I started a middle school-based club focused on learning Photoshop and photography. This club at Challenger Middle School raised middle school students’ interests in STEM– science, technology, engineering, and math. Throughout nine weeks, students gained skills shooting photos and enhancing them. At the end of the club, the students got to print out two photos to be displayed in the school. Though many middle schools do focus on art, they mainly focus on the traditional side. High school does offer more opportunities, but many middle schools lack these. Middle school is a time where students are figuring out what their interests are, socially and academically. My club opened their eyes to the digital arts and using technology creatively. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? I had the students take a survey at the beginning and end of the club. In the start of the club, many of the students did not know have a main interest in graphic arts or STEM. The end survey depicted that students changed their opinions. Some students even said he or she wanted to follow photography into high school. Others were interested in graphic design and computer math. In the future, I hope to see more students going into the graphic arts, programming, and photography classes in the high school I go to, Pine Creek High School. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? Next fall, I will be there to help, but will no longer run the club. The new leaders are a group of about five 6th and 7th graders who will work together to create new ideas in Photoshop and teach the new members of the club the program. I did a separate workshop for them that focused on learning how to problem solve the Photoshop program. I also went over how to be an effective leader. I provided my techniques, findings, and tips in a write up and gave it to the leaders to help as well. From now on, I will only provide guidance and oversee from a distance. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? I wrote up a complete plan of how I implemented and ran my club with reports on expenses and supplies. I emailed my write-up to the Technology Departments in other districts including the Fountain Fort Carson School District, Academy School District 11, and Woodland Park School District. I sent it globally to the National Art Educators Association website coordinator. This website has blogs about teaching and ideas on how to do different projects. With the help of my Girl Scout leader, I also sent it to teachers in California. What did you learn about yourself? I learned that I can lead a class. I freak out or doubt myself about little things like standing in front of a group of middle schoolers. I learned that as a leader if you act confident and friendly people perceive you as such. They do not know that on the inside you may be freaking out. Acting confident makes you feel confident as well. This has been an amazing experience that gave me a lot of confidence in myself. I also learned how to talk to children. I am the youngest child in my family so I have almost no experience with younger kids. Though I am nervous around children, I have become more comfortable around them. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? In the future, I am more likely to accept leadership positions. I also will be more confident and secure as a leader, knowing that leading others is not as scary as it seems. Mistakes can happen, and many don’t notice, forget, or forgive the mistakes. It helps to know that to be in a leadership position you do not have to know all the answers. A smart leader does not have all the answers, but has the confidence and humility to help people find them. Leading a group of people does not come with perfect confidence and presentation; it comes with wanting to teach and help others. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? It is the highest award a Girl Scout can achieve. Not many Girl Scouts achieve this award, and it makes me proud to say that I am a Gold Award Girl Scout. I was in Girl Scouts since I was a Daisy. This is the crowning achievement to all the badges and events I have done throughout those years. My Gold Award also made me grow as an individual. Without it, I would not have changed as much through the Girl Scouts program. It is an achievement that takes a lot to earn and rewards the work I have done in the community. Girl Scouts and my Gold Award allowed me the experiences and challenges to grow. How did earning your Gold Award help you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? It helped me become a risk-taker, leader, and go-getter. I gained a lot of confidence through this club. I learned to stop doubting myself and just take risks. Less stress and more confidence allows me to step outside of my comfort zone. I can be a leader, I can be in the front a group of people, and I can be informative and authoritative. This to me is a really big step in the right direction. I can breathe a little easier now as a leader in group projects, presentations, and collaborations. **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 #PineCreekHighSchool #ColoradoSprings #photography #TakeAction #PikesPeak

