Submitted by Madeline F. Metro Denver Englewood This past month, I was invited to participate in the CCIRA’s (Colorado Chapter of the International Reading Association) annual reading conference. More than 1,500 principals and teachers from all over Colorado came and went throughout this conference to learn how they can impact children’s lives through new reading and writing techniques. Their vision is that all people will be empowered to critically engage in our changing world by developing and utilizing literacy skills throughout life. As an advocate for reading and writing, I was very grateful that I got to share my Gold Award project to help CCIRA spread their message. At this conference, I got to create a display to show my Gold Award, as well as attend different sessions with authors who gave me new ideas to add to my project. My Gold Award is a hands-on program to help children read more, learn from what they read, and inspire them to use the lessons they learn in their everyday lives. I used interactive games and activities to help children comprehend the book and also increase their love for reading. By showing how characters in books can be role models and by making their own books, I want children to gain confidence and excitement from reading and writing. With the knowledge they learn from this program, they can make an impact in their own communities. During this conference, I got to talk to several teachers, who had the same goal as I did, about this program. I talked with them about implementing my program in their classrooms because I saw an increase in popularity for reading sessions at the Boys and Girls Club. Sharing my display was really inspiring to me because it showed me that there are others with the same passion with whom I could share ideas. It also showed that I can take action in my community and spread a program that will impact a very common problem in our community. To learn more about my project go to www.thelittlechildrenwhocould.weebly.com. This event has helped me embrace being a G.I.R.L. Being a go-getter allowed me to talk to teachers about my project and my ideas. As an innovator, I was able to create a Gold Award project that inspired children to read more and use what they read to make a difference. Also, being a risk-taker caused me to come out of my shell and be confident about my project and my passions. Because I am a leader, I took the initiative to create innovative ideas and I shared them with the world so that the issue that I was passionate about can be reduced. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #englewood #GoldAwardGirlScout #literacy #MetroDenver

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Sheri Coy of Hesperus in the Southwestern CO region is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community. GSCO asked Sheri 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 have a daughter and we moved to a new place where she had to make new friends out in the country. I came across Girl Scouts at her then school and saw it as a great opportunity for her to make new friends and experience new accomplishments that she does not learn from just going to school. I put her in the group and started to volunteer as a way for us to spend time together and make lasting memories. Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. I currently volunteer with being the leader of our troop. I have also been a troop cookie manager, as well as active in our service unit. I volunteer with the cookie program, organizing a place for delivery and troop breakdown of cookies. I try to get as much opportunity as I can to give my time to the benefit of the girls. What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? This question is very complex. I have learned so much about personalities, and scheduling, as well as conflict resolution, and fun enriched challenges. Everyday I feel I learn something new within all Girl Scouts has to offer. Implementing badges and teaching our multi-troop with many levels has challenges of its own. I have built lasting friendships from endeavors that the girls and I have learned through. I have learned things that as a girl growing up I didn’t have the opportunity to learn, money management, relationships, decision making, as well as life lessons. What do you hope girls have learned from you? I hope the girls learn how be true to the Girl Scout Promise and Law, build lasting friendships, and to make the world a better place, as well as have enrichment skills to last a lifetime. I want them to be proud of themselves and enjoy life to its fullest. I want them to know they make a difference and to have the confidence to do it. How has your experience as a volunteer helped you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? As I sit here, I am seeing that I started with G.I.R.L. backwards, lol. I became a leader of a wonderful troop and had to take risks with the girls to help them to learn. I became a innovator with the STEM movement and then on to a go-getter. This year during cookie season, we all took a risk to better our cookie sales by innovating a sales pitch. We took all the cookie flavors and put them in a dish filled with epoxy resin to set in front of the cookies on our booth. Our hopes were that it would be eye popping and grab the attention of the customers. Long story short, it worked! It was our most talked about part of the program, and next year, we plan to enhance it more by tweaking the corks we noticed from a first draft project. That used all aspects of  G.I.R.L. Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org. #volunteerspotlight #VolunteerAppreciationMonth #SouthwesternCO #NationalVolunteerAppreciationMonth #VolunteerAppreciation #Hesperus

