Submitted by Jordan Cadena Metro Denver Thornton Come all Girl Scouts and their friends and families to Donuts with Grown-Ups! When: October 12, 2019 10 a.m. – Noon Where: Adams County Fair Grounds Waymire Dome 9755 Henderson Rd., Brighton, CO 80601 Cost: $8 per person(includes a fun patch) Tickets must be purchased by September 28 via https://the-woods-service-unit-646.cheddarup.com This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #GSCOevents #MetroDenver #Thornton

Choose your next adventure and earn one of 42 NEW badges! New programming released by Girl Scouts of the USA on July 16, 2019 enhances existing girl-led activities and offers girls everything from high adventure in the outdoors to learning how to use code to solve problems. Among the 42 new offerings are Outdoor High Adventure badges which feature, for the first time in Girl Scouts’ history, two distinct activity options, letting girls choose how they want to earn each badge. In addition to existing badge offerings, girls in grades 6–12 can now pursue: Nine Cybersecurity badges, through which girls learn about the inner workings of computer technology and cybersecurity and apply concepts of safety and protection to the technology they use every day. Activities range from decrypting and encrypting messages, to learning proper protection methods for devices, to exploring real-world hacking scenarios (funded by Palo Alto Networks). Three Space Science badges, through which girls explore topics such as the universe and their place in it, properties of light, and inspiring careers in space science (funded by NASA’s Science Mission Directorate and led by the SETI Institute). Think Like a Citizen Scientist, a Girl Scout Leadership Journey during which girls participate in interactive activities to practice observation techniques; collect data; and share their findings with real-world scientists through an online network. As with all of Girl Scouts’ Leadership Journeys, girls use their newly honed skills to take action on a community issue of their choosing (funded by Johnson & Johnson and The Coca-Cola Foundation). To prepare girls in grades 6–12 to pursue computer science careers, Girl Scouts will launch the organization’s first Cyber Challenge on October 19 at sites nationwide, including Arapahoe Community College in Littleton. This program aims to prepare girls to pursue computer science careers in fields such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, robotics, and data science. Girls will test their cybersecurity skills, team up with other girls, and meet with cybersecurity professionals! The new programming for girls in grades K–12 includes: 12 Outdoor High Adventure badges, designed for girls to explore nature and experience exciting outdoor adventures like backpacking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, rock climbing, and tree climbing—giving them the confidence to support one another, take healthy risks, and spend dedicated time in nature. These are the first Girl Scout badges that members can earn by choosing one of two self-directed paths (funded by The North Face). 18 Coding for Good badges, which not only teach girls the basics of coding but also detail how every stage of the coding process provides girls with opportunities to use their skills for good. Girls will learn about algorithms through age-appropriate, creative activities, such as coding positive memes to spread a message about a cause they care about, designing a digital game to educate people about an issue, and developing an app to promote healthy habits. Every Coding for Good badge includes a plugged-in and unplugged version, so that all girls can learn the foundations of coding, regardless of their access to technology (funded by AT&T and Dell Technologies). “Girl Scouts has ignited the power and potential of girls for over a century, and we are committed to ensuring that today’s girls are the future of American leadership,” said GSUSA CEO Sylvia Acevedo. “Girl Scouts is where girls can explore new subjects, discover their passions, learn to take smart risks, and become their best, most confident selves—whether they want to become a NASA astronaut, an entrepreneur, a mountain climber, a coder, or a cybersecurity agent.” GSUSA works with top organizations in fields that interest today’s girls. Combined with Girl Scouts’ expertise in girl leadership, these organizations and specialists advise and weigh in on content to provide the most cutting-edge programming available to girls. Content collaborators include codeSpark, the National Integrated Cyber Education Research Center (NICERC), SciStarter, and Vidcode. In true girl-led fashion, girls also tested the new offerings. Girl Scouts of Colorado is 32,000 strong—more than 22,000 girls and 10,000 adults who believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ to change the world. With Girl Scouts, she’ll discover who she is, what she’s passionate about, and what she wants to achieve—both today and in the future. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org. #spacescience #GirlScoutsoftheUSA #spacesciencebadges #Journey #SpaceSciencebadge #NASA #GSCOevents #GSUSA #STEM #outdooradventure #NewBadges #Cybersecuritybadges #cybersecurity #Journeys #cybersecuritybadge #gsoutdoors #badges #CyberChallenge

