Submitted by Julie Fischer Metro Denver Denver Join your Girl Scout sisters for the Youth Horse Experience at the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo on March 10, 2018 from 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the National Western Complex in Denver. Registration: $40 for the Youth Horse Experience. Admission into RMHE for one girl and one adult, and two tickets to the Mane Event. Link to register: https://www.coloradohorsecouncil.com/…/scouting-youth-prog…/ Spread the word and contact Julie Fischer at (303) 747-2512 or dj3fischer@wildblue.net. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #YouthHorseExperience #GSCOevents #Denver #NationalWesternComplex #MetroDenver #RockyMountainHorseExpo

Submitted by Kay Martley,  mart1k@yahoo.com Metro Denver Denver If you have family or friends that are currently deployed, send their APO address to my email or Hearts Across the Miles by March 10, 2018. Packages of Girl Scout Cookies will be shipped to them by Hearts Across the Miles. Girl Scouts have coordinated with them for many years.  Send addresses to either  hatm@gmx.com or mart1k@yahoo.com. If any troop would like to donate cookies to ship and/or volunteer to pack, please notify Hearts for reservation to pack or bring cookies – hatm@gmx.com. Will be packing on Saturday, March 17 at the Colorado National Guard building in Aurora. If troops would like a service project , write notes, and/or decorate cards which will be packed into the boxes being shipped. Contact Kay Martley, Girl Scout volunteer, mart1k@yahoo.com for Kay’s mailing address. #HeartsAcrosstheMiles #2018GirlScoutGirlScoutCookieProrgram #cookiesvolunteers #Denver #cookies #GirlScoutCookies #GirlScoutCookieProgram #MetroDenver

Submitted by Maddie G. Western Slope Grand Junction Our dad has four Girl Scouts this year: a Cadette, Junior, Brownie, and Daisy. He helped us walk through the neighborhood with our cookie powered wagon. He helped us at cookie booths, too. When we needed to make change for customers, he was patient while we did our math. Most dads can’t say they are the best cookie dad, but our dad is! This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form and is part of the 2018 contest for Best Cookie Dad.  Is your Cookie Dad the best? Tell us about him and he’ll win a cool prize! #GrandJunction #bestcookiedad #cookiesvolunteers #WesternSlope #cookies #GirlScoutCookies #GirlScoutCookieProgram #cookiecontests #2018GirlScoutCookieProgam #BestCookieDadcontest

Submitted by Evie M. Metro Denver Thornton I have the best stepdad ever. He is at every meeting with my troop. I am a first-year Girl Scout and he has been to four booths with me and we are doing four more together. We have filled up our car and ride around with cookies and are always ready to sell! I am lucky to have John as a second dad, but even more excited he is a Girl Scout Dad! I can’t wait for adventures this summer too! This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form and is part of the 2018 contest for Best Cookie Dad.  Is your Cookie Dad the best? Tell us about him and he’ll win a cool prize! #BestCookieDadconest #cookiesvolunteers #cookies #GirlScoutCookies #GirlScoutCookieProgram #2018GirlScoutCookieProgram #MetroDenver #CookieContest #Northglenn

Submitted by Lauren and Taylor E. Western Slope Grand Junction Lauren: This is my dad’s third year as my troop’s cookie manager. He’s also been our cookie coach every year! He helps my troop make sure we all have enough cookies to sell to reach our goals, helps shuttle cookies to all the booths, and makes sure we know what to say at the booths to our customers. He does a really good job and my troop leaders love him, too! He takes me to his morning networking meetings so I can do my cookie sales pitch and sell to all of his friends- that’s awesome because I’ve gotten to sell a lot of cookies that way! Our dad’s awesome! Taylor: When I first started selling cookies, I was very quiet and not very sure of myself. My dad worked on my cookie sales pitch with me, practiced what to say if someone says no, and helped me build up my confidence. He’s funny and always knows how to help keep me going! This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form and is part of the 2018 contest for Best Cookie Dad.  Is your Cookie Dad the best? Tell us about him and he’ll win a cool prize! #VolunteerNews #GrandJunction #cookiesvolunteers #WesternSlope #cookies #GirlScoutCookies #GirlScoutCookieProgram #cookiecontests #BestCookieDadcontest

