I am a 2023 National Delegate and represented Girl Scouts of Colorado at the National Council Session. We delegates are a diverse group of high school girls, a college student and adults. While I am very proud to represent our great council on a national level, I am more proud of the strengths I saw surface in myself. During the complicated process of debating issues and voting, the young ladies in our group would look to me for guidance. They wanted to be sure exactly what they were voting on. It is very easy to get confused on whether we are voting to stop discussing the issue, amend the proposal, approve the amendment, or vote on the final version of the proposal. I explained to them the consequences of a yes and a no vote, while keeping my opinion to myself so they could vote as they thought was right. I mentored these girls and guided them through the process so they could impact Girl Scouts at the national level. It was a huge responsibility and I am very proud of my stretched leadership abilities. When we weren’t involved in national business, I had an amazing time trading half of my 700 patches and swaps with delegates and Girl Scouts from around the country and world. Our college age delegate joined me as we walked around the convention hall looking for people to swap with. We talked with girls, adults, board members, council CEO’s and National Board Members. Both of us are introverts, and we really found our courage. My favorite conversation was with the Second Vice President of the National Board, Trooper Sanders. I told him that I enjoyed hearing him talk at the two previous National Council Sessions and missed his public participation this time. He noticed I was from Colorado and found that we both know one of his friends from my home town. I’m both her twin daughters’ Gold Award Mentor. We had a great conversation about the girls’ projects and took a picture together. Without the energy gained from the whole NCS experience, I could never have approached someone of his position and strike up this special conversation. Girl Scouts is definitely making a positive impact on me as an adult. During Phenom, the weekend activities portion of National Convention, I traded away the rest of my swaps with hundreds more people, and talked with all of them. One particular trade stands out in my mind. My swap was an origami bear. An adult approached me and had a middle or high school aged girl hiding behind her being very shy. The adult told me that her daughter saw my origami bears and really wanted to swap with me. The Scout was very introverted and I didn’t want to make her more apprehensive. I purposely didn’t make direct eye contact and quietly told her that I was giving her an origami bear from Colorado. I offered her a choice of colors, and she asked for blue. She moved to stand side by side with her mom. I handed her the bear and could tell that I just made her day. When she pulled out a swap to trade with me, she had origami cranes. Melted my heart! She offered me my color choice, and I said blue as well, so our swaps will always be friends. She smiled. I told her that her swap was too special to put in my bag of swaps, so I pinned it on my lanyard for everyone to see. For that Girl Scout, swaping with a stranger was a terrifying idea, but she built up her courage to make the special trade. It certainly was a highlight of my convention experiences as I helped her step out of her shell in a safe atmosphere. I have her origami crane right next to my computer to remind me of our special interaction. I had one other swap trade that was very exciting. I was walking into the restroom, looked up and was face to face the CEO of GSUSA, Bonnie Barczykowski. I wanted to say something intelligent or witty, but my mind was a blank and all I could do was point at her and say “I need your patch!” What a face palm moment! She didn’t bat an eye and ask me to follow her to the person who had the patches. I got her patch (which can be worn on the front of my uniform!) and dug through my bag of origami bears for a special one. I made one with “Girl Scouts of Colorado” typed repeatedly on it, but decided that it was too much work for all of the 405 I made at 5 minutes a piece, so it was unique. It was exciting for me to give the CEO of Girl Scouts my special GSCO bear. As I was standing there all proud of my swap experience, the outgoing President of the National Board walks up and says, “You made the origami bears – they are legendary! I want one!” I think the 10 year old inside me exploded with pride and even more excitement! My swaps had a reputation and were LEGENDARY. Wow! I recommend that all Girl Scouts, young and old, experience the wonder and excitement of National Convention. There is so much to do and learn. I talked with so many people who are just like me and made me feel like this is where I belong. I advocated for topics I am passionate about with National Board Members who can make my ideas come true. My Troop that’s now college age came to Phenom and they gathered information that could help them in their careers, got internship connections and learned that important people like National Board Members are just people who really want their opinions. I was so proud to watch them finish the girl age portion of their Girl Scout journey and flourish as strong young adults, knowing that I helped them become these amazing women. (Now I’m going to cry again!) While Girl Scouts is traditionally thought of as helping girls grow to be Go-Getters, Innovators, Risk Takers and Leaders, I experienced it first hand as an adult. I became the outgoing, strong, stress free person that I forgot existed. Girl Scout National Convention made me realize that if I put aside my doubts and self-consciousness, I can do anything!

