Calling all innovators, problem solvers, phenoms, and doers (that’s you!) True phenoms find innovative solutions to problems, do things that have never been done before, and make a difference in their communities. Ready to show the world just how phenomenal you are? Join us for a national gathering of changemakers from across the country in July 2023 at Walt Disney World Resort. Get ready to spark new ideas, make friends, have fun, and create something incredible. The 2023 Girl Scout Convention is designed for girls of all ages and adults who support the Girl Scout Movement. You don’t have to be a member to attend. Now through February 21, when you register for a three- or five-day pass, you’ll be entered for a chance to win two Walt Disney World® theme park tickets (a retail value of $288)! There will be activities and demos in the Expo Hall, special guests, live performances, and much more. This event is open to all, including Girl Scout members, non-members, alums, and families.

Troop 67358 has committed to two service projects each year since they started as Brownies. Each year the girls in the troop vote on a community service activity and this year they decided to do a book drive at their school for the Reach Out and Read program. In total they donated 678 books to over 300 health clinics across Colorado. This drive was truly girl-led. They divided up tasks including making posters, and flyers, writing a blurb in the school newsletter, sorting and delivering the books, and thanking donors. "My favorite part of the book drive was collecting all the books and then seeing where the books get to go!" - Jenna Tedesco Troop 67358 has many avid readers! The girls really liked the idea that children across Colorado would get to take home a free book after their visit at a health clinic. We are incredibly proud of all the community service projects our troop has done over the years. Knowing the books our girls collected will go out to children across Colorado was very rewarding and having the girls lead the project was inspiring to watch as they develop their leadership skills. "I like reading and it feels good to give other kids the opportunity to read more books." - Avery Leonard We hope our girls inspire other troops to do their own book drive! It's fun and easy to do and is a great way to give back to the community. Everyone can clean out books from their own collection too! We hope other troops will consider donating to Reach Out and Read; they were so appreciative of our donations and wonderful to work with. It was great to support their mission and important work. Book Drive with Reach Out and Read Colorado An important factor in early learning and brain development is reading and bonding with a child. Reach Out and Read Colorado partners with healthcare providers across the state to encourage families with young children to read aloud together, building the groundwork for growth. Partner healthcare clinics receive books, training, and support from Reach Out and Read Colorado. The providers across the state also have been trained to use books as an exam room diagnostic tool to discuss early literacy with parents and evaluate child development. Girl Scouts of Colorado and Reach Out and Colorado are challenging Girl Scouts, troops, or service units to host book drives so we can get books into the hands of healthcare providers and then into the hands of families. So, clean out those bookshelves and donate to Reach Out and Read Colorado! The guidelines for a book drive are here. Gently used or new books appropriate for up to age 18 reading are accepted. Reach Out and Read Colorado patches are available at the Girl Scout Shop.

Hello! Please help me reach my Gold Award by coming to the Vitalant center and donate blood. From now to February 14th I'm hosting a virtual drive. It doesn't matter were you live, as long as you have a Vitalant center near you and use this link to schedule an appointment and donate towards me. Learn how to join here. My goal for my Gold Award is to spread awareness about the importance of donating. When you donate you save lives. Right now we are critically low on blood and you donating makes a huge difference. Please help me out and donate blood. It means the world to me!

Troop 72418 is hosting 2 Self Defense classes. One is for Daisy, Brownie & Junior level. It will be focused on anti-bullying and staying away from strangers. There will be practicing of statements & maneuvers for both anti-bullying and stranger danger. The other class is for Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors who will learn self defense from an attacker. This will include practicing defensive maneuvers. Classes will be Saturday March 18th at Success Martial Arts in Louisville. Waiver will be required for both classes. The DBJ class will be 9:30-10:30am. The CSA class will be from 11am-12:30pm. Can sign up as a troop or individual. Please adhere to Safetywise ratios. Scan the QR code to sign up.

This year, Girl Scouts of Colorado has TWO NEW charms that Girl Scouts can earn in recognition of the manyways in which they are cookie entrepreneurs! Shoe Charm - Door-to-Door People are EXCITED to buy Girl Scout cookies! Starting Sunday, Feb. 5, Girl Scouts can go door-to-door in their communities with cookies in-hand and share s'more joy! New this year! For the 2023 cookie season, there is a special Shoe Charm to commemorate Girl Scout Cookie Program "walkabouts." Steps to earning the Door-to-Door Shoe Charm: 1) Go door-to-door with cookies in hand. 2) Have your parent or caregiver take a photo of you going door-to-door 3) Complete the Door-to-Door Shoe Charm form, attach your photo, and submit by the deadline:Monday, Feb. 27, 8 p.m. Be sure to include your name, contact information, troop number, Cookie Programgoals, and your Hometown Hero. Form will open Sunday, Feb. 5. BOOTH SALES Charm New this year! Girl Scouts that sell cookies at booths can earn the special Booth Sales charm! No need to fill out a form to receive the patch. However, troop cookie managers must allocate booth cookie sales using the booth recorder in eBudde, in order for Girl Scouts get the patch.