Submitted by Madison and Bailey B. Pikes Peak Florence Our dad, Jeremy, is the best Cookie Dad because he has been by our side selling cookies since day one. This is our very first year as Girl Scouts, we are a Brownie and Daisy. Our dad has taken us to cookie booths, around our neighborhood, and to his work at the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park. He spends every chance he can helping us sell cookies. Not only does he help sell, but he’s taught us so much about running a business! We now know marketing skills, people skills, and handling money because our dad is so awesome and patient with us. We love our dad and wish everyone could have a Cookie Dad like ours! This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form and is part of the 2018 contest for Best Cookie Dad.  Is your Cookie Dad the best? Tell us about him and he’ll win a cool prize! #VolunteerNews #cookiesvolunteers #cookies #Florence #GirlScoutCookies #GirlScoutCookieProgram #2018GirlScoutCookieProgram #cookiecontests #PikesPeak #BestCookieDadcontest

From Girl Scouts of the USA Five bold Girl Scouts—Makenna, Amelia, Julianna, Micaela, and Sofia—demonstrated the power and voices of a 100-woman army. How? This small but mighty group took on a complex and meaningful challenge to earn their Girl Scout Silver Award. As part of Troop 60789 from Girl Scouts of Colorado, the girls worked closely with their longtime troop leader Kristen Batcho and other community mentors for almost a year to champion and pass an ordinance that made smoking (whether tobacco, marijuana, or vaping) in a vehicle while a minor is present subject to community service or a fine. The ban, passed by the Aurora City Council, is the first of its kind in Colorado and an incredible accomplishment for these determined change-makers who are just 13 and 14 years old. Amelia, Makenna, Micaela, Julianna, and Sofia present their smoking ordinance to the Aurora City Council on September 25, 2017. Before starting their Silver Award project, the girls completed the Breathe Journey, part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, focusing on how the environment, air, and noise pollution all affect people. After completing the Journey, the girls discussed what they would do with all of the new information they had just learned and then brainstormed how they could apply it to their Silver Award project. During these discussions, they kept coming back to the topic of smoking, mainly the many different ways that it harms adults and children—smokers and nonsmokers alike. The girls researched the topic further and decided to try to ban smoking in cars with minors to minimize the effects of secondhand smoke and to protect young people’s health. “We wanted to give a voice to the kids who don’t have a voice to tell the adult person to stop smoking,” said Makenna, age 13. “We chose this project because people smoking in cars might not only get lung cancer themselves, they could also be making their kids sick,” Sophia, age 14, added. “The kids breathe in the smoke and are affected too.” To begin creating this important change in their community, Kristen and the girls reached out to Aurora City Council member Charlie Richardson for guidance. He was 100 percent on board! Charlie attended one of the troop’s meetings and educated the girls on the ordinance process. He then connected them to city attorney Nancy Rogers, who helped them write the actual ordinance in the most effective way possible. Nancy also came to a troop meeting and engaged in a lively discussion with the girls during which they asked questions and talked through how they wanted the ordinance to proceed. Initially the girls wanted to make smoking in a vehicle with minors a primary offense. In other words, a police officer could pull someone over for that without any other reason. But when the original ordinance came back with an amendment to make it a secondary offense, meaning a person would have to be pulled over for another offense first before they could be punished for smoking in a car with a minor, the girls realized they had a better chance of getting the legislation passed if they accepted the amendment, so they did. When it came time for the ordinance to be discussed in detail at a city council meeting, the girls asked several speakers to testify on their behalf, including representatives from the American Lung Association, the American Cancer Society, UCHealth, and National Jewish Health. Kathleen Moreira, the representative from UCHealth and a tobacco treatment specialist and smoking cessation expert, gave what Kristen calls “quite a compelling testimony” on secondhand smoke and the effects it has kids, especially as they’re still growing. Because Kathleen is a former smoker, the child of a parent who smoked in the car often, a mom, and a proud Girl Scout alum, UCHealth felt she would be the perfect person to represent the hospital and support the girls in their pursuit. Kathleen Moreira, Kristen Batcho, and Girl Scouts Makenna and Julianna smile for the camera after being interviewed by 9News morning anchor Cory