Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Tressa Jukes of Mancos in the Southwestern Colorado region is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community. GSCO asked Tressa to answer a few quick questions about her volunteer experience. We hope you find her as inspiring as we did. Why did you become a Girl Scout volunteer? I became a Girl Scout leader, so that I could provide another age group of girls in our community opportunities through my knowledge and experiences. When we relocated to the area, there was only one troop in our small town with no troops for younger girls. I also like to use the opportunity to be a positive role model and show girls that you can be fearless, dedicated, and determined. Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. I’ve been volunteering with Girl Scouts for six years. I started as a troop parent volunteer while my husband was stationed in Juneau, Alaska and added troop cookie manager to my resume while there. After we moved to Mancos, I became a troop co-leader. I have also been TCM for our troop, as well as our service unit cookie cupboard manager for the Mesa Verde Service Unit, and within the past two years I have acquired the title of co-director of Camp Conundrum with my partner in crime/friend/mentor, Frieda Knezek.  It is the only volunteer-run Girl Scout Camp in our area, providing our girls with a weekend in July full of of mystery solving shenanigans and fun. What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? I have learned many things over the course of the last six or so years, including improvisation; as nothing really goes as planned. My girls have taught me selflessness, and that no matter how small they are, given the chance, they will move mountains. I have also learned that giving these girls the world and encouraging them in a positive way is the best way to help  them to reach their dreams and goals. What do you hope girls have learned from you? I hope that they take away a lot of things from me, most importantly their conviction to do what is right and to stand up for the people who don’t otherwise have a voice. I hope that they continue to see how important it is to volunteer in their communities, even if it is as simple as doing random acts of kindness and paying things forward. Most important, I hope they have learned that being fearless and determined will help them go far in life and to not back down when they believe strongly in something. How has your experience as a volunteer helped you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? Prior to volunteering, I was happy to sit on the sidelines and follow the crowd, not realizing the impact one person could have. With volunteering, I have learned that if you want something done, the best way to do it is to do it yourself and get the ball moving. Being newer to the area has given me the opportunity to meet and connect with people to enhance my troop’s experiences and pave the way for younger troops to get involved, as well.  Organizing activities with other community organizations has opened many doors for our troop and exposes them to many other positive women, whom they wouldn’t probably have otherwise met. Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org. #VolunteerNews #Mancos #volunteerspotlight #VolunteerAppreciationMonth #SouthwesternCO #NationalVolunteerAppreciationMonth #VolunteerAppreciation

Submitted by Melissa Dilullo Northern & Northeastern CO Greeley I just wanted to say thank you to Girl Scouts of Colorado and Hearts Across Miles for sending my husband (and father of two Colorado Girl Scouts) and his unit in Afghanistan Girl Scout Cookies. His unit recently deployed with the Wyoming National Guard. They were stationed at FE Warren AFB in Cheyenne.  His unit received four huge cases, stuffed full of Girl Scout Cookies and they really appreciated all of them. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #NorthernampNortheasternCO #Greeley #HeartsAcrossMiles #cookies #GirlScoutCookies #GirlScoutCookieProgram #HometownHeroes #2019GirlScoutCookieProgram

Join us for Girl Scout Day with the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, August 4, 2019 at Coors Field in 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. The game starts at 1:10 p.m. Girl Scouts participating in the pre-game parade should arrive two hours before the game to prepare. More information will be released closer to game day. To purchase tickets, visit rockies.com/scout and use promo code GS2019. See the flyer above for all information. You can click on the image to make it larger and easier to read. Ticket prices vary depending on seats chosen. Questions? Email Community Partnerships Manager Aimee Artzer at aimee.artzer@gscolorado.org #GSCOevents #Communitypartnerships #Denver #ColoradoRockies #communitypartners #MetroDenver