What did you do for your Gold Award project? My project, the Phoebe Lester Memorial Event, aims at educating my local community, especially my school about the dangers of drinking and driving. Inspired by the loss of my friend and cheer teammate by a drunk driver, my event was a three-part effort against drunk driving. It spread awareness to the dangers of drunk and impaired driving, educated on ways to prevent further accidents from happening, and gave back to people impacted by drunk driving crashes, and car accidents in general, with a winter drunk driving themed blood drive. I felt, in holding the event at my high school, that change starts with youth, and in order to prevent future drunk driving accidents from happening, it must be stopped at a young age. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? People in my community, most importantly, the youth, learned the importance of giving back to the community through organ and blood donation, and the dangers of driving impaired. Many people understood the importance of blood donation and were first time donors for my project; more than 126 lives were saved by the blood donation, and many people were eager to donate and happy to help. I also heard people sharing about their experiences and impressions of the videos and booths that they attended, and how impactful they were. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? Because I am a junior in high school, I am still able to facilitate and continue the project with my school until after I leave. However, after high school, I plan to implement the project into a yearly event put on by my school’s National Honors Society (NHS). It will take place in March, combined with their already-established blood drive, but themed with drunk driving. The booths and giveaways will be added to the blood drive. The National Honor Society (NHS) sponsors have already signed a letter of commitment, agreeing to implement and continue my project. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? Drunk driving is both a national and international issue. While my project will not put an end to drunk driving around the globe, I hope and believe this project can and will save lives not only in my community, but hopefully in other areas as well. It starts with one and saving one person could save the future. I used my ideas and steps from my project to make a website that hopefully reaches others across the world. I sent the website to the organizations that took part in my event, inspiring them to take initiative in preventing drunk driving in their own community. What did you learn about yourself? Out of the entire project, the most important thing I learned about myself is that I am capable of whatever I set my mind to. Before the Gold Award, I was never really confident in myself or my abilities. However, after completing an arduous project with blood, sweat, and tears and now saying that I saved and helped others save more than 120 lives, I am proud of myself and more confident than ever. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? Earning the Gold Award will impact me in the future because I will take everything that comes with this award with me through life. The invaluable skills I’ve learned and improved through my project such as problem solving, leadership, time management, confidence, and independence will help me in anything that I choose to do. This award is also an incredible honor that will show my future employers and colleges what I am capable of, and the value I could add to any other employer or student body. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? Earning the Gold Award was an important part of my Girl Scout experience because I have been involved in Girl Scouts since I was in kindergarten, and really wanted to realize the highest achievement for a Girl Scout. The Gold Award really represents the amount of time and effort I’ve put into Girl Scouts to get to this point. I am really glad I was able to use the prior skills Girl Scouts has taught me and incorporate and show it in my Gold Award project. How did earning your Gold Award help you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? I grew immensely as a leader during my project. As I was the lead in my project, I learned how to effectively manage more than 30 people on my team and communicated with close to 100. Before this event, I preferred to have others direct group projects, where I would act as more of a contributor. Now, I have the confidence and abilities to lead others instead of following them. I have also become a go-getter through my project. I realized that if you really want something done, you have to make it happen… you can’t wait for someone or something else to get it done for you. For example, I knew I wanted to have all the organizations attend my event (MADD, Donor Alliance, Uber, and Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank), so to ensure that outcome, I sent multiple emails and texts to engage and remind. In cases where organizations were either unresponsive or less engaged, I called or met with them directly and overcame any issues they identified. **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 #GoldAwardGirlScout #Aurora #MetroDenver #TakeAction #GrandviewHighSchool

