Submitted by Tiffany Stone Metro Denver Denver Come learn how to bake your dreams come true at the 2017 Cookie Rally! Sunday, January 22, 2017 2 – 7 p.m. Arapahoe County Fairgrounds- East Wing This event will include badge earning activities for Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors that is sure to enhance your Girl Scouts cookie season, not only by preparing them, but educating them about the history of cookies, the importance of goal setting, and about this year’s cookie mascot. Girl will have the chance to meet LIVE owls, try the cookies, learn the important safety aspects of running a business, DISSECT an owl pellet, make a catapult, and more! 2017 Cookie Rally t-shirts are available to order on the registration link. This event is open to to any Girl Scout with or without a troop. Cost is $6 per girl, chaperones are free. Pre-Register or email and pay at the event: https://squareup.com/store/urban-trails-su-644 Older girls and adults, signup to volunteer for the event here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040c45abaf2ca46-2017 This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #2017CookieSale #Denver #GirlScoutCookies #MetroDenver

SAVE THE DATE for Girl Scouts of Colorado’s Centennial Campfires, featuring property tours, s’mores, sing-a-longs, history displays, camp merchandise, fun patch activities, and more!  All attendees will also receive a special 2017 Centennial patch. Sky High Ranch March 12, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Woodland Park Tomahawk Ranch March 19, Noon- 2 p.m. Bailey Grand Junction Service Center April 29-30 580 24 1/2 Rd, Grand Junction *Meet the CEO, mobile shop, activity stations, Highest Awards celebration Meadow Mountain Ranch May 21, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Allenspark Admission is free and registration will start in February 2017! Limited accommodations may be available at camp properties: http://girlscoutsofcolorado.checkfront.com/reserve/. #Centennial #CentennialCampfires #GSCO100thanniversary

Submitted by Caroline Cornell Metro Denver Denver During the fall Leadership Summits over 2,500 years of Girl Scout experience gathered to provide their insight on Volunteer Recognitions during the Voices sessions at five locations across Colorado. Over 350 volunteers participated in the facilitated process to provide feedback about improving the process to acknowledge our exemplary volunteers’ efforts. The sessions were hosted by the Membership Connection Committee (MCC). At present, only one-half of one percent of volunteers across Colorado (approximately 30 out of 6,000 adults) receive some form of GSCO or GSUSA National Recognition. “Currently we know that GSCO does not recognize enough of its volunteers,” said Rae Ann Dougherty, former MCC Chair and Board Chair Elect. MCC is working to change that by asking members if they are aware of the available awards and how to inform more members about the nomination process. “During the Voices sessions, we received evaluation forms from 47 table groups that yielded over twenty pages of feedback,” said MCC Member Linda Fuller who facilitated the process. “We had great responses from participants to share with Council staff about how the process could be made less intimidating to nominate a volunteer for an award.” Voices showed MCC that the majority of volunteers didn’t know about recognitions to formally acknowledge their troop leaders and peers. We also learned that direct communication with all members is central to recognizing our key service providers so that our volunteers don’t feel like they like the recognitions process is self-promoting. And lastly MCC learned that any and all forms of appreciation are, well… appreciated by volunteers; however, the general consensus was that most treasured a special word of thanks from the girls and their families. Let’s start by making the process to nominate your favorite Girl Scout volunteer more approachable now! The 2016/17 Volunteer Recognition process is open to nominate someone in your area honoring outstanding service performed for Girl Scouting. You can reach the form here. (http://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/for-volunteers/forms-and-resources/adult-recognition-nominations.html) Visit the Volunteer Appreciation page on our website (http://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/for-volunteers/volunteer-appreciation.html) to learn more about the available adult recognitions. There is a handy guidebook to help explain each step of the way to nominate a Troop Leader, Service Unit Manger, Cookie Mom, Community Partner, or at large Volunteer for recognition and six different awards available based on service given to Girl Scouting: Volunteer Excellence, Appreciation Pin, Honor Pin, Thanks Badge, Thanks Badge II, and GSCO President’s Award. Each award requires a person to nominate a volunteer and then coordinate with 2-4 additional people to write a supporting letter to endorse the nomination. All nominations and supporting letters are due by MARCH 31 each year. MCC would like to thank all GSCO volunteers who attended a Voices session and shared their feedback. We would also like to thank ALL volunteers across Colorado for their hard work and dedication to Girl Scouting. You can learn more about the MCC here. (http://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/about-girl-scouts/membership-connection-committee.html). This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #MCC #MembershipConnectionCommittee

