Girl Scout Cadettes and Seniors are invited to Careers in Construction Day hosted by GE Johnson on Saturday, September 29, 2018 in Colorado Springs. Construction Day covers a broad range of construction careers from building to project management to sustainability and more! Come learn from GE Johnson’s experts. Try your hand at building and make a little free library you can place in your neighborhood. Cadettes can earn requirements towards the “Woodworking” badge. The GE Johnson team will also host a behind-the-scenes construction tour of the U.S. Olympic Museum. Cost is $10/ Girl Scout Cadette/Senior. Registration can be found at https://goo.gl/9Y4evs and the registration deadline is September 14. The event will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. Girls will want to bring a sack lunch and refillable water bottle and wear closed toe shoes (no sandals or flip flops, please). The event will be hosted at GE Johnson’s Logistics Facility in Colorado Springs and the U.S. Olympic Museum construction site. Participants will need transportation from GE Johnson’s Logistics Facility to the US Olympic Museum. Questions? Please email Lori Thompson at lori.thompson@gscolorado.org. #GSCOevents #CareersinConstructionDay #ColoradoSprings #Communitypartnerships #communitypartners #PikesPeak #GEJohnson

Girl Scout Daisies and Brownies can earn a “Responsible Cat Owner” patch from the International Cat Association (TICA) at the Denver County Fair, July 14 and 15, 2018. Patches are earned after completion of TICA’s Cat Care 101 lesson, an interactive tutorial that covers how to choose a cat and the responsibilities that go with having a kitty in your life. Girl Scouts will practice how to groom and care for a cat on plush kittens. Lessons take about 15 minutes and girls who participate will get certificate and patches. There is no charge to earn the patch, but participants must buy an entry ticket to the fair. General Admission tickets are $10/adults and $3 for kids 3-11. Tickets can be ordered at http://www.denvercountyfair.org . For more information about the patch lesson schedule, please contact Jackie Rose at cuddlebugpersians@msn.com. The fair will be held at the National Western Event Complex at 4655 Humboldt Street in Denver. TICA is the world’s largest registry of pedigreed and household cats. TICA will host a variety of family-friendly feline activities at the fair including cat shows, feline agility demonstrations, painting classes and more. For more information, please contact cuddlebugpersians@msn.com. #Daisy #GSCOevents #GirlScoutBrownie #Brownie #ResponsibleCatOwnershippatch #GirlScoutDaisy #Communitypartnerships #Denver #GirlScoutBrownies #ResponsibleCatOwnership #GirlScoutDaisies #MetroDenver #InternationalCatAssociation #DenverCountyFair #cats #patch #cat

Submitted by Gabriella Grieve Metro Denver Parker Girl Scout Juniors can earn their “Horsemanship” badge with Colorado Reigning Heroes in 2018! Learn about horses and complete requirements for this badge. The class will cover grooming, handling, learning the body language of a horse, riding, and more! Dates: September 8, 16, 22, and 30; October 6, 20, and 28; November 3 and 17; December 1 and 15; and January 5 Time: 1-3 p.m. Cost: $40/Girl Scout. Class is limited to 10 girls. Register: Please email Paula Quillen at Colorado Reigning Heroes at reigningheroes@yahoo.com to register and for payment instructions. Registration will include permission, liability, and photo release forms that will need to be completed before the event. Registration Deadline: August 25 Classes may be held outdoors or inside an arena depending on weather. Girls need to wear appropriate clothing including long pants and closed toe shoes. Helmets will be available for riders. For more information about Colorado Reigning Heroes visit http://www.coloradoreiningheroes.com/. Questions? Please contact Paula Quillen at reigningheroes@yahoo.com. Paula is happy to have prospective troops tour the barn before registering by appointment. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #Horsemanshipbadge #Parker #GSCOevents #Horsemanship #horse #GirlScoutJunior #GirlScoutJuniors #Junior #ColoradoReiningHeroes #horses #badge #Juniors #MetroDenver