Rose about the girls’ Silver Award project. Sophia, Amelia, Micaela, Makena and Julianna are recognized by Senator Rhoda Fields at the State Capitol for their efforts and work passing the smoking ordinance. “I was overwhelmed with this powerful message that [the girls] were trying to send and that they were able to advocate for,” Kathleen said. “These girls made health history at 13 and 14 years old, and although I loved being a Girl Scout, I never did anything this important. Interacting with these girls reminded me that the power of girls is alive and well. What the girls are able to do now, utilizing outreach and being able to get so involved in civic matters, there is just a strength and a presence to Girl Scouts now that I think has really evolved over time.” “These girls made health history at 13 and 14 years old.” Kathleen explained how she urged council members to use this opportunity to educate parents to make a different choice. “Maybe it’s not about asking parents to quit smoking,” she suggested, “but once they know that doing so in the car with children is really harmful, then they have the information to say, ‘OK, maybe I won’t quit, but I won’t smoke in the car.’ Most of us, when we know better, we do better.” And it’s not just secondhand smoke that Kathleen is worried about. Thirdhand smoke is also dangerous, especially for babies and toddlers. What is thirdhand smoke? It originates from the particles of a burning cigarette that are left on surfaces, for example, the chemicals and nicotine that stay behind on doors, windows, and everywhere else in a vehicle when someone smokes inside it. This means that even when children aren’t in a car at the time someone is smoking, they can still ingest all those chemicals later on as they touch different parts of the vehicle. Kathleen revealed that when children are chronically exposed to nicotine and smoke, their chances of becoming a smoker greatly increase. By passing the ordinance, the girls and city council members are helping prevent 2,200 kids in Colorado from becoming daily smokers, she further explained. To every young girl who wants to make a change in the world but isn’t sure she’s capable of doing so, Kathleen says, “There is power in numbers, and an organization like Girl Scouts can really boost [girls’] confidence in their ability to make change, get things done, and stay motivated through the obstacles. I have a four-year-old daughter, and I can’t wait for her to start as a Girl Scout Daisy. I was so proud to show her that I was working with Girl Scouts and what they were able to do.” “There is power in numbers, and an organization like Girl Scouts can really boost [girls’] confidence in their ability to make change, get things done, and stay motivated through the obstacles.” Even with all of the support the girls were able to garner, they also encountered some negativity and opposition. After their first meeting with the city council, a few not-so-nice comments cropped up on social media and in the form of other complaints. Because of this, Kristen and her co-leader, Michele Malchow, were concerned about having the girls attend the final council meeting in which a final vote for or against the ordinance would be made. “We had been trying to keep the experience positive for the girls,” Kristen said. “But when we talked to them about it, they said, ‘This is part of life, and we have to deal with it.’” Kristen was impressed with the girls’ maturity and courage and decided to let them attend the meeting; they would leave only if things got too heated. “What I have learned throughout this process is that everyone has an opinion on everything and not everyone will agree with what you’re trying to achieve, but that’s OK,” Makenna said. “I have seen [the girls] blossom so much throughout this entire process,” Kristen praised. “Here are these young women who are changing the world and doing big things for the community. They’ve asked such good and insightful questions. They’ve embraced the project wholeheartedly, remained focused, and they’ve been willing to listen to feedback and be flexible. They’ve also just been so gracious and grateful with all of the adults and mentors who have helped them along the way. I am so proud of the young women they are becoming.” Through this process, both the girls and their troop leaders discovered just how much girls can accomplish when they put their minds to it. “This is what Girl Scouts is all about,” beamed Kristen. “The idea of being girl-led, promoting the G.I.R.L. Agenda, and embodying all of the different facets of being a G.I.R.L. I don’t think my girls had truly realized their power until they were able to get this ordinance passed and make history.” “This is what Girl Scouts is all about. The idea of being girl-led, promoting the G.I.R.L. Agenda, and embodying all of the different facets of being a G.I.R.L.” Can you imagine what Troop 60789 will be able to accomplish in the years to come? Congratulations, girls, on a job extraordinarily done! #GirlScoutsoftheUSA #HighestAwards #SilverAward #GSUSA #Aurora #MetroDenver #TakeAction