What did you do for your Gold Award project? For my Gold Award project, I built an adaptable obstacle course for the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD). The course, called the NSCD Moves Course, is fully adaptable for anyone with any ability or disability, from being blind to being in a wheelchair. To make this course, I used ideas from the course located in the Denver Metropolitan area. I made improvements and updates to the obstacles to make them safer, more fun, and adaptable. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? To measure the impact my course made, I get feedback from participants after running the course and make observations regarding safety of obstacles while it is being run. I also talked to the College and Careers class at my school and was able to discuss the impacts. It is something that people rarely know about and think about when it comes to career options. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? NSCD is an organization that is constantly adapting and changing to incorporate new equipment. They are always upgrading equipment that they currently have to make it more comfortable and safer for the user. My NSCD Moves course will have obstacles added to it through the years, and the organization will keep the course in prime condition, so it is always participant ready. My course can be sustained and upgraded in the future by younger Girl Scouts as Bronze and Silver Award projects. Just having the foundation of the 10 obstacles makes it so the NSCD can change the course to be at any difficulty level they want and be able to add any obstacles they could need. After my involvement, the course will travel around Grand County and will be used to impact people from all around the world who travel here for NSCD programs. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? To show my project to the world, I constructed a website. I sent the web address to several therapeutic recreation centers around the country, so they would be able to see what an obstacle course like the NSCD Moves course can do to benefit participants. The NSCD also attracts many people from all over the country, and even the world, to see their innovative take on therapeutic recreation and how they are implementing the programs that they have. https://sites.google.com/egsd.org/nscd-moves-in-the-mountains/home. What did you learn about yourself? During this project, I had to really focus on and develop the leadership skill of communication. Before I began my Gold Award, I had never been good at communication and communicating in a timely manner. I used to just make plans on a whim and usually, it would work out. Having to put this together really showed me that I had much to improve on when it came to communication skills, especially when I am in a leadership position. The team involved in this project was very adamant about me having a set schedule at least two weeks in advance. After completing the project, I still have a long way to go with improving my communication skills, but I learned where I have a weak spot and now I can work to improve it. I have also learned some valuable skill in perseverance, as I had to cancel the work days for two weekends due to bad weather. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? This process has taught me several valuable life lessons and skills. I learned to organize group activities, as well as how to use the dynamics of the group that I was working with to the best of my ability. This award has also taught my how to write a grant. Since then, I have written a few grants for clubs in my school. This project also opens even more doors for me with college and the military. I have been looking at going into the Air Force through ROTC and this project has given me some of the leadership skills that I will need to succeed in such a program. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? My Gold Award allowed me to connect with my community in a way that I had not been able to in the past. With Girl Scouts, I have been a leader-in-training since the fourth grade. Being able to achieve the Gold Award shows me I have not only become a leader in my community, but that these skills learned through Girl Scouts will continue to impact me through the rest of my life. How did earning your Gold Award help you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? The Gold Award taught me the importance of innovation. To improve on this course, I had to come up with new ideas to not only make the course safer, but more fun as a whole. Wanting to go into an engineering field in college, it is important for me to develop the innovator aspect of being a G.I.R.L. as it is something that I will need to be able to do for the rest of my life. **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. #NationalSportsCenterfortheDisabled #GoldAward #HighestAwards #MiddleParkHighSchool #GoldAwardGirlScout #Granby #TakeAction #mountaincommunities

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Kristi Martinez of Pueblo in the Pueblo and 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 Kristi 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 chose to become a volunteer when my daughter started kindergarten. My mother was my Girl Scout troop leader for many years when I was a child, and it was so fun and rewarding for both of us, I wanted that same experience with my own daughter. Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. I’ve been part of the troop leadership team for my Girl Scout troop for five years. This year, I also took on the service unit cookie manager role for the first time, which was so fun! What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? I’ve learned so much about facilitating fun and memorable experiences for girls of all ages during my time as a Girl Scout volunteer. I continue to learn so much about collaboration, communication, and what it takes to be a role model for girls. What do you hope girls have learned from you? It is my greatest hope that girls have learned the value of volunteerism and sisterhood from me. Every hug, conversation, and experience I have with my amazing troop of girls brings me so much joy and I hope they know this! 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 absolutely helped me become a G.I.R.L.! Volunteering with Girl Scouts constantly reminds me of my personal dreams and reinforces me to go after what I want. I’d love to start my own nonprofit someday to address issues within my community, and Girl Scout volunteering, through its programming and activities has helped me realize that I can absolutely reach that dream. Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org. #NationalVolunteerAppreciation #PuebloandSoutheasternCO #volunteerspotlight #VolunteerAppreciationMonth #VolunteerAppreciation #Pueblo

Without YOU, there is no US! So, thank YOU! Because of you we’re able to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place and prepare them for a lifetime of leadership, success, and adventure.  Although everything girls do in Girl Scouts is girl-led, mentors like you make all the difference in the quality of a girl’s experience and the amazing things she learns she is capable of accomplishing. No cape required: Girl Scout volunteers are everyday superheroes who make a real impact! During Volunteer Appreciation Month and every day after, we thank you for all the AMAZING work you do! Because the work you do with girls is not just for a better today but also ensures the best tomorrow, Girl Scouts of Colorado has made a donation to the Restoring Colorado’s Forest Fund in YOUR HONOR. Our partnership with the Colorado State Forest Service is a perfect fit. The gift of seedling trees to be planted in areas impacted by wildfires and other natural disasters will make a difference for generations to come. Together, we are preparing our girls to lead, and we will see them make a difference in their world. This gift too will continue to grow and make an impact on our future. Watch to learn more about the impact of the gift made in your honor. Honor a Girl Scout volunteer this month Know a Girl Scout volunteer who inspires your girl to dream bigger? Who offers endless encouragement? Whatever your favorite Girl Scout volunteer’s superpower may be, let them know you appreciate everything they do! You can show the love all month long with these great ideas and e-card templates. #NationalVolunteerAppreciationMonth #VolunteerAppreciation #VolunteerAppreciationMonth #VolunteerNews

