Submitted by Carmen Valdez Pueblo & Southeastern CO Pueblo For the 2016-17 membership year, we’re celebrating the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouting in Colorado. You’re invited to join Girl Scouts in Pueblo for a special registration and recruitment event! Where: City Park Rotary Pavilion When: Saturday, September 10, 2016 Time: 1- 4 p.m. (drop in anytime, walk-ups welcome) Click on link to see complete details and how to register! http://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/content/girlscoutsofcolorado/en/events-repository/2016/new_girl_scout_regis.html Girls in grades K-3rd grade can enjoy a Girl Scout story, finger puppets, meet the Daisy flower friends, discover Brownie ELF, and much more! Did someone say ice cream? The first 20 girls to RSVP will enjoy an ice cream sandwich. Adults– are you curious about what Girl Scouts can offer you and your girl? This is your chance to find out! For more information, email Carmen Valdez at carmen.valdez@gscolorado.org. #Pueblo #PuebloampSoutheastern #recruitment

From Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) and Disney Channel teamed up to inspire girls and their families to practice leadership! The collaboration brings GSUSA’s focus on leading like a G.I.R.L (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader) TM, the Girl Scout way, and Disney Channel’s recently launched animated television series Elena of Avalor into action with the debut of The Elena of Avalor Leadership Guide by Girl Scouts and Disney Channel. GSUSA has been helping girls take the lead for more than 100 years, and we know leadership isn’t about who you are, but what you do. That’s why GSUSA joined forces with Disney Channel to change the conversation around leadership and help girls see that everyone has the potential to lead. Like your girl, Elena might be young, but as crown princess of Avalor, she’s learning to be a collaborative, communicative, and confident leader. By following Elena’s adventures (and taking on a few of her own), your girl will uncover the leader within herself and feel empowered to help others do the same. Featuring 12 simple but proven tips for enhancing your girl’s critical thinking, goal-setting, and problem-solving skills, the Elena of Avalor Leadership Guide is a must-read for any parent or caregiver looking to raise amazing girls. So where can you get this awesome leadership guidance for the girl in your life? Right here, for free! That’s right—as part of Girl Scouts of the USA’s and Disney Channel’s commitment to helping all families practice leadership, we’re making the The Elena of Avalor Leadership Guide by Girl Scouts and Disney Channel available on our website, in both English and Spanish, at no cost to you. So go check it out and explore what it means for your girl to lead like a Girl Scout today! #Disney #GirlScoutsoftheUSA #GirlScoutLeadership #DisneyChannel #ElenaofAvalor

For nearly 100 years now Colorado Girl Scouts have been making friends, trying new things, and learning leadership skills to make the world a better place. Girl Scouts of Colorado is inviting girls and adults to join the fun for the 2016-17 membership year in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouting in Colorado. Juliette Gordon Low started Girl Scouts in Savannah, Ga., in 1912. Girl Scouting came to Colorado in 1917 when the first troop formed outside of Colorado Springs. Today, Girl Scouts of Colorado is proud to serve nearly 25,000 girls across the state with the help and support of 10,000 adult volunteers! When girls are given a protective and supportive environment to take chances, despite the potential for failure, they’re able to experience the emotional impact of risk without damaging consequences. When children take chances, all aspects of their lives are improved—they become more independent and confident, and become better students. Shouldn’t every girl have the chance to experience these benefits? Through taking chances and being part of a girl-led program, girls become more active and engaged learners, develop a positive sense of self, and learn resourceful problem solving. Girl Scouts is open to all girls from kindergarten through grade 12. Anyone over the age of 18 can apply to be a Girl Scout volunteer. Girls cannot experience the positive impact of Girl Scouts without adult volunteers, and each adult who volunteer has the opportunity to make a real difference in the life of a girl. Girl Scout volunteers come from all walks of life. They are men, women, young professionals, retirees, college students, and more. Both girls and adult volunteers can join at any time of the year. To join Girl Scouts or learn more about volunteering, please visit: www.girlscouts.org/join. Learn more about how you can be part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience by visiting girlscoutsofcolorado.org, calling 1-877-404-5708, or emailing inquiry@gscolorado.org. #GSCO100thanniversary #recruitment