For our Silver Award project we wanted to teach kids about what compost is and why it's important. We chose this topic because 40% of all food produced in or imported to the United States goes to waste. A lot of that food could be used in compost to grow new plants, greatly reducing the amount of food that would have ended up in the landfill. This project was challenging for us from start to finish. Contacting a school was the first step we had to take, which was difficult because most schools have some kind of compost project in place or aren't interested in starting one. Finding a school that would work with us actually took longer than any other part of this project. We then spent a lot of time researching compost so that we could make an accurate lesson for our school, Smith Elementary. Researching was very necessary for us because explaining compost in a way that kids would understand and find interesting required a lot of knowledge about the topic. We left behind a short book describing what compost is, how it works and a glossary for words they might now know. In addition, we made a sorting game that teaches kids what things they should compost, recycle or throw away. Our book and game can help kids at Smith to understand and retain information about composting. After completing our project, we had much more knowledge about composting, public speaking, and time management.

There’s nothing more fulfilling than discovering new worlds and trying new activities with Daisy Girl Scouts. And now, it’s easier than ever. Girl Scouts of Colorado is excited to participate in a national pilot program, providing new Daisy Girl Scout troop leaders with an amazing resource. Starting in Fall 2023, new Daisy troop (grades K,1) leaders in your council will receive a free monthly supply box filled with step-by-step instructions, ready-to-go supplies, and thoughtful script suggestions. This game-changer resource will follow the Daisy First Year Troop Plan and be delivered at no cost to you. These Daisy supply boxes will reduce planning time and provide ease with program delivery. The Details: 8 boxes with 9 months of content. The first supply box arrives at the end of September/early October. New Daisy troops that launch between July 1, 2023, and January 31, 2024 are eligible to participate. The supplies in the box will match the number of Girl Scouts on the roster each month. New Daisy troops need to meet the minimum requirement of 2+ Troop Leaders and 5+ Girl Scouts to qualify to receive the supply box. Only new Daisy troops are eligible to participate, multi-level troops do not qualify for this program. Each box contains materials for two meetings a month, with the intention of serving troops that meet twice a month. Supplies provided are planned to be reused in future Daisy box activities. Badges and petals earned through the meetings are not included in the boxes. Checkout the Daisy Supply Box landing page: girlscoutsofcolorado.org/daisy-box Visit the FAQs to learn how to qualify for this awesome program: FAQs Q: I want to participate and start a new Daisy troop, where do I get started? A: Yay! You are one step closer to this awesome adventure. Complete this “Create a Troop” request form to be connected to a local Recruitment Specialist who can help with next steps. A staff member will complete your membership and background check, create a brand-new troop number for you, and connect you to volunteer training. Your troop number will then be included to receive the supply boxes once you have a leadership team and 5+ Girl Scouts on your roster. You can visit our blog New to Girl Scouts? to learn more. Q: What is the purpose of this Daisy Supply Box pilot program? A: The intention of this pilot is to respond to common feedback about the new volunteer experience, such as streamlining planning and materials for meetings and support with family engagement to share the load and facilitation of troop tasks. Basically to make becoming a troop leader easier and more accessible! Q: My Daisy troop is participating in this pilot program; how do we get more Girl Scouts registered to our roster? A: Your local Recruitment Specialist can help! We can provide custom fliers for you to distribute to friends and at your school. Additionally, we have a list of interested families in your area that we can introduce to your troop who are excited to get started on their Girl Scout journey. Q: Where will my troop’s monthly box be delivered? A: After troop volunteers complete their training and are actively recruiting new Girl Scouts to their troop, council will request the home address from one of the troop leaders to add to our internal report so that supply boxes arrive at the correct location. Q: I have a troop of Daisy Girl Scouts, but this is our second year. Is the supply box for my troop? A: The Daisy Supply Box closely follows the Daisy First Year Troop Plan. If your troop has already completed the first-year plan and Daisy petals, this supply box will be redundant. We can connect you to a local Volunteer Support Specialistif you would like support on what to focus on during your second year of Daisies. Q: What support will I receive from Girl Scouts of Colorado during this pilot program? A: All new volunteers receive self-paced training from local Volunteer Support Specialists as they get their troop up-and-running and throughout the year. During new leader orientation you will receive resources to plan out your year, required forms, and a tour through Volunteer Essentials. You will receive email communications prior to receiving your first box and throughout the program. Girl Scouts of Colorado will also provide training opportunities on how to utilize prep to use your supply box. Q: What if my troop roster changes during the program? A: Each month, prior to mailing, troop rosters are checked to confirm the number of active members so that the box for that month will have the correct number of supplies. If a troop gains or loses members each month, the supplies in the box will accommodate the new number of members. Q: I am a new Daisy troop volunteer, are we required to participate in this program? A: No, participation in this pilot is not required for new Daisy troops. If you do not want to receive the free supply boxes just notify your Girl Scout staff contact. Q: Will I know what is in each box before it arrives? A: Yes, troop leaders will receive an email prior to the box mailing that will provide information about what to expect in your next box plus additional resources. This email will go out monthly in anticipation of your upcoming supply box. Each box will have a customized postcard inside that will also indicate which supplies from previous boxes to bring to your upcoming meetings. Q: Will my troop receive all 8 boxes in the program? A: This pilot provides 8 boxes with 9 months of content to troops that start on or before September 1. Troops that start after that date will receive the Welcome Kit and then the next box in the series depending on the month they launch their troop. Previous month’s boxes will not be sent to troops. Q: Will the materials in the box be bilingual? A: This initial test pilot will not have bilingual materials. We hope to develop bilingual materials for this program in the future.