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Mariah Emond of Delta in the Western Colorado region is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community. GSCO asked Mariah to answer a few quick questions about her volunteer experience. We hope you find her as inspiring as we did. Why did you become a Girl Scout volunteer? I became a Girl Scout volunteer as I wanted my daughter to have the same access to amazing opportunities I had as a girl in Girl Scouts. I enjoy the camaraderie with other mothers raising a Girl Scout. I love to be seen as a part of another girl’s life as a positive supporter- encouraging them to hang out another 15 minutes at the booth sale as I know their goal to earn their incentive is but another buying customer! I am truly a supporter of all prosocial, after school activities that work on skill development for our youth- these kids need it now more than ever. Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. This is my first volunteer position as an adult! I enjoyed 11 years of being a Girl Scout and two years at summer camp near Deckers as the Challenge Course Facilitator. So far, I had been able to help at Applefest with the outreach table. I help with our bi-monthly troop meetings. I attended the cookie rally sleepover and made a short presentation on ways to sell more cookies! We created the first summer camp on the Western Slope in Delta County and had tons of fun exploring the history of Fort Uncompaghre and swimming. Most of all, I am a parent of an amazing little go-getter and love to help her sell nuts, magazines, and cookies. What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? Everything is possible with teamwork and creative thinking! Having Ms. Mary Bucklin as our troop leader and SU, we are especially blessed to have her years of experience that she shares graciously. I watch her be attentive to all the girls, organize the parents, and make up a year of activities with us! I want to grow up and be just like her- giving, gracious, and so passionate about giving girls the opportunities to succeed. I also have learned so much from our co-leader, Kris Love, about the new Girl Scout processes of cookie buying, apps, and ways to keep everything organized in Girl Scouts. I also love to read on the Girl Scouts of Colorado Blog about al the things we can participate in statewide. It’s great information about the connectedness of an organization. The new online trainings are helpful and to the point on a wide variety of things- like outdoor cooking! What do you hope girls have learned from you? I hope they see that they can be anyone they dream of, that they can be fierce with their dreams, and kind to the world while they achieve their dream. I want all girls to know that the level playing field of life exists, if we as women dare to recreate the perception of ourselves into authors of out life and the story is our own unique one to tell. I hope that we can grow a kind generation, one that cares for all the resources on the planet! How has your experience as a volunteer helped you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? I take more risks to get to know people. I am a social person, but not always with people I haven’t yet met. I feel more confident talking to people about the wide world of Girl Scouts and have pushed outside my normal comfort zone. It’s been fun getting to work on new projects that don’t require my professional self to show up- I can just be a caring parent/adult and enjoy having fun with our troop. I feel that Girl Scouts made my foundation for leadership skills and I have always love to learn more to be a better leader. I feel confident that we have the tools in Girl Scouts to share with every girl to grow up to be herself and good to the world! Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org. #VolunteerNews #Delta #volunteerspotlight #VolunteerAppreciationMonth #NationalVolunteerAppreciationMonth #WesternColorado

Submitted by Erin B. Pikes Peak Colorado Springs To celebrate Women’s History Month, my mom took me to CSU in Ft. Collins and I met my cousin Raechel. We all walked to the library on campus and checked out the exhibit on display about Colorado women who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. It was really interesting. My favorite was learning about Susan Helms. How amazing to be a part of so many firsts for women! She attended the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, where I’m from. The Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame is excited to partner with Girl Scouts of Colorado 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. Girl Scouts are future female leaders of Colorado and the Hall of Fame recognizes and preserves the accomplishments of past and present Colorado women. – M.L. Hanson, Founder of the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame #ColoradoWomensHallofFame #ColoradoSprings #patchprogram #CWHF #Communitypartnerships #Denver #communitypartners #MetroDenver #PikesPeak #patch

Submitted by Meredith Locke Northern & Northeastern CO Lafayette Join Cadette Troop 2235 and multi-level Troop 4251 for a fun-filled time completing the Brownie Quest or Welcome to the Daisy Flower Garden Journeys and help a great cause! When: April 28, 2019 1 – 4 p.m. Price: $20 per girl. Badge Included. Location: Holy Comforter Episcopal Church 1700 W 10 Ave., Broomfield (About 10 minutes from downtown Lafayette) We have the pleasure of working with the Passing Hats organization for our Take Action project by making bracelets for Race for the Cure-type events. In the future, we may also help the organization by knitting hats for cancer patients. To register, go to https://brownie-brownie-quest-daisy-welcome-to-the-flower-garden.cheddarup.com If you have any questions, please contact Meredith at mltlocke@gmail.com. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #Daisy #Journey #GSCOevents #browniequest #PassingHats #GirlScoutBrownie #Brownie #NorthernampNortheasternCO #GirlScoutDaisy #Brownies #Daisies #GirlScoutBrownies #GirlScoutDaisies #Journeys #TakeAction #WelcometotheDaisyFlowerGarden #lafayette

