What did you do for your Gold Award project? My project addressed the issue of human trafficking recruitment and how to prevent it. According to the Trafficking Resource Center, “human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery in which traffickers use force, fraud, or coercion to control victims for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts or labor services against his/her will.” (traffickingresourcecernter.org) Initially I did a presentation in my US government class about human trafficking in general where I came to the conclusion that there is such a big vulnerability for teens to be targeted, and many of my fellow peers didn’t realize that there was this vulnerability that put them at risk. I hoped to make the student population of Rocky Mountain High School aware of the recruiting tactics of Human Traffickers and gave them the signs to watch for in case they encounter a trafficking victim or a trafficker themselves. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? I measured the impact of my project by asking the students a series of questions before and after the presentation. Also I had a student exclaim “Oh my god this is happening to me” which we immediately got him the necessary help he needed to deal with this issue; this is another way I measured the impact of my project,  observing student’s immediate reactions. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? My project is sustainable because the school administration will continue to present my project to further generations of students. Kids will have the tools they will need to protect themselves as well as the information needed to identify a trafficking situation; and they will be given resources that they can utilize if needed. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? Since human trafficking is a global issue and no one realizes that it happens here at home in Colorado, I decided to focus my attention on the recruitment aspect of human trafficking here and what makes teens and young adults such prime targets. With my project I’m hoping to draw more attention to the global issue of human trafficking in hoping to prevent further recruitment into this growing epidemic. What did you learn about yourself? What I learned about myself was that I have a deep passion for trying to keep my peers and others safe while educating them on a topic that’s not often talked about. I also learned that I have the capacity to deal with stressful situations and the capacity to take on such a stressful project and get it up off the ground from start to finish. The most stressful part of this project I would say was contacting people and getting things put into place and making sure I met deadlines. The leadership skill I developed is project management and better written communication skills. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? Earning my Gold Award will impact me in the future because it can help open doors for me as well as showing people that I care about what I do and the amount of effort and work I put into making something happen. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? I feel that the Gold Award was an important part of my Girl Scout experience because it pushed me to think out of the box and make something a reality; I feel that doing the Gold Award helped me bring awareness to my community and bring about change and education about the issue of human trafficking. **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 #FortCollins #GoldAward #humantrafficking #NorthernampNortheasternCO

