Cadettes Annika, Kennedy, and Julianna worked on their aMaze Journey over the summer. They all earned their Interact awards and two went on to earn their Diplomat and Peacemaker awards. Explaining their Take Action project, Kennedy said the Cadettes “want to help people to strengthen their friendships,” and Julianna added, “…because you want to make new friends and become more social.” “How can we use jewelry to strengthen their friendships, you ask?” said Kennedy. “We can make jewelry swaps for them and teach them about friendship,” Julianna suggested. Kennedy explained, “You can ask your adult or you can find a charm that you would use so you can swap it with your friend.” The girls’ swaps are made for all their peers whether they participate in Girl Scouts or not. Each one includes a message they learned from their aMaze books or from their own experiences. They will be handing them out at social activities, sports, and when they meet new friends. Julianna imagines that if all girls were involved in peaceful relationships, “everyone would feel included.” Asked about the most important tool in her Peacemaker Kit, Kennedy chose the promise “I won’t let another friend put you down.”

WTS Transportation YOU hosted a group of Girl Scouts on Saturday 9/10 in downtown Denver. We rode the light rail from Broadway Station to DUS. A BIG thanks to Caitlin Arnold (RTD) who taught the girls about RTD/TOD, Jess Hastings and Travis Greiman (Benesch) for an interactive discussion on disability mobility, Nyssa Beach (CDOT) for bringing her entire troop and presenting fun facts about bridges and Emily Gloeckner (City and County of Denver) for the bike safety tips! We were excited to be back in person after three years and we look forward to continuing the program next year.

The Global Action Team would like to be a guest at any of your Virtual or In-Person Service Unit meetings! The members in your Service Unit can get an introduction to Global or a demonstration on how to use the 2023 World Thinking Day Activity packet. Pick one theme for our visit to your SU Meeting and invite us back for more. Email gscoglobal@gmail.com to request a date for your guest visitor for 15 – 20 minutes, from the Global Action Team.

Cadettes from Aurora's Troop 65346 collaborated to reimagine Liberty Middle School's counseling office space into a warm and welcoming ‘Zen Den’, a place where students can visit when they need a mental health break. Last Spring, the troop met with specialists from their school district’s Office of Student Health to discuss the mental health needs of middle school students and brainstorm what could be included in the space. Funded entirely through their cookies sales, the new, updated space features flexible and active seating options, fidget and stress toys, aromatherapy, adult coloring books, positivity posters, and calming activities.

Brownies create skit to promote Leave No Trace and campfire safety Four Brownies in Troop 65659 worked on the Hiker, First Aid, and Cabin Camper badges over the summer and three of them completed all three badges and went on to do a Take Action project for the Outdoor Journey. They chose to focus their project on campfires. Using information from the Leave No Trace website, the girls performed a skit about getting ready to make a campfire, then finding out there is a fire ban. Each time Squirrel and Bear ran into a problem, the fire Fairy helped them learn the solution, including how to find appropriate firewood, trash in campfires, and alternatives to campfires including using a camp stove, sleeping bags for warmth, playing games and stargazing for fun, and headlamps and lanterns for light. Two of the girls chose to play a Squirrel and a Panda Bear, and the third chose to play the part of Fairy. Each time Squirrel and Bear ran into a problem, the fire Fairy helped them learn the solution, including how to find appropriate firewood, trash in campfires, and alternatives to campfires including using a camp stove, sleeping bags for warmth, playing games and stargazing for fun, and headlamps and lanterns for light. They have shared the video of their skit with friends and family. At their celebration, they all created bookmarks by taping photos from their journey to cardstock.