Written by Katy L. Wood My family moved a lot when I was a kid so I never managed to stay in a Girl Scout troop–and they never managed to keep up a troop on their own–but what I did do was go to camp. There were summers where I’d go to three separate two week camps, sometimes one right after the other so I was away from home for a month. Those days at camp are some of the best memories of my childhood. I am who I am because of those days at camp. I frequently got the chance to hang upside-down from rather precarious positions: I learned how to shoot and gained a life long love of archery: I went backpacking in some of the most beautiful wilderness out there: I met a woman called Pink who was a HUGE influence on who I am today, dyed hair and crazy artist and all: And while I went to a handful of different camps there was one that stood out above all the rest: Flying “G” Ranch Colorado. It was this beautiful place nestled up in the Rockies full of horses and platform tents and storms that made the ground rock and so much more. Not even the Haymen Fire that destroyed most of the area around it could bring it down. Pink ran the art shed for every year I can remember going there. She taught us how to make candles and weave beads and paint and make friendship bracelets. I was even lucky enough to have her as a unit counselor on an art themed backpacking trip. My mom went to Flying “G” when she was a kid. I started going when I was nine years old. But when I was 12 the camp was shut down. It broke my heart. I remember my last session there; it was the session with the art themed backpacking trip with Pink. I remember the very last flag ceremony the camp ever had: I remember that there was a virus that was going around camp on the very last night so we had to cancel the big, final, closing campfire. But Pink, someone like me who was a second generation attendee of the camp, wouldn’t have that. She gathered all of our unit up into the outdoor kitchen in our unit, turned on her radio, pulled out her guitar, and started singing camp songs over the radio for the whole camp to hear. We cried. Every single one of us. Every single girl in that unit was someone like me who’d been attending the camp for years and we were devastated. It was like losing our home. We were never going to come back and tell ghost stories about the Aspen Heart up on the mountain. We were never going to churn butter in the homestead house. We were never gonna have to pull our mattresses off of their metal frames because the lightning was so bad. We were never gonna sing in front of the lodge before meals. We were never gonna watch Pink dip her hand into a vat of boiling wax because she was determined to have a hand shaped candle. We were never gonna hike up to Lookout Rock before dawn and watch the sun come up over a valley full of clouds. It was over. Sure, there are plenty of other great Girl Scout camps in Colorado. I’ve been to a handful of them, before and after Flying “G” closed. But it was never the same. I’ve missed Girl Scouts like crazy ever since that camp closed, but I moved on. I had other things keeping me busy like high school and then college. I still hiked, I still practiced archery, I still told ghost stories. I still missed it, even if I’d moved on. Then, about a month ago, Elba Barr contacted me wondering if I’d be interested in teaching comics at the Girl Scout Centennial Colorado celebration on the 23rd of July. She’d found me online when searching for women artists in Colorado. I wanted so much to say yes, but at the time I thought it would be out of the state that weekend for a family vacation. Then that vacation got canceled and I jumped at the chance to e-mail Elba back to say I would be available after all. I didn’t get my hopes up though, it had been about two weeks and I knew Elba might have found someone else to fill the position. But she hadn’t, and she was ECSTATIC that I’d become available. So I sent her a list of supplies, packed up a collection of my favorite comic books and drawing resources–as well as my old Flying “G” bandanna–and headed down to Colorado Springs where the celebration was taking place. I got there about two hours early because, for one, I’m terrible at planning, for two, I was ridiculously excited. I couldn’t WAIT to meet the girls and talk to them about comics. So I hauled out my box of books, set up under my little tent in the dusty field, and waited for things to get rolling at this delightful little get together that would be teaching the girls not only comics but other wonderful things like spear-throwing (something every girl should, obviously, know). The celebration started off with a wonderful flag ceremony and some great speeches and, not gonna lie, I was quite proud of myself for remembering the Girl Scout pledge after about ten years. Then it was back to my tent to get things started. Technically the comic artist badge is a cadet level badge (around middle school age) but I had girls of all ages come to my tent, some as young as five or six. There were even girls from other countries. They were all so sweet and happy to draw and show me their comics and ask questions. Some of them even gave me little trinkets to take home, and one set of parents bought me a slushy to battle the heat of the day. It was great. It was just straight up great. Yeah, I was getting to talk about and teach something I love doing, but more than that I was on the other side of it now. I was a counselor, even if it was just for a day. I was Pink, the woman who had such a huge, lasting influence on who I am today. It was a little surreal and it brought back so many amazing memories of being the little girl sitting in the dirt at camp with a homemade sketchbook and dreaming about being a successful artist one day. So thank you, Elba, for inviting me to this awesome event that gave me back something I’ve been missing for ten years; a little piece of Flying “G” ranch. #Statewide #ColoradoSprings #PikesPeak #GSCOCentennialKickoffCelebration #GSCOCentennial #CentennialCelebration #CentennialKickoffCelebration