What did you do for your Gold Award project? My project addressed financial literacy education in schools. As I was preparing to buy a car, and beginning to look at tuition costs and student loans for college, I realized that I didn’t really know much about financial literacy. The current financial literacy curriculum that is taught in public schools in Colorado is limited and woven into other subjects, not giving the students the connection financial literacy has to their life outside of school. Students leaving high school are dealing with bigger amounts of money, no matter if they go to college or not. They’re buying cars, renting apartments, dealing with student loans, and budgets. My goal was to make financial literacy more easily accessed by students by requiring a class in Jefferson County School District High Schools, so the students would directly learn the financial concepts and tools they would need post high school. I began by writing a unit that was implemented in my own high school’s Family Consumer Science class. I then proposed to the Jefferson County School Board for a required Financial Literacy class. I also met with state legislators to discuss how we can work together to improve financial literacy guidelines from a legislative direction. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? In my high school Family Consumer Sciences class, I researched and created a unit on Financial Safety Online. That unit consisted of power points, activities, videos, and discussions. I assigned both pre and post unit quizzes to the students to see their improvement through direct teaching of these financial concepts. Their average class grade increased from a “C” to an “A” demonstrating that direct education of financial literacy topics is effective. Feedback both on Down with Dough Facebook page as well as numerous comments after my 9News segment show that this topic is relatable to many people and they were all encouraging me on this subject. Many aspects of my Gold project are still in process such as the legislative work and what the School Board Curriculum Department will develop over time. I was very happy to get people to see the gap in this important curriculum piece and be willing to look more deeply into it, and take appropriate action. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? My unit will be sustained by the Family Consumer Sciences teacher at Ralston Valley who has signed a letter of commitment to continue to teach the unit I created. The Jefferson County School Board is looking for ways to fill the gap between the current curriculums by connecting it to the students’ lives and experiences. I am also working with a Colorado State Legislator, Lang Sias, who is looking to assist with legislative options to provide guidelines for state educators to follow in teaching financial literacy. My brother and I are also starting a non-profit (Down with Dough) to keep the discussion on my issue going, as well as educate students and young adults on financial literacy subjects. We will also work with people, like Representative Sias, to develop a financial literacy event to be held at the Capitol and work to mend the issue in the future. Down With Dough will be effective January 1, 2017. Locally interest was generated (and maintained) by news media including an article in my school newspaper, my local paper, a segment on 9News and my Facebook page “Down with Dough.” What is your project’s global and/or national connection? Financial literacy affects everyone worldwide. I researched how Colorado compares to other states and how the United States compares to other countries as far as the education of Financial Literacy topics. Nationally, Champlain College’s Center of Financial Literacy graded each state based on their financial literacy requirements. Colorado earned a ‘C’, as financial topics are woven into curriculums, but it isn’t taught directly. Globally, the Program for International Student Assessment submitted a test to 15-year-olds from different countries to test their financial education. The U.S. scores in the bottom 50% of other countries with countries such as China, Australia and the Czech Republic scoring higher. What did you learn about yourself? There are several key things that I learned about myself. First, is that I can achieve my goals despite road blocks as long as I don’t give up. It is okay to have to rethink problems and brainstorm alternative solutions. Sticking with something can have huge payoffs in the end. I also learned key things such as prioritizing, organization, and business communications. Probably the most important thing I learned is how to make sure the people who are helping me (my volunteers) know how much I appreciate them and the work they do for me. It is easy to go along and get busy with timelines and projects and assume that people know that you appreciate them but the reality is that you have to make sure you tell them how appreciative you are. If they don’t know that you are grateful for their help, they won’t want to continue helping you. It is very important to make sure they know you need them. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? Earning the Gold Award has shown me I can do anything if I persevere. I will take the memories and skills that I have learned and apply them to everything I will do going forward. I am a stronger, more confident person because of this project. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? The Gold Award to me is the ultimate culmination of everything that I’ve learned over the 12 years that I’ve been a Girl Scout. Service to others, courage to take risks, and a safe and supportive environment to try new things. It is the highest award and is a great way to end my career as a Girl Scout. **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 #Arvada #financialliteracy #GoldAward #MetroDenver

A new indoor riding arena is under construction at Tomahawk Ranch! It is the result of an exciting partnership with Girl Scouts of Colorado and High Country Riders 4H group in Bailey! GSCO will use this new arena for a variety of indoor programming. 4H will use it for single-day events with livestock. Any programming involving 4H livestock will be run by 4H and will not conflict with GSCO events or programming. Trail rides with off-site vendors will remain a part of GSCO camp programming. Tomahawk Ranch animals will remain in their current home in the barn. Workers broke ground on the 100 ft. x 150 ft. arena in October 2016. The project is expected to be complete in November 2016. It is being paid for thanks to a joint partnership between Girl Scouts of Colorado and High Country Riders 4H group in Bailey. Girl Scouts and outside users will be able to rent the indoor riding arena at Tomahawk Ranch for single-day events. Bookings for the arena will be made through Girl Scouts of Colorado. http://girlscoutsofcolorado.checkfront.com/reserve/ Bookings for GSCO properties may be made through our online reservation system up to one year in advance. #HighCountryRiders4HgroupinBailey #ParkCounty #TomahawkRanch #4H #Bailey

What did you do for your Gold Award project? For my project I created my own curriculum to teach preschool and elementary school children about park safety and Colorado history. I worked alongside the Ecopark in southeast Aurora to develop ideas and determine important information to include, such as flood safety. I taught at a couple schools and at a Brownie Field Day to share my information. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? To measure the impact of my project, I created a trivia game to play with the kids that I taught. I had questions ranging from what were the Indian tribes in Colorado to the proper steps to take if there is a storm forming while you are at a park to judge if the kids had learned any of the information. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? The Centennial Youth Corp will be helping take over my project to make it sustainable. I shared all of my materials with this group of high school students so that they will be able to teach kids together and set up booths at city events to share the information I have created. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? I shared my materials with parks across the state and nation so that they can provide these activities and coloring sheets in their information centers. I even contacted the Yellowstone Board of Education and my materials are currently under review there. What did you learn about yourself? I am very capable of being a leader, as everyone is, when it comes to doing something that you are passionate about. I realized that I am quite capable of procrastination, but when there is a will there is always a way to finish the project. I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? I think this award helped me establish my own leadership skills that I will carry into the future. After doing this 80 hour project with some help from my family and friends I realized that there are always people I can count on to help me through the more difficult aspects of my life, but that I am also able to do anything I want to with my life. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? The Gold Award is a good culmination of the whole Girl Scout experience. By completing this project, I feel like I have followed through and completed the mission of Girl Scouts. It established a lot of leadership skills and reliability in me, and I am glad to say that I have earned the highest honor in this organization. **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 #Aurora #GoldAward #MetroDenver

