Submitted by Krista Fuller Fort Collins Northern and Northeastern CO Congratulations to Northern Colorado’s Daisy Troop 76085! Kalynn, Mila, Harper, Isabel, Amelia, Lucy, Tessie, Tenley and Makena will all be returning next year for more adventures with the Daisy Scouts while Connie will be bridging into the troop’s first Brownie! We’re so proud of you! This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #Brownie #Daisy #FortCollins

Submitted by Nancy Murzyn Fort Collins Northern and Northeastern CO We are a group of four girls from Troop 72737 that worked this past fall on our Silver Award. For our project we worked with Meals on Wheels. We decorated and filled Christmas stockings as our main project but we wanted to do more so we also participated in a delivery day with them and decorated meal bags for Valentine’s Day. We did this so we can help the community and make the world a better place. Meals on Wheels is an organization that helps homebound seniors get the supplies and food they need. Sometimes, like with Christmas, Meals on Wheels delivery people are the only interaction the seniors have. Normally they serve about 250 people in Fort Collins but for Christmas that number drops to around 125. We had to contact Meals on Wheels a lot during our project so we could get critical information about what they wanted us to do. For example, we had to contact them to know how many stockings they needed, what day we could pick up the stockings, what day they’d like them dropped off, when we could deliver meals for them, what else we could do, and lots of other stuff. Meals on Wheels was able to give us the stockings, which was a big help. One of our tasks was to make the stockings special. We researched how to make them look nice without a lot of money and once we decided on what to do we asked our troop to help get the supplies and decorate them with us teaching our troop members how to do it. A few weeks after we began our project we started to reach out to other Girl Scout troops, asking assistance in making crafts to put in the Christmas stockings. Only a few days later, all of a sudden we were hit with emails from people who wanted to help. We were beyond thrilled! Our group traveled from our old grade school all the way out to different cities to help groups make crafts. We helped some groups make crafts while others found ways to deliver the crafts to one of us. We successfully collected or made 8 crafts. The hardest part was coordinating with the other troop leaders. It was easier said then done as there were like 3 different Sarahs. Talking, meeting, and helping these troops and their leaders was awesome, the whole adventure was such a delight. We also collected donations to stuff the stockings with. To get donations we had to take several steps. First we made an outline of what we were going to do and then made a brochure to give to stores. Our brochure was a simple and quick way to explain what we were doing and why. We also added a list of what we were collecting (pens, notepads/cards, candy, Kleenex, chapstick, etc), our leader’s email, and a ‘thank you for contributing’ message. Next we split into two teams to visit the stores on the list we had brainstormed. Some businesses gave us a check and some had us fill out request for donation forms. It was hard to ask for help but and several business simply said no. We do want to extend a big thank you to the stores who donated and helped us out! With our crafts and donations collected we again asked our troop to help with the stuffing of the stockings. We ended up with 125 stockings decorated and stuffed. This represents the number of clients that Meals on Wheels has that had no where to go for Christmas. Our stockings might have been the only present they received. Since we had so many people contribute to the stockings we wanted to do something ourselves to contribute to the project. We decided to decorate meal bags for Valentine’s Day with our group decorating over 41 bags. Our troop helped us decorate the remaining 36 that we were giving turning it into a mini service project for them. We also wanted to interact with the Meals on Wheels clients more to actually meet with them. We picked a day when we didn’t have school and delivered meals to 12 people as a team. The clients each got two trays, one with hot food and one with cold food. They really thanked us for the food and we saw how much they appreciated getting it and talking to us. We were glad that we did this part so we could help the people Meals on Wheels serves in person. The only hard part was trying to find the houses and making sure the clients heard the doorbell ring! The hardest part of the project was trying to get all the supplies for the stockings and contacting all the donors to get the right number of supplies we needed. If we did the project again we would work a bit on more organization to keep track of everything. To all other Girl Scouts working on their Silver Award we would like to encourage you to do it. You do have to put a lot of work into the project and remember that everyone needs to contribute. If you don’t do your work you might mess up the entire project. Also, be aware that you might have to redo things in order to finish without any problems. Finally, remember to keep working even if it seems like it is taking a long time. You do have to work hard to finish the project and in the end it is worth all the time you put in. We’re really glad that we finished our Silver Award and think it helped prepare us to do our Gold Award when we are older. We’ll encourage the rest of our troop and any other Cadette scout to work on a project also. It was a lot of work but also a lot of fun and we learned a lot about how to work on a big project. So this project is sustainable, here is the process we went through. The journey we took had several steps: 1. First of all, we had to plan everything out so that we would meet the requirements of the award and have enough time to complete our project by the deadline. We met twice a week every Monday and Thursday starting in October and ending in December. We did extend our project into January as we wanted to do a bit more than just the stockings for Meals on Wheels. 2. Next, we had to put our many planning meetings into action and start collecting donations. We had many local stores rise to the occasion magnificently. Without these amazing contributions, we would not have succeeded. Thank you to all of our sponsors, including all of the other Girl Scout troops who helped us make crafts! By the end of November, we had almost three fourths of the crafts and varied items collected and stored safely. 3. Our final step was to wrap up the project. We gathered the remaining crafts and stuffed the stockings with the help of our other troop members and outstanding leaders. At last, we delivered the stockings to Meals on Wheels as the last portion of our project. We hope this inspires you to possibly help Meals on Wheels out (maybe next Christmas) and also inspires you to start work on your Silver Award. Thank you for reading! Wren, Ella, Mikayla, Roxi from Troop 72737 This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #MealsonWheels #SilverAward