What did you do for your Gold Award project? My project addressed the decline in local bee species, such as the leaf cutter and mason bee. Over the past several decades, local bee species have been quietly slipping into extinction leaving the ecosystem a step behind in facing such a large issue. While bees themselves may be small, the impact and power they hold on our ecosystem is immense. However, too often their role is overlooked and not taken into consideration by much of the population. Before I started this project, eating meals was no more than a passing thought and I never thought where the food was coming from that I was ingesting. Once I began my project though, I discovered that 1/3 of every bite of food comes from the bees and the plants and crops they pollinate. Simply put without the bees, we would starve, and be forced to find expensive and alternative solutions for feeding the population. The focus of my project was to go to elementary schools and teach about bees and install bee boxes that local bee species and other pollinators can call home. Most people don’t know a lot about bees especially local bees. Commonly people think of honeybees, however these are not included in the local bee species. Going into these schools and teaching allowed me to clear up the distinction and show just how important the local bee species are. In addition, I was able to highlight some of the factors that are causing local bee population decline including habitat destruction from wildfires and development. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? My presentations were interactive and engaging, which allowed students to ask and answer questions. Following the presentation, we were able to go outside and pick a spot to hang the bee box and using what they learned in the presentation, were able to pick out a location for the bee box. Before every presentation I would ask the kids, “What do you already know about bees?” Being kids, I would always receive crazy ideas and stories, but then to watch the shift from general awe, to impactful interest was truly amazing. When kids start to realize that they can make a difference is something that can’t be under-appreciated. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? There are two main project impacts that are foreseeable in the future. The first being a less drastic decline in local bee populations. With the bee boxes now in place, local bees now have an additional location to nest and work. Another impact would be that now kids have learned about the importance of bees in the community and can go spread this knowledge to others to hopefully continue to spread the word on bees. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? My plan started in Larkspur and spread along the Front Range ranging from Monument to Sedalia. These three different locations were sought out because they allowed for different groups of students to come in and learn about the bee boxes, but also were placed so that they could hold an impact on the surrounding area. All three locations are somewhat rural and have gardens and the boxes should be utilized by local bees the area to increase pollination. On a national level, people from across the nation come to the Stone Canyon Discovery Ranch and will be able to learn about the bee boxes and what they provide. There is potential if there is interest for them to take a box back to their home because extra boxes were provided to the ranch so that they can be spread across the country. Although I did complete the national requirement, I would have liked to been able to deliver the boxes to other states myself however, the time and resources needed were not achievable. Regardless, I am excited to hear from the people who take boxes from Stone Canyon and where they end up. What did you learn about yourself? I learned to communicate more effectively with a broad range of individuals of all ages. As I begin my career as a cadet at the United States Air Force Academy, it is vital that I be able to communicate and be confident in what I am talking about. This project taught me to do just that, as people expected that I know the content of my project and be able to answer and questions and solve and issues that arose with the project. Whether it be teaching about bees, or guiding a plane to take off, I know that I am now better equipped to be assertive and knowledgeable in whatever role I fill. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? Before this project, I tended to be more passive and not want to go against the crowd of what people were saying. However, it has become apparent, especially in society today, that change will not occur if you are passive or refuse to share out. It is of the upmost vitality that individuals speak up and project issues that otherwise might continue to go unnoticed. By not only pointing out an issue, but being able to do something to resolve such has provided me with the experience of being able to instill change and reflect on how action caused resolution. This realization and viewpoint will propel me into my career as a military officer, whose duty is to solve and address issues that face our nation and military. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? The Gold Award was a closing step on my Girl Scout career and brought all the skills I had acquired over the years full circle. It was very exciting to be able to come up with an idea and then put in into action. Had I not done my Gold Award, I think I would have felt like I didn’t finish something and that there was stuff left to do. How did earning your Gold Award help you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? Not only did I discover a lot about bees with this project, but I also discovered a lot about myself. I learned that I enjoy teaching and being able to answer questions that people have. Of course, this seems like a common practice especially in high school, however, teaching about it to a younger generation was something special that I enjoyed. In addition, it allowed me to better understand what it means to truly be a Girl Scout- bringing about change and inspiring others to do the same. Each one of my presentations was done with a new set of students and teachers. This allowed me to work with so many different people of all ages and understanding which bettered how I could teach about bees and make it so it had the most impact on each audience member. In addition, I learned how to communicate with staff so their classes benefitted and the content I was teaching could be incorporated into their lessons plans. By going to different locations and teaching, I was able to see how each site was going to be impacted differently. The issue that I addressed was the decline in local bee species. My resolution to this problem was to build bee boxes and place them at different locations so that bees could now have a place to live. And while I can’t completely reverse what has already happened to the population, I can help reduce the negative impacts and assist the bee populations return. Most importantly, though I was able to educate and teach others about the issue our community faces. When kids got excited to go outside and place the bee box and paint their garden bee rocks was exciting and showed how I was able to create an impact. **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 #Larkspur #GoldAwardGirlScout #MetroDenver #bees #TakeAction

Submitted by Annie Sachs Mountain Communities Steamboat Springs Steamboat Springs Cadette Troop 54538 recently celebrated earning their Bronze Award (as fifth-graders) with a Denver weekend of theater and fine dining! The girls loved the touring Broadway musical “School of Rock,” especially with all the children in the cast. They also enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of DCPA and capped off the weekend with the famed Brown Palace brunch. Thanks so much to the Lufkin Family for helping fund all the fun! This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #Cadette #GirlScoutCadette #HighestAwards #oldergirls #Cadettes #BronzeAward #GirlScoutCadettes #SteamboatSprings #TakeAction #mountaincommunities