Come experience the ultimate career fair! This free event is open to all middle and high school girls and features business women from a variety of careers including, Deputy District Attorney, CEO, EMT, baking instructor, engineer, and more. Girls rotate to each professional hearing their professional journey and having an opportunity to ask any question. Each girl registered is entered into a drawing for $100 CASH! Parents are invited to stay and attend a financing college seminar and tour of Colorado Mesa University. Girls will walk away with an expanded base of career options and insider information on how to be successful from women that have excelled in their profession. Over 20 professional women will be at your disposal. For more information or to register, visit the Facebook event page https://www.facebook.com/events/946989535432517/ (or search Secrets To Success), click GOING to register or contact Cindi Graves at cindi.graves@gscolorado.org. #GrandJunction #SecretstoSuccess #WesternSlope

Submitted by Katie Singleton, Girl Scouts of Colorado Girl Experience Manager When Body Image Activist Taryn Brumfitt posted an unconventional before-and-after photo in 2013 it was seen by more than 100 million people worldwide and sparked an international media frenzy. EMBRACE follows Taryn’s crusade as she explores the global issue of body loathing, inspiring us to change the way we feel about ourselves and think about our bodies. Join us for a screening of Embrace on January 26, 2017 from 7:15-8:45 p.m. at the Cinema Saver 6 in Fort Collins! Tickets are currently on sale for $11 online at http://gathr.us/screening/18898. *** Please note the suggested age for viewing this film is 10 years and older and parents should be aware that this film includes a reasonable amount of non-sexual nudity. Watch the Embrace trailer and learn more about this documentary here: https://bodyimagemovement.com/embrace/about-the-film/ #bodyimage #FortCollins #NorthernampNortheasternCO #oldergirls

From Girl Scouts of the USA At Girl Scouts, girl-led programming that speaks to and nurtures girls’ interests and skills (they have so many!) is at the very core of our mission to build girls of courage, confidence, and character. At every turn, we want her to know the world is hers, and so we give her countless opportunities to unleash that inner G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ who will take the lead to change her world, and ours. That’s exactly why Girls’ Choice badges are back, and we’re so excited! This year, girls can choose their favorite badge topic from four new and exciting options. And for the very first time, there will be a Girls’ Choice badge for our littlest (and sometimes mightiest!) Girl Scouts. That’s right—Daisies will get a Girls’ Choice badge of their very own. Yes! Here are this year’s choices. Outdoors • Troop Camping • Outdoor Cooking STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) • Water Around Us • The Secret Life of Plants The poll is officially open, so go on and vote now for your favorite badge topic. Voting is open through January 22. We can hardly stand the suspense! Once the winning topic is selected, girls will also have a chance to vote on the design of their badge—awesome! The design poll will be open from February 13 to 17, so stay tuned. For now, we ask you to encourage every Girl Scout you know to vote, vote, vote. We need every adult standing with us to make sure girls take advantage of this very important opportunity to create their own Girl Scout experience and make their voices heard. It’s such an important part of the magic and leadership potential that Girl Scouts unleashes in girls every day. The time to vote is now. #GirlScoutsoftheUSA #GirlsChoiceOutdoorBadges #OutdoorBadges

The Gold Award is the highest achievement in Girl Scouts and we know it is not an easy award to earn! To support girls through the Gold Award process we are excited to provide a Gold Award help session at Colorado Mesa University on Saturday, January 21, 2017 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This session is immediately following Secrets to Success (link to http://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/content/girlscoutsofcolorado/en/events-repository/2017/secrets_to_success.html). Why not spend your morning connecting with professional women on the Western Slope and the afternoon moving forward with your Girl Scout Gold Award? The goal of this help session is to help girls choose an issue to focus on, navigate through the Go Gold website, and leave with at least three concrete next steps toward pursuing their Gold Award. Girls attending the help session should have previously attended a Gold Award Training. Registration deadline is January 18, 2017. REGISTER NOW: https://gscolorado.formstack.com/forms/gold_award_help_session_ws_01_21_2017 #GoldAward #GrandJunction #HighestAwards #WesternSlope

Submitted by Kathy Kettler Metro Denver Thornton The Woods Service Unit is hosting a Red Carpet Father-Daughter Ball on January 28, 2017 from 6 – 9 p.m. at the Waymire Dome located at the Adams County Fairgrounds – 9755 Henderson Road, Brighton, CO 80601. Featuring *Selfie Stations* Live DJ* Dancing *Snacks/Drinks* Our own Paparazzi* Come dressed like a STAR that you are and walk our Red Carpet Event and dance the evening away with the significant adult male (Dad, Stepdad, Grandpa, favorite Uncle, etc.) in your girl’s life. Please bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the Food Bank of the Rockies. You will also get a Red Carpet Fun Patch included in the price of admission. Advance tickets are $16 per couple and $7 for each additional girl (siblings that aren’t Girl Scouts are welcomed also). At the door pricing is $10 per person, so get your tickets early. Please see flyer attached for more info on getting your tickets. All Girl Scouts from Daisy to Ambassadors are welcomed for a great night spent with that significant adult male in their lives. Don’t forget to dress to the nines! flyler_red_carpet-father-daughter_ball This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #MetroDenver #RedCarpetFatherDaughterBall #Thornton