On Jan, 27, the National Board announced the appointment of Bonnie Barczykowski to serve as Girl Scouts’ new CEO. You can read more about this news here. Bonnie will replace Sofia Chang, who made the decision to resign from her role and move on from the organization. She will be missed by so many and will always be part of the Girl Scout family. Bonnie is familiar to many across the organization, having spent more than a decade as CEO of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri. During that time, she successfully expanded membership access to girls across the region and created new experiences for them to build leadership skills. Her vision translated into a $50 million comprehensive fundraising campaign that she led in support of capital projects, scholarships, programs, and the organization’s endowment. She also brings both private sector and for-profit experience to the position, having spent more than a decade leading one of the largest chains of fitness centers for women in the world as well as early career experience in sales.

Creative Cookie Video Digital Cookie opened on Thursday, Jan. 12, and many Girl Scouts customized their Digital Cookie sites with their own cookie video, sharing their personal and troop goals. Girl Scouts can enter the GSCO “Creative Cookie Video Contest” with their video, along with a brief story, and your cookie goal, by filling out this form. If the video is too large to upload, you can include a Dropbox or Google Drive link. All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. Feb. 12. After your video is received, it will be uploaded to the Girl Scouts of Colorado YouTube channel. The winner will be selected via a random drawing and will be announced on GSCO social media channels at 10 a.m. Feb. 24! *** Note: You must send the original file for your video to be included. Links to videos hosted on YouTube sites other than GSCO will not be accepted. First Prize: 200 Cookie Credits Second Prize: 100 Cookie Credits Third Prize: 50 Cookie Credits Girl Scouts 12-years-old and younger can have a parent/caregiver help them make their video. Videos submitted by Girl Scouts 13-years-old and older must be produced by the girl. VIDEOS CANNOT CONTAIN ANY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. We want to hear how Girl Scouts are using their skills by taking initiative, caring for their community, and Girl Scouting at home. She can send in her story here. If you have questions, please email Hannah Gutkind, Girl Scouts of Colorado public relations manager, at Hannah.Gutkind@gscolorado.org. Bling Your Booth is BACK! The “Bling Your Booth” Challenge is back! You could win up to 200 Cookie Credits! Here’s how to bling your booth: 1. Pick a theme, like camp, sci-fi, sparkle fest, you decide! A few questions to help you start brainstorming: a) What colors do you like? b) My favorite thing (or animal, game, song, activity) is_________? c) What are my or my troops’ Cookie Program goals? 2. Choose a theme and add things to the booth that say, “WOW!” 3. Most importantly: Have fun creating a booth that is uniquely you! How to qualify for the Bling Your Booth contest: 1. Take a photo of your troop in action at your booth. 2. Post it to the Girl Scouts of Colorado Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/girlscoutsofcolorado For your entry to be counted, you must include #BlingYourBooth. Be sure to share your troop number and cookie goal as well. You can also share your photo on Instagram or Twitter and tag us using @GSColo. However, only photos submitted on Facebook will be entered in the contest. 3. Submit your entry by 11:59 p.m. Feb. 26! 4. All of the entries will then be uploaded to our Facebook page and be part of the album: #BlingYourBooth Challenge 2023. 5. The winner will be selected via a random drawing and will be announced on GSCO social media channels at 10 a.m. March 3! First Prize: 200 Cookie Credits Second Prize: 100 Cookie Credits Third Prize: 50 Cookie Credits Remember, girls need to be 13 or older to upload their own entry. If they are younger than 13, that’s OK! A volunteer, parent, or caregiver can help. If you have questions, please email Hannah Gutkind, Girl Scouts of Colorado public relations manager, at Hannah.Gutkind@gscolorado.org.

Travel to Europe has never been so chic! Girls will explore four incredible European cities on this unforgettable tour. Take a walking tour of London: Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Covent Garden. See Big Ben and Houses of Parliament, Piccadilly Circus, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. Travel by Eurostar train from London to Paris and see Place de la Concorde, Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, Les Invalides and the Eiffel Tower for starters. Then fly to Florence. Visit San Miniato al Monte, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, Chiesa di Santa Croce and the Gates of Paradise to name a few. Travelers will go next to Rome. There they will take a guided tour of Vatican, the Sistine Chaple and St. Peter’s Basilica prior to traveling via Pompeii to Sorrento and ending with an enjoyable boat cruise in Capri. For a full itinerary and to sign up to join, visit here. Contact Christine Schwartz with any questions.

