Submitted by Nicole Niles Colorado Springs Pikes Peak I love my troop and I could not be more proud to call myself their leader. I often feel defeated when I have lost their interest at a meeting or they would rather be somewhere else than at the meeting. I sometimes think this is it, I am done leading, it’s time for a change. I have been involved with Girl Scout as a leader for 9 years. The troops I have been involved with have always accomplished a lot and we have gone on many adventures, mostly because of cookies. Each year the girls in my troop set their cookie goals over and over again. They do this because they meet their goals and set another one, some girls 3 even 4 times they meet and exceed their cookie goals. However, that is not why I am so proud of my troop. Each year after meeting their goals and exceeding them I always have those girls that seek out the Promise and Law… Be a sister to every Girl Scout, respect myself and others, friendly and helpful, these are just a few example lines. This year my troop of wonderful girls have totally blown me away. Not only have almost all of them exceeded the 500 mark and most are attending the Top Seller Events, but they are doing this because they not only thought of themselves and their goals, but they asked me constantly how they could help get each other to the next level. I have had girls out selling at booths not to gain the cookie sales themselves but to add those sold cookies onto a sister scout and get her to the next incentive level. They never once thought about how cold, long, or tiring a booth is. This right here melts my heart and proves to me that I am not failing as a leader to these girls, not only are they living the promise and law daily but they are showing it. They aren’t boosting for recognition either, simply doing their best to help out their sister scouts. Thank you girls for making me proud and showing me I am not failing you when I feel defeated. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too.

Submitted by Anita Lucero Colorado Springs Pikes Peak Our best is the best! He works full time, runs a cookie cupboard, takes care of our brother, and has helped us at a cookie booth almost every day to help us reach our cookie goals.  Between the 2 of us we have sold over 3000 packages of cookies and we aren’t done yet!  Thank you to our dad for always helping us and being a great support to helping us, our troop, and the many other troops of Colorado Springs meet their goals by having cookies in stock!  We love you! This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #bestcookiedad #ColoradoSprigns #cookies

What did you do for your Gold Award project? I had noticed a generation gap between teenagers and the elderly, and wished to bring these two age groups closer together by diffusing stereotypes each group held of the other. In order to do this, I started a music program at a local retirement community, Cheyenne Place, in which high school musicians performed monthly for and visited with the residents. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? I measured the impact of my project through the responses I received from both the residents and musicians, and through surveys the musicians completed at the end of the final concert. For my project, I focused on the amount of impact I could have on the moderately-sized group I worked with. The responses were overwhelming; both age groups greatly enjoyed the experience, and both felt that they had been brought closer to the other generation. In fact, the project was such a success that teenagers and residents asked for the project to continue throughout the school year. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? While my band director and the activities director of the retirement community have agreed to continue my project in Colorado Springs, I have also created a program manual. I am currently in the process of sending this manual to band programs, Girl Scout troops/councils, and retirement communities that I have worked with and been a part of throughout my relocations as a military child. This is a fairly flexible and easy-to-maintain project, so I am optimistic that other communities will be able to continue the program and help to bridge the generation gap in other parts of the nation. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? This program truly does affect the students involved for the rest of their lives, as it helps to create teenagers – future adults – with a greater respect and appreciation for the elderly. This decreases the national generation gap between teenagers and the elderly. The flexibility of this program also plays a part in the national connection. I wrote the project manual with every type of community I could think of in mind, in order to increase the number of areas it can affect. Almost every part of the country has some type of music program, be it choral, instrumental, etc., and there are retirement communities all over as well. Combining the two is something anyone with a passion for music and a desire to help can do. What did you learn about yourself? I learned a lot about my limits in communication and assertiveness. I am very much an introvert and a people-pleaser, and I had not anticipated the amount of pushing it would take to get this project rolling. Once it became more of an established program, it was easier to get people involved. When people don’t really know what they are getting into, however, advertising is extremely important. I made numerous announcements in school, contacted people, and talked to them personally. Pushing involvement in a new, unknown program was a very exhausting task for me, but I was able to minimize the trepidation I had of convincing people to try something new. Once they tried it, they realized how rewarding the experience could be and kept coming back. I believe I grew greatly in confidence and communication, along with assertiveness in promoting the program. I have even noticed improvement in other areas of my life as these key qualities of leadership grew in me. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? Earning my Gold Award greatly increased my confidence in myself and my abilities to lead. Knowing that I can create, organize, and run a program like this is very empowering. While I’m involved in many different extracurricular activities, none of them offered me as strong a leadership experience as the Gold Award. I feel more capable and confident in many areas of my life as a result of this: in school, in relationships, in volunteer activities, and in other community projects. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? In many ways, the Gold Award was a culmination of all of my years in Girl Scouts. After 12 years, it was a fitting way to say goodbye and use all of the skills I learned through Girl Scouts. It forced me to grow, and enabled me to explore my abilities in a way I hadn’t before. It was definitely the most rewarding aspect of my Girl Scout experience. **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 #GoldAwardee #ColoradoSprings #GoldAwardCentennial #GoldAwardees #PikesPeak