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. PJ Chenoweth in the Pueblo & Southeastern CO region is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community. GSCO asked PJ to answer a few quick questions about her volunteer experience. We hope you find her as inspiring as we did. Why did you become a Girl Scout volunteer? I became a Girl Scout volunteer after my daughter had been a Girl Scout for about three years. I loved what the program had done for her self-confidence, her ability to speak in front of others, and how it had expanded her circle of friends to include Girl Scouts in other towns. I completely believe this program does amazing things for the girls who participate, and I want to continue to keep this program available in my town. Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. As a Girl Scout volunteer, I have worked with girls to earn badges and complete Journeys, guided them through small community service projects, and for the past two years, I have served as the troop’s cookie manager. I was also fortunate to have assisted with day camp for a couple of years. What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? I have learned several valuable skills including inventory management, meeting planning including planning on the fly, great camping skills, and more. But, the best thing I’ve learned being a Girl Scout volunteer is that there is a vast group of women and girls that does their best to live by the Girl Scout Promise and Law, and it’s a great feeling to know there are so many who are ready to take action in times of need. What do you hope girls have learned from you? I hope that the girls I have interacted with have learned skills that they can use later in life, I hope they have learned not to limit themselves in setting goals, and I hope they have learned to always do their best to live by the Law and Promise, but to know that everyone slips up sometimes. How has your experience as a volunteer helped you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? My experience as a volunteer helped me become a G.I.R.L. by getting me out of my comfort zone. I had to become a go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, and leader by jumping in as the troop’s leader and cookie manager shortly after beginning a new Girl Scout year. Suddenly, it was all on me to keep the troop going. I quickly recruited another parent to become my co-leader, and we were off on adventure! Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org. #VolunteerNews #volunteerspotlight #VolunteerAppreciationMonth #NationalVolunteerAppreciationMonth #PuebloampSoutheasternCO

Submitted by Debbie Swanson Pikes Peak Colorado Springs Laura Clark, a Girl Scout alum and current troop leader in the Pikes Peak Region, summited all of Colorado’s 58 peaks over 14,000 ft. solo. She completed them in under 14 months, finishing in September of 2018. Laura is a Lifetime Girl Scout and contributes much of her success to the experiences she had in the Girl Scout program. In Girl Scouts, Laura found a space where she could be herself, unlike at school where she felt pressured to fit in. Laura became a Girl Scout in 1986 and was a member of Girl Scout Troop 1494 and later Troop 1503 in Mission Viejo, CA. Her leadership journey began as troop treasurer, collecting 50-cent meeting dues. Her troop rotated through leadership positions, learning how to run effective meetings, set agendas, keep accurate records, and plan activities. Because of Girl Scouts, Laura was able to try new things. If she was interested in sewing or hiking or camping or cooking or first-aid, there was always a Girl Scout badge where she could learn more. She made lifelong friends in Girl Scouts, of whom with many she’s stayed in contact. Her favorite Girl Scout experience was camp. And, of course, singing Girl Scout songs! “Girl Scout Camp is where I first learned how to shoot a bow and arrow, start a fire, cook outdoors, use a compass, hike at night, rock climb, swim and canoe in a pond, tack and ride and care for a horse (while backpacking in all types of weather) and successful problem solving and conflict resolution strategies. I was encouraged to lead where I could and to try new things.” Summitting all 58 of Colorado’s peaks over 14,000 feet usually takes years, if not decades, to complete. Laura credits Girl Scouts for the physical and mental strength, endurance, careful planning, determination, adaptability, high-risk tolerance, willingness to ask questions and research, and love of the outdoors, animals, and all types of weather needed to complete the feat. Laura carefully chose her ‘finisher,’  the last peak a climber needs to summit, to say they have summited them all, and it is usually chosen for a special reason. 14er enthusiasts are known for choosing their finisher well in advance. Laura chose Mt. Sherman in honor of Camp Sherman, the Girl Scout Camp in California that started her on her path towards loving the outdoors, adventure, goal-setting, leadership, and girl power. Laura currently leads Girl Scout Senior Troop 2393 and the troop’s Outdoor Survival Team and has assisted seven girls in earning the Girl Scout Gold Award (and has several more working towards this goal). Last year, she led the first-ever Girl Scout Rocket Troop 46319. Laura works in marketing and also writes for her blog where she reflects on hiking and Girl Scouts. Laura credits the interpersonal skills, business skills, goal- setting, and marketing she learned from the Girl Scout Cookie Program to helping her in her marketing career. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #alumnaenews #ColoradoSprings #PikesPeak #VolunteerNews