Troop 60632 from Castle Rock showcased Girl Scout S’mores at all four of their booths during National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend! They had a cute sign and would tell customers, “These are the $4 cookies (pointing to their rainbow) and these are our $5 S’mores cookie. It’s our special centennial cookie. And, if you put one in the microwave for 20 seconds before eating it, it is fantastic!” They sold 21 packages at one booth and 17 at another! The troop’s Hometown Hero is the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department. The girls are also planning two camping trips this spring and summer with the money they earn from selling cookies. #GirlScoutCookies #GirlScoutCookieProgram #2018GirlScoutCookieProgram #GirlScoutSmores #MetroDenver #CastleRock

What did you do for your Gold Award project? For my Gold Award project, I helped lessen the underrepresentation of low-resource children in STEM activities by addressing both the lack of resources and support that they face.  In order to encourage the involvement and enjoyment of STEM activities for students from Title One schools, I supported their involvement in the quality STEM based activity Destination Imagination.  Destination Imagination is a creative problem solving competition in which teams of students develop solutions to science, engineering, and technology challenges, developing team work and project management skills along the way.  To lessen the resource gap that students living in poverty face, I developed Creativity Tool Tubs, which are kits which contain various tools that are useful in the successful completion of a Destination Imagination solution.  In order to address the lack of support that these children often face when attempting to participate in STEM activities, I created a mentorship program entitled “Manager Mentors.”  Through this program adult leaders in underprivileged communities can get help from experienced adult leaders in order to encourage their success and continued involvement. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? The main way that I have been able to measure the success of my project is through the demand that was created around the Creativity Tool Tubs and Manager Mentor program and the success that I had in meeting that demand.  Although my original goal was to create only five Creativity Tool Tubs, after bringing my idea to the community I discovered an even larger need than I originally anticipated.  This is why I became determined to create enough Tool Tubs as to not leave any kids wanting.  I consider my project a success, as I was able to provide a Tool Tub and mentor to every interested Title One team in Colorado.  Another way that I have measured the impact that my Gold Award project had on the target community is through the feedback I have received. I have gotten many emails and spoken to many adult leaders telling me how important the Tool Tubs and mentorship program have been for their experience this year. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? Both parts of my project will be sustained beyond my involvement and create a lasting impact on my target community.  The Manager Mentorship program is extremely sustainable due to the “human web” that it has developed in the Destination Imagination community.  I requested letter of intent from the current members of the mentorship program, and have received seven back indicating their intent to participate in the mentorship program next season.  Additionally, the Destination Imagination Training Team has indicated their intent to take over and run the Manager Mentor program for years to come.  I have also made physical resources available on the Destination Imagination Colorado website, so that Title One adult leaders can access them at any time, and anyone interested in implementing a similar program can use the resources I have created. The Creativity Tool Tub aspect of my project is sustainable beyond my involvement because the Tubs will be collected at the end of every Destination Imagination season, and distributed at the start of the next season.  Destination Imagination Colorado has agreed to house the Tool Tubs during the off season, and facilitate their distribution. The JeffCo Steering Committee, a group of volunteers in Jefferson County which works toward providing STEM opportunities to Title One students and has a particular emphasis on keeping students across the district involved in Destination Imagination, has signed a letter of commitment agreeing to house the funds that I have set aside and replenish the used, lost, or broken items as necessary.  