In honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month, Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state. Troop Leader Inez Winter in Pagosa Springs was nominated as a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community. She recently shared the following letter about why she is a GSCO volunteer. I have always known that I wanted to be a Girl Scout leader. I remember being of Brownie-age and watching the kids down the street heading for their Girl Scout meeting. I don’t know why my mom didn’t let me be in Girl Scouts at that time. I told myself at a young age that if I couldn’t be a Girl Scout I would someday be a leader. I was so excited when my daughter started kindergarten and brought home the flyer to join. I went to the organizational meeting and of course, I was the first person to raise my hand to be a leader. I was able to be a leader for my oldest daughter for almost seven years and for my youngest for two years. Now, many years later, I am into my second year as a leader for my two granddaughters. We currently have 12 girls in our troop. This is the beginning of my 10th year as a Girl Scout leader. I can honestly say that being a Girl Scout leader was one of the choices that I made with my heart and a choice that I have never regretted making. I have many girls who, still to this day, tell me about how much of a difference that I have made in their lives. I am still in contact with many of “my girls.” Many of them are mothers themselves now and it always puts a smile on my face when we talk about the “old days,” going to Rancho Girl Scout Camp, camping at the Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde, and so many other places that we went to. We always made memories that will truly last a lifetime. If you have an extra couple of hours a week, we’d love to have you join us as an assistant leader or better yet start your own troop as a leader. Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org. #PagosaSprings #SouthwesternCO #VolunteerAppreciationMonth #volunteerspotlight

In honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month, Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state. Melissa Palka in the Pikes Peak region is a lifetime Girl Scout and a leader for Troop 40910.  She is a very dedicated volunteer who juggles her medical career, family, and her Girl Scout leadership role with a lot of energy and grace.  Melissa is very highly spoken of by her peers and is well loved by the girls she leads. We asked her to answer a few questions about her experiences as a Girl Scout volunteer. We hope you find her story as inspiring as we did! How long have you been a Girl Scout? I have been a Girl Scout for 27 years, 11 as a Girl Scout, 16 as a leader. Why did you become a Girl Scout volunteer? I became a Girl Scout volunteer because I believe in the Girl Scout mission. I want to assist you ladies in recognizing, and achieving their maximal potential. Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. I have had the privilege of holding various leadership positions. I have worked in outreach multi-level troops at Boys and Girls clubs, military posts, and in the community. I currently am a Brownie troop leader. What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? What do you hope girls have learned from you? As a Girl Scout volunteer, I have learned many things. Girl Scouts teaches me new things often. I have learned organization, communication, and leadership skills. Most important lesson I have learned: let the girls lead! I hope the girls have learned: this world is full of amazing opportunities, believe in yourself, be persistent while working hard, and you will be successful. What is your favorite Girl Scout memory? My favorite Girl Scout memory was a trip to Our Chalet in Switzerland, where me met international Girl Guides, hiked in the Swiss Alps, and traveled to various cities in Europe. What an incredible experience! What words of advice do you have for other volunteers? Words of advice for volunteers: use a planner to stay organized, communicate often with parents (I love email updates), value Girl Scout input in the planning, you do NOT have to coordinate everything as the leader, have fun and the girls will too! Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org. #ColoradoSprings #PikesPeak #VolunteerAppreciationMonth

Looking for something for your Cadette or Junior to do on the week of July 4th? Look no further! We have new spaces available for Girl Scout Cadettes and Juniors at Sky High Ranch from July 5-7, 2017 at the following sessions: SH34 Sky High Sampler: Sample all Sky High Ranch has to offer! Learn the art of aiming at archery and take a trip on the zip! You’ll make a fun craft and new friends! Take a nature hike on the way to Upper Pond, where you will paddle your way across in a canoe. Campers must be a minimum of 60 lbs. to ensure they don’t get stuck mid-zip. SH35 Wizarding World of Beasts: The Wizarding World at Sky High is complete with fantastic beasts, mystical creatures, and days and nights full of magical enchantments. Get a chance to groom a thestral or hunt for dragon eggs. You’ll even learn to tame a wild hippogriff! Experience a magical camp like no other! Shop in Diagon Ranch Alley, test your courage defending against the Dark Arts, and mingle with other wizards at the Leaky Sky Cauldron. Don’t forget to bring and wear your wizarding or magical apparel! This camp does not include zip line. Cost: $310 early bird, $335 if balance of fees are paid after May 1. Register and pay your fees prior to April 30 at 11:59 p.m. to lock in early bird pricing!  (include registration link for “register and pay your fees” #summercamp #SkyHighRanch #GirlScoutJuniors #GirlScoutCamp #GirlScoutCadettes