What did you do for your Gold Award project? I created a Baby Bundles program. Baby Bundles are to provide low-resource families and single/teen moms, clothes and necessities for their babies. Most of them cannot provide the basic supplies for their babies. My project provides mothers the materials needed to help their growing family. A few of the essential, and non-essential, baby items needed to raise a healthy baby are: washcloths, diapers, blankets, clothes, bibs, baby wipes, bottles, socks, baby toys, and baby books. I created and distributed donation flyers and then continued to hold multiple donation drives in order to acquire these items. After I collected the donations, I made a resource guide for new mothers so that they could know where to go if they are seeking help. I compiled the bundles, delivered them to Family Life Services and Life Network, and distributed my resource pamphlets to the women and families there. I led a team of volunteers on the distribution of the bundle and they also distributed the resource guides to hospitals and OBGYN clinics in the greater Colorado Springs area. I also created a how to guide for my project, to include an example donation flyer and resource guide, which has been sent to Girl Scout leaders around the world. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? The joy of seeing moms’ reactions to receiving a Baby Bundle: I had a mom dancing/full of joy when she saw size six diapers. That is when I knew I had changed the life of this mom and her baby! How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? My project will be sustained beyond my involvement by, three things, one being that Family Life Services and Life Network can continue on this project using the instruction guide I provided. Another way it will be sustainable is I have given local hospitals and organizations my resource pamphlet so that they can print copies and hand them out to mothers so that the mothers will know where they can go to get help if needed, especially if they don’t have access to a computer to look up places. The third way this project can be held sustainable beyond my involvement is that, with the help of my Girl Scout leader, Leader Laura, my pamphlet and how to guide has been handed out to Girl Scout leaders all around the globe so that they can also do a similar project if they would like to. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? My project helped to address the basic need of baby supplies to help mothers and families who are struggling to know how to provide for their babies. When babies don’t have the right supplies, resources and organizations available and basic necessities to use, there would be more sicknesses, and diseases because they wouldn’t have the right supplies, leading to makeshift supplies, which can lead to sickness and possibly death, babies do not have strong immune systems. Not having enough money to provide babies with what they need is common around the world. Baby Bundles help relieve some of the stress financially, because it provides essential supplies so that mothers can get a head start without the additional stress when bringing a baby home. What did you learn about yourself? Throughout this project, I feel as though I have grown more as a leader, because this project has made me come out of my comfort zone. And, it has also made me more confident in myself as a leader. I love helping people and I love children. However, I can be very shy and quiet. In doing my project I had to make phone calls, talk to and even lead complete strangers. I have learned that I may be a shy and quiet teen, but I can plan a project, manage a team and be successful in carrying that project out I learned to overcome obstacles and challenges that I was faced with and to re-group and fine a new organization that believed in my project and understood the need. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? Earning my Gold Award helped me put many skills together and taught me confidence in myself, that I can overcome obstacles, lead a team, and complete a project with impact. All these skills will further help me in the future whether in school or the workforce. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? I feel that it helped to teach me to put all the skills I have been building through the years in Girl Scouts together. It showed me to believe in myself and all thing are possible no matter what age. How did earning your Gold Award help you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? I believe this project has set the stage for my leadership skills, because it has taught me so much. And because of it, I have learned what is need to raise a healthy baby. Which I can use in the (distant) future. This project has also made it so that I am more comfortable with talking to strangers to get information and leading a group. In the future, I will be able to lead with a better understanding of others, and how to organize/manage a group/project. **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 #ColoradoSprings #GoldAwardGirlScout #ColoradoSpringsChristianSchool #GirlScoutGoldAward #TakeAction #PikesPeak

Submitted by Lina Zimmer Pikes Peak Colorado Springs Troop 40698 selected Children’s Hospital Colorado as their Hometown Hero. In addition to delivering Girl Scout Cookies, Girl Scouts used cookie proceeds to purchase coloring books, sketch books, crayons, color pencils, and markers for all ages. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #ColoradoSprings #HometownHero #cookies #GirlScoutCookies #GirlScoutCookieProgram #ChildrensHospitalColorado #HometownHeroes #PikesPeak #2019GirlScoutCookieProgram

