Join us at Pirate’s Cove for our annual Girl Scout Swim party, Sunday, June 10, 2018. All Girl Scouts, friends, and family are invited! The event is planned from 6:30 -8:30 p.m. Cost is $6/person and there’s an optional event patch you can purchase for $3 during registration. You can register at https://goo.gl/Qgbz8o. The registration deadline is June 6. Participants who register by the deadline will get faster entry into the park. We encourage everyone interested to register ahead of time as our walk-up registration at the event can take more time to get through. Please register by the deadline to save yourself time! Pirate’s Cove is located in Englewood and offers a leisure pool with a large play structure, a 25-meter, 6-lane pool, a 35-foot slide tower with three slides, a lazy river, and more for summer fun! Participants are welcome to bring in snacks or a picnic. Concessions will not be offered onsite. No glass bottles permitted. Questions? Please feel free to contact Lori Thompson at lori.thompson@gscolorado.org. Hope to see you there! #PiratesCove #GSCOevents #communitypartners #MetroDenver #englewood

New girls and volunteers are invited to join Girl Scouts now with the new extended year membership offer! Now when you sign your girl up for Girl Scouts this spring or summer, you can take advantage of the new extended year membership offer and get 17 months of Girl Scouts for $35 (new members only). Now’s a great time to start a new troop! With the extended year membership, you can get your new troop going right now.  There’s no better way to kick off a great Girl Scout adventure then by starting off with some outdoor spring and summer fun! When school  opens up next fall, your girls will already have formed friendships, tried new things, and be ready to keep their Girl Scout journey going. Troop leaders: It’s a great time to add new girls to your troop! Any new girls who sign up can purchase an extended year membership, join the troop on your spring and summer activities and keep the adventure going next fall. #extendedyearmembership

On Friday June 15, 2018, we will have our fun and engaging Girl Scout Cadette Day at the Colorado Capitol! 75 girls will get the chance to spend the day at our beautiful State Capitol in Denver completing the requirements for the “Finding Common Ground” badge. This badge will provide learning opportunities for girls to acquire skills that can help bring people with different beliefs together to make decisions about our world. Girls will rotate through activities that explore civic debate, learn the art of compromise, and practice skills in mediation. Each of these skills will give them a broader understanding of the process on how decisions are made in a democracy. These are also great skills to mention on those future job, scholarship, or school resumes! Included in our day activities will be a private historical tour of the beautiful Colorado State Capitol. Cost for Cadette attendance is $6 and includes patch, and the limited space for adult chaperones is free.  Register at http://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/events-repository/2018/cadette_day_at_the_c.html. Questions? Contact GSCO Girl Experience Manager Emily Speck at emily.speck@gscolorado.org or 303-607-4811. #GSCOevents #GirlScoutCadettes #badge #FindingCommonGroundbadge #ColoradoCapitol

Submitted by Dawn Moon Metro Denver Denver My name is Dawn Moon and I am a graduate student through Miami University and Denver Zoo! Yes, that’s right. I get to go to school at the ZOO! I wouldn’t have ever made it this far had it not been for my 14 years as a Girl Scout! I grew up in Wyoming, where my love of nature was able to flourish and now that I live in Colorado I want to share that passion with girls here! For my masters, I am pursuing a MAZ (Master of Arts in Zoology) where I am combining my love for conservation and animals with my passion for photography. I have posted an activity on the Activities Board for 11th and 12th grade girls that are interested in working towards their “Photography” badge. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity or potentially participating please contact me by email at moond@miamioh.edu or by phone at 307-797-4448! This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #oldergirls #Photographybadge #photography #Denver #DenverZoo #communitypartners #badge #MetroDenver #MasterofArtsinZoology

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Jordan Cadena of Thornton in the Metro Denver region volunteers at both the troop and service unit levels. She is also a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community. GSCO asked Jordan 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 volunteer to spend more time with my daughter and make a positive impact on girls’ lives. Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. I started out just helping at meetings. Last year, I became a co-leader and service unit treasurer. This year, I have my own multi-level troop (with an incredible leadership team and very involved families). I am also the service unit treasurer and service unit product program manager. What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? Oh man!! Haha! So much and I never stop learning. I have learned and grown as a mom and woman. What do you hope girls have learned from you? I hope girls have learned how to be a good role model and teacher to younger girls. I hope they have learned how to be patient and compassionate, how to lead other girls, and celebrate others’ accomplishments. I hope they have learned how to set goals and know how to plan the process of achieving those goals. I hope they’ve learned to reflect and see where they can do more or make a positive difference or influence for/on others. How has your experience as a volunteer helped you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? Girl Scouts has helped me become a G.I.R.L. on many different levels. I find myself being more outgoing and ready to take on new tasks with a higher level of confidence. Being a troop leader and service unit team member encourages me to be innovative often. I’m always trying to find ways to do things better in my troop and make suggestions where I see fit in the service unit. I will go the extra mile to ensure the success of my girls, my families, and our leaders in the service unit. I hold myself to a higher level of discipline and accountability because of Girl Scouts. Whatever I can accomplish now, I know there is always more and that I am capable of more. I’m constantly looking for ways to learn, improve, make a difference and inspire. 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 #VolunteerAppreciation #Thornton #MetroDenver

