.  More and more police cars come. At one point, there were five police cars! Then, an ambulance! One man was walked out and they helped him into the ambulance. I told Georgie that they may not be able to come back and the way things were looking she said she understood. More time goes by. Some officers leave. Well, about an hour and a half later the last three officers bring another man out in handcuffs, They pause to tell her they hadn’t forgotten their promise and would be back after putting this guy in the back of the car. Sure enough, five minutes later one officer came back and said, “A promise is a promise!” He took a picture with her and got a package of Samoas. These Girl Scouts also earned the Uniform to Uniform patch! Learn how to earn yours: http://gscoblog.org/2020/01/uniform-to-uniform-patch-for-the-2020-girl-scout-cookie-program/ #UniformtoUniformpatch #2020GirlScoutCookieProgram #2020UniformtoUniformPatch #UniformtoUniform #cookies #GirlScoutCookies #GirlScoutCookieProgram #WesternColorado

Submitted by Jennifer Vaughn Pikes Peak Colorado Springs While working a booth, we helped a soldier find his favorite cookies. We are sisters selling cookies on Ft. Carson and love helping soldiers. These Girl Scouts also earned the Uniform to Uniform patch! Learn how to earn yours: http://gscoblog.org/2020/01/uniform-to-uniform-patch-for-the-2020-girl-scout-cookie-program/ #UniformtoUniformpatch #ColoradoSprings #2020GirlScoutCookieProgram #2020UniformtoUniformPatch #UniformtoUniform #cookies #GirlScoutCookies #GirlScoutCookieProgram #Monument #PikesPeak