Submitted by John Silver, GSCO Guest Blogger Metro Denver Denver The 2019 Girl Scout Volunteer Recognition Awards were recently given out and it made me think about my mother who was a Girl Scout volunteer many years ago. My mother Eleanor F. Silver, who passed away last year at age 98, volunteered for many years in Brighton.  She was passionate about developing a vibrant Girl Scout program and served as a troop leader and in multiple capacities for the service unit. Here are excerpts from an essay entitled “Celebrating Eleanor” that was written by my sister (and Girl Scout!) Nancy L. Ottem: “… Mama told me that after being active with Girl Scouts in Thornton, she wanted to get her girls into troops when we moved to Brighton.  She said that Brighton was quite cliquish and class conscious in the later ‘50s. When Mama inquired about her girls joining the existing local troop the leader responded: ‘I think we have enough girls.'” “But Mama would not stand for that.  She was on a mission!  She envisioned Girl Scouts being an avenue for engaging ALL young girls, regardless. Just before we changed the subject, she quietly thought aloud: ‘I am kind of proud of that.'” As a result, my mother contacted Girl Scouts of Colorado (Mile High Council at the time) and drove her turquoise Chevy to the South Broadway office and in 1958 organized a second Brownie troop in Brighton, to which all were welcome. “Another time we were discussing the many organizations and clubs she had been a member of in Brighton. … She mentioned that she had been invited by friends to join other clubs they belonged to, which were exclusive or by invitation only.  But she always declined.  She told me she would not ever belong to something that was not open to all.” Eventually, my mother was named Girl Scout Leader of the Year in Brighton. My mother was placed in nursing care near the end of her life, where she continued her interest in the Harper’s Ferry Service Unit in the Brighton area.  Some of her belongings were sold at a tag sale and by coincidence the total receipt was $839. What is the coincidence?  839 was the number of the Girl Scout troop she established in Brighton so many years ago! This money has been added to a fund for Girl Scout projects in the Brighton area. Funds from my mother’s trust and gifts from or arranged by her loving family support Girt Scouts in Brighton and beyond. John Silver of Metro Denver is proud to be an adult volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado. As the brother and son of Girl Scouts, John is now an adult seeing Girl Scouts through new eyes. John will be reporting on things he learns– that you might not know either! He will also be researching badge earning and other opportunities for Girl Scouts today. #VolunteerNews #Denver #MetroDenver #alumnaenews #Brighton

Submitted by Kristy Miller Metro Denver Aurora Come join Troop 972 on July 25, 2019 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. for Sailing and Paddling Day, an older girl event (Cadettes, Seniors, Ambassadors), which will include sailing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding at Cherry Creek Reservoir. Bring a sack lunch, water bottle, closed-toed water shoes, sunscreen, towel. If you have your own life jacket, please feel free to bring it. Otherwise, one will be provided for you. This is not a money earning activity. The total goes towards putting on the event. The cost is $65 per girl for the day. Although this is not inexpensive, the research I have done in trying to set this up for my own troop backs this up as a good deal. I hope the girls can have an enjoyable day on the water and spend some time getting to know each other. We can take up to 10 more girls in addition to my five rising Ambassadors, but I need RSVP’s by July 11 to ensure that we have the proper amount of staff. If you have any questions, please feel free to call (860) 593 – 6868 or e-mail (kristy@miller-rascals.net) me. Looking forward to see you there! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F094DADAE229-sailing This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #SailingandPaddlingDay #GSCOevents #oldergirls #sailing #Aurora #paddling #CherryCreekReservoir #MetroDenver #gsoutdoors