Submitted by Ryan Lockwood,  External and Media Communications Specialist for the Colorado State Forest Service As part of a budding partnership between the two organizations, the Colorado State Forest Service has received a donation from the Girl Scouts of Colorado to provide 7,500 seedling trees to be used for reforestation efforts in Colorado. The donation, made to the CSFS-administered Restoring Colorado’s Forests Fund, will be used to provide seedlings for planting in areas impacted by wildfires, floods or other disasters, and that are critical to water protection and wildlife habitat. The number of trees was chosen to honor each of the approximately 7,500 Girl Scout volunteers statewide. The timing of the gift this month coincides with today being National Arbor Day and last week being National Volunteer Week; this year, in lieu of individual gifts typically given to its volunteers, Girl Scouts of Colorado instead chose to invest in the seedling trees. “Girl Scouts of Colorado volunteers give their time, energy and, most importantly, their heart to making Girl Scouts a great experience for girls and that has a lasting and positive impact,” said Girl Scouts of Colorado President and CEO Stephanie A. Foote. “In recognition of all the amazing things that these volunteers do, we chose the gift of trees that will also have a lasting and positive impact by helping to restore forested areas in our beautiful state.” Mike Lester, state forester and CSFS director, said that the goal is for this to be the beginning of a long-lasting organizational partnership between Girl Scouts of Colorado and the CSFS. As part of a collaborative arrangement, the agency is helping Girl Scouts gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of trees and forests in Colorado, initially through increased participation in an annual CSFS-led Scout Day, tours of the CSFS Nursery and educational materials designed specifically for youth. “We see clear parallels between our mission to achieve stewardship of Colorado’s forests and the mission of the Girl Scouts of Colorado to prepare our youth for leadership,” said Lester. “Both of our organizations have the potential to mature and shape our collective future in positive ways.” Those interested in volunteering or making donations to help conserve and restore Colorado’s forests can go to csfs.colostate.edu for opportunities and information. To make a donation directly to the Restoring Colorado’s Forests Fund, visit https://advancing.colostate.edu/RestoringColoradosForests. *** The Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) provides professional forestry assistance, wildfire mitigation expertise and outreach and education to help landowners and communities achieve their forest management goals. The CSFS is a service and outreach agency of the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University and provides staffing for the Division of Forestry within the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. For more information, visit csfs.colostate.edu. Girl Scouts of Colorado is 32,000 strong – more than 22,000 girls and 10,000 adults who believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ to change the world. Our extraordinary journey began more than 100 years ago with the original G.I.R.L., Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Low. On March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Ga., she organized the very first Girl Scout troop, and every year since, we’ve honored her vision and legacy, building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. We’re the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org. #ColoradoStateForestService #VolunteerAppreciation #VolunteerAppreciationMonth #VolunteerNews

Submitted by Sarah Benjamin Metro Denver Littleton Cadette Troop 61353 from Littleton is presenting their Silver Award project on May 6, 2018 at 4 p.m. at the Columbine Library on why feeding ducks bread is bad for them and the environment. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #HighestAwards #GSCOevents #SilverAward #MetroDenver #TakeAction #Littleton

Submitted by Jamie Castillo-Ludwig Pueblo & Southwestern CO Pueblo My Girl Scout Juniors and Cadettes contacted the Pueblo City Council and asked them if they would sign a proclamation for Girl Scout Week. City council had the five girls attend the City Council meeting on March 12, 2018. Each girl was called up by name and the city councilman read the proclamation and signed it. He presented the girls with the signed proclamation. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #GirlScoutWeek #Pueblo #PuebloampSouthwesternCO #PuebloCityCouncil