It is that time of year again! Summer events are in full swing and back-to-school season is quickly approaching. Now is the perfect time to help us connect families with all that Girl Scouts offers including unforgettable adventures, educational experiences, and lifelong friendships that will shape our young girls’ futures. We need adult and volunteer support to reach more young girls and make a difference in their lives. As a valued member of our community, we invite you to participate in our upcoming events. By volunteering, you'll help us inspire girls to discover their full potential and develop leadership skills that last a lifetime. As a token of our appreciation, all community engagement volunteers will receive special thank you gifts. Additionally, you will be able to attend a special thank-you event in your area! How can you help? Step 1: See your local Girl Scout region’s sign-up below for more detailed information! Step 2: Sign up for a regional training! After you sign up to support an event you'll receive communication about an upcoming training in your area. Step 3: Attend the event, support recruitment efforts, return interest cards to your council contact. Completing one slot earns you an invitation to our Community Engagement Volunteer Thank-you Event OR, if unable to attend, a GSCO water bottle. Completing 2 recruitment slots entitles you to a stylish GSCO T-shirt and the thank-you event. Attending 4 recruitment slots during this period will reward you with a cozy GSCO Hoodie and the thank-you event. Regional Sign-Up Links Region 1&2 Western Slope and Southwest CO (view tabs at top for specific areas) Region 3 Pueblo and Southeast CO (Sign Up Genius) Region 4 Pikes Peak area Region 5 Mountain Communities (view tabs at top for specific areas) Region 6 North East Denver (View different school district tabs to see schools) Region 6 South West Denver (View different school district tabs to see schools) Region 7 Northern and Northeast CO(Sign Up Genius) Together we connect girls with a community in which they can make friends, have fun, find adventure, give back, and learn to lead the way. Does your Girl Scout want to help, too? We have the Recruiter Skills Patch Program and they can build their skills and earn this progressive patch.