Camp registration has been open since December 9, and our camp directors have worked to open spaces in more popular sessions. Register now for an open session. Learn about our entire slate of camp sessions here. New sessions added since the camp mailer was delivered to Girl Scouts in November: Day Camp DC0481 Babysitting Boot Camp: 6/20-24, Cadette – Ambassador. The American Red Cross, the nation’s leader in babysitter training prepares you to be the best sitter on the block. Eight in ten parents said they’d pay more for a trained babysitter certified by the American Red Cross. Start your babysitting business and learn how to be a safe, professional & reliable sitter. You’ll learn about children’s ages & stages of development, how to hold & feed infants, & how to change diapers. You’ll learn pediatric CPR, first aid, & business savvy. You’ll learn how to handle asthma, inhalers, allergic reactions & EpiPens, while having fun at day camp! For girls ages 11-17. Must be 11 by the last day of camp. At the Colorado Adventure Point in Lakewood. Troop Camp TC03 MMR Troop Camp June 17-19 & TC038 MMR Troop Camp Adult Volunteer, Daisy – Adult, Explore the wonders of Meadow Mountain Ranch in Allenspark at Troop Camp. This troop camp offers tabin lodging, meals (Sun dinner – Tues. brunch + snacks), and activities: archery, hiking, teambuilding, outdoor cooking, campfires and more! Programming is led by GSCO staff; troops are supervised by their leaders. The 2 Adults meeting Safety Activity Checkpoints are free. Each troop must have an adult who has completed Overnight Training and an adult who is CPR and First Aid Certified. Trip & Travel TT01 Colorado Horseback Adventure 7/24-30, Cadettes entering 7th & 8th grade NEW, Seniors, Ambassador, This is an amazing adventure for the horse lover. Starting at Sky High Ranch. we’ll get to know each other and plan our week. We’ll then travel to Bear Basin Ranch outside of Westcliffe where the group goes on a 3 day, 2 night horse pack trip into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, followed by 3 days at “cowgirl camp” where we’ll learn how to ranch, rope & ride. One day is spent whitewater rafting! Pick up will be in Colorado Springs. Girls must be 12 or older. Questions? Contact Outdoor Volunteer Programs Manger anna.danila@gscolorado.org. Tomahawk Ranch Camps TR08 Story Tellers 6/12-17, Cadette, Spaces Added! Become part of your favorite books and stories!! Are you an avid reader who loves reading works by new authors? This camp is for girls who love a good story teller, and have active imaginations. We’ll step into some of your favorite books, making your stories come to life. There will be time for general activities too. TR405 The Dark Side 7/10-21, Cadette, In a land far far away…while the rest of camp is in the light, you will experience camp in the dark! Take over camp at night and learn the secrets of our universe.  Stay up with the stars and sleep in late. Create your own lightsaber and master Darth mind tricks! There will be time for general camp activities too!! Sky High Ranch Camps SH12 Boatload of Fun 6/19-6/24, Brownie (NEW!), Junior, Get ready to sample all types of boats – kayaks to canoes to stand up paddle boards! Weather permitting, groups will boat every day and take a day-trip to practice skills. Lounging lake-side and swimming are a must! There will be time for general activities too. Does not include the zipline. SH155 Night Ninjas 6/19-24, Junior, Night ninjas are known for their camp stealth and adventure! Try your hand at Glow in the Dark Archery, Sleep-in Breakfasts, and Star Gazing.  “You didn’t see anything…!” There will be time for general activities too. Does not include zip line. SH165 Iron Chef SHR 6/19-24, Cadette, Prepare yourself for an EPIC cooking competition!! Girls will learn outdoor cooking techniques and then battle in teams for the title of Team Master Chefs. The competitions will be filmed and the drama will be shown at the end of the week. Your team will be challenged with secret ingredients and courses. So now Sky High Ranch, with an open heart and an empty stomach, I say to you in the words of Ruddy: Allez cuisine! There will be time for general activities too. Does not include zip line. SH23 6/26-7/1 & SH60 7/24-29 Canoe Crazy, Brownie (NEW!), Junior, Crazy about boating? Travel offsite to nearby lakes to kayak, sail, stand up paddle board & swim! Build your own boat & race in the 2nd annual Sky High Cardboard Regatta! There will be time for general activities too. Does not include a zip line. SH335 Sky High Ranch Brownie Explorer 7/6-7/8, Brownie, Try Sky High Ranch! Explore camp & make new friends, sing around the campfire, visit the barnyard, create crafts, dabble in sports, take a nature walk, make s’mores & more! Does not include zip line. SH345 Sky High Ranch Junior Sampler 7/6-7/8, Junior, Sample all that Sky High has to offer; dabble in archery, take a trip on the zip, do crafts, make new friends, canoe and more! Campers must be at least 60lbs to ensure they don’t get stuck mid-zip. SH435 Sky High Ranch Adventure Olympics 7/10-7/15, Cadette, Test your mettle at the First Annual Sky High Adventure Olympics! Events include: zipline, rock climbing, one-hour off-site trail ride, swimming, canoeing, and archery. There will be time for general activities too. SH445 TV Game Shows 7/10-7/15, Cadette, Want to play TV game shows rather than just watch them? Discover your ninja warrior, race for the clues, learn to survive in the wild, become a fashionista, discover your talent in “Sky High Ranch Has Talent” and so much more! There will be time for general activities too. Does not include zipline. SH515 Farm Fillies 7/17-7/22, Junior, Farm animals are what it’s all about! Spend your days with Sky High’s animals, grooming & feeding them, then join us for an ol’ fashioned hoe-down with dancing, goodies & more! (Includes a one-hour off-site horseback trail ride.) There will be time for general activities too. Does not include zipline. SH535 District 14 7/17-22, Cadette, Ensure that the odds are in your favor by honing your archery skills; master other pursuits like canoeing and ziplining! A night under the stars increases your odds of becoming a victor. Participants must be at least 60 lbs to ensure they do not get stuck mid-zip. Camps cancelled due to lack of interest. Our extended registration season for camp enables us to find just the right mix of programs and interests for girls at Girl Scout Camps! SH15 & SH43 InTents SH16 Boatload of Fun SH34 Wizarding World of Beasts SH44 Legends of Archery SH53 Boating Assistant SH52 Sky High Base Camp SH53 Boating Assistant TC014 High Adventure Troop Camp TC034 MMR High Adventure Troop Camp – GoPro TC038 MMR High Adventure Troop Camp – GoPro – adult TR18 Novel Idea TR40 Deep Blue Sea Register now for Girl Scout Camp! Review camp sessions. Reserve a Girl Scouts of Colorado Property for your troop/group! Check out Travel Opportunities for Girl Scouts! Pay camp balances with CampInTouch, with a Cookie Credit Card or a Gift Card prior to April 30 to lock in Early Bird Pricing! #daycamp #summercamp #overnightcamp #SkyHighRanch #oldergirls #troopcamp #MeadowMountainRanch #TomahawkRanch