Submitted by Katie DeBell Mountain Communities Kremmling Girl Scout Troop 50292 of Kremmling made origami cranes at their meeting on Sunday, March 10, 2019 to donate to cancer patients. There is a Japanese tradition that 1,000 origami cranes will grant a wish, such as a wish for long life or cure from an illness. These cranes will be sent to http://cranesforcancer.blogspot.com/ in the name of a relative of a girl in our troop, #TeamHozhoonii, also found on Facebook. Hozhoonii is a 13-year-old girl with a rare for of leukemia, type ALL. This website collects 1,000 cranes and sends them to nominated cancer patients with a wish for a cure. If anyone would like to make a paper crane to donate, follow the link and give a smile to someone who really needs it! http://cranesforcancer.blogspot.com/. Helping others makes us smile. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #CranesforCancer #Kremmling #origami #cancer #mountaincommunities

Submitted by Megan Cook Pikes Peak Colorado Springs We stayed at Twisted Pine Lodge for our cookie rally this year. We were so happy to have the lodge that was warm. We learned at our cookie rally that because we sell cookies, Girl Scouts of Colorado can offer locations like this to troops for very reasonable rates. Because we had a location like Twisted Pine to stay at, we were able to go as a troop to the Ice Castle in Dillon. It was a long drive from Colorado Springs and being able to stay halfway helped our parent volunteers not have to drive both ways in one day. It was a long drive. The Ice Castle was so much fun. We had a tour by the manager, who was a Girl Scout alum. She showed us the features of the castle and told us how it was made. We played in the caves and on the slides. We played until we were too cold to stay any longer. Because we sold cookies, we as a troop paid for this entire trip for 20 girls. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #ColoradoSprings #CookieRally #cookies #TwistedPine #GirlScoutCookies #GirlScoutCookieProgram #MetroDenver #PikesPeak #2019GirlScoutCookieProgram

Submitted by Ariella Wells Northern & Northeastern CO Fort Collins Troop 70720 blew off some cookie energy and spent a couple hours indoor rock climbing. It was a couple of the girls first time and they are hooked! It is helping a couple of others overcome their fear of heights and giving them more ability to see their inner strength. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #FortCollins #NorthernampNortheasternCO