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Catherine Bendl of Golden in the Metro Denver region is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community. GSCO asked Catherine to answer a few quick questions about her volunteer experience. We hope you find her as inspiring as we did. Why did you become a Girl Scout volunteer? I became a Girl Scout volunteer because my girls were interested in trying Girl Scouts and I wanted to make sure their experience was a good one. Now that I’m a troop leader, I appreciate those volunteers who help to make events and outings possible because they are willing to help. Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. I am currently troop leader for our Cadette troop. It is such a rewarding experience and I’m so glad I took the leap to start a troop. Watching these older girls connect is so wonderful! Previously, I volunteered as an adult member of troops and helped with overnights, cookie sales, badge work, and meeting prep. What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? I have learned that volunteering is usually so easy and ends up being so worth it in the end. What do you hope girls have learned from you? I hope the girls have learned that giving time to help others is a vital part of what makes us successful people. I hope that they see that giving of yourself brings joy to others and to self. How has your experience as a volunteer helped you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? I started my own business just before we started the new troop last fall. This experience has helped me to pursue my business in going after new clients and taking risks doing tasks I’ve never done before. I hope by making my business successful that the girls will learn that being a leader is a positive thing and will help them in the future. Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org. #Golden #VolunteerNews #volunteerspotlight #VolunteerAppreciationMonth #NationalVolunteerAppreciationMonth #VolunteerAppreciation #MetroDenver

Submitted by Brandy Schauppner Metro Denver Brighton What could be better than spending a week at day camp? Join us for an EPIC experience doing crafts, outdoor fun, team building, some badge activities, and even a Take Action project. This is for girls from Daisy through Junior with leadership opportunities for Cadette through Senior! Brownies will have the chance to earn their Brownie W.O.W. Journey with the help of Cadettes who are working on their LIA awards. We will spend our days making new friends, playing in the sun, going on hikes, and even a tour of the ON-SITE historical museum! Program Aide Internship (PAI) and Program Aide opportunities are also available. Although we are not providing the training at camp, we will be offering the internship part of the requirement. If you would like to complete PA training prior to camp and need help finding a training session, please email us at epicadventures.gs@gmail.com. We may hold a PA training if enough girls are interested. When: June 10 – June 14, 2019 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Campers arrive at 8:30 a.m. and go home at 3 p.m. each day) Where; Adams County Regional Park (Adams County Fairgrounds) Al Lesser Building Park 9755 Henderson Rd. Brighton 80601 Contact Email: epicadventures.gs@gmail.com Directors: Anna Mills and Brandy Schauppner Anna Mills: (303) 907 – 4654 Brandy Schauppner (720) 878 – 3947 Information and Registration website: https://epicadventuresdaycamp.wordpress.com/ This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #daycamp #GSCOevents #EpicAdventures #GirlScoutCamp #MetroDenver #Brighton