Submitted by Marcia Roe Westminster Denver Metro Our troop has been on a roll, we learned about how a bank works and how they help small businesses! This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #Denvermetro #Westminster

Submitted by Serenity Christensen Commerce City Denver Metro My name is Serenity and this cookie season was a blast! Me and my friend Beth thought it would be amazing to sell to local radio stations. So, we looked up numbers and called a bunch of them. Most said no thank you but when we called 100.3 a guy answered and said he’d love to buy cookies from us if we could guess who he was. So we quickly Googled his name and just by chance we guessed correctly….it was Bo from 100.3 The Mix. He said he would buy an entire case from each of us. So, the next day our momma drove us all the way down to this huge gold building. We got to tour the radio station and meet other people who worked there, but best of all we got to be guest DJs on the radio station and Bo aired us live. We had so much fun ! Thank you Girl Scouts for making these opportunities possible for every girl scout 🙂 This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #cookies

As the 2016 Cookie Sale draws to a close, now is the time for troops and girls to make reward choices.  Information regarding each of the Top Seller events being offered this year as well as the Top 16 of 16 event and Troop Cookie Camps is below. Once the sale concludes, all girls/troops eligible for the below rewards will receive an email with further information and instructions on how to confirm attendance, purchase additional tickets, etc. 750+ TOP SELLER EVENTS All girls who attend one of the below events will also receive a Top Seller Medallion. If a girl chooses to not to attend any of the below, she will be mailed a Top Seller Medallion and a $50 Cookie Credit card. Saturday, June 11th – Broadmoor Seven Falls and Medallion Each girl who chooses this Top Seller event will receive admission and lunch for herself and an adult guardian. Additional child and adult tickets with lunch can be purchased thru GSCO; amounts are limited. Saturday, June 18th – Renaissance Faire and Medallion Each girl who chooses this Top Seller event will receive admission and lunch for herself and an adult guardian. Additional child and adult tickets with lunch can be purchased thru GSCO; amounts are limited. Saturday, June 25th – Glenwood Caverns and Medallion Each girl who chooses this Top Seller event will receive a Day Pass (including rides and cave tours) and lunch for herself and an adult guardian. Additional child and adult passes with lunch can be purchased thru GSCO; amounts are limited. Saturday, June 25th – Denver Dinner and Medallion Each girl who chooses this Top Seller event will receive an invitation for her and an adult guardian to the Denver Top Seller dinner being held at Marriott Denver Tech Center hotel. Additional tickets can be purchased thru GSCO; amounts are limited. TOP 16 OF 16 DINNER Saturday, July 23rd The Top 16 selling girls in the state will receive an invite to lunch with Stephanie Foote, the CEO of Girl Scouts of Colorado. Only Daisy and Brownies will be allowed to bring an adult guardian with them, should they choose to do so. TROOP COOKIE CAMPS Troop Cookie Camps are being offered as a reward to troops with a selling girl average of 550+. Each troop will have the opportunity to attend one of the below Cookie Camps. The exact details of the below schedules are subject to change. Friday, August 5th – Saturday, August 6th at Sky High Ranch All the camp locations at Sky High will be cabins; some with heat and electricity and others without. 3-3:30pm – Park in Parking Lot, check-in is up the hill at the Dining Hall/Office 3:30-4:00pm – Move in 4:30-5:15pm – Craft 5:30pm – Dinner 6:30pm – Flag 6:45pm – Campfire and S’mores 9:00pm – Star gazing/Cat Eye Hike (Troop Choice) 7:45am – Flag 8:00am – Breakfast 8:45am-12:30pm – Activities (45 min sessions) Session 1- Archery Session 2 – Orienteering Session 3 –Shelter Building/Survival Skills Session 4 –Scavenger Hunt 12:30pm – Lunch 1:15pm – Dance Party 2:00pm – Pack up and go home! Friday, August 26th – Saturday, August 27th at Sky High Ranch All the camp locations at Sky High will be cabins; some with heat and electricity and others without. 3:00pm-3:30pm – Park in Parking Lot, check-in is up the hill at the Dining Hall/Office 3:30pm-4:00pm – Move in 4:30pm-5:15pm – Craft 5:30pm – Dinner 6:30pm – Flag 6:45pm – Campfire and S’mores 9:00pm – Star gazing/Cat Eye Hike (Troop’s Choice) 7:45am – Flag 8:00am – Breakfast 8:45-12:30 Activities (45 min sessions) Session 1- Archery Session 2 – Orienteering Session 3 –Shelter Building/Survival Skills Session 4 –Scavenger Hunt 12:30pm – Lunch 1:15pm – Dance Party 2:00pm – Pack up and go home Friday, August 5th – Sunday, August 7th at Colorado National Monument All locations will be tent camping. 6:00pm on 8/5 – Arrival 11:30am on 8/7 – Departure Activities include: Hiking with the Ranger and other hikes Preparing a meal with a chef (every troop will have a chance to cook with the chef) Compass course Night hike Flag Ceremonies Visitor Center Astronomy Working on badge requirements Campfire (with or without a real fire) #cookies #topsellers