From Girl Scouts of the USA In celebration of National Great Outdoors Month, Girl Scouts is excited to host four weeks of exciting outdoor challenges in June. Follow along, have fun, then make sure to share your photos on Instagram using the hashtag #gsoutdoors for a chance to win an awesome prize from the North Face! Mother Nature provides us with so much beauty, inspiration, and fun that it’s only right to give back to her! Of course there are so many ways to protect and enhance our outdoor areas—so use your imagination and get ready to have a great time while doing good. To participate in this week’s challenge, choose one of the following activities. June 23-30: Add something cool. Volunteer to do something like plant flowers outside your local library, help build a dog park in your neighborhood, or spruce up a trail at a nearby national park—and know that whatever you contribute will make the great outdoors even greater for people in your area. Banish the bad stuff. Have you spotted garbage in your neighborhood or graffiti on nearby park benches? Take initiative and gather a group of friends and family to clean it up! You’ll be helping the whole community, and you’ll feel an awesome sense of pride in doing the right thing. Shout from the rooftops. Wish your local government did more to protect and enhance the parks and other outdoor spaces in your area? Does your community recycle and use resources as wisely as they could? Think about it, then share your thoughts with others. Whether you write a letter to the editor of your local paper or contact your local officials over social media, every voice counts and can help make the world a better place. Don’t forget to share pics of your adventure on Instagram with the hashtag #gsoutdoors! You could win BIG! For more great times, check out all the Outdoor badges you can earn as a Girl Scout! *** To power the next generation of women who push boundaries and move mountains, The North Face has recently teamed up with Girl Scouts of the USA to inspire girls to challenge themselves, learn about the natural world, and continue the Girl Scout tradition of having life-changing outdoor experiences. Through our multiyear collaboration, The North Face will support the development of 12 new Outdoor Adventure badges, with programming ranging from mountaineering and climbing to backpacking, hiking, and trail running. These 12 new Girl Scout badges, which will roll out over the next two years, will teach girls in virtually every U.S. zip code about the benefits of outdoor exploration. Learn more about this exciting collaboration. #GirlScoutsoftheUSA #outdoors #GSUSA #GreatOutdoorsMonth #gsoutdoors #adventure #environmentalstewardship

Congratulations to Brianna, a Girl Scout Junior from Littleton, for submitting the winning patch design for our Elitch Gardens patch contest! Brianna’s design will be featured on the event patch that will be given to each participating Girl Scout during our Girl Scout Days with Elitch Gardens July 27-29, 2018. All Girl Scouts, friends, and family are invited to Girl Scout Days. Cost is $25.99/person. Tickets can be purchased at https://goo.gl/Ekz6Hx. Not able to make it? No problem. Elitch Gardens is offering a Girl Scout discount for a daily ticket all season long that can be purchased through the same link. A portion of all tickets sold will be donated back to GSCO. Questions? Please contact Lori Thompson at lori.thompson@gscolorado.org. We hope to see you there! #GSCOevents #Communitypartnerships #Denver #ElitchGardens #MetroDenver #patchcontest #Littleton

Girl Scouts of Colorado is partnering with the Colorado Springs Fire Department on an exciting camp offering for summer 2019. At “Summer Heat Fire” session, female firefighters volunteer their time to teach girls firefighting and leadership skills. Girls wear real firefighting gear while learning and working through a series of fire related challenges. Other activities may include; an aerial ladder climb, search and rescue techniques, vehicle extrication, and working with hose lines while suited up in protective firefighting gear and breathing apparatus. The highlight of the week is a live fire exercise where participants will extinguish a real propane fire! There is no physical requirement to participate in this camp and all Girl Scouts are welcome. Are you interested in learning more? Girl Scouts can attend a one day event this summer where they will practice and learn a sampling of the skills and activities that will take place at the 2019 camp! OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Sign up now for for the Summer Heat Taster on Wednesday, July 25,  2018 9 a.m – 5 p.m. at the Colorado Springs Fire Department Tower! This event is open to Cadettes going into 8th grade in fall 2018, Seniors, and Ambassadors. Troops can attend together, but girls will register individually. Additional adults for supervision are not required at this event, but if interested can register as a volunteer. Event registration closes July 17. On July 18, all participants will be sent an email with more information and required forms and waivers to bring to the event with them at that time. Girls will not be allowed to stay for the program if they do not arrive with the waiver completed. More information and registration here: http://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/content/girlscoutsofcolorado/en/events-repository/2018/summer_heat_fire_cam.html Questions? Email Outdoor Programs Manager Anna Danila at anna.danila@gscolorado.org. OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA #firefighter #ColoradoSprings #oldergirls #SummerHeatTaster #summercamp2018 #GirlScoutCamp #summercamp2019 #SummerHeat #PikesPeak #ColoradoSpringsFireDepartment