Who wouldn't want a giant-sized Hawaiian Monk seal named Kai? Fall Product Program starts on Saturday, Sept. 10! There will be two contests during the program. Girl Scouts can enter a drawing to win the giant-sized, Hawaiian Monk seal, Kai, our program mascot -and- the first 50 girls to sell 15+ magazine subscriptions will win a super cool mystery prize! Giant Hawaiian Monk Seal Drawing There are four ways that girls can qualify to get multiple entries into the drawing for the giant seal and increase their chances to win the plush seal. Girls who renew their membership by Sept. 30, 2022, and who participate in the Fall Product Program can get one drawing entry. Girls who sell 15+ magazine subscriptions can get two drawing entries. Girls who reach the level of $650+ in combined sales can get three drawing entries. Girls who create a video or voice recording for their M2 online storefront can get four drawing entries. Form opens on Saturday, Sept. 10. Girls MUST complete the Seal Drawing form only once. Each criteria met could mean up to ten total entries to the drawing! Girls do not need to meet each criterion to enter the drawing. *Combined sales can be any combination of online and/or in-person sales. How to Enter: Girls can check off the criteria they have met on the contest form. Criteria will be verified by GSCO staff. Each criterion that’s met could mean up to ten total entries in the drawing! https://girlscoutsofcolorado.formstack.com/forms/2022_hawaiian_monk_seal_drawing_entry_form Contest Entry Deadline and Drawing: Girls must complete and submit form by the deadline: Friday, Dec. 9, 2022, 11:59pm. Contest drawing will be on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. Note: We cannot ship the giant seal. The winner will need to schedule to pick it up from the nearest GSCO office. *The first 50 girls who sell 15 or more magazine subscriptions and complete the magazine contest form, will receive a super cool mystery reward! https://girlscoutsofcolorado.formstack.com/forms/2022_magazine_contest_entry_form Magazine subscriptions are purchased through a Girl Scouts’ online storefront in M2. There are lots of popular titles to choose from for sports enthusiasts, foodies, fashionistas, green thumbs, crafters, news hounds and nature lovers! Magazines make great gifts for family and friends to enjoy, plus there are no shipping fees. Troops also earn 13% of subscription costs as proceeds. Bonus – Girls who sell 15+ magazine subscriptions will not only qualify to receive but they will also qualify for two entries into the drawing for the giant plush penguin contest too! The contest form opens Saturday, Sept. 10. As soon as a girl has sold 15 or more magazine subscriptions, she should complete the form to qualify to receive the S’mores tote with a mystery reward inside. *The first 50 girls to qualify will be based on the date that the contest form is submitted, and the verified number of magazine subscriptions sold. Note: Mystery prizes will need to be picked up from the nearest GSCO office.

Maya Hegde took part in Inclusive Global Leadership Institute at Denver University I was recently very lucky to get the opportunity to spend two days at the 2022 Inclusive Global Leadership Institute (IGLI). Here, activists from around the world gather to share ideas and advice to re-energize and push their movements to the next level. While the movements and campaigns vary from each activist, I noticed some common themes that I believe are valuable lessons for everyone as they face new challenges, adversity, or want to stand up for what they truly believe in. “Witnessing the activists interact and share their experiences and advice was inspiring. The energy in the room completely changed the second day compared to the first day as everyone got to know each other more. ” The first thing I learned is that imposter syndrome is very real, even among the most impressive and accomplished people. The activists who come to IGLI are some of the bravest and most inspired people I have met. Their accomplishments include TED Talks, op-eds in well known papers, and several even risk imprisonment, threats, and torture for standing up for what they believe in. During the introductions on the first day, I noticed that the participants often said that they couldn’t believe they were a part of this group and felt as if they didn’t fully belong or measure up to the rest of the group. As an observer, I felt amazed that this sentiment was shared and so ingrained within the group. What I got out of this, however, was that this feeling is completely normal and is actually common. I think this is vital because as we transition from high school to college or are in a newer environment, feeling like an imposter or feeling small is normal, and even if it seems like a big deal, it is not something that should hold you back or define you. Everyone experiences imposter syndrome. The next takeaway that I got is that anger is powerful and can become a positive influence. Anger was definitely a common theme during my two days since a lot of activists start out because they are angry at the system they have experienced. So often, anger, especially in women, is classified as “hysteria” or emphasized as a negative aspect that could derail a movement. The women at IGLI taught me that anger is power because it can illustrate the injustices in a government or system. Anger can help drive the energy, but it is important to manage anger and have ways to cope to avoid burnout. I really believe this is important to mention because as we enter new phases of our lives, sometimes new experiences can bring out different emotions or reactions within ourselves that we may not have had before, and knowing that this energy can be used in a positive way can really help. The final takeaway I learned and got to witness was that community is vital. Witnessing the activists interact and share their experiences and advice was inspiring. The energy in the room completely changed the second day compared to the first day as everyone got to know each other more. I realized that community, especially in the context of activism, is so important because it comes with an aspect of understanding. Although each activist had a different campaign that they were passionate about, a lot of their experiences and feelings were shared. These commonalities allowed for compassion and empathy, and this created a space for the participants to re-energize in an environment where their sacrifices and efforts were acknowledged. I believe this is so critical because it can be applied to everyday life. Surrounding yourself with people who understand and believe in you but aren’t the exact same as you can help you to grow and expand your comfort zone.