Submitted by Lisa Herrmann Longmont Northern and Northeastern CO Troop 74447 held their Bridging Ceremony and Annual Awards Night at Casa Bonita! We bridged 6 girls behind the waterfall right after the cliff divers’ performance. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #bridging #casabonita #Longmont

Submitted by Alessandra Smith Colorado Springs Pikes Peak On Monday, May 2nd, Alessandra attended the Girl Scouts of Colorado Gold Award Day at the Capitol as a 2016 Gold Award recipient. The Kay Rugeley Shaw Gold Travelship helped to support her trip from Colorado Springs to Denver for this exciting and exclusive event! Read more about Alessandra’s experience below: Never did I think I’d be lucky enough to sit in on a session in the House of Representatives. To me, the government is a strange entity that is best left alone. Little did I know that it really is made up of the people. I came into this situation thinking, “A day at the Capitol? Sounds sweet. I’m in.” And that was really all there was to it. I just love doing things I’ve never done before. I wasn’t truly aware of the prestige of this event, nor just how awesome it was going to be. The fantabulous day began with breakfast at The University Club (if you’re like me and you love buildings/establishments with visible history, this place is the bomb). As soon as I walked in, I could sense I was in a room of special girls. They were all high-achievers, movers and shakers, and yet they didn’t act like any of it had gone to their heads. These were truly superb individuals that I know I’m going to see in the news one day. It felt very humbling, and at the same time, invigorating to be surrounded by these people. It’s very refreshing to be with people who want to do great things outside of school. When I’m with those people, I feel like we’re part of the real world: A place where people make a difference in ways that are important to them. It’s a great change of pace from the soul-sucking image we youth tend to have of society. After breakfast came the fun part. All of the Gold Award recipients got to tour the state Capitol building. I just adore the state Capitol. First of all, the dome is plated with gold. That is really cool. It just screams “Look at me! Cool things happen in here!” The structure is massive and magnificent. It is adorned with Corinthian pillars, and the stone inside is native Colorado red granite. We visited the Old Supreme Court Chambers, the attic, the dome, and even the House of Representatives! Best part? The Girl Scout Gold Recipients were introduced to the representatives. Thanks to Representative Court, we Girl Scouts were able to understand what on earth was going on. She was good at putting legal jargon in layman’s terms. At the end of the day, it had finally hit me that I had watched our government in action. A government that a lot of Gold Recipients will probably go on to influence. I pondered these thoughts on the drive home while eating chocolate. Maybe I’ll go on to write a bill. I never would have had this opportunity had I not earned my Gold Award. I thank my lucky stars to have had the support I have in this endeavor. I pray that lots of girls will get to do the things I did. It’s a wild ride, but it’s full of adventure. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #dayatthecapitol #GoldAward #UniversityClub