What did you do for your Gold Award project? Given the nature of their work, mental health, suicide, and relationship issues are prevalent concerns among our first responders (police, firefighters, EMS, 911 dispatchers) and their families. To address this, I assisted the local 501c3 non-profit, Status: Code 4, Inc. (SC4I), in the production of a short documentary film for children of first responders.  By capturing interviews of children and their first responder parents on camera, the goal was to encourage communication among first responder families and inform children in how best to be supportive of their first responder parent and one another.  Following the production of the film, I organized a release event on October 9, 2019 that included family-based activities for an audience of local first responders and their families.  I also developed a facilitation and discussion guide to accompany the film in order to encourage healthy communication among individual families regarding the job of the first responder and how it affects family life. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? A survey was taken at the First Responder Kids Film Release Event following a showing of the film. The feedback from first responder families demonstrated they believed in the importance of communication and children talking to their parents and one another.  In particular, some children who attended the event said they thought it was important to have a good relationship with their parents and the kids who expressed their feelings in the documentary film were brave. After giving a presentation and taking a survey at my church, all individuals maintained that the presentation increased their understanding of how children of first responders are impacted by their parents’ profession.  A majority of the church audience also stated that they believed communication was important in maintaining positive mental health and positive relationships. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? The First Responder Kids film is present on the SC4I website, YouTube, Facebook, and is viewable on demand for many individuals in the world to see.  The film itself has been distributed to professional and volunteer first responder organizations throughout Colorado and there are many other agencies in other states (Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota, Utah, Oregon, and Virginia) which have incorporated the film into their mental health training program. Additionally, the Facilitator Guide has been formatted and given to SC4I to be used as a resource in addition to the film. SC4I is providing hard copies of the facilitator guide and soft copies of the film and Facilitator Guide on USB drives to hand out at their conferences and meetings to local first responders. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? Having been placed on the SC4I social media, website, and viewable on demand, the First Responder Kids film has received over 8,000 views worldwide along with only positive feedback. Additionally, the film is available to any public safety organization in the nation, and a national level non-profit called “Wives on Duty Ministries” will be showing the First Responder Kids Film at conferences focusing on “Parenting.”  The facilitator guide and film are being provided to several local responders through Status: Code 4, Inc. Copies of the facilitator guide have also been made available to ResponderStrong, the Colorado state level non-profit for emergency responders. What did you learn about yourself? Throughout the process of planning the event and developing the Facilitator Guide, I discovered my ability to organize meetings and gain multiple expert opinions and advice on topics I was unfamiliar with.  Working on the project led me to understand that completing a large task involves building upon smaller steps and maintaining regular communication with members of a team. I learned that I could accomplish something substantial and impactful with the application of self-confidence, leadership, and by asking others for help and advice. Additionally, listening to firsthand accounts from emergency responders and their children gave me a deeper understanding of some of the challenges they face and a greater appreciation for what emergency responders do throughout our communities. I believe that listening to their stories had an emotionally profound effect on me, and that it opened my eyes to the importance of communication and the prevalence of my relationships in my daily life. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? By increasing my confidence in my abilities to communicate, collaborate, and solve problems, I will likely choose to strive for leadership roles in the future.  In doing so, I can gain further skills and knowledge about how to successfully work in a team and appeal to the strengths of various people to achieve an overall goal. I will also work to establish strong relationships with the people in my life, and to be aware of community issues. I believe that completing my Gold Award has given me a greater passion to identify and solve problems, and that I will continue to carry this passion throughout other aspects of my life. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? Working to earn the Gold Award provided me with the opportunity to develop valuable skills in the form of leadership, communication, and collaboration.  As a result, I believe that I have matured as an individual and developed a mentality that will allow me to strive for leadership opportunities and success in the future. The most personally influential components of the project included not only talking to first responder families about their experiences, but also building a relationship with and gaining valuable knowledge from my project advisor. Through this, I gained a greater understanding of the first responder community, mental health, interpersonal communication, and building relationships. How did earning your Gold Award help you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? Planning and organizing the Film Release Event allowed me to develop a strong sense of self and confidence in my abilities to lead and communicate with other people.  In working with various individuals and planning the event in smaller steps, I realized my ability to complete large tasks through collaboration, leadership, and pre-planning. Attempting to do new things such as participating in interviews on camera and planning the Film Release Event proved to be challenging. However, overcoming these challenges gave me the confidence to tackle similar ones in the future and to address issues in my everyday life and my community. **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 #firstresponders #HighestAwards #ColoradoSprings #GoldAwardGirlScout #AirAcademyHighSchool #TakeAction #PikesPeak