Submitted by Kayla B. Metro Denver Denver Kayla B. of Cadette Troop 1096 in Denver finished her Silver Award project in December 2016. Her project focused on raising awareness for older cat adoptions and she partnered with the Cat Care Society. Part of her project included creating educational brochures on the benefits of adopting an older cat and she made several presentations to senior living communities. She also made goodie bags to be given to the next ten older cats adopted at Cat Care Society. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #HighestAwards #SilverAward #CatCareSociety #Denver #MetroDenver

The KPMG Future Leaders Program (https://womensleadership.kpmg.us/charitable.html) selects top female high school seniors from around the country to participate in the program and receive a KPMG Future Leaders Scholarship of $10,000 per year for four years of college. Selected students are required to attend a three-day KPMG Future Leaders Retreat at Stanford University in the summer before their freshman year of college. In 2017, the retreat will be held from July 17-19. Students must also participate in a year-long KPMG Future Leaders Mentoring Program. Each student will be paired with a mentor – a woman leader participating in the KPMG Women’s Leadership Summit. Applications are due to the Office of Condoleezza Rice at Stanford University by January 30, 2017. Winners will be selected and notified by April 15, 2017. Download the program description, eligibility criteria, and application below. Questions? Email highestawards@gscolordo.org. kpmg-future-leaders-program #HighestAwards #KPMGFutureLeadersProgram #oldergirls #scholarshipopportunity

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes (http://barronprize.org/) celebrates inspiring, public-spirited young people from diverse backgrounds all across North America. Established in 2001 by author T.A. Barron, the Barron Prize annually honors 25 outstanding young leaders ages 8 to 18 who have made a significant positive impact on people, their communities, and the environment. Since its inception, the Barron Prize has awarded more than half a million dollars to hundreds of young leaders and has won the support of the National Geographic Education Foundation, Girl Scouts of the USA, and National Youth Leadership Council, among other organizations. The Barron Prize welcomes applications from public-spirited young people who are, on the April 15 deadline: between the ages of 8 and 18 (not yet age 19) permanent residents of and currently residing in the U.S.A. or Canada currently working on an inspiring service project or have done so within the past 12 months working as an individual to lead their service work. The Barron Prize does not accept applications from large groups of young people. The Barron Prize is a wonderful opportunity for girls who are currently earning or have earned their Girl Scout Gold Award or girls who are working independently on their Bronze or Silver Awards. Questions? Email highestawards@gscolorado.org Learn more about this opportunity and apply online: http://barronprize.org/ #GoldAward #HighestAwards #SilverAward #oldergirls #BronzeAward #GloriaBarronPrizeforYoungHeroes #BarronPrize #scholarshipopportunities

We are thrilled to announce the dates and locations for the spring 2017 Highest Awards Celebrations! April 21, 6 p.m. Center for American Values Pueblo, CO April 23, 2 p.m. Embassy Suites by Hilton Loveland Loveland, CO April 30, 2 p.m. Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction, CO May 5, 6 p.m. Penrose House at El Pomar Colorado Springs, CO May 7, 2 p.m. Denver Marriott Tech Center Denver, CO These celebrations are an opportunity to recognize the outstanding girls who have earned their Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award. All troops and/or girls who have earned their Bronze, Silver, or Gold since March 2016 are invited to participate in a celebration of their choice. In the spring, an RSVP form will be made available on our events page. Gold Award recipients across the state will also be recognized at the “Gold Award Day at the Capitol” on Monday, April 10. Each Gold Award recipient is invited to participate in both regional celebrations as well as the “Day at the Capitol”. Please note that the deadline to notify GSCO that you have earned your Bronze or Silver Award and participate in celebrations is March 1, 2017. Notify us now that your girls have earned their Bronze or Silver: http://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/for-volunteers/forms-and-resources/bronze-and-silver-notification.html Questions? Email Aimee Bianca at aimee.bianca@gscolorado.org save-the-date-for-highest-awards-celebrations #GoldAward #HighestAwards #2017HighestAwardscelebrations #SilverAward #BronzeAward #TakeAction #HighestAwardscelebrations