A message from Margot Gordon Iwanchuk Some of you may know of me as the great-great niece of Juliette Gordon Low and volunteer with GSCO. Often, I write blogs representing the Girl Scouts of Colorado History Center located in Loveland. But today I am writing to you as a retired meteorologist to let you know about a great, FREE weather activity for girls ages 11 and older. On Jan. 8 from 7 a.m.-noon the American Meteorological Society (AMS), is offering a FREE STEM-related program for Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, discussing weather and climate science, disaster preparedness and safety, and emergency management. You will be led but professionals in Emergency Management, National Weather Service (NWS) employees and local meteorologists (some you may know as forecasters on TV here!) Come and learn about the weather phenomena that affects our local area and the knowledge to prepare for weather-related emergencies. Girl Scouts can apply the concepts learned towards various STEM-related badges. Girl Scout Seniors will also learn concepts that can be used towards the Sky Badge. Participants will also earn the Weather-Ready Nation patch. Hope to see you there and I know that my Aunt Daisy (Juliette Low’s family nickname) would totally approve of this activity! “Be Prepared! For more information visit https://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/sf-events-repository/2023/weather-ready-nation-event---denver---csa.html To register visit https://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/sf-events-repository/2023/weather-ready-nation-event---denver---csa.html#:~:text=https%3A//wrnscoutevent.wixsite.com/wrnscoutevent Questions? Contact katy@managecamp.com

THANK YOU to all the Girl Scouts who entered the drawing for the giant Hawaiian Monk Seal drawing as part of the 2022 Fall Product Program! CONGRATULATIONS to Girl Scout Daisy, Esmeralda H.; she won the GIANT SEAL! Girl Scouts of Colorado entered the names of all the qualifying Girl Scouts who completed the contest form into a random drawing to select the winner. As part of the qualifications for the giant seal drawing, the GSCO Product Program team asked Girl Scouts who entered the drawing to do some online research and tell us something interesting that they found out about Hawaiian Monk Seals. Here’s what some of the Girl Scouts who entered the drawing had to say: They are one of two mammals native to Hawaii. The females are bigger than the males. The Hawaiian name for the monk seal is Ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua, meaning dog running in the rough seas. Hawaiian monk seals are very big and love to lounge around on the beach in Hawaii. Seals love to swim, like me! and they are SO CUTE! I love Hawaiian monk seals! You should stay at least 150 feet away from the ones in Hawaii. Their population is slowly growing. They can dive over 900 feet when hunting for prey in the ocean. They live a solitary lifestyle. They live 25 to 30 years. A group of Hawaiian Monk Seals are called a rookery! They can grow up to 7 feet long and weigh as much as 600 lbs. they also spend two-thirds of their time at sea. They live in Hawaii and eat small shrimp and fish. When they are born and their mommies go to get food, the babies stay on the island alone. When their mommies come back, they make a sound and their mom hears it and knows it's their baby. Female Hawaiian Monk Seals will nurse and care for another mother's pups. They can hold their breath for 20 minutes. They are mostly in the water but rest and give birth on rocky shores. They are excellent divers and swimmers. They are one of the only predators for garden eels. Hawaiian Monk Seals shed their skins once per year. Their name comes from the way their skin folds which looks like a Monk's coat. They can dive under water more than 1800 feet deep. They like to sleep on beaches for days at a time. The Hawaiian Monk Seals are endangered and protected under the Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and by the state of Hawaii. Population is about 1,570 seals. They shed their top layer of skin. All of the Girl Scouts who completed an entry form did a great job sharing the information that they learned about the Hawaiian Monk seal and the people and organizations that are working to help the species! Having the Hawaiian Monk seal as the 2022 Fall Product Program mascot helped to bring awareness to conservation efforts, and to inspire Girl Scouts to learn about their world and make a difference by helping animals, as scientists, explorers, and advocates.

50/50 Starter Troop Incentive Troop and Service Unit Teams: Kickstart the new year by recruiting and mentoring a new Girl Scout troop in your area. Troops and/or service units who recruit and mentor a new troop, with new volunteer leadership, April 1-Dec. 2, 2022 will earn $50 for the troop or service unit and $50 for the new troop! Supporting the new troop for four to six sessions will ensure a great initial experience as new members start their Girl Scout adventure! Requirements for existing troops/service units (mentors): • Complete a starter troop intent form. • Publicize the new troop: Distribute fliers, tell people in your community, and get the word out! • Plan/support at least four troop meeting sessions, including a parent/caregiver meeting. • Complete final survey. • Have an approved Girl Scout bank account and current ACH on file. Requirements for the new troop: • Participate in four starter troop meeting sessions. • Register at least two unrelated adult troop leaders and five girls by Dec. 2, 2022. • Complete New Leader On-boarding and start volunteer training. • Complete final survey. • Open a troop bank account and submit a troop ACH. More details on the FAQ page. Complete the intent form to get started. This program ended December 1st, 2022. Look for new information for a Starter Troop program in the spring. Final Survey https://gscolorado.formstack.com/forms/50_50_starter_troop_post_survey FAQ for 50/50 Starter Troop Incentive https://girlscoutsofcolorado.wixanswers.com/en/article/5050-starter-troop-incentive-program-faq

Join Troop 2235 for a fun filled time breaking stereotypes and learning roles of women around the world! Date: January 8, 2023 Location: Erie Community Center, 450 Powers St, Erie Time: 1:30 - 4 p.m. Price: $32 per Girl Scout Badges & Take Action included Register here. If you have any questions, email Meredith at mltlocke@gmail.com.