What did you do for your Gold Award project? For my project I built a Little Free Library for Tierra. The library can be used by anyone who wants to read. The goal for my project was to encourage people of all ages to read more. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? Within one week of planting the library, there were new books and all the Dr. Seuss books were gone. I have also received responses from people on the Facebook page I created. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? The Aurora Libraries is committed to working with the Aurora Parks and Recreation District for the security of the “House of Words in Tierra Park”. The Interact Club (High School Rotary) at Cherokee Trail High School has committed to checking and restocking the house quarterly. What is your project’s global and/or national connection Nationally, I will be connecting through the House of Words in Tierra Park Facebook page and the Little Free Library organization registration and map of world-wide locations.  Globally, I will be traveling to three countries via Girl Scouts and will visit a local library in London where I will place books with my Facebook connection and leave bookmarks with the links to the Facebook page “House of Words in Tierra Park” and the “Little Free Library” site. What did you learn about yourself? Without a commitment to Girl Scouts I might not have learned the strength and tenacity it takes to survive challenges. I also learned that I am smart, strong, able to organize and direct others, I am sensitive to the needs of my community, able to adapt to challenges, and perfectly capable of making the world a better place. I am proud to represent the Girl Scouts of Colorado. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? I am currently nominated to the United States Naval Academy and while I wait to hear about a future with the Academy, I know that the Gold Award allowed me to truly embody the meaning of serving others. This will always be carried forward. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? I have been in Girl Scouts for 12 years now and I have had many opportunities through Girl Scouts. The Gold Award was a great way to wrap up my Girl Scout experience because I was able to use all that I have learned in Girl Scouts in my project. Also, finishing my senior year out with my Gold Award Project has meant a lot because I was able to give back to a community that has given me so much. **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 #HighestAwards #GoldAwardee #Aurora #GoldAwardCentennial #GoldAwardees #Denvermetro

To help our cookiebosses increase sales and attract customers, we’re sharing recipes for some delicious dishes made with your favorite Girl Scout Cookies. This week:  Samoas. Try making these or print and share the recipe cards. Samoas Dream Cake, Brownie Parfait, & No-Bake Cheesecake Samoas Truffles #2016CookieSale #cookies #GirlScoutCookies #Cookingwithcookies #Samoas

Submitted by Gayatri Pande Colorado Springs Pikes Peak My daughter Tanvi is in girl scout troop # 080. Martin Reichwein is been volunteering for cookie  manager. He has been very supportive, motivated & patient with his role. We are glad that our troop got such a great cookie dad. We appreciate his hard work & valuable time for our troop. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #bestcookiedad #ColoradoSprings #PikesPeak

What did you do for you Gold Award project? My Gold Award Project addressed the hygiene area at the Jeffco Action Center. The Action Center is an organization in Lakewood that provides shelter, food, clothing, and other necessities to people in need. I identified three main problems with the hygiene area: first, a lack of organization and accessibility for volunteers to create kits; second, a lack of supplies to distribute; and third, a need for sustainable organizations to consistently donate. I attempted to reorganize the area despite many roadblocks, and I succeeded in increasing community support and awareness. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? The Action Center has 80 to 100 clients request personal supplies every week. The personals area is consistently low on supplies; one day in August 2015, there were only four kits ready for the next day and they had no idea when the next donations were coming in. This meant that around 20 people who came in the following day would have to go without these supplies. Key Club alone donated 546 items throughout the month of October. My sustainability groups have donated 595 items so far, and I have received over 100 items from various people outside of these organizations. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? I set up ongoing donations at two organizations, both of which have sent me letters of commitment. Jefferson Unitarian Church in Golden has already donated 194 items and has committed to calling for donations every March and September. InstaKey Security Systems in Lakewood has already donated 401 items with the goal of donating a minimum of four kits per week or a total of 832 items per calendar year. InstaKey has embraced the idea of recruiting for sustainability, with the goal of recruiting at least four more organizations to commit in 2016. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? I was able to connect with a lady from Idaho due to one of my education speeches; she personally donated 194 items to my project and is now inspired to start a similar project for a local shelter in her town. She is working through the youth group at her church, First Christian Church, which is located in Nampa, Idaho. I received a letter of commitment from the reverend of the church expressing their enthusiasm about starting a similar project inspired by mine. What did you learn about yourself? I learned that I am perseverant. I started this project in early 2014, and initially planned to finish by the end of the year–now, almost two years later, I am finally finishing the project I never thought I would be able to do. I also learned that I can be a leader and inspire others to care about the same issues I care about. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? Earning the Gold Award provided me with confidence in my leadership abilities. I gained a very valuable experience with setting up meetings, coordinating between various organizations, and speaking publicly in front of large groups. I will be able to use these skills in any job I have in the future. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? Being a Girl Scout taught me how to be a leader alongside the other girls in my troop, but earning my Gold Award taught me that I can lead on my own. Overall, Girl Scouts was very important in building a community and learning to work as a team, but the Gold Award not only developed my individual strength but taught me how to build and coordinate my own teams. **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 #Golden #GoldAward #HighestAwards #GoldAwardee #GoldAwardCentennial #GoldAwardees #Denvermetro