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Fran Brown of Woodland Park in the Pikes Peak region has been a troop leader for 30 years, in addition to filling many other volunteer roles. She is also a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community. GSCO asked Fran to answer a few quick questions about her volunteer experience. We hope you find her as inspiring as we did. Why did you become a Girl Scout volunteer? I became a Girl Scout volunteer because my most memorable and enjoyable years as a girl were those as a Girl Scout in an intermediate troop with the best leader ever! Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. My volunteer roles as a Girl Scout: Troop leader for 30 years: Brownies (one year), Juniors (27 years), and Cadettes (two years) Neighborhood/service unit director (10 years) Council trainer (40 years) Leader of a Wider Opportunity Camp cook Many more What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? As a Girl Scout volunteer, I have learned that every girl and woman with the desire and willingness to learn, has the potential for greatness. What do you hope girls have learned from you? My hope is that every girl that I have interacted with has learned something of value to enrich her life. How has your experience as a volunteer helped you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? I am a G.I.R.L. as evidenced by the fact that I am proud to be a Girl Scout volunteer following the Girl Scout Promise and Law, with 68 years of experience! Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org. #WoodlandPark #VolunteerNews #volunteerspotlight #VolunteerAppreciationMonth #VolunteerAppreciation #PikesPeak

Submitted by Emma Lilly Northern & Northeastern CO Longmont Almost two years ago, I received a postcard in the mail from GSCO announcing that they would be starting an Older Girl Advisory Board, and that they were looking for applicants for the program. I had been involved in Girl Scouts in a troop from 5th through 8th grade, and I became a Juliette in high school after my troop broke up. I loved going to summer camp, and but besides that, I did not know many other older Girl Scouts. I applied to the program because I figured it would be a good way to meet other active Girl Scouts as well as a chance for me to share my opinions and ideas with Girl Scouts. Being on the OGAB has been a wonderful experience. I have made some really great friends, and not only do we have a ton of fun on our retreats (playing a lot of Spoons and other games), but I also feel we are contributing to some positive changes being made within Girl Scouts. During our retreats and web calls, we have discussed a variety of subjects from the CIT and PA experience, to cookie sales, to how we can keep older girls in the program. When I came to the first OGAB retreat, I was pretty nervous because I felt like I wasn’t a “real” Girl Scout because I am not in a troop, but it quickly became apparent to me that my opinions and experiences were valuable to the group. As my confidence grew, I became comfortable sharing all of my ideas, and now I am one of the more talkative ones in our group. Being a part of OGAB has added a lot to my Girl Scout experience because it has given me a group that feels almost like a troop and it has allowed me to reflect on my experiences in Girl Scouts and see how we could improve certain programs. It also has given me another leadership role within Girl Scouts, because we have essentially been representing girls all around the state. Of course, this is an experience that looks great on college applications and resumes, but it is also real experience that I believe has prepared me for college and beyond. If you are a Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador and have the opportunity to apply to OGAB, I would highly recommend it. It has added so much to my Girl Scout experience, and I have made so many good friends. I have so many fond memories from my time in OGAB, and as I go off to college next year, I will miss it so much. The Older Girl Advisory Board (OGAB) is a group of Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts from all regions of Colorado that provide feedback on projects that enrich the experience of Girl Scouts of Colorado.  Make your voice heard by applying today! Applications close on September 18, 2018. https://gscolorado.formstack.com/forms/ogab2018 Questions? Contact Emily Speck, emily.speck@gscolorado.org or 303-607-4811 #oldergirls #NorthernampNortheasternCO #Longmont #OGAB #OlderGirlAdvisoryBoard

Girl Scout Gold Award candidate Cassidy C. of Highlands Ranch recently accomplished something most golfers only dream about. She got a HOLE IN ONE! GSCO asked this G.I.R.L. to describe the experience in her own words. “I’m still flying high on the hole in one. It was a 190 yard, par 3, hole #4 at Highlands Ranch Golf Club. It was during a high school varsity tournament (I’m a sophomore at Mountain Vista High School) and I used a nine iron. I couldn’t believe it got in the hole!” #HighlandsRanchGolfClub #HighlandsRanch #MetroDenver #MountainVistaHighSchool #golf

As we head toward the finish line of a successful and memorable Girl Scout year, remember that your girls’ journeys have just begun. Come back next year for what promises to be another season full of unmatchable adventure at a place where girls can always take the lead, not stand in the background. Any girl renewed between May 1 and June 15 will receive a free Early Bird patch . Any troop that has completed the Annual Troop Report for this membership year and has two, unrelated Troop Leadership Team members renewed by June 15 will receive a $25 credit to the Girl Scouts of Colorado Shop. Mark your calendars and get ready to renew on May 1! Renewal Tips #EarlyBirdrenewalpromotion #VolunteerNews