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Ashley Lampe of Eaton in the Northern & Northeastern CO region is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community. GSCO asked Ashley 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 leader of my daughter’s troop during a leadership transition to ensure that all our girls could continue participating in Girl Scouts, doing things they love. Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. I’m a troop leader and TCM to a fantastic Cadette troop. Other than those specifics, I’ve helped at cookie pickup, the cookie cupboard, and as a mentor to others. Overall, I help where I can. What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? Girls have the courage and power to do whatever they want, but only to the capacity that we allow, so remember to remove the roadblocks and tear off the roof to allow them to reach their fullest potential. What do you hope girls have learned from you? I hope each and every girl has learned that they can do absolutely anything they set their mind to, not to be afraid to advocate for themselves, to stand their ground when they need to, and be able to do so in a meaningful and respectful manner. How has your experience as a volunteer helped you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? Being a Girl Scout volunteer has tested my very being, in every capacity. I’ve stretched in ways I’ve never thought possible, have been more creative than I’ve ever been, and expanded in every direction. Molding and leading our future leaders doesn’t come with a cookie cutter manual, but requires flexibility and continual development to be the best I can be. 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 #NorthernampNortheasternCO #Eaton #NationalVolunteerAppreciationMonth

Submitted by Kim McMahon Metro Denver Black Hawk Our troop picked Alpine Rescue as our Hometown Hero. These ladies and gentlemen are all volunteers who put their lives on the line every day for residents and tourists alike to enjoy our beautiful state! They deserve so much more than cookies and we wanted to let them know how thankful we all are to them. Let’s give a big applause to each and every one of them! Thank you for your service! We have a small group of four Juniors from Black Hawk. We work hard in play and also at the age of being involved in our community. These G.I.R.L.s have the desire to teach the younger ones what Girl Scouts involves, but also to make a difference in others’ lives! Now that cookie season is over, we will be focused on collecting stuffed animals for the senior center, so we can let everyone know that they still matter! Very proud of our girls and the goals they have set! This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #BlackHawk #cookies #GirlScoutCookies #GirlScoutCookieProgram #HometownHeroes #AlipineRescue #MetroDenver #2019GirlScoutCookieProgram

For my Gold Award Project, I researched, designed, and built training aids for service dogs in training with an organization called Paw Pals Assistance Dogs (PPAD). PPAD specializes in training mobility dogs to help people in wheelchairs or with stability issues. There is a lack of advanced trainers in the program, so my training aid will assist puppy raisers in teaching advanced skills, and advanced trainers in focusing on specialized skills for the service dog recipients. My aid incorporates six training skills, is light weight and transportable, and will be used to develop the highest quality service dogs for people in need. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? I was able to measure the impact of my project the first time I saw it in action! I took the training aids to a PPAD class and got to watch all the dogs and puppies work with the tool. Some were using the shelf and touching the light switches; others were opening the door and retrieving through the hole. It was exciting to listen to the trainers talk about plans for my aids in upcoming training sessions. At that time, I was able to imagine the global impact my training aid will have on service dogs, their trainers, and recipients around the world. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? The training aids will be passed on to puppy raisers and advanced trainers for many years to come. Currently, there are PPAD advanced trainers in Colorado, California, and Florida. An electronic design/blueprint of the aid is available to be replicated in case of the wearing down of the aids or demand for more. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? PPAD has the blueprint of the training aid attached to its website. This makes it easy for other trainers within the Paw Pals organization, as well as other service dog training organizations, to find instruction on building an aid of their own. I created a YouTube video that is linked to the blueprint explaining how the training aid is to be used. Because of the widespread scope of the Internet, my training aid is available both nationally and globally. What did you learn about yourself? I learned that I can lead a major project and accomplish it by an established deadline. I was able to build a great team with the skills needed, and to consider and accept others’ ideas and suggestions along the way. I learned I’m able to manage my time, prioritize, and overcome challenges. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? Through the Gold Award experience, I became aware of how much support I have around me. I’m much more comfortable speaking in front of a group and teaching others. It also showed me how much my time and effort can affect others’ lives. The leadership skills required to lead a team and earn my Gold Award will stay with me for the rest of my life. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? Earning my Gold Award brought together everything I have been learning in Girl Scouts such as leadership, teamwork, patience, determination, and success. It was a really big factor in continuing my Girl Scout journey throughout high school. How did earning your Gold Award help you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? Earning my Gold Award made me an innovator. I took an original idea, designed and built it, and used it to make a difference in my community and the nation. **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 #LibertyHighSchool #ColoradoSprings #PawPalsAssistanceDogs #GoldAwardGirlScout #servicedogs #TakeAction #PikesPeak