Momi (mo·mee) and Mililani (mi·luh·laa·nee) are the Hawaiian Monk Seal mascots for the 2022 Fall Product Program! The small and large plush seals are two of the rewards that Girl Scouts can earn. Mililani is earned at the $350 level, and Momi at $750. To see all 2022 Fall Product Program girl rewards, check out the order card posted on our website. Remember that all rewards are cumulative. Fun Facts About Hawaiian Monk Seals: Scientific Name – Monachus schauinslandi. Size – Monk seals can grow up to seven feet long and can weigh as much as 600 lbs. Diet – These seals are considered “generalist” feeders. Which means they eat a wide variety of foods depending on what is available. The most common include fishes, squids, octopuses, eels, and crustaceans (crabs, shrimps and lobsters). Life Span – The average Hawaiian monk seal lives between 25-30 years. Habitat – These seals are found on the main and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. They live in warm, subtropical waters and spend two-thirds of their time at sea. Predators – Sharks tend to be their biggest predators, specifically, Tiger Sharks. Other cool thinks to know: • They can remain under water for up to 20 minutes. • They can dive more than 1800 feet deep, the length of FIVE football fields, but prefer to swim in shallow waters of two hundred feet or less. • They love to sleep on beaches for days at a time. To learn more about Hawaiian Monk seals, the scientists who study them, and the activists working to protect them, visit the websites below: https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Hawaiian-Monk-Seal https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/hawaiian-monk-seal https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/animal-care/learn-about-marine-mammals/pinnipeds/hawaiian-monk-seal https://oceanographicmagazine.com/features/hawaiian-monk-seal-pup/ https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/hawaiian-monk-seal If you have questions about Fall Product Program or need assistance, please contact GSCO customer care. Call 1- 877-404-5708 or email inquiry@gscolorado.org.

Many thanks to Adventure Golf and Raceway for hosting an event on Saturday, August 27th for Girl Scout troops from Superior and Louisville! Approximately 180 Girl Scouts of all levels and their leaders/product volunteers kicked off the new school year with fun activities that included miniature golf, go-karts, bumper cars and high ropes. Troops were treated with a small gift from the park and Sisterhood of Support (S.O.S.) kits that were made by Girl Scouts around Colorado.

After two postponements, Troop 62135 was finally able to travel to London and Paris with EF Tours, a trip the troop had been preparing for since before COVID. It was an amazing celebration of our older girls, several of whom have since graduated high school. We were joined by two sister troops from Seattle and New York!

44 Girl Scouts Celebrate the Corn Roast Festival and Girl Scout Roots! Five Northern Colorado Girl Scout Troops had the fantastic opportunity to walk in the 126th Corn Roast parade in Girl Scout Uniforms from the Girl Scout Historical Society! This was our first time coming together as a group, creating decorations on wagons with our favorite Girl Scout topics, giving out candy and singing our favorite songs together. Way to go Girl Scouts!!

Have you ever wondered who designs clothes and accessories from your favorite stores and how they get there? Are you a creative person who is interested in how you can channel your creativity into a future career? Do you like to collaborate and work as a team towards a common goal? Join us on October 13 when we’ll talk with Ellen Gillespie, a fashion merchandiser with over 12 years of experience working for corporate retail. She is currently based in New York City working for Ralph Lauren. Register today: Daisy, Brownie, Junior session Cadette, Senior, Ambassador session