Linda is one of our Gold Award Mentors who is strongly committed to successfully guiding girls through the Gold Award in our Northern Colorado region. Learn more about Linda below and stay tuned for more “Meet Our Mentor” blog posts over the next few months! Go Gold! Region 7 – Northern & Northeastern Loveland, CO Nine Years as a Girl Scout 30 Years as a Girl Scout volunteer 11 Years a s a Gold Award Mentor Why did you become a Gold Award Mentor? After my three daughters all earned their Gold Awards and the older girl troop I had been advising for 11 years all graduated, I thought it would be a great way to continue working with amazing high school age Girl Scouts. What words of advice do you have for girls about the Gold Award Make sure you have a passion for your project. It will make it all more rewarding at the end. Stick to it – remember your SMART goals and break the project into smaller steps. Keep track of your time and helpers and ask for help when you need it. About Linda: I became a Brownie Girl Scout in 1963. It was the first year with 4 program levels and I remember looking through my bright orange handbook whenever I had the chance. Monday afternoons were Brownie Girl Scout day at my elementary school. Our troop met right after school in the multi-purpose room. Our troop leaders were Mrs. Pharris and Mrs. Bolter and they continued with the troop all the way through Juniors and into Cadettes. Some of my favorite girl memories are making butter and doing crafts as a Brownie. In Juniors we were able to sell cookies, go camping and do service projects in our community. I grew up in Palo Alto, CA. and our Junior and Cadette troop meetings were held at the Lou Henry Hoover Girl Scout House in one of our local parks. It was great fun learning how to cook (both indoors and out) at the GS House. After my first campout I came home and announced that we need to go camping as a family. We borrowed equipment from friends, loaded up the station wagon and our family went on our first camping trip to Big Basin State Park. It was the beginning of a lifetime of campouts. As an adult I got back into Girl Scouting when a friend asked if I knew of a brand new program for Kindergarten age girls. Our oldest daughters were in preschool and would start Kindergarten in the fall. It was 1985 when we started our Daisy troop. All three of my daughters went through Girl Scouts from Daisies through Seniors, earned their Gold Awards and became lifetime members upon graduating high school. We had many great adventures as I led their troops through those 20 years. During the 11 years I spent as an advisor to older girls we traveled, earned money to travel, led programs for younger girls, did community service projects and became great friends. I spent many hours on the service unit team leading day camps, international festivals, and other community events in Loveland as well as becoming a Master Trainer in Mountain Prairie Council. Most of my volunteer Girl Scout time is spent on the history committee. We meet every Tuesday in Loveland at the GSCO History Center. Our time there is spent organizing, inventorying and cataloging the vast collection of historic Girl Scout items that the council has. It is great fun finding a new treasure in an unopened box and looking through old catalogs to find out when it was available and how much it cost at the time. I also am a member of the Northern Colorado Gold Award Committee. I truly enjoy working with the amazing young women who are working on their Gold Awards. As the president of Promise Partners; the Northern Colorado Girl Scout alumnae group I arrange meetings about four times a year where we meet for fun, fellowship and service. My most recent volunteer role has been volunteer registrar for Core Camp at Meadow Mountain Ranch. We had a great weekend putting on a volunteer run resident camp like program for troops. I can’t wait to do it again next year. I have done many amazing things as a Girl Scout and traveled to many wonderful places, both with girls and adults. Some of my more memorable trips include Belize, Nova Scotia and Maine, England, Savannah and to Our Cabana in Mexico to see the Monarch Butterflies. My life outside of Girl Scouts includes enjoying my two young grandsons, gardening, quilting and traveling with my husband of 37 years. Although he is not a Girl Scout, he has always been a great support to me in my volunteer roles. My advice to adults is to stay active in Girl Scouting and encourage your girls to continue with Girl Scouts into High School and beyond. The world will open up to you. Find your passion and let Girl Scouts help you fulfill it. You won’t regret it. #GoldAward #GoldAwardmentors #Loveland #NorthernampNortheasternCO