Also, the Destination Imagination Youth Leadership Committee has agreed to inventory the Creativity Tool Tubs at the end of each season.  Through these commitments, I am confident that my project will continue to help underprivileged students access STEM learning for years to come. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? The national and global link of my project developed through my effort to inform and inspire people throughout the nation and world to implement projects similar to my own.  I developed an informational piece regarding the root causes I addressed, the steps I took and the importance of the issue I identified and contacted Destination Imagination Inc. requesting assistance in spreading the word.  They agreed to publish the piece, along with pictures of the Tool Tubs, to their various internationally followed social media accounts.  Destination Imagination, Inc. also agreed to publish instructions on obtaining the resources and documents that I have created and developed throughout my project so that people interested in implementing a similar project can have access to them.  Through this article, Destination Imagination Inc.’s 29,602 followers were able to read about my project.  The Facebook post about my Gold Award Project received 319 “likes,” 53 “shares,” and 28 comments.  Some of the places comments came in from include Virginia, Michigan, New Hampshire, Illinois, Oklahoma, California, Minnesota, Arkansas, Texas, Ohio, New York, and Massachusetts.  In addition to the comments from various states, my story was shared by two people in Amman, Jordan.  These two people are affiliated with a non-profit program in Jordan called Youth for Development.  This organization is dedicated to creating well informed young people who can take responsibility for global problems like extreme poverty and hunger and actively take part in the solution.   I am proud of the scope and variety of people that my project was able to reach through this avenue. In addition, after reading my article on Facebook, Michigan Destination Imagination reached out to me to learn more about my project. Through this I was able to provide them with more information about how to start and carry out a program similar to mine, and I received a letter of commitment expressing their interest in starting a program of their own.  As of 2009, 44% of children in Michigan lived in a low income household.  This makes Michigan a perfect place for my project to grow and develop in, as it truly has the possibility of helping a massive number of children. What did you learn about yourself? Through my Gold Award project I discovered my power as a leader, not only of people my own age, but of people much older and very different than myself.  Through the course of my project, I mobilized people of all different ages and genders, and learned how to effectively communicate with all of them.  This was an important discovery for me, because I was very nervous about guiding so many other people, and am proud to have overcome this obstacle. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? Earning my Gold Award will make me a more brave and confident person moving forward.  Throughout the process I was pushed past my comfort zone, and this has prepared me to take more risks and challenge myself in the future.  I truly think that my Gold Award experience has made me better equipped to face the challenges of my future. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? While Girl Scouts has given me so many amazing experiences, earning my Gold Award is by far the accomplishment I am most proud of.  I was able to use the skills I have learned throughout my 12 years as a Girl Scout and accomplish something truly amazing.  I aspired to earn my Gold Award ever since I was a Brownie, and I am proud to have kept my Girl Scout Promise, and have made the world a better place. How did earning your Gold Award help you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? Earning my Gold Award undoubtedly helped me become a go-getter.  The process pushed me to accomplish more and more, and taught me the importance of striving to be the best you can be.  I am proud of all of the steps I took to ensure the true quality of my project and guarantee the continued sustainability.  The Gold Award Process continually pushed me to strive for better, and taught me to be a true go-getter. **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 #STEM #GoldAwardGirlScouts #Morrison #ConiferHighSchool #MetroDenver #TakeAction