My troop and I decided that we were going to do a take-action project a few weeks back. After many hours of planning, we decided to do a presentation on how meat puts more emissions into the air than driving a car. Producing the beef for a quarter pound burger generates about the same climate-warming emissions as burning 1.1 gallons of gas, which typically takes a car 24 miles! We called our event "Ex-moo-se me! Give peas a chance!" We had vegetarian food donated by Tibets, The Organic Sandwich Company, and Boss Lady Pizza. Overall we had seven families there (including the girls who worked on the project.) We presented this information to our audience by doing a small skit. If you'd like more info, our website is bit.ly/dosidonate. Overall it was very fun and we got a chance to make new friends! -- Written by Annabelle

I chose to focus my Girl Scout Gold Award project on solitary bee habitats after seeing the beautiful variations of these projects all across Europe, called "bee hotels." It led me to wonder why I never saw these structures where I live. After some further research, I found a great deal of respect for the work of these solitary bees as successful pollinators and felt inspired to help sustain their populations. Completing this project has helped me gain confidence and prove to myself that I can do big things and change the world for the better. I gained a lot of individual skills during these two years that I can now apply for the rest of my life, and I am also far less hesitant to throw caution to the wind and follow my passions. For me, being a Girl Scout is more than simply selling cookies, doing good for the community, and learning outdoor skills. While these skills of course cannot be looked down upon, as I am going into my 13th GS year, I have learned to appreciate that this group consists of driven and kind girls that build one's character. We uncover our own values and learn to take on challenges, resulting in individuals that can not only make a difference, but can also never be stopped.

Did you know that there are cute, lovable squishable puppies that need temporary homes before they find their FURever home? Colorado Puppy Rescue places rescued puppies with a temporary family until they can be adopted, and we wanted to help be that loving temporary home for a pup in need. For the past ten years, we have wanted to get a dog, but it hasn't been the right time for our family. Becoming a foster family for a puppy was the best way that we could get to love on a puppy without having the responsibility to care for it long-term. After becoming an approved foster family, Colorado Puppy Rescue had us pick up a puppy on Wednesday night and care for it until Saturday morning before the adoption event. We made sure we had our schedule open for those three days so that our pup got all the care she needed. We played tug of war and fetch with her. We also fed her and took her on walks (and picked up her poop). We read books about puppies and shopped for things that we would need to care for her. We also wrote a bio for our pup so that her FURever home would know her strengths and areas where she might require training so that they could match her with the PAWfect people. We chose to foster a pup for our Girl Scout Bronze Award because of our love for dogs and want to make the world a better place. We were so excited to find out Saturday night that she was adopted by a loving couple...it melted our hearts that she found her PAWfect humans! We hope you consider fostering or adopting a pup from Colorado Puppy Rescue!! Look on their website for more information. https://www.coloradopuppy.org Love, Olivia & Ophelia Troop 62090

We visited a historic site, Mesa Verde National Park connected with a Colorado Hall of Fame Inductee- Minnie Harding. Harding was a philanthropist and was a founding member of the Friends in Council which then became part of the Colorado Federation of Women's Club (CFWC). The CFWC, upon the appeal of Virginia McClurg, formed a committee, which became the Cliff Dwelling Association. McClurg, Lucy Peabody and other women advocated and raised awareness to protect this sacred place before most women had the right to vote! In 1906 Mesa Verde became a National Park (although Virginia McClurg had wanted it to be a state park so she could be involved in what would happen to the Cliff Dwellings next). This place may not have been preserved without the work of these and many other women!

Our Cadette level Troop 42852 collected cookie donations to give to the Flight for Life nurses & their crew this year for their Hometown Hero. The nurses gave us a very informative and interesting tour, and couldn't have been any kinder or more personable. They answered all the questions the girls had and they made this such a special and fun event! Each girl got to sit inside the helicopter, and of course, we took a ton of photos. It was a day we will treasure forever, and we so appreciate the work they do for our community!