Let’s paint Colorado State Parks Girl Scout green! Girl Scouts of Colorado and Colorado Parks and Wildlife have teamed up for Girl Scouts Love State Parks Weekend July 13-14, 2019. Share your love of the great outdoors and get to know your local state park with events in state parks across Colorado. Girls can attend as part of a troop or with their family – it’s the perfect opportunity to take advantage of warm summer weather, spend time in nature, and get inspired for future outdoor adventures. Girl Scouts who participate will earn an exclusive patch. Activities at each park will vary, but may include: Ranger programs Guided hikes Nature Center tours Opportunities to explore what makes each park unique- interpretive trails, waterfalls, animal programs, epic views, and more! Overnight camping (Girl Scout groups are responsible for reserving a site on their own) Girl Scout booth at the park visitor center where you can learn about Leave No Trace ethics to reduce your impact on nature, pick up a nature scavenger hunt card, and other fun activities! GSCO will send a park specific flyer to all who have RSVP’ed by Monday, July 8. Participating State Parks Barr Lake, Brighton – July 13 Castlewood Canyon, Franktown – July 13 Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado Springs – July 13 Lake Pueblo, Pueblo – July 13 Lory, Bellevue – July 14 Mueller, Divide – July 14 Ridgway, Ridgway – July 13 Rifle Falls, Rifle – July 14 Staunton, Pine   – July 14 Sylvan Lake State Park , Eagle – July 14 Park entrance fees of $8/car apply. This is not a drop-off event; girls must attend as part of a troop or with their family. RSVP here to reserve your space and receive updated event information and reminders emailed out prior to the event. Don’t forget to share the fun on social media! Be sure to tag Girl Scouts of Colorado on Facebook, Twitter, and  Instagram and use  #gsoutdoors and #gscolo. You can also share your story and photos on the GSCO Blog using the Share Your Stories form. Questions? Email inquiry@gscolorado.org. Download the event flyer. #2019GirlScoutsLoveStateParksWeekend #ColoradoParksandWildlife #GirlScoutsLoveStateParks

G.I.R.L. 2020 will take place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida from October 21 – 25, 2020. Check out the newly released G.I.R.L. 2020 Troop Travel Guide. There are two amazing parts to G.I.R.L. 2020 and you will want to be there for both… One is the National Council Session, which is the movement’s triennial business meeting. This happens from Wednesday, October 21 – Friday, October 23. G.I.R.L.s can see “democracy in action” during this meeting, and can experience the closing ceremony on Friday when the new national officers are elected and the parade of countries that have Girl Scouts or Girl Guides takes place. The other is the G.I.R.L. 2020 program, which includes plenary sessions, breakout sessions, and G.I.R.L. 2020 Expo – A Hall of Experiences. This happens from Friday, October 23 – Sunday, October 25. All G.I.R.L.s who are Cadettes, Seniors, and/or Ambassadors and adults can experience amazing speakers, participate in interactive sessions crafted by our G-Team (a group of Senior and Ambassador G.I.R.L. Scouts convened nationally for the purpose of envisioning, planning, and implementing G.I.R.L. 2020) for G.I.R.L.s just like them, and immerse themselves in all things “G.I.R.L. Scout” in our largest expo hall ever! Online registration and housing selection will open in January 2020. We have thousands of rooms (single- quad accommodations) reserved for our participants and the costs range from $99 – $239 per night. By booking with the hotels GSUSA has reserved (also known as within the housing block) you’ll have access to ground transportation, and other amenities that you won’t have if you use other housing. For registration planning purposes, you will need to budget approximately $300 per G.I.R.L. for registration. This will include a Saturday evening celebration at one of the Orlando theme parks. Day prices haven’t been set yet for G.I.R.L. 2020 Expo – A Hall of Experiences. This option provides a wonderful opportunity to engage our Daisies, Brownies and Juniors and their families in the Girl Scout movement. Additionally, keep your eyes open for our Troop and Family Travel Planning Guides which will be available to councils and members this fall and for our “What’s New” email series that will be shared movement-wide with our members. You can also check frequently on the G.I.R.L. 2020 website for more information and updates. Can’t wait to see you in Orlando! #GirlScoutsoftheUSA #GIRL #OrangeCountyConventionCenter #NationalCouncilSession #Florida #GSCOevents #GSUSA #Orlando #travel #GIRL2020