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Aneida Slomski of Colorado Springs in the Pikes Peak region is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community. GSCO asked Aneida to answer a few quick questions about her volunteer experience. We hope you find her as inspiring as we did. Why did you become a Girl Scout volunteer? I got my daughters into Girl Scouts because I enjoyed being a Girl Scout when I was a girl. It’s a great program and after a couple years, the troop needed a new leader, so I volunteered. Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. I started out as a Brownie Leader, and then we became a multi-level troop and I went up through the levels with my daughters. I work with the Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors now and I’m the treasurer for our troop. I love working with this level because they’re so capable and have such good ideas. I have volunteered at day camps and service units. Now, I’m a service unit co-director. I’m on various committees on the service unit level to help plan our fall campout and World Thinking Day activities. I help coordinate summer activities with our troop, like campouts and trips to go caving (the crawling on your knees kind, not the walking kind) and whitewater rafting. We have camped at three different Girl Scout camps in Colorado through the years. I’ve also helped coordinate many trips to local businesses and organizations, so the girls can learn how things work in our area and the girls can get service project ideas. What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? I am a homebody. The girls really get me out of my comfort zone and I like it. I started out not even knowing how to start a fire. I had to learn to cook outdoors; I think sometimes I cook better outdoors than indoors! I learned PowerPoint and Excel to help the troop. The first spreadsheet I made added the phone number. I had to learn knots, map and compass, lashing, and other outdoor skills, so I could teach the girls for the Reach for the Peak camping competition. They learned from the leaders, and then they just ran with it. They got so good at it that they reached the point where they told the leaders where to sign and where to drive them and they won the highest award. What do you hope girls have learned from you? I hope the girls have learned to try new things. If a girl has an idea (and they always have amazing ideas), there are adults who will help them get to where they want to be, cheering them on. I hope the girls learn about the outdoors and how capable they are in that environment. In a multi-level troop, they really get the opportunity to work with girls of different ages and cultural backgrounds. I hope they have learned that our differences are no big deal. How has your experience as a volunteer helped you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? Being a leader has taught me to be on the lookout for exciting things to share with the girls and to work with others to make them happen. As an innovator, I’ve learned to create events from scratch like day camps and cultural events. I am not the type to take a lot of risks, but I was a risk-taker and a leader when I organized a townhall meeting to save Sky High Ranch. I have never gotten involved like that before, and it was really amazing to see my adult daughters, the girls from our area, former camp counselors, and so many local leaders coming together to speak up and save our camp. Council listened, they were very supportive, and Sky High Ranch was open for summer camp again. We did it for the girls. Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org. #VolunteerNews #volunteerspotlight #VolunteerAppreciationMonth #ColoradoSprings #NationalVolunteerAppreciationMonth #VolunteerAppreciation #PikesPeak

Outdoors and Girl Scouts go together! As part of our partnership with Colorado State Forest Service, Girl Scouts of Colorado is hosting a special day on June 16 at Meadow Mountain Ranch to celebrate World Environment Day. This is also a wonderful way to celebrate Father’s Day, as the whole family is invited to attend. This event is hosted by the Girl Scouts of Colorado Global Action Committee. By celebrating World Environment Day, Girl Scouts honor Juliette Gordon Low’s legacy of promoting respect and love of the great outdoors far and wide. Through Girl Scouting, girls see the earth as their home. Whether they’re learning about endangered wildlife, developing creative recycling projects, or working toward a grade-level award, girls focus on care, conservation, and responsibility. They make sure the beauty and wonder of our planet endure for future generations to enjoy. 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. Activities include: Activities from the Global Action Days Toolkit A hands-on activity from our awesome partner, the Colorado State Forest Service. A chance to meet with a former Girl Scout about her career in forestry/environmental science and experiences as a wildland firefighter. Conservation-related service projects on the property. Walk the MMR Nature Trail and earn your patch (patches for sale via GSCO Retail Shop). S’mores station. Displays from the GSCO Global Action Committee & History Committee. You are welcome to bring a sack lunch and/or snacks for the day. You can also pick up your FREE Global Action Days patch at this event. You have earned the Global Action Days patch by celebrating three of the Global Action Days during the year by completing at least one activity from the toolkit for each day. Because World Thinking Day has its own award, it cannot be used to earn the Global Action Days patch. You may use this World Environment day toward the patch requirements. To register: Fill out the online RSVP form to let us know how many Girl Scouts, family, and friends are attending this free event. The RSVP will also ask how many Global Action Days patches you’ll be picking up that day. If you do not RSVP in advance, we cannot guarantee a patch for you that day. Online RSVPs will close Tuesday, June 11. This is not a drop off event. All girls must attend with a parent, guardian, or troop leader. Adult-to-girl ratios must be met. Girls attending with a troop leader should bring a completed parent permission form for a Girl Scout activity, which her troop leader should retain in case of emergency. Questions? Email aimee.artzer@gscolorado.org or have trouble completing registration, please contact inquiry@gscolorado.org or 877-404-5708.