Girl Scouts of Colorado is excited to celebrate 100 years of Girl Scouting in our great state! Girl Scouts of all ages, along with their friends and families, are invited to join us for a Centennial Kickoff Celebration July 23 & 24, 2016 near the site of the 1959 Girl Scout Roundup in Colorado Springs. We’ll honor our traditions with special badges, activities, and fun for the whole family. Date: Saturday, July 23, 2016 9 a.m. – Sunday, July 24, 2016 5 p.m. Location: Centennial Celebration Site Map Fees: Advance tickets: $25 per day or $35 for both days Walk–up tickets : $30 per day or $40 for both days * Fees include a commemorative Centennial Celebration patch and t-shirt. Girl Scout members may also earn up to 12 Girl Scouts Legacy and vintage badges for no additional fee. ** Children 4 and under are free. Register Now: http://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/content/girlscoutsofcolorado/en/events-repository/2016/gsco_centennial_cele.html #ColoradoSprings #Centennial #GSCOCentennialKickoffCelebration #CentennialCelebration #CentennialPatch

Submitted by Madison Mauch Fort Collins Northern and Northeastern CO For the Breathe Cadette Journey, Troop 3019 planted 60 pots of flowers to place in classrooms around their middle schools. The goal of this project was to improve air quality and inspire students and teachers to learn more about air quality and get involved to make a difference. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too.

This year, we’re celebrating the 100th year of Girl Scouting in Colorado, and we want you to be part of the excitement as we move forward into another century of building girls of courage, confidence, and character. At Girl Scouts, new experiences are around every corner. You’ll have lots of fun with your troop as you discover and accomplish big things together. Just imagine what you’ll do next! Here’s what you’ll get for signing up for another year of fun: Every troop with two adult leaders renewed and a completed Annual Troop Report by August 2 will receive $25 in shop credit. All girls renewed by August 2 will receive the Early Bird patch! *Credit will be available no later than September 1 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 September 15. Got a question? We’re here to help! Visit: http://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/for-volunteers/membership-promos.html Email us  or give us a call at 877-404-5708 #CentennialCelebration #earlybirdregistration #membership #registration

This year’s honorees were selected by a committee of their peers led by Selection Chair Betsy Bair, Regional Director at U.S. Senator Cory Gardner and Woman of Distinction ’14, and chosen based on their contributions to the community, both professionally and personally. They are shining examples of corporate, civic and philanthropic leadership and serve as role models for our female leaders of tomorrow. Christy Whitney Borchard, President and CEO, HopeWest Paula Reece, Marketing Director, Crossroads Fitness Ruth Trowbridge, Community Volunteer Since 2012, including this year’s honorees, Girl Scouts of Colorado has recognized 12 women on the Western Slope as Women of Distinction. The Women of Distinction program brings together a group of women dedicated to raising funds to support Girl Scout leadership programs. Girl Scouts of Colorado will publicly honor these inductees on Nov. 3, 2016 at the annual Women of Distinction Breakfast. This year’s event will be held at the Two Rivers Convention Center. The 2016 Event Chair is Karen Troester, Vice President, Commercial Banking, US Bank and Woman of Distinction ‘15. Event Sponsors include: Gold Presenting Sponsor, US Bank, and Silver Presenting Sponsor, Chevron. For information regarding tickets and sponsorships, visit www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/wodgj or contact Cindi Graves at 970-628-8003 or cindi.graves@gscolorado.org. #GrandJunction #WesternSlope #funddevelopment #WomenofDisctinction #WomenofDistinctionWesternSlope

This year’s honorees were selected by a committee of their peers led by Selection Chair Gin Butler, Woman of Distinction ‘03, and chosen based on their contributions to the community, both professionally and personally. They are shining examples of corporate, civic and philanthropic leadership and serve as role models for our female leaders of tomorrow. Rose Andom, President/CEO Rosmik, Inc. and The Rose Andom Charitable Foundation Nikki Cady, Founder, Heart & Hand Center for at risk youth and families Stephanie Donner, Galvanize Chief Legal and People Officer Kim Easton, CEO, Urban Peak Jena Hausmann, President & CEO, Children’s Hospital Colorado Gloria Higgins, President, Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC) Brook Kramer, Vice President and Relationship Manager, First Western Trust Cheryl Lucero, Director, Capital Campaigns & Major Gifts, Denver Health Foundation Christine Marquez-Hudson, President and CEO, The Denver Foundation Mary Noonan, Board Trustee Delta Dental of Colorado, Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation and the Center for Women’s Health Research at CU Anschutz Medical Campus Since 1997, including this year’s honorees, Girl Scouts of Colorado has recognized 426 Denver area women with this honor. The Women of Distinction program is widely regarded as one of Denver’s premier philanthropic programs, bringing together a group of women dedicated to raising funds to support Girl Scout leadership programs. More than $2 million has been raised in 19 years. Girl Scouts of Colorado will publicly honor these women at the 2016 Thin Mint Dinner in Denver. This event will be from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Oct. 13 at the Denver Marriott Tech Center. Event co-chairs are Jandel Allen-Davis, VP Government, External Relations and Research, Kaiser Permanente Colorado Region, Woman of Distinction ’12; and Kristin Richardson, Philanthropist and Community Volunteer, Woman of Distinction ‘13. 2016 Event Sponsors include: Silver Presenting Sponsor, Lockheed Martin. Bronze Presenting Sponsors, CoBiz Financial and Kristin Richardson. For more information on the Oct. 13 event or to purchase tickets and sponsorships contact 303-607-4833 or heidi.books@gscolorado.org. #Denver #funddevelopment #WomenofDistinction #Denvermetro #WomenofDistinctionDenver