Submitted by Kristin Hurley Thornton Denver Metro Troop 61358 of Thornton, CO spent some of their cookie money roughing it at Hamp Hut in Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. We felt lucky to find the Hut had air conditioning in the 90-plus-degree weather, and we found lots of hiking trails to explore and lots of fun stuff to do in the Springs, such as a tour of the U.S. Olympic Training Center and riding the Mountaineer Sky Ride at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Yet the girls’ favorite part of our three-day trip was just hanging out at the Hut, playing games, exploring hiking trails and especially making s’mores, a Girl Scout tradition! Camping at Hamp Hut also helped us work on our Amaze journey by putting different teams of girls together; the Budgeting badge by working together to budget our grocery and activity money (and save some of our Girl Scout Cookie proceeds for Take Action projects); and our Trees badge by looking out over Pike National Forest. It was a great place to get away from it all! This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #ColoradoSprings #HampHut

We are pleased to announce that property reservations at our locations have increased year over year! You may find that the property you are interested in for your Troop / Service Unit event is be already booked (as a reminder, properties can be booked 12 months in advance). To increase accessibility, we are excited to announce for the 2017 Membership Year, that we are lowering the price for Magic Sky Ranch, and offering a discount to any troop or service unit who would like to reserve the full property for their event! The price to reserve an All Season Cabin is lowering to $100 a night each. The current price for reserving an All Season Cabin is $150 a night each. This change will be implemented on the booking website on September 1st. Any reservations made for All Season Cabins for the 2017 Membership Year qualify for the new, lower price. If group reserves the full property, they will receive a 25% Full Property Discount. To qualify for this discount, you must reserve all buildings on site, including all six All Season Cabins, the Old Lodge, the two tent sites, the four seasonal units, and the activity center. To utilize this new discounted price, start your booking here for next year. Once you have reserved the full property, the Outdoor Property and Program Administrator will apply your discount, then you will receive a revised invoice with the discounted total. Girl Scouts of Colorado is in the process of selling Magic Sky Ranch. Read more information about the property sale. We feel comfortable that groups will be able to keep reservations through next spring and into summer, without concern of the Magic Sky sale. All troops and groups will be given between six- and nine-months’ notice if the property is sold before your reservation.  If the property is sold before your event, we will work to find another property or date that will work best for your group.  If we are unable to find another option that works for you, your reservation may be cancelled and we will provide a full refund. Any questions, concerns or comments are welcome! Please email property.reservations@gscolorado.org to receive more information! #MagicSkyRanch #propertyreservations

Submitted by Olivia Van de Kerkhove Colorado Springs Pikes Peak Our Silver Award project was quite an experience! The Girl Scout Silver Award Take Action project requires each team to leave an ‘everlasting’ change in the community, so we decided to plant three fruit trees in the garden of our local Care & Share Food Bank. It was definitely not the fastest project, nor the easiest, but it was enjoyable and rewarding in the long run. We used the small team approach for our Silver Award, and we all discovered our strengths and weaknesses during the duration of the project, and things that we didn’t know before. Some of us were more fit for coming up with solutions to problems we encountered, and others discovered we were natural leaders. Some also discovered that we are better at communication than the manual aspects, and vice versa. But we all learned something new about ourselves. We were able to connect to our community through Care & Share by meeting and becoming familiar with the garden coordinator, Ms. Ross. We asked Ms. Ross to be our project advisor and she was the one to suggest planting trees as a project. She pointed us in the right direction for the kinds of trees to purchase through personal experience with previous trees in the garden (i.e. plum and apple trees tend to do well, but peach trees don’t). We also did online research of what types of trees do best in our particular climate. We ended up planting two Scout Apricot trees, and one Dwarf Plum tree. Volunteers at Care & Share did the initial preparation of the planting sites for the trees, and the tree nursery provided us with planting instructions. Our team recruited three friends as volunteers to help with the planting, and Ms. Ross also jumped in to help. We all took turns shoveling, digging with our hands, arranging drip lines, stomping on dirt and spreading mulch. When we had finished, we had three healthy trees planted that will hopefully provide fruit for our community for many years to come. If you need help maintaining your trees in your yard then hire an Atlanta professional tree care company. Our project had a large impact on our community, as well as on ourselves. We picked up better communication skills with each other as well as with other people. The trees will hopefully grow lots of fruit that can be eaten or utilized to make jams and jellies by Care & Share. We will check up on the trees in the future to see how they are settling into their new environment, and if they are producing fruit. This project has helped us become more connected to our community, to “help people at all times” as said in the Girl Scout Promise, and to be “friendly and helpful” as said in the Girl Scout Law. This project helped us to grow as individuals, to develop our skills as leaders and as teammates, and to become more connected to the community we live in. Silver Award Team: Olivia V., Emma V., and Leah J. Troop: #43871 This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #ColoradoSprings #SilverAward