Submitted by Ana Lucia Martin del Campo Metro Denver Thornton On October 1, 2016, at the event “Scouts at the Denver Zoo,” the Denver Zoo offer in celebration of the temporary exhibit Washed Ashore, Art to Save the Sea, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will get a chance to create their own works of art at home and bring them to the event to display in our very own Scout Night art gallery. Scouts will vote on their favorite sculpture and the winner will win a Bunk with the Beasts overnight adventure! Let your creativity run wild! Congratulations to Girl Scouts from Troop 62511 Brownie Justine, Brownie Alison, and Daisy Ivana for win first place with your Turtle! This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #DenverZoo #MetroDenver #Thornton

What did you do for your Gold Award project? For my Gold Award project, I not only crocheted beanies for newborn babies at Denver Health Medical Center and Baby Haven in Ft. Collins, I also held a number classes to teach people of all ages how to make the beanies.  During my classes, I also educated the students on the importance of covering a baby’s head as they lose heat quickly and the need for newborn baby items as many families struggle financially. I also shared how to make the beanies and ways to support these agencies on social media and with fliers in multiple areas trying to reach as many people as I can. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? I measured impact of my project by how fast the beanies were delivered to families in need and how many more beanies Denver Health and Baby Haven needed. How is your project sustainable? How  will  your  project  continue to impact after your  involvement? First of all, my project will be sustained by those I taught. Each group was left with instructions as well as contact information for Denver Health and Baby Haven. The Denver Health staff will also be continuing my project  and reaching out to other hospitals in Denver who would be interested in a supply of beanies to give to families of newborn babies. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? I have a Facebook page open to anyone and it has directions to make a beanie, directions on how to get started on holding a “Beanies for Babies” class, and suggestions on where they can deliver beanies. What did you learn about yourself? I learned that I am a good teacher and when I need to I can take charge and be a leader. I am a less shy of a person than I thought. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? Earning my Gold Award made me a better leader and more aware of the needs in my community. This project will impact my future because I know that I will be able to be a leader in any situation and that I can lead people of all ages. I know I have the skills to continue to help my community and educate people about community needs and what they can do to make someone’s life better. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? The Gold Award project was very important to me because all my life I was a shy girl and this project helped me come out of my shell and be a leader. This project was the first major project that I have done from start to finish. Now I know that I am able to compete things that I set my mind to. **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 #Larkspur #newbornbabies #NorthernampNortheasternCO #beanies #Denver #MetroDenver #FortCollins #PikesPeak #BabyHaven #DenverHealthMedicalCenter

SONY DSC Submitted by Kristin Coulter Metro Denver Denver Most crimes are committed by males, Denver Police Department Officer Sharon Avendaño, explained last week to Park Hill 8th and 9th grade Senior Girl Scouts. And while the Denver Police Department is only approximately 10% female, women are an important to the force. She told the girls that female police officers, just by virtue of being female, often have greater power to defuse potentially volatile situations between the police and citizens. In her experience, when testosterone levels are extremely high, intense situations can quickly deteriorate. However when a female police officer is involved, often a citizen’s anger can be diffused and you can hear a few “yes mam’s.” In fact this Denver native and former Girl Scout Brownie has been on the force for 20 years and has never had to use her gun or a Taser. Girl Scout Troop 3573 invited, District 2 Community Resource Officer Avendaño to their troop meeting October 13th to learn about law enforcement in general and as a potential career. The teenage scouts also learned about the Cadet Program. The Cadet Program allows high school graduates interested in a career in public safety (police officer, firefighter or deputy sheriff) a part-time job and tuition at either Metro State University of Denver or the University of Colorado Denver. After a lively chat about her adventures on the force Officer Avendaño told the girls to study hard in school so that all career options are open to them. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #Denver #DenverPolice #MetroDenver