STEAM For All Festival Sunday, July 14, 2019 12 – 4 p.m. Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum 7711 E Academy Blvd. Denver, CO 80230 Apollopalooza is a week-long regional celebration of the 50th anniversary of the moon landing and future human space exploration. In partnership with The Sentinel Colorado, Wings Over the Rockies is pleased to host STEAM For All Festival as part of the exciting week-long celebration. This event will be filled with engaging and hands-on STEAM activities dedicated to getting EVERYONE involved in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. Wings Over the Rockies and The Sentinel are partnering with fellow institutions, industry-leaders, and experts in STEAM to bring attendees a comprehensive overview of how to get involved in STEAM, what STEAM is, how these fields can be used for personal and career development and, most importantly, how to have fun in these fields! The event is free for all children age 16 and under and is $5 for adults. The $5 adult fee will be waived for two adults accompanying groups of five or more Girl Scouts. To take advantage of this opportunity, you must email aimee.artzer@gscolorado.org with your troop number, number of girls, and number of adults by July 10. Special thanks to Lockheed Martin for partnering with Wings Over the Rockies and Girl Scouts of Colorado to make this opportunity available for Girl Scouts. RSVP and purchase tickets for groups with less than five Girl Scouts: https://wingsmuseum.org/event/steam/ Learn more about Apollopalooza: https://wingsmuseum.org/events/apollo/visit/ #STEM #Apollopalooza #STEAMForAllFestival #Communitypartnerships #Denver #WingsOvertheRockiesAirampSpaceMuseum #communitypartners #STEAM #MetroDenver

Submitted by Laura Clark Pikes Peak Colorado Springs Girl Scout Troop 2393 spent some of their cookie proceeds this year to buy each girl a camping hammock. Despite the frigid forecast, they went hammock camping, and had a blast! The girls went dispersed camping, chose their own campsite, set up the hammocks themselves, and enjoyed a laid back weekend with some pretty awesome campfire songs and Dutch Oven dinners. It even snowed! They had so much fun they’re planning on going again soon. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #camping #hammockcamping #ColoradoSprings #gsoutdoors #PikesPeak

Submitted by Shay Sinnott Northern & Northeastern CO Fort Collins My name is Shay and I manage the Northern Colorado regions of Play-Well TEKnologies. We run LEGO engineering programs for kids ages 5-12. A new initiative we have taken on over the past couple of years has been a girl powered engineering programming which focuses on providing supportive environments for young girls to learn about STEM fields and explore their interests. In addition to our girl powered LEGO engineering programs, we have worked with many Girl Scout troops all over Colorado to help troops earn badges in mechanical engineering, STEM, and robotics! If you are interested in hosting a badge workshop with Play-Well, please contact shay@play-well.org.For more information, go to www.play-well.org. We have a special girl powered LEGO engineering camp coming up in Fort Collins at the Foothills Activity Center! We hope your girls will join us for a great week of female-led building. The camp is July 15 – 18, 2019 from 9 a.m. – noon and is for ages 5-7 and 1 – 4 p.m. is for ages 8-12. Interested families can sign up through the City of Fort Collins Recreator.  Register by July 8! This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #daycamp #Lego #GSCOevents #STEM #engineeringcamp #NorthernampNortheasternCO #Communitypartnerships #PlayWellTEKnologies #communitypartners #FortCollins

Visit Denver Botanic Gardens’ Plains Conservation Center through their One-Day Prairie Perspectives Immersion experience and earn the “Playing the Past” badge for Girl Scout Juniors. Immerse your Girl Scouts in the challenging perspective of a child growing up in the 1800’s as a Cheyenne Indian or a homesteader. Girls can explore the prairie ecosystem and participate in activities at the homestead and Cheyenne camp, cook a meal, journal, and connect with the cultural history. Overnight portion includes campfire, storytelling, wagon rides on the prairie, and sleeping in the tipis (weather permitting). Cost: One-Day Prairie Perspective Immersion, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.: $60 within SCFD / $65 outside SCFD One-Day Prairie Perspectives Plus Optional Overnight ends 9 a.m. the following day: $125 within SCFD / $130 outside SCFD One adult chaperone admitted free for every five students, additional chaperones are $30 each for the one day program and $60 each for the overnight program. A 50-percent deposit is due at least 30 days prior to program date; full payment is due at least one week pre-program. More information: https://www.botanicgardens.org/education/schools-teachers/plains-conservation-center Questions? pccinfo@botanicgardens.org #DenverBotanicGardens #PlayingthePast #Communitypartnerships #PlainsConservationCenter #GirlScoutJuniors #Denver #Junior #communitypartners #badge #Juniors #MetroDenver #Juniorbadge #GirlScoutJuniorbadge #PlayingthePastbadge #badges