Submitted by Elizabeth Moore Bailey Denver Metro After Officer Nate Carrigan was shot and killed within earshot of their school on February 24, Girl Scouts of troop 61187 knew they wanted to do something to thank the Park County Sheriff’s office for all their service. In an unusual move, they and sister troop 62064 added a second Hometown Hero in the middle of the sale and encouraged people to donate cookies in memory of Officer Carrigan. The response was much better than expected! With only half a sale and a small community to ask, they still ended up with ten cases of cookies. The cookies were delivered five months later, on July 25. The officers were very grateful for the support. While they joked that they would eat all the cookies at once, one officer told the girls that they were great to keep in the car to give as a snack to stranded motorists. #Bailey #ParkCountySheriff

Kyla Wolffe, of Eagle County, recently returned home from Girl Scouts of Colorado summer camp after receiving the Mary Jo Jacobs, M.D. Memorial Girl Scout Adventure Fund. Kyla attended “Pirate Splash Camp” at Tomahawk Ranch near Bailey. When asked about her experience at camp, Kyla wrote, “I had sooooooo much fun and I will probably go back next year. All the counselors were so nice and I loved meeting new people. I especially loved fishing, when I caught a fish and I felt the tug, I was so excited! Another favorite part of the camp I had was learning how to make new things like bracelets, crafts, and tie-dying, and I started to teach my friends how to make some of the bracelets. Also I loved learning all the songs and a few I have memorized! Thank you so much.” Katie Strickland, of Garfield County, also received the Mary Jo Jacobs, M.D. Memorial Girl Scout Adventure Fund. She attended “Zip Life” at Sky High Ranch outside of Colorado Springs. Mary Jo’s four children established the scholarship in December 2014 to honor their mother’s extraordinary legacy. As an 8-year-old girl growing up in 1937, Mary Jo wanted a new pair of roller skates. She wanted them more than anything in world— until she learned her Brownie troop was going to be able to go to summer camp. Mary Jo had to make a choice: spend the $8 she had worked so hard to earn on roller skates or Girl Scout camp? For Mary Jo, the decision was simple. She was going to Girl Scout camp. Mary Jo’s mother walked her to the local Girl Scout office, so she could be the first to register. A reporter for the Artesia Daily Press in New Mexico even wrote a story about Mary Jo and her decision. After returning home from camp, Mary Jo continued to participate in Girl Scout activities, including going to camp. Eventually, she became a doctor and worked tirelessly to serve the people of Eagle and Garfield Counties, Colorado. The Mary Jo Jacobs, M.D. Memorial Girl Scout Adventure Fund provides Girl Scouts from Eagle and Garfield counties in Colorado with a scholarship so they can experience the learning opportunities, joy, and camaraderie of attending Girl Scout Camp. “Our hope is that that many girls will have the same positive experience, education and adventure that mom had through her involvement in Girl Scouting and her opportunity to attend Girl Scout camp,” said Dr. Patricia VanDevander, daughter of Dr. Mary Jo Jacobs. Registration for Girl Scout Camp is now underway on the Girl Scouts of Colorado website at girlscoutsofcolorado.org. For summer 2016, girls can attend overnight camp sessions at Sky High Ranch near Manitou Lake and Woodland Park or perennial favorite Tomahawk Ranch near Bailey, southwest of Denver. Activities include archery, backpacking, photography, and rock climbing. Overnight camp runs from 3 to 12 days for girls ages 6 and up.  Girl Scouts of Colorado will continue to offer day camping adventures throughout the state. The summer camp schedule is live on the Girl Scouts of Colorado website (girlscoutsofcolorado.org). Girl Scout summer camp programs are open to all girls throughout Colorado, whether they’re in a troop or not, and new campers get a 10-percent discount. Girl Scouts has been helping girls shine for more than 100 years. Girl Scouts of Colorado is proud to serve more than 20,000 girls across the state with the help and support of 10,000 adult volunteers! Learn more how you can be part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience by visiting girlscoutsofcolorado.org, calling 1-877-404-5708, or emailing inquiry@gscolorado.org. #EagleCounty #MaryJoJacobsMDMemorialGirlScoutAdventureFund #GirlScoutCamp #Tomahawk #MaryJoJacobs #mountaincommunities