What did you do for your Gold Award project? My project educates people about dog aggression in hopes that more dogs with behavioral issues find forever homes. I worked with a trainer and behavioral specialist who helped me train my own aggressive dog, Hugo. I created dog aggression awareness Instagram and Facebook accounts to document the progress of Hugo’s training. Each post includes a photo of Hugo, a description of training techniques, and facts on dog aggression and adverse behavior. To attract followers, I created a pamphlet that includes a description of the Gold Award, goal of my project, dog behavior information, and my own experience working with Hugo. I then hosted a livestream on Instagram in Denver City Park with the trainer and with Hugo, demonstrating training techniques. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? With information about dog behavior, people can now understand many causes of aggression in dogs, the sequence of aggressive behavior, and how to prevent it. I distributed pamphlets to people who attended my event, Urban Farm, dog parks, and Park Hill Veterinary Clinic. Around seven people came to my event and around fifteen people watched my live presentation on Instagram. I got questions on social media from people regarding their own dogs’ behavior, which stimulated discussions with others over dog behavior. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? During the course of my project, I met the owner of more than 20 Alaskan Huskies, which she trains as sled dogs. Through her, I learned a lot about pack dynamics and the sources of aggression found in a large group of dogs. She will continue posting on my Facebook account regarding dog aggression, along with another dog fanatic I met during my project. I have also provided the pamphlet guideline to the Park Hill Veterinary Clinic to encourage dog lovers to follow Hugo’s Journey on Instagram and Facebook. I hope they will continue to distribute the pamphlets and add their own information to them. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? There are aggressive dogs everywhere.  One of my followers is from Hawaii and has commented several times on my Facebook page, as well as talking about my project to people in her community. She has been continually posting on my page, asking questions about her own dogs and their behaviors. From there, conversations have started, as more people joined in on the discussion from all other parts of the nation. The sled dog owner spends her winters in Alaska, has also spread my message throughout her community by posting from my Facebook and linking my account to her blog. What did you learn about yourself? I learned that I have the power to make a difference. People loved seeing my posts about Hugo, and they would say how much they learned from the posts. They would constantly ask how Hugo was doing with his training, and why I was so interested in this topic. On Instagram, people would like my posts, comment how adorable Hugo was, and send me more information about dog behavior. I had somehow created a small community of people interested in Hugo and his progression. I also learned that I have the ability to overcome setbacks. I realized that things sometimes don’t go as planned and I had to be flexible and keep moving forward. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? During the course of my project, I had to take initiative in order to move my project along. I emailed and called trainers, emailed shelters, handed out pamphlets, and set up a live event at Denver City Park. I’ve never been comfortable reaching out to new people, but this project forced me to move out of my comfort zone and gain the qualities of leadership that I never would have gained. I had to break out of my comfort zone and publicly speak in front of a live audience, something that has always been hard for me to do. Earning the Gold Award has allowed me to gain the leadership and confidence I need to thrive in the real world. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? Girl Scouts is all about building confident, courageous girls, who strive to make the world a better place. The Gold Award allowed me to encompass all aspects of Girl Scouts and truly find a way to make the world better. Everything that I learned from ten years in Girl Scouts was put into this Gold Award Project, including leadership skills, building confidence, and helping others. How did earning your Gold Award help you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? Throughout this project, I had to demonstrate qualities of leadership in order to get the results I wanted. I had to take charge of situations and make sure everything I planned was up to my own expectations. Before this project, I was very passive, but my confidence soon grew, and I was able to become the leader I always worked to be. Furthermore, I had to take risks for the benefit of my project, even if I was at the risk of being denied or rejected. It continued to motivate me to contact more people or research more until I got the results I wanted. **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 #GoldAwardGirlScout #Denver #EastHighSchool #MetroDenver #TakeAction

A bridging ceremony is an important transition in a Girl Scout’s life. It’s a defining moment when a girl celebrates her achievements and prepares for new adventures and responsibilities. Once a girl bridges to a higher level of Girl Scouting, her leadership skills and the experiences she will have continue to grow. Girl Scouts is not simply an after-school activity, it’s the Girl Scout Leadership Experience that builds as girls progress through the program that gives girls the skills they need to empower themselves to take their place as future leaders. Join Girl Scouts from across Colorado at our special statewide bridging ceremony on the Royal Gorge Bridge – the highest suspension bridge in the United States! We are organizing an official crossing of the bridge at 11 a.m. and will host a reception after. When you check in at the Girl Scout table inside the park, you’ll receive a wristband that will allow you into the reception area. Reception includes cupcakes, lemonade, and activities led by GSCO staff. When: Saturday, May 4, 2019 11 a.m. Where: Royal Gorge Bridge and Park Cañon City Register online: https://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/content/girlscoutsofcolorado/en/events-repository/2019/annual_statewide_bri.html Cost: $5 per Girl Scout (includes patch) $3 per friends, family, tagalongs All attendees must also pay $18 per person for discounted admission into the Park, which is good all day. Your discounted admission covers access to the park, bridge, theater, unlimited Gondola rides and any other seasonally available attractions  and entertainment. You may purchase tickets day of or in advance by calling (719) 276 – 8320. We recommend advance sales for groups of 15 or larger to expedite entry. If you purchase admission tickets in advance, you will pick them up at Will Call the day of the event. Registration for the GSCO reception will close on Thursday, April 25. Interested in camping near the Royal Gorge for this event? Check out camping information on the Cañon City website or Royal Gorge. This is not a drop-off event. All Girl Scouts must attend with a parent, troop, leader, or guardian. Adult to girl ratios for events must be met. Questions? Email aimee.artzer@gscolorado.org. Statewide Bridging 2019_Flier #StatewideBridgingceremony #GSCOevents #Communitypartnerships #bridgingceremony #communitypartners #RoyalGorgeBridge #PikesPeak #CanonCity