Submitted by Lily Barkau Northern & Northeastern CO Fort Collins Service Unit 747 will be holding its first-ever service unit camp this summer from August 3-5, 2018 at Meadow Mountain Ranch in Allenspark. Registration is open to Brownies and older, but if you have a Daisy troop that is interested, please contact us for more information. Registration information is on the flyer above. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #GSCOevents #NorthernampNortheasternCO #GirlScoutCamp #MeadowMountainRanch #FortCollins #camp

Troop Leaders ***Please Note*** If you want to save any information from your 2017-18 year plan, or if you have started planning for your next troop year, please download and save or print all information (meeting plans, meeting or activity notes, badges/journeys earned, attendance records) no later than Thursday, June 28, 2018. The Volunteer Toolkit will automatically archive all information stored in the toolkit on July 1, but any year plans for the upcoming Girl Scout year will not be saved. It’s best to download and save or print all information that you want to keep. You will not be able to access any tabs in your Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) from Friday, June 29 through Friday, July 13. During the same time period, all volunteers and family members will still have access to myGS, Member Profile, to renew memberships, and update member information. If you have any questions, please contact your volunteer support specialist. Don’t know who that is? Please email inquiry@gscolorado.org. #myGS #VolunteerNews #VolunteerToolkit

Girl Scouts of Colorado’s Membership Connection Committee (MCC) would like to wish each and every Girl Scout volunteer a happy summer break – maybe the summer brings a chance to recharge your troop leader battery by hanging out at the pool or doing a few fun activities. Or, maybe this is the year for the big camping trip or European adventure. No matter your journey, enjoy it! When it’s time to return to troop in the fall, please join the MCC at a Leadership Summit or Super Saturday Training. Leadership Summits provide a fantastic opportunity for newer volunteers to learn the ropes from more experienced volunteers. Or, if you’ve been a volunteer for a while, plan to come to share your knowledge with others and get some new ideas. It’s all about networking… Everyone kicks off the new year with the excitement gained by spending time with your peers whether you’ve been a volunteer for 10 years or 10 days! The MCC will be at all Leadership Summits and select other training events to conduct Voices 2018 while surveying members on a range of topics designed to provide feedback to the Girl Scouts of Colorado Board of Directors and senior council leadership. Your feedback is valued and important, please plan to stop by and visit with us and express your opinion! Interested in learning more?  Search the GSCO Blog for “MCC” or visit us online at http://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/about-girl-scouts/membership-connection-committee.html.  You can also contact the MCC Chair, Caroline Cornell at gsco.mcc@gscolorado.org for additional information. #VolunteerNews #GSCOevents #SuperSaturdayTraining #MembershipConnectionCommittee #MCC #LeadershipSummits

From Girl Scouts of the USA In celebration of National Great Outdoors Month, Girl Scouts is excited to host four weeks of exciting outdoor challenges in June. Follow along, have fun, then make sure to share your photos on Instagram using the hashtag #gsoutdoors for a chance to win an awesome prize from the North Face! You know what makes almost any activity more fun? Taking it outside! Enjoying the great outdoors can be done in so many ways—there’s no right or wrong as long as you’re enjoying yourself and respecting your neighbors. The point is to get outside, breathe that fresh air, and have fun with friends and family. To participate in this week’s challenge, pick one of the activities below! June 16-22: Take a chance. Pull out that summer bucket list and start crossing outdoor adventures off it! Plan a camping trip, hike that tough trail you’ve doubted you could conquer, visit the national park you’ve been dreaming of… There’s no better time than the present! Make a splash. Curious about kayaking, whitewater rafting, or surfing? Sign up for a lesson and see how far the current carries you! Learn a survival skill. Girl Scouts are always prepared! So why not learn a new skill that could benefit you for a lifetime? Learn how to start a campfire in a pinch, take a first-aid class, or connect with community experts to improve your outdoor skills so you’re ready for the unexpected. Don’t forget to share pics of your adventure on Instagram with the hashtag #gsoutdoors! You could win BIG! For more great times, check out all the Outdoor badges you can earn as a Girl Scout! *** To power the next generation of women who push boundaries and move mountains, The North Face has recently teamed up with Girl Scouts of the USA to inspire girls to challenge themselves, learn about the natural world, and continue the Girl Scout tradition of having life-changing outdoor experiences. Through our multiyear collaboration, The North Face will support the development of 12 new Outdoor Adventure badges, with programming ranging from mountaineering and climbing to backpacking, hiking, and trail running. These 12 new Girl Scout badges, which will roll out over the next two years, will teach girls in virtually every U.S. zip code about the benefits of outdoor exploration. Learn more about this exciting collaboration. #GirlScoutsoftheUSA #outdoors #GSUSA #GreatOutdoorsMonth #gsoutdoors #adventure