Submitted by Jen Rotar Northern & Northeastern CO Berthoud Scouting for Food in Berthoud brings together Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts to collect donations for the House of Neighborly Service. On April 1, 2017, the Scouts exceeded all previous records, raising a total of 6,292.13 pounds of food and other donations for the community. Approximately 40 Girl Scouts, along with their leaders and parent volunteers, helped with promotion, collection, and sorting donations. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #Berthoud #NorthernampNortheasternCO #ScoutingforFood

Submitted by Katie Singleton, Girl Scouts of Colorado Girl Experience Manager Apply today to be one of nine Girl Scouts who will get to experience hands-on activities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) alongside women professionals from a variety of backgrounds and industries at the SheTech Explorer Day! Learn the ins and outs of cellular networks, hardware, software development, coding, web design, and much more alongside your peers! You’ll engage in three immersive technology workshops, 12 fun-filled TechZone activities, and a TechChallenge where you’ll collaborate with your team to solve a problem for a chance to win a scholarship stipend and admission to Colorado Technology Association’s Women in Technology Conference on June 9! Date: Thursday, June 8, 2017 Time: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Location: The Commons on Champa, 1st Floor 1245 Champa St. Denver, CO 80204 Grade: Entering 9th or 10th grade in fall 2017 Application: https://gscolorado.formstack.com/forms/shetech_explorer_day_06_08_2017 Application Close Date: Monday, May 15, 2017 Cost: Free Apply to be a part of this unique opportunity by Monday, May 15, 2017 at  https://gscolorado.formstack.com/forms/shetech_explorer_day_06_08_2017 Note: Spaces for this event are extremely limited, so we cannot guarantee all girls will be able to participate. After May 15, applications will be reviewed and we will email to let you know if you have been selected to participate. If you have any questions about this training or have trouble completing registration, please contact Katie Singleton at katie.singleton@gscolorado.org. SheTech Girls Final #SheTechExplorerDay #STEM #oldergirls #Denver #MetroDenver

In honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month, Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state. Nawal Shahril in the Pikes Peak region was nominated as a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community. Although she is only in her second year of leadership, Nawal has been described by her co-leaders as a “dynamo,” who puts a tremendous amount of love and energy into leading her girls in the troop.  She is creative, fun, and works very hard. GSCO asked Nawal to answer a few questions about her experiences as a Girl Scout volunteer. We hope you find her story as inspiring as we did! How long have you been a Girl Scout? Two years Why did you become a Girl Scout volunteer? It was a no-brainer when my girls expressed an interest in joining Girl Scouts. I always wanted to be one back in my hometown in Malaysia. When the opportunity of joining Girl Scouts with my kids came up, I jumped on it and embarked on this wonderful journey. Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. Before we start any badges or journey, I always question myself “What can I do/offer more to these girls to create an experience that they will never forget?” Activities don’t just limit to follow certain guidelines, but to go beyond what is expected in every facet of Girl Scouting. My team and I brainstorm, plan, and execute activities that excite, build confidence, are fun, and out of the norm to challenge the girl’s thinking and expose them to various cultures and aspects of life. I act as a planner, the go-to person, a buddy, and most importantly, a sister to every Girl Scout. What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? What do you hope girls have learned from you? By just looking at the badges chart, I know instantly that we are going to learn so much and have the best adventure ahead. I’ve learned to be more creative in my approach and be a better planner and at time management. I’ve learned that different individuals have different needs and you just have to have different tricks up your sleeves. I hope that my enthusiasm, fun, and positivity inspire every girl that I met to be bold, brave, and not to be afraid to dream big. Girls can achieve anything that they have set to achieve. What is your favorite Girl Scout memory? I would say every event that brought the girls together is my favorite memory so far! Camping, World Thinking Day.. you name it! I just love the giggles, cheers, laughter, and fun time the girls had together. Reminded me of myself when I was that age 🙂 What words of advice do you have for other volunteers? The moment you feel like quitting or giving up because Girl Scouts’ activities took almost 60% of your free time, just stop and reevaluate. Your kids will grow up pretty fast and you might not have the chance to be with them to do all sorts of activities. As long as they are enjoying and making a difference in their lives through Girl Scouting, you know that you are not going to quit just yet. Just enjoy the process and absorb as much as you can. It’s all worth it! 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 #ColoradoSprings #girlscoutvolunteer #PikesPeak