Submitted by Dr. Liss Gruen Denver Denver Metro On Thursday, May 5, 2016 Girl Scout Troop 1737 learned how to fence from Olympic fencer Elaine Cheris. The troop arrived at the Cheyenne Fencing Society prepared for an exciting evening and they were not disappointed. After Ms. Cheris gave the girls a brief introduction to the sport of fencing, she taught Rebecca , a Junior level Girl Scout, the basics of being a fencing referree and Rebecca refereed a demonstration by two student fencers. After the demonstration, the Juniors, Brownies, and Daisies all had the opportunity to put on fencing jackets and duel with their Girl Scout sisters. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #Daisy #Brownie #Brownies #Olympics #Junior #Daisies #Olympian #Juniors #Denvermetro #Fencing

Submitted by Heather Gardner Broomfield Denver Metro Cadette Girl Scout Troop 60675 recently hosted a Girl Empowerment event for Juniors in Broomfield. Through fun, interactive activities, the girls learned what it means to have courage, strength, inner beauty, confidence, leadership, kindness and integrity. It was an honor to have accomplished Aviator and 9News Traffic Reporter, Amelia Earhart, as our guest speaker. She is seen as an influential and positive role model for all ages everywhere. She spoke about her flight around the world, and shared her inspirational story relating to girl empowerment. Her biography can be seen here: http://legacy.9news.com/story/about-us/2014/03/03/amelia-earhart/5972109/ The Girl Empowerment event was shared by Amelia Earhart during the 9News morning broadcast on Wednesday, May 4, 2016. The girls of Cadette Troop 60675 are Faith Gardner, Mika Zaharescu, Faith Bochert, Sam Fleming, Madison Enney, Haley Vasey and Kayla MacTavish. They had a wonderful time hosting this event and hope the Juniors were encouraged and inspired. It is important that Girl Scouts continue to build girls of courage, confidence and character, and our Troop would like to continue to grow and provide value to the community around us. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #9NEWS #AmeliaEarhart #Broomfield

Written by Penny Roberts of Estes Park and AnneMarie Harper, Girl Scouts of Colorado Public Relations Director 2017 marks 100 years of Girl Scouting in Colorado and one of the many ways you can celebrate is by getting a special Girl Scout license plate! It was created in 2012 by a Promise Partners alumnae task force as part of the 100th Anniversary celebration of Girl Scouts of the USA. It has since been available for purchase by anyone who wishes to celebrate and publicize the legacy and continuing efforts of the Girl Scouts of Colorado. The cost is $50 above the regular license plate fees and the plate can be registered to any type of vehicle, including motorcycles. Sadly, the Colorado Department of Revenue reports just more than 200 sets of these license plates have been purchased. And since we got more than 3,000 signatures to take our petition to the State Legislature, we hope lots more of you will join us and purchase and display these plates proudly. Even Dad’s Plumbing Co. can put Girl Scout plates on his entire fleet of vehicles! Request Girl Scout plates at your County Clerk’s office, and they will be shipped directly to you from the State in just a few days. Put them on your motorhome, scooter, new car, or vintage classic. We promise to wave at you when we see you go by with your new Colorado Girl Scout license plates! #Coloradolicenseplates #GirlScoutLicenseplates #Licenseplates