Submitted by Jessica Jones Metro Denver Thornton The Woods service unit invites troops of Juniors to Ambassadors to a weekend at Tomahawk Ranch in Bailey. When: April 13 – 15, 2018 Where: Tomahawk Ranch in Bailey Who: Troops of Juniors to Ambassadors, please stay in safety ratio. Cost: $80/girl $70/adult The theme is Into the Wild. Sessions include fire safety, tool safety, and leave no trace. There is a mandatory meeting on March 12 at 6 p.m. at the Northglenn Christian Church in Room 208. Please send at least one of the adults that will be attending the camp. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask! Info is on the flyer. 40963104_the_woods_jrcsa_encampment_2018_flyer3 This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #GSCOevents #GirlScoutCamp #TomahawkRanch #Thornton #MetroDenver

Submitted by Kristin Coulter Metro Denver Denver Absolutely! Girl Scouts can do anything they set their minds to do. But, what does it take? Hard work. Determination. Support. Sacrifice. Love. These were the themes that Olympian and Girl Scout Janet Culp Redwine shared with the around 40 Daisy to Senior Girl Scouts that gathered this February at Montview Presbyterian Church to hear her speak. The event was organized by Park Hill-based Senior Girl Scout Troop 63573. The troop members, who are working on their Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouts, wanted to learn from someone who has achieved something that most people can only dream about. Janet is a Colorado native, and active Girl Scout in elementary school, she even brought her Junior badge-filled vest to prove it, competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics held in Beijing, China. She was apart of the 10-member USA synchronized swim team. So how do you get good enough to be selected for an Olympic team? That is where the hard work, determination, support, sacrifice, and love come in. It actually wasn’t Janet’s dream to be an Olympian. Her dream was to work hard to test herself and improve everyday–and boy did she do it! She shared a video of her team’s jaw dropping Olympic performance. You couldn’t help but be impressed with the athleticism, timing, and pageantry of the team. Synchronized swimmers can’t touch the bottom of the pool during a performance. Sometimes up to three swimmers are stacked one on top of the other in order to achieve high lifts. Olympic pools are around 10 feet deep, so the competitors have to make themselves really small and then really big in order to propel a teammate high out of the water, all without touching the bottom of the pool! The success of Janet’s Olympic experience wasn’t measured in medals–her team was 5th, but as cliché at it sounds, her success was having the determination and support necessary to be at the top of her sport. The race that she ran was internal. But, she had the support and love of those around her to focus on being the best she could be. Did that mean that she missed fun times with her friends? Yes. Did that mean that she missed family trips in order to practice or compete? Yes. But in return she received the experience of a lifetime and the knowledge that she can do anything she sets her mind to. This was a powerful message to everyone in attendance, but especially to the Girl Scouts who organized the meeting. These high school girls are on their own journey to earn an honor– the Gold Award. They are on their way but they will need hard work, determination, support, sacrifice and love to make it happen. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #GoldAward #2008SummerOlympics #JanetCulpRedwine #Denver #SummerOlympics #MetroDenver

Save the date for GSCO’s statewide Girl Scout Bridging at the Royal Gorge Bridge on May 19, 2018! The bridge, located outside of Canyon City, is one of the most majestic backdrops for a Girl Scout Bridging with it’s breathtaking scenery. Last year, we had more than 300 Girl Scouts, friends, and family cross the bridge during the ceremony and enjoy a cupcake reception afterwards. Admission to the park for the bridging ceremony is good for the day, so many Girl Scouts and troops plan extra time to enjoy the bridge and the different attractions onsite. The bridge has a lot of picnic tables and different hiking trails available for use as well as food onsite. There’s also several campsites close by. Information about this year’s ceremony and reception is coming soon. To be notified when bridging registration opens, please contact GSCO Community Partnerships Manager Lori Thompson at lori.thompson@gscolorado.org. For more information about the Royal Gorge Bridge, please go to http://royalgorgebridge.com. #GSCOevents #Communitypartnerships #bridging #RoyalGorgeBridge #RoyalGorgeBridging #PikesPeak #CanonCity