My Gold Award Project was to have businesses of downtown Parker agree to hang up “No Smoking” signs that include e-cigarettes. Public health and safety has been something I feel strongly about preserving. With the growing popularity of e-cigarettes and vaporizers, I quickly became concerned about how it will affect communities, specifically the business community of my hometown of Parker. After seeing people openly use e-cigarettes and vape pens in stores, I knew exactly what my project needed to be. I created my own signs that say “No Smoking Including E-Cigarettes,” made an informative brochure on my project and the harm of e-cigarettes, and designed my own website that includes information, my sign, and brochure. Then, I reached out to several businesses personally and with the help of my team, getting them to hang the sign up, and carry the brochures. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? There is no perfect way to measure the impact this project. I have so many resources out there and so many ways people can access this project in some way, shape, or form that one can’t quite measure it. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? There are many sustainable aspects to my project. A huge one is the website I designed. A free domain is being used, therefore no payments will have to be constantly made and it will never disappear. It will always be there as a tool for people to learn about e-cigarettes and more about my project. I have included two PDFs on my website. One is the sign I designed to be hung up, and the other is the brochure I created to be provided at the store. This way my sign and brochure are always available for anybody, all they have to do is download the file and print. I have also partnered up with a wonderful small business owner who agreed to hold multiple signs and brochures at his location for anyone to pick up. This way, anyone interested in supporting my project can go to his location and pick one up. Website: https://e-cigarettegsaguon.weebly.com/ What is your project’s global and/or national connection? For my national and global aspect of my project, I have reached out to the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) organization. They are a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advocate for innovative legal and policy measures to end the global tobacco epidemic. They have been making efforts against the tobacco industry since 1967, and since 2000 they have been in partnership with the Framework Convention Alliance, a coalition made up of more than 500 organizations in over 100 countries. This means not only does the ASH have global efforts, but they are partnered with tons of organizations that are all over the world. This makes them the perfect organization for me to reach out to in order to broaden the impact of my project. I have emailed the General Inquiries branch explaining what my project is, why I chose to do it, and how they could hopefully help support my project. They would be the perfect outlet for the global expansion of my project. What did you learn about yourself? Throughout the process of completing my Gold Award, I learned that if I really want something I will do whatever it takes to get it. No matter how many obstacles I face or how busy I get, I put forward the effort to make it happen. After some self reflection, I was truly impressed with myself for what I had accomplished. I never knew that I had it in me to be so driven and dedicated towards completing such a difficult task. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? I am currently enlisted in the Air Force and by becoming a Gold Award Girl Scout, I have the privilege of graduating basic training one rank ahead of an average enlistee, meaning I’ll instantly be making a little bit more money. Most will graduate as Airman. I will graduate as an Airman First Class. Not only will earning my Gold Award directly help me in the Air Force, it will help my overall work ethic and everyday life skills. Some important skills that will benefit me would be communication with others, being able to work in a team and even manage a team. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? I feel like it was important because every skill that I had learned throughout Girl Scouts, I applied to this project. It is like a final test, you show everything you have learned throughout the years, and how you can use your skills and ambitions to make a difference in the world. How did earning your Gold Award help you become a G.I.R.L.? My Gold Award taught me how to be an innovator and a risk-taker. My project is focused towards a very newly occurring problem, and when I first had this new innovative idea I was completely ahead of the game. I took a risk by going out and trying to get people to support my project and ideas behind it. **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 #ECigarettes #Parker #HighestAwards #MetroDenver #TakeAction #PonderosaHighSchool