Girl Scouts of the USA is praising Girl Scouts of Colorado (GSCO) for its relationship with YOU (our members)–  thanks to the work of the Membership Connection Committee (MCC) and the Global Action Committee! In a recent email, a member of GSUSA’s Global team wrote, “Your Council (GSCO) and partnership has been identified as a wonderful example of successful application of global integration into Girl Scout programming. Your hard work in a variety of areas (travel, global in Journeys, special programming, etc.) makes your Council a real model from which we wish others to learn from.” GSCO is the only council to have an MCC as its governance system. The MCC is the centerpiece of our democratic process and a way to give GSCO members a strong voice in the issues they care most about. While the MCC did not officially begin until 2008 when GSCO was formed, its roots go back much further. Several years earlier, volunteers in the former Mile-Hi Council committed to Global Girl Scouting decided to join forces with Global Girl Scouting Committees in Colorado’s legacy councils, including Mountain Prairie, Wagon Wheel, and Chaparral. Rae Ann Doughtery, former MCC Chair and Board Chair Elect, was a member of the Global Girl Scouting Committee in the Mile-Hi Council. At the time, she says the goal of this new statewide group was simple: expand global Girl Scouting. “The international sisterhood of Girl Scouting is unique and huge,” she said. “It includes Girl Scouts around the world and those in Denver, Sterling, and all across Colorado.” After the merger in 2008, several members of Global Girl Scout Committees from legacy councils came together to continue the work, as well as join the newly formed MCC. MCC members were tasked with making sure that Girl Scouts across Colorado had a voice in the newly-formed GSCO. Today, nearly a decade after the formation of GSCO, the MCC is getting back to its roots and looking for new and fun ways for Girl Scouts to connect with their sisters here in Colorado, across the country, and around the world. “The GSCO Global Action Committee is a key part of keeping that international sisterhood alive in Colorado,” Dougherty said. MCC members gathered earlier this month at Tomahawk Ranch to discuss what’s next for the group. Their new goal is to help GSCO develop three-year plan to increase adult engagement, which includes recruiting new adult volunteers, strengthening service units, and improving communication between GSCO and volunteers. Much of what they are focusing on is determining three-year outcomes and one-year deliverables. “Our conversation established a new direction for MCC for the next three years largely based on membership feedback from across the state” said MCC chair Caroline Cornell. GSCO is extremely lucky to have the MCC, but for the committee to continue its good work, it needs members from across to Colorado. If you’re interested in expanding your volunteer-role with GSCO beyond your troop, apply for a seat on the MCC. Learn more here: http://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/about-girl-scouts/membership-connection-committee.html #GirlScoutsoftheUSA #gsco #globalgirlscouting #MembershipConnectionCommittee #MCC

Submitted by Kathryn Lewis-Salem Pikes Peak Colorado Springs Do you want the thrill of experiencing an Olympic sport? Fencing is an Olympic sport and you can learn the basics and impress your family and friends with your knowledge! Front Range Fencing Club offers a Fencing Experience to all Girl Scouts at which you will receive a fun patch and you will work towards the requirements of a badge. The experience is 1 ½ hours long and contains the preliminary instruction on form and feel of fencing. Front Range Fencing provides all of the equipment needed as well as certified instruction (certified by USA fencing, the US Fencing Coaches Association and Safe Sport). The classes are offered at our practice space: Chinook Trails Elementary School just off of Powers and Union in the North East region of Colorado Springs. The list of current classes by age group can be found on our website [ http://frontrangefencing.tripod.com/girl-scout-fencing-experiences.html ]. We promote skills and safety so we ask that all Girl Scouts wear long athletic pants and sneakers (no jeans or shorts, no boots or sandals) to the experience. We have quite a few Girl Scouts who are fencers in our Club. They often participate in the class instruction. This is a sport that is particularly good for girls, improving physical and intellectual strengths as well as critical thinking and success. En Garde! Touche’! Come and learn about this fascinating sport that combines the grace of dancing with the excitement of an action puzzle with the thrill of competition while cultivating the Girl Scouts traits of courage, character and confidence! This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #ColoradoSprings #Olympics #FrontRangeFencingClub #PikesPeak #Fencing