Submitted by Nancy Mucklow Steamboat Springs Mountain Communities Our very own Steamboat Cadette Troop Leader, Chayla Rowley, was selected as one of Steamboat’s “20 Under 40”. There were more than 90 nominations for the honor, and only 20 individuals were selected! Cadette Leader, Chayla Rowley, is one of our Steamboat troop leaders (she has no daughters but is now in her 4th year of volunteering with her troop) She “saved” the troop by volunteering as their Junior leader and they are now an active group of Cadette Girl Scouts. Chayla figures largely into their lives as a role model and by championing their Girl Scout experiences. Read more about Chayla’s honor here: http://www.exploresteamboat.com/news/2016/jul/14/steamboat-living-20-under-40-chayla-rowley/ The announcement of the 20 Under 40 was celebrated at a launch party last week with all of the other honorees. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #mountaincommunities #SteamboatSprings

Every girl deserves the chance to be a Girl Scout, but not every girl can afford it on her own. When you join Daisy’s Circle, your gift reaches beyond your family and troop and touches the lives of girls who need a little extra support. No one believes in the power of girls more than you, and you have the power to invest in the heart of Girl Scouts and be a sister to every girl. Learn more: https://gscodaisyscircle.org/ By joining Daisy’s Circle, you make it possible… To offer more than $100,000 in financial assistance to girls in need. To ensure quality training and screening for volunteers. To create connections for girls at regional events. To develop unique camp and outdoor program experiences. Monthly giving provides girls with opportunities to develop self-esteem, enduring friendships, and life-changing leadership skills. Through activities in science and technology, business and economic literacy, and outdoor and environmental awareness, girls grow and develop. Monthly giving builds a sustainable revenue stream that can Inspire, Encourage, Honor, and Empower girls. $25 a month provides memberships for 20 girls. $35 a month helps one girl attend a week at camp. $50 a month provides uniforms, Journey books, and pins for one troop. #DaisysCircle #funddevelopment

Submitted by Mickki Langston We know you’re as excited as we are about the Centennial Kickoff Celebration! More than 300 Girl Scouts and their families are coming together for two days of traditions, outdoor activities, and sisterhood. Pre-sales end July 20, so snag your tickets now to join in one or both days! Caption: Girl Scouts enjoying the outdoors at camp We want you and your family to have a great time, so we have some suggestions for making this a great event: Prepare for a summer, outdoor event with no shade. Bring umbrellas, hats, sunscreen, and lots of water. While our lunch-time food trucks will be selling water and other beverages, ensure you have enough to stay hydrated! Other comfort measures are encouraged, such as lawn chairs and blankets. Lunch will be for sale via local food trucks during lunch on both days, and pizza will be provided to those who stay for dinner on Saturday night. You are encouraged to bring snacks and meals to support your family’s experience. We’ll have nearly a dozen activity stations on both days, so be prepared to learn new skills and participate! Everyone who participates in the activities can earn the special badges as part of this event, which will be sent to participants 6-8 weeks after the event. While we’ll have singing around the campfire and other fun Girl Scout traditions, don’t hesitate to bring SWAPS or other great stuff to share with your Girl Scout sisters. Walk up registrations and all shop items are credit card only, so be prepared to get your extra Centennial Celebration swag and add any additional guests to your registration with your preferred plastic. More info can be found in our FAQ and event registration page. We are excited to see you this weekend! #Statewide #ColoradoSprings #PikesPeak #GSCOCentennial #CentennialKickoffCelebration