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Nicole Lockwood of Fort Collins in the Northern & Northeastern CO region is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community. GSCO asked Nicole 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 I earned my Gold Award and wanted to continue sharing my Girl Scout story. Plus, I wanted to inspire girls to reach for their dreams and pursue their goals. I had a strong support system as a girl with a few key leaders and my mom. I wanted to share that same support with other girls, who may not have that same support. Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. Like most volunteers I wear several hats within Girl Scouts, which has lead to taking on various different roles. Those include being a troop leader, service unit product program manager, Gold Award mentor, member of the Membership Connection Committee, and Colorado delegate for the 2017 National Convention. I also participate with the Girl Scout Choir. Each of these different roles has allowed me different opportunities and chances to work with several other volunteers and girls across the state. Of all the roles I have held, one of my favorite was being with the Girl Scout Choir and being able to attend the 95th and 100th Anniversary Singalong in Washington, D.C. Another favorite role of mine was being able to be a delegate at the 2017 convention. It was a first time experience for myself and I got to be part of some of the national decision making with GSUSA, along with being able to meet and interact with other volunteers and girls across the country and even worldwide, while also being able to meet some very important people from GSUSA. Most of my different volunteer roles I have held for almost six years. What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? There are lots of things I have learned while being a Girl Scout volunteer. I have learned that any girl you work with, for no matter the length of time, will always look up to you as a role model. I’ve also learned that while being a volunteer, we still need to embody what the Girl Scout Law means as sometimes we are also the face of Girl Scouts. Most importantly, I have learned that sometimes the girls aren’t the only ones who get to have fun and try new adventures. What do you hope girls have learned from you? I hope that the girls I have been able to volunteer with have learned that you can do just about anything you set your mind to. Nothing is ever unattainable, unless you don’t try. Along with that, I hope the girls have learned that its always important to try something new, because you never know what new adventures or doors it may open up for you. 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 has helped become a G.I.R.L. in several different ways. I have become a go-getter by always willing to step up for a new challenge or task whether it be taking on a new role in one of my Girl Scout troops or just by being an extra helping hand whenever and wherever it may be needed. I’m innovator by always thinking outside of the box and trying to come up with new and creative ways to solve any problem or task that comes my way. Sometimes doing things a little different will lead to a unexpected outcome. Becoming a risk-taker has showed me that I should never be afraid to step out of my comfort zone or to try new activities. Becoming a leader with a troop for so many years has allowed me to watch my own leadership skills grow and blossom so much that, I was able to to take on some of the other roles that I currently have. Becoming a G.I.R.L. has showed me that there is so much more to being a Girl Scout volunteer and it has shown me some of the experiences and opportunities that I may have missed when I was a Girl Scout myself. 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 #NorthernampNortheasternCO #NationalVolunteerAppreciationMonth #VolunteerAppreciation #FortCollins

What did you do for your Gold Award project? For my Gold Award, I took 72 former dog waste bag dispensers the city of Greenwood Village was getting rid of and recycled them into birdhouses and bee boxes. I then gave out the boxes for free at the city’s Earth Day Celebration while presenting a few different things everyone could do to protect pollinators. After the ceremony, I wrote an article for the Greenwood Village Newsletter about pollinators and delivered the last of the boxes to residents all over Greenwood Village. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? I measured my impact of my project by having everyone who attended the Earth Day ceremony sign a banner pledging to protect pollinators. Afterwords, I quantified the results by counting the number of signatures. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? My project is sustainable for two reasons: for one, all the people who read my article have their knowledge of how to protect pollinators, and all the people who have boxes will have homes for pollinators for years to come. Also, Greenwood Village agreed to rerun and publish the article I wrote, so it would always be accessible. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? My project’s national connection came when I sent boxes and my article to communities in Idaho, Washington, and Tennessee. What did you learn about yourself? This project taught me that I was brave. For me, I learned that I could advocate for myself, especially when talking on the phone or talking to adults. I learned to problem solve, as almost nothing went exactly as planned. If nothing else, I learned what I could do. This project was a huge task, and the fact that I was able to do it will always stick with me. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? Mostly, my Gold Award taught me to persevere and problem solve when things don’t immediately work out. In addition, it inspired a deep and lasting ability to love the creatures and nature around me. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? My Gold Award changed my Girl Scout experience in that it was the largest thing I have ever done. Girl Scouts teaches girls to change the world, but I always felt some distance from the concept until I did this project and actually understood what changing the world felt like, even if it was a small change. How did earning your Gold Award help you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? My project taught me to be an innovator. Because the project was themed around construction, I had to engineer with the materials I had and could recycle to make the boxes perfect. **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 #CherryCreekHighSchool #greenwoodvillage #MetroDenver #bees #TakeAction

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Jill Mann of Windsor in the Northern & Northeastern CO region is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community. GSCO asked Jill 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? Originally to help my daughter’s troop when my oldest girl was a Daisy and they needed someone to coordinate the troop cookie sales. I’ve since helped out with troop and service unit level leadership. Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. I’ve been our troop cookie manager for four years now. This is my second year in a troop leadership position. Last year, I worked with our Brownies. This year, I’ve helped our Daisy and Cadette level troops (mixed level troop) with their badge goals, and assisted our other leaders with Brownie and Junior level activities. I have also assisted our troop leadership team on our yearly troop camping trips. This year, I’ve also assisted with our service unit leadership and was the service unit cookie manager. What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? I’ve learned that there are so many more opportunities for our girls to learn a variety of skills, all they need is a little guidance to see the possibilities and think outside the box. What do you hope girls have learned from you? I hope they have seen that they really can do anything they want to with a little determination and the ability to ask for help if they need to, and that there is something to be learned from every experience. How has your experience as a volunteer helped you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? I have definitely had to leave my comfort zone on this adventure. I tend to be more of a quiet observer. Being a Girl Scout volunteer, I’ve had to get out, do things, and learn new skills I would not have otherwise picked up. 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 #Windsor #NorthernampNortheasternCO #NationalVolunteerAppreciationMonth #VolunteerAppreciation

What did you do for your Gold Award project? As a high school student in Boulder, I’ve had incredible access to the outdoors throughout my teen years, like many of my classmates. However, as I’ve progressed through school, I learned that many of my peers do not remain engaged in the environment or its issues: they do not spend time outside, choosing instead to focus on schoolwork, Netflix, or other indoor activities, rather than the area that surrounds us. For my project, my aim was to foster a connection between teens and the environment. To this end, I worked to acquire information focused on teens’ engagement with the outdoors and then facilitated an improved connection with the outdoors. Through this, I also increased their understanding of environmental issues, in Boulder and beyond. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? At the start of my project, I administered surveys to students at high schools in my area. The results of the surveys illustrated the lack of environmental connection experienced by my peers. After analyzing the surveys, I designed a program based on their results that subsequently improved participating teens’ levels of engagement with nature and understanding of issues impacting the environment by approximately 30%. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? Science Adventure Program has agreed to a written commitment to continue the project through an annual meeting focused on fostering environmental stewardship and awareness in high school aged teens before they begin adult life. I shared information with a number of environmental groups, both local and international. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? As part of my project’s sustainability, I contacted the environmental organizations Green 10, Sierra Club, and Forest Stewardship Council. Green 10 is a coalition of environmental organizations that are active on the European level, which helped me to have a global impact by sharing my information. Forest Stewardship Council is located in the United States and focuses on environmental stewardship in relation to United States forests. Both Green 10 and Forest Stewardship Council responded to my research, which helped to spread the information acquired in my project nationally and globally. What did you learn about yourself? Throughout this project, I learned how to effectively communicate my ideas to a wide variety of audiences. I have also learned the importance of delegating work while in a leadership position. I realized that I was incapable of doing everything myself: for example, I could not administer a large quantity of surveys to multiple high schools. By delegating, I was able to reach my goals. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? I believe that earning my Gold Award will impact me primarily due to the fact that my communicative and leadership abilities have improved. Because I want to continue my education in regards to environmental studies, which has a focus on collaborative group work, having strong communication skills will be impactful to me in the future. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? At the beginning of high school, a large number of girls in my troop ended their involvement. This was deeply disappointing to me, because Girl Scouts has been deeply important to my personal community and friend group. Only one other girl remained part of my troop, and we both decided to complete our Gold Awards. Our work on our separate projects added to my experience as a Girl Scout, and I think that because we were supporting each other in our goals, I was able to build a strong community and truly learn from my experience as a Girl Scout in high school. How did earning your Gold Award help you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? I think that my Gold Award project helped me to become an innovator because I was obligated to solve problems as they arose, which challenged me, but also forced me to grow in this respect. For example, one meeting with students was scheduled in late December, but it became difficult for classmates to meet up in person for the second meeting in January. To resolve this, I chose to lead a session through a group email conversation. This, to me, was an effective and innovative solution, and helped me to become a stronger problem solver. To me, completing my Girl Scout Gold Award project represents the fulfillment of my commitment to Girl Scouts. Much of my younger years focused around being a Girl Scout, and to recognize that I have gotten to this point as one is deeply important to me. I connected with my community by sharing my passion and my idea with the people around me, which has been one of the most important aspects of my time as a Girl Scout. **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 #outdoors #FairviewHighSchool #HighestAwards #NorthernampNortheasternCO #GoldAwardGirlScout #GirlScoutGoldAward #boulder #nature #TakeAction

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Jamie Buttermore of Grand Junction 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 Jamie 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 was a Girl Scout for a few years as a child. I knew that as soon as my oldest was in kindergarten, I was going to find a troop for her. A troop we found, but the leadership team decided to step down. A couple of parents approached me to help them lead. At the time, I was very pregnant and working full-time and questioned my ability to be successful, but I knew that I needed to step up, so that my daughter and the other girls in the troop could have a great experience like I had as a child. Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. Initially, I started off as a troop support volunteer. That did not last long until I became a troop leader. I have been a troop leader now for six years. I also currently am on the Membership Connection Committee through Girl Scouts of Colorado. What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? As a volunteer, I have learned how to effectively communicate with large groups of people, hone in on my multi-tasking and organizational skills, and have learned fun skills along the way. I have also learned the quirks of many girls over the years, learned their fears and dreams, and learned how to cherish my role and impact not their lives. What do you hope girls have learned from you? My goal as a leader is to give the girls experiences they would not otherwise get. My goal is to role model kindness, hard work ethic, and a thirst for adventure. I want them to give back to the community, always believe in themselves, and try new things. I hope that the girls I have led over the years have fond memories of me and truly felt I was genuine and made some type of positive impact on their lives. How has your experience as a volunteer helped you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? I have always been a G.I.R.L. It is in my innate personality. What I hope my volunteer experience has helped me do is create more G.I.R.L.s. I hope that I have empowered them to go after their dreams, get creative when problem solving, innovate new ways of doing things, take chances, try new things, and take ownership and lead the way. 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 #GrandJunction #NationalVolunteerAppreciationMonth #VolunteerAppreciation #WesternColorado

What did you do for your Gold Award project? The root cause of my project was helping people understand what it is like to have a speech impediment and how to avoid bullying people with disabilities. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? I presented to high schoolers. The impact my project had on the students was they understood what myself and other people who stutter go through. I gave them a survey before and after my presentation for a total of 42 surveys. The pretest average score was 3/10-4/10 and two people got 10/10 and the after survey average score was 8/10-10/10. The teachers and students were interested and engaged during the presentation and said they learned more about stuttering. One of the teachers, Mrs. Stover, even said my presentation was a great example of how to engage an audience because I started out with a video clip of teenagers who stutter. The class also responded well to my own video of my friend at camp. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? My Loyo (Living on Your Own) teacher and my speech pathologist will continue my project. In fact, after I gave my two presentations, Mrs. Shepherd asked my fifth period teacher if I could present my project to that class. The teacher said , “Of course!,” so I will be presenting my project again. My website is up and running and I have given my PowerPoint and brochure to Mrs. Shepherd for next year’s classes. I have a letter from Mrs. Shepherd saying she will do that. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? I have my website up and running. My website address is  Http://mrryan02.wixsite.com?stuttersupports. I am working with Camp Say to have my website listed on their website. What did you learn about yourself? I learned about other people’s reactions to people getting bullied because of their stutter. I learned a lot about myself. I pushed myself to find someone famous to come to my presentation. I faced my fears in making a video, reaching out in person to my assistant principal, asking my teachers if I could present, and working 80 hours on one project.  I learned I have what it takes to speak in front of my classmates and follow through on a large project. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? Earning my Gold Award has taught me to be persistent in my goals and what I want to achieve in life. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? Because it made me face my fear of talking in front of the class or in front of anyone. How did earning your Gold Award help you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? Risk-taker because I took a risk of talking in front of the class and it turned out really well. People loved it. **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 #stuttering #GoldAwardGirlScout #Broomfield #GirlScoutGoldAward #bullying #MetroDenver #TakeAction #BroomfieldHighSchool #stutter

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Shauna Hodges of Westminster 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 Shauna 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 was a Girl Scout as a girl and always loved my troops. I moved around a lot as a kid and the one consistent activity I always had no matter where I lived was Girl Scouts. When my daughter was in first grade, an email went out for an info night at our school and I figured I’d go check it out. I joke that I was tricked into being a leader because a friend offered to be co-leaders and then called me that night and had to back out herself.  We made it work with other parent volunteers and now we have an amazing troop! Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a GirlScout. I’m a leader for my troop of fourth grade Juniors, a leader for a newly formed troop with an emphasis on traveling, on our service unit team for Dry Creek 622, and have recently volunteered to become a trainer and utilize my CPR/First Aid Instructor license! What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? I’ve learned so much! I love learning about new Girl Scout badges, initiatives like the G.I.R.L Agenda, and all the great things Girl Scouts is providing to girls. I am a teacher by trade, but I love that I have been able to utilize my classroom skills beyond the classroom to make the experience that much greater for the girls. I also finally learned how to make a decent fire, which trust me, for someone who camping is a challenge for, making a fire is a huge accomplishment! I also learned what it’s like to have a strong Girl Scout family. In October 2017, in the midst of getting our troop going on our last year of Brownies, I was diagnosed with Stage Three breast cancer. Girl Scouts became the one activity I could keep doing with my daughter.  It became the way I showed her I was sick, but still okay enough to do things together. I went through 20 weeks of chemo, five weeks of radiation, two major surgeries, and have been receiving an infusion medication every three weeks that will continue for a few more months. Through all of that time, my troop of Girl Scouts, my service unit, and council remained by my side. They sent care packages, dinners, and the sweetest cards I could ever hope for. I went to as many meetings as I could, and the girls were amazing seeing me lose my hair and not look and act like myself.  They asked questions, but always in a supportive way. I knew I was part of an amazing Girl Scout family, but I never knew how amazing until I saw how everyone stuck by my side through everything. What do you hope girls have learned from you? I hope the girls learn problem solving, leadership, and perseverance. I feel like they shouldn’t be afraid of a situation where things don’t go as planned and should instead take it with grace and figure out how to make the situation a positive experience no matter what. I also hope they learn to see that there are adults in their lives other than their parents who are rooting for them, cheering them on, and wanting the very best for them! How has your experience as a volunteer helped you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? My experience has really helped me to expand what I am comfortable with in many ways. I can organize a camping trip or plan a badge or meeting off the top of my head when things don’t go as planned, help girls solve conflicts between themselves, and show the girls how to balance a wide range of activities. 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 #Westminster #NationalVolunteerAppreciationMonth #MetroDener