We believe there is no such thing as too much. There’s no excuse for making excuses. Our strength doesn’t come from how much we can lift, but from how often we lift ourselves back up. We are everyday optimists. Adventure seekers. Problem solvers. We are girls, troop leaders, mentors, advocates, parents, Girl Scouts. We are G.I.R.L.s (go-getters, innovators, risk-takers, leaders). We will not stop, in fact we’re just getting started. Renew your Girl Scout membership TODAY to receive: Every troop with two Troop Leadership Team members renewed by June 15, 2017 and a completed Annual Troop Report will receive a $25 Girl Scouts of Colorado Shop credit. All girls renewed by June 15, 2017 will receive the Early Bird patch. *Credit will be available no later than August 1, 2017 and may be redeemed on orders placed by phone or in person at our GSCO shop. There will be no charge for shipping on these orders. **Patches will be mailed to girls’ families no later than August 1, 2017. Got a question? We’re here to help! Visit: https://girlscoutsofcolorado.desk.com/customer/portal/articles/2791124-early-bird-faq, email us, or give us a call at 877-404-5708 #201718membershipyear #earlybirdregistration

Submitted by Stephanie Rosauer Metro Denver Parker Daisy Troop 65874 delivered the second half of their Girl Scout cookie donations to Parker Task Force! The girls worked hard, and the reward was encouraging for next year! Nice job young ladies! I am very proud of you all! This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #Parker #ParkerTaskForce #GirlScoutCookies #2017CookieSale #HometownHeroes #MetroDenver

In honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month, Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state. For the past seven years, Rebecca Schmidt in the Pikes Peak region has served as leader for a large (50 girls) multi-level troop from K-12th grade! She also frequently organizes recruiting efforts and serves as Service Unit Manager, Service Unit Cookie Manager, and Site Delivery Manager. Rebecca is also an active member of the Region 4 Cookie Committee. Rebecca was nominated as a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community. We asked her to answer a few questions about her experiences as a Girl Scout volunteer. We hope you find her story as inspiring as we did! How long have you been a Girl Scout? I was not a Girl Scout as a kid, but was a Jobs Daughter and Blue Jay and really felt I am who I am today because of being in these organizations. I became a Girl Scout in 2009.  It was after I retired from the U.S. Army and wanted to still mentor. Why did you become a Girl Scout volunteer? My granddaughter’s troop needed a troop leader. Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. I serve as a troop leader for Troop 40969 and 43530. I am a backup leader for the groups and do all the admin for the troop. It is a multi-level troop for K-11 and we are very busy. The other leaders in the troop call me the leader of the leaders. I am also one of the TCMs for both troops. I am also the SU Manager/SUCM for SU418 and 423. I have also helped with the Cookie Team by hosting a cookie pick-up site and help with getting booths agreements signed. What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? What do you hope girls have learned from you? Patience is a big one. I have never been good at this anyway, but I am getting better at it. I have found collaboration as a critical tool and without it is where most of our failures come from. I do love the girls at all the levels. I love what the girls learn from cookies and it just amazes me on what they come up with and how they grow. I hope the girls learn to never give up from me and that even though the world is flawed that they can be successful in it! What is your favorite Girl Scout memory? One of my favorites is when my granddaughter sold her first case of cookies. It was done due to the skills she had learned and to see her so confident was just amazing. Also, seeing the girls getting their Bronze and Silver Awards has been amazing. Just hoping we will see our first Gold real soon! What words of advice do you have for other volunteers? Communications is essential. Even if you have to double the effort to do it.  It is a must! This includes between leaders, parents, and Girl Scouts.  Girl Scouts is for the girls and we have to leave all the baggage and junk behind us so we can give the girls the solid programming that they need and deserve. I also feel that Girl Scouts helps the leaders grow as much as the girls and they need to just hold on and enjoy the ride! Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org. #ColoradoSprings #GirlScoutvolunteers #PikesPeak #VolunteerAppreciati

In honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month, Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state. Lorrie Marzulla in the Pikes Peak region was nominated as a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community. She has several GSCO volunteer roles, including: Longtime Service Unit Product Sales Manager for Service Units 412 and 406 Member of the Gold Award Committee for the Pikes Peak region and mentor to Gold Award candidates Active member of the Pikes Peak region’s Cookie Committee We asked Lorrie to answer a few questions about her experiences as a Girl Scout volunteer. We hope you find her story as inspiring as we did! How long have you been a Girl Scout? I was a Girl Scout as a Brownie, Junior, and two years as a Cadette. Our troop’s leader could no longer be a leader for our troop and we could not find another leader or troop to join, so we had to disband. It was a big disappointment for all of us. Why did you become a Girl Scout volunteer? Due to my Girl Scout experience, I felt that there would be dedicated adult leadership for my daughter’s troop. I felt that the Girl Scout legacy would be different for the girls in my troop. I wanted them to experience all of the wonderful skills and leadership opportunities that Girl Scouts had to offer. Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. I was always the Troop Cookie Mom for our troop and enjoyed helping the girls to achieve their goals in selling. Selling cookies was a necessary part of our agenda – raising funds to support lofty goals that were decided by the girls. We had a girl run troop from their first day of Juniors. It was expected and well-received. I also am a judge for Reach for the Peak. I find it fascinating to watch these teams compete using their camping skills, but love to watch the teams figure out how to actually perform as a team. I feel anyone can learn the correct way to tie a knot, but working as a high performance team is a skill you learn with practice and with others to be successful. I also volunteer as a mentor on the Gold Award Committee. I love helping these high achieving ladies develop wonderful projects that enhance our community and turn their ideas into a program that continues long after they graduate from high school. It is fun to watch their confidence and leadership grow as they establish their goals and then achieve them. It still amazes me how they achieve and close out a Gold Award project and still keep up their academics, sports, jobs, and everything else they are committed to in life. The girls really learn how to juggle priorities and learn how to put 10 lbs. of stuff in a 5 lb. can. What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? What do you hope girls have learned from you? I hope they learn that if they set their mind to a goal, they can achieve it with proper planning. I hope girls learn how to work with others to achieve their goals and how to reach out to other women to gain support in all areas of life. Teamwork, teamwork, teamwork! What is your favorite Girl Scout memory? My favorite memory was camping as a troop when I was a Junior. I was a Girl Scout in Michigan and the camping experience was diverse and varied from the shores of the Great Lakes to canoeing and camping at the Girl Scout camps in Michigan. We loved to sled and winter camp at Camp Holly and loved sleeping in the cabin’s loft full of bunk beds. We used to make ‘spider webs’ out of string throughout the loft and then try to get from one end to the other without touching the string— very difficult and a lot of fun. What words of advice do you have for other volunteers? Every volunteer will encounter tough situations be it tough troop dynamics, parents who choose to not get involved or provide support, or well-intentioned plans going south. Just know that you are being observed by the girls in your troop and you are their role model. Solve dynamics and tough outcomes with a smile on your face. Use the words “oh well – what change can I make to have a better outcome next time.”   I also believe that “girl-led” troops have the best outcomes. Start the girls early in learning how to run their own show. These troops are the most successful and stay together. Everyone likes making their own choices and this is very true in Girl Scouting. Keep it fun! Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org. #ColoradoSprings #PikesPeak #VolunteerAppreciation #VolunteerAppreciationMonth

Submitted by Shannon Brennan Metro Denver Denver At Highline Academy S.E., Daisy Troop 65709 has taken on some of the responsibility of displaying the flag. The Daisies have learned the proper ways to raise/lower flags, secure the rope, as well as fold the American and Colorado flag in their unique ways. It’s a great way to commence our meetings with taking down the flag. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #DaisyGirlScouts #Denver #MetroDenver

Submitted by Carrie Alsvary Metro Denver Littleton Girl Scout Troop 61447 is collecting socks for low-resource children until May 10, 2017. We need NEW socks in kids sizes. It is our goal to collect well over 1,000 pairs! Please email GSTroop61447@gmail.com for donation locations. GS_sock_flyer This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #Littleton #MetroDenver