Nancy is one of our Gold Award Mentors who is strongly committed to successfully guiding girls through the Gold Award in our Mountain Communities region. Learn more about Nancy below and stay tuned for more “Meet Our Mentor” blog posts over the next few months! Go Gold! Region 5 – Mountain Communities Steamboat Springs, CO 40+ Years as a Girl Scout Volunteer Two Years as a Gold Award Mentor Gold Award Recipient Why did you become a Gold Award Mentor? As a GS Gold Award Mentor, I want to help others with this monumental accomplishment. It’s an important step for our girls and our communities. What words of advice do you have for girls about the Gold Award? Don’t wait! Start today! About Nancy: Hi! I’m a Lifetime Girl Scout, I earned my First Class and was one of the first in Colorado to earn the Gold Award in the early 1980s. I was fortunate to grow up in a very supportive Girl Scout family and my mom and my sister have been my “cohorts” on many of my Girl Scout adventures. As the mother of boys, I’m excited to be able to give back to girls and encourage girls to be all they can be. To take advantage of a multitude of experiences and to continue in Girl Scouts so they can enjoy all it has to offer older girls, for travel, wider experiences, and connections to the adult world they will soon enter. #GoldAward #GoldAwardmentors #mountaincommunities #SteamboatSprings

Submitted by Bobbie Fachini Metro Denver Denver Moscow Ballet will return to Denver’s Paramount Theatre on December 9 and 10, 2016 with three performances of its acclaimed Great Russian Nutcracker. Girl Scouts are invited to attend at discounted rates, and receive a free, fun patch with purchase of ticket. For a group of 25 or more (including chaperones, friends, and siblings), there will be a meet-and-greet with one of the dancers. I’m Bobbie Fachini, Market Manager for Moscow Ballet’s North American tours. I had the chance to talk to Audition Director, Olena Nalyvaiko, about her life as an international dance professional and about her time here in the United States. To prepare for the tour, she will be in Denver for a few days working with Cherry Creek Dance. She will be rehearsing students at Cherry Creek who will have the chance to dance on stage with Moscow Ballet in ancillary roles. BF: When did you start dancing? ON: I was 3-years-old, but I really understood that I wanted to dance professionally when I was 11. My parents had me choose between studying language to be a professional interpreter or training to be a professional ballerina. BF: Do you like to travel? Why or why not? ON: When you travel you always have new emotions and excitement. If you travel a lot it becomes exhausting, but no matter what it is worth it. Wise people will tell you that you won’t remember the things you’ve bought, but you will always remember the emotions you get from traveling. I absolutely agree with these words. Every new city is like a small new world that you can discover. BF: What are your favorite cities in the world? ON: Besides the USA, I love my native city of Kiev. It is very ancient and beautiful. Berlin, Dublin, and Vancouver, too. BF: And in the United States? ON: I have a bunch of favorite cities in the USA: Chicago, San Francisco, Washington DC, and Denver. 

I visited Denver last year. It has a beautiful and interesting downtown, amazing nature, nice weather. The city is very alive. I like the state of Colorado. The mountains are breathtaking. And I enjoy working with our host studio in Denver: Cherry Creek Dance. The teachers are doing brilliant work and the kids are always prepared 100%. It is one of the best studios I have worked with during my time as Audition Director. BF: What is your favorite thing about dancing? ON: My favorite thing about dancing is that I can improve myself each day. My body is my working instrument. I can travel and see the world and meet different people. I enjoy being on stage and all of the stage things: play different roles, put on make-up and costumes, backdrops and props, and even our daily routine (taking class, stretching, rehearsing). BF: Do you have advice for children who want to dance professionally? ON: Always try to catch the best from each teacher. All of them can teach you something useful and important. Nowadays a dancer should be well-rounded and developed, so study all styles including contemporary, jazz, and ballet. 
Enjoy what you are doing and practice, practice, practice. Learn more about Olena here: 
http://www.nutcracker.com/youth-auditions/meet-audition-directors/olena-nalyvaiko Troops can sign up for Girl Scout tickets here:
 http://www.nutcracker.com/buy-tickets/girl-scout-groups #ballet #Denver #MetroDenver #MoscowBallet