What did you do for your Gold Award project? My twin brother has an Autism Spectrum Disorder, and beginning in middle school, he experienced a lack of inclusion in school clubs and sports, as well as an overall lack of friendships. I immersed myself in the “disability world,” learning about disabilities, public laws and personal rights, inclusion, community resources, and the numerous stories of children and families.  I quickly determined that kids with disabilities meet friends through school, sports, and clubs just like all other children and became an activist for school-based Unified Clubs, Unified Sports, and Unified Elective Courses. In 2013, my brother and I were appointed to our state’s Special Olympic Youth Activation Committee.  It was then that I learned about Special Olympics Project UNIFY and identified with Partner Clubs as the key component to building inclusive schools and Unified Friendships – or friendships between kids with and without disabilities.  I established Score A Friend, Inc. as a non-profit organization.  I worked within my school district and community to build Unified Clubs and Sports Programs.  In 2015, I designed the Score A Friend Club Model and web-based Score A Friend Program to activate and support youth leaders everywhere to build Score A Friend Clubs in all schools and advance inclusion throughout the world. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? Kids with disabilities and their families gained knowledge and skills, as well as shifts in attitude and approach, regarding their right to equal access and opportunities within their schools and communities Parents learned how to access other parents for support, resources, and opportunities for advocacy through Score A Friend programs and website Kids with disabilities were given opportunities to actively participate with typical peers in school during school lunch, events, and non-core courses Kids with disabilities gained opportunities to participate in year-round Unified Sports in their schools & communities Kids made friends and experienced Unified Friendships Kids with disabilities learned about numerous community resource options and gained skills to access them Kids with disabilities gained access to Score A Friend Clubs in their schools Kids will have access to Unified Elective Courses in schools How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? My project is sustainable through the Score A Friend, Inc. Non-Profit Organization: A Board of Directors is in place, and I am serving as the “Founder/Chief Executive Advisor” – until I am 18 years old and can become the Chief Executive Officer. The Board is committed to supporting and growing the program. The Score a Friend Website provides the Score a Friend Program to the world. Clubs will complete an annual online Registration From and Final Report. Clubs can access all program forms, resources, and online store items from the website.  All clubs will be posted on the website and be able to connect and share stories through the Score A Friend Facebook Page. School-based Score A Friend Clubs at Front Range Christian School and Louisiana State University, as well as many new school clubs, will build and sustain the program in schools and communities throughout the world. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? Nationally, schools support students and parents to start new clubs within their schools. The Score A Friend Club Web-based Program gives students a quick and easy guide to start a new club.  Score A Friend staff is available to provide consultation and support to youth leaders starting new clubs and building inclusion in their schools and communities. Globally, youth leaders and adults that support them can access the World Wide Web and access Score A Friend. Over time, I plan to translate Score A Friend materials and make them available to schools worldwide.  I plan to work with Special Olympics, UNICEF, the World Health Organization and other global organizations to promote awareness of kids with disabilities issues around the globe and determine a plan to address them, country-by-country, community-by-community, and school-by-school. What did you learn about yourself? ·      Score A Friend is what I want to do for my future career on a global level I have the passion and skills to make a difference in the world I am an effective advocate and activist for kids with disabilities I persevere when I meet obstacles and challenges I interact and engage well with people with disabilities, as well as other youth peers and adults I am creative and skilled at program design and ideas for clubs for kids I have lots more to learn to be an effective advocate and to change the world for kids with disabilities Being a Girl Scout has made a powerful and life-long impact on my life – shaping my overall life goals and career plan Most importantly, my brother is my best friend and I am proud of him! How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? At Front Range Christian School, during the 2016-2017 school year, I will have opportunities to grow my leadership skills and build inclusion locally and globally. As Score A Friend, Inc. CEO, I have many Score A Friend Program goals that will build my leadership skills, while advancing inclusion in the world. Special Olympics will continue to support me to build my leadership skills, while working together to build inclusion in the world Educating and inspiring youth around the world will build my leadership skills, while also activating youth leaders to join the unified generation and change the world. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? The Gold Award was a culmination of all I have learned in my 12 years as a Girl Scout. It allowed me to actively pursue, practice, and achieve all aspects of the Girl Scout Promise and Law. It gave me the opportunity to identify my passion and talent, and to experience real-world applications of community service and my leadership skills. The Gold Award was the most important part of my Girl Scout experience and was an honor to achieve. It will always be my greatest first step toward a future focused and committed to leadership, service, and making the world a better place. **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 #GoldAwardee #Centennial #GoldAwardCentennial #GoldAwardees #Devermetro