I'm a Colorado Girl Scout Global Action Team volunteer, a climate change educator, and an Arctic field scientist. Girl Scouts has always been for me a place and an opportunity to build community, make friends, explore new things, and go on adventures together with kind and generous girls and women. The Arctic Ocean is really far away from us in Colorado. Sharing my Arctic experience with Girl Scouts advances Global Girl Scouting while also exploring STEM careers at every age level and earning a badge. In January 2023 I reached out to my local Cadette troop of 6th graders as well as the Girl Scouts in Utqiaġvik, Alaska at the top of the world to find out if they would be interested in me sharing the Arctic buoys, weather and sea ice along with the Float Your Boat program. You may be wondering how you find the Girl Scouts near the Arctic Ocean. At the Farthest North Girl Scout Council, headquartered in Fairbanks, Alaska, the staff graciously received my phone call and then sent me an email with the two (yes there are two troops in this rural Arctic village) troop leaders' contact information. And with a bit of communication, we had a plan in place to visit one of the troop’s early April 2023 meetings at the Utqiaġvik middle school cafeteria. My teammate from the US National Ice Center, Lt. Sarena Padilla in Washington DC joined me during the meeting and we shared our stories with the girls while also learning from them. We learned about many different women scientists using comic cards designed by Karen Romano Young. We also explored USGS Earthshots satellite imagery to better understand environmental change. Back home in early March in Basalt, Colorado I shared the Arctic with Cadette Troop 16109 led by Katie Hone Wiltgen. More than a dozen 6th-grade girls learned about Arctic ocean currents, sea ice, weather buoys, polar expedition gear, and participated in Float Your Boat. Each girl decorated a small wooden boat with a unique serial number that was deployed with a parent buoy on the Arctic sea ice on April 4, 2023. I had the opportunity to personally deliver and place the boats on the sea ice along with nearly 400 others from young people and community members around the world. Now, as the sea ice drifts with the ocean currents, the small wooden boats will ride along for the next year or two and perhaps make their journey all the way across the Arctic and North Pole to Iceland or Norway via the Trans Polar Current and be found by a beachcomber who then reports it found to the Float Your Boat team such as these have been. Even while in the field for a few weeks in Utqiaġvik, Alaska, my volunteer roles with the World Association for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) continued with virtual meetings and correspondence. It's incredible to have connections with young women mentees and friends around the world while at the top of the world. I also shared my Arctic work during the March 11 WAGGGS global STEM event that happened at 1 a.m. for us in our mountain time zone. View WAGGGS STEM webinar recording. When you are considering traveling across the state, the country, or as far as the Arctic Ocean always consider finding the local Girl Scouts to exchange in fun, connections, learning about the region, and really getting the ‘local’s view’ on the place you’re visiting weather with your troop, your family, professional travel, or with friends. Your experience could create a deeper, richer and more meaningful experience as you look wider.

Girl Scout Voices Needed! GSCO in partnership with the University of Denver (DU) is looking to hear what you already know and what you want to learn more about sustainability. This survey is open to current Girl Scout members and their caregivers. Fill out this survey to let your voice be heard!

The 15 Daisy Girl Scouts of Troop 75990, in Lafayette, CO, sold over 5300 boxes. In their leaders' eyes, they set a record! That's over 350 boxes per girl, and they're still in Kindergarten (ages 5-6)! The girls were VERY motivated after earning their My First Cookie Business and Cookie Goal Setter badges. They set the following goals for themselves: donating $100 for every 1500 boxes sold, 3000 boxes to earn a pizza/pool party/PJ party at a local rec center as their family cookie reward (3000 boxes), and 4000+ boxes to earn enough for a field trip to the Boulder County Fair in August (they are very excited about the petting zoo!). They met and exceeded all their goals! The remainder of their cookie money will be used to fund troop activities, including bridging to Brownies next year. Half will be set aside to pay for troop camp, once the girls are Brownies and old enough to go on overnights. In addition to their impressive goals and sales records, they were able to donate over 70 boxes of cookies to their Hometown Heroes, the staff of the Lafayette Public Library, where they hold our troop meetings. We made sure to include some of each flavor in our donations, including some gluten-free Toffee-tastics and vegan Thin Mints so that there would hopefully be something for everyone on staff to enjoy. We presented our wagon-load of cookies during our April meeting that fell during Library Appreciation week and we were able to meet with some of the librarians to present the cookies in person.