Submitted by Ania LaDow Evergreen, Colorado Mountain Communities The most rewarding and most memorable aspect of my Silver Award project was saving a wild duck that was tangled up in a fishing line. My dad and I were walking on a trail around Buchanan ponds picking up litter and trash. We heard water splashing around and a few quacks. As my dad and I got closer, we noticed there was a duck stuck in fishing line. The thin and barley visible line was tied around the duck’s neck and the duck couldn’t get it off. Its feet were also tied up and the duck couldn’t escape. The duck was so desperate for help that it didn’t even squirm when my dad picked him up to untie the strings. My dad got into the water and untangled the line around both its neck and feet. After the duck swam off, I removed the string from the water to prevent this from happening again. This was a very successful and rewarding time in my project because it showed why I am doing my project. Though it was very sad to see that duck stuck and in pain, I am glad I saw this because I saw the direct impact of my project in helping animals and the environment. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #buchananponds #evergreen

What did you do for your Gold Award project? For my Gold Award project, I held a science, math, and engineering exploration day for middle and elementary school kids in my local area at my high school, to show them that science can be fun! The event consisted of 22 hands-on activities and learning displays that were designed to be fun, interactive, and educational, while encouraging kids to get interested and involved in STEM. Activities ranged from a wide variety of different science and engineering topics, and I had 16 different science and engineering organizations involved in the event, either by running a booth or by donating materials for an activity. The impact I had hoped to make, was to share the “wonder” of science and provide the opportunity for elementary and middle school children, to discover a passion or appreciation for science through hands-on activities. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? I created a survey and had attendees fill it out rating their experience at the event, as well as specific aspects of the event to quantitatively measure the impact of my project, on my target audience. Comments from the surveys were incredibly positive, with the majority saying that the event was well done and a great opportunity that kids absolutely loved. Even before I tallied and analyzed the data, I could tell by how bustling the event was, how many kids I saw smiling, and deeply engaged in the various activities, that the event was a success. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? My project will be sustained beyond my involvement by a group of leaders at my high school, who will take over the event by running it again next year. To help them get started, I provided a list of contacts and activities I used in my project. I also compiled this information into a “manual” of where to start in organizing the event, and mailed this manual to different schools around the state to allow other schools to run the event, something similar, or just to use its activities for teaching and spreading the fun of science and engineering. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? STEM programs are important in furthering national wellbeing and technology, but there are areas of the U.S., and worldwide, that don’t have as many opportunities to expose kids to STEM and getting them interested in science and engineering. Polls done by the National Science Foundation in 2011,  report that nationwide only 34% of 8th grade students performed at or above the proficient level in math, and only 40% of 4th graders nationwide performed at or above the proficient level. Math and science are important for innovation and progress, yet so many students nationwide struggle because they do not have the opportunities to learn and discover STEM in an engaging way. My event, STEAM Day, can also link nationally because it will be repeated next year and can also be put on by other schools or organizations. From Silver Creek High School, the STEAM Day can spread to other schools in the district, then from one school district to another. It can grow/spread from Longmont to another town in Colorado, and from other towns in Colorado to another state and later another. I have started a chain of potential STEAM Days that I hope will spread far beyond my local community. What did you learn about yourself? By completing my Gold Award project, I realized just how capable I am. Going into the project, I had some doubts about whether I could get it done in time or even if I had the motivation to complete the project, but I learned that I am motivated and capable. While the event came together a little last-minute for some things, I was able to put together a successful event with myself as the leader, proving to myself that I am a capable young woman who can achieve anything, even difficult, if I put my mind to it. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? The practical life skills, such as time management, networking, and project management skills, I gained from doing this project will be invaluable for my future. Both in college and a prospective future career in genetic research, I will have to organize and execute large-scale research projects, which will require many of the same steps and skills as my Gold Award project did. Because of this, my leadership skills will continue to grow and improve as I identify topics of research interest, plan, and execute research, as part of or leading a team, that can hopefully help the greater community. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? The Gold Award was a great way to use and refine the skills I had begun to develop through my 13 years in Girl Scouts. From selling cookies to going to camp, Girl Scouts introduces important skills, like networking, planning, and fundraising and these skills get put to practical use, as well as become improved, when you do your Gold Award. ***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 #Niwot #HighestAwards #STEM #Longmont #GoldAwardCentennial #NorthernandNortheasternCO #STEAM #GoldAwardees

For the month of September we will be running a special promotion on our Property Reservations!   Any reservations made for Girl Scout troops for a weekday stay, Monday through Thursday, will receive 20% the total cost of the reservation.  Take this opportunity to plan a wonderful 2016 Spring Break, or a summer retreat for your troop. To receive this discount reserve online at http://girlscoutsofcolorado.checkfront.com/reserve , pay your booking deposit, and then email annie.pierce@gscolorado.org to request your discount.  The discount will apply to all sites reserved, but will not apply to any food service or activities that will be added to your reservation.  Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night reservations are not included in the sale. #camp #propertyreservations

Submitted by Girl Scout Troop 10065 Western Slope Middle school schedules certainly do tend to get CRAZY!  So, we’ve moved our meeting day and time to a weekend this year and it has definitely opened us up for some amazing opportunities! Last year, we “kidnapped” our Cadettes for a sleepover as their first meeting of the year.  The troop was only eight girls and it was easy to do something completely unexpected and fun.  So, trying to think of a way to do that again and make it a first meeting “tradition,” leaders came up with the idea to do something not “normal” rather than a “meeting” for our first get together this year, too!  We live in the beautiful state of Colorado and that means RIVER! For our first meeting, we took the girls on a float trip!  It was a perfect weather day.  There were no rapids, so it was safe and comfortable for all the first-timers and it was a great day for a little river swim! Can’t wait for the year ahead! This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #Cadettes #oldergirls #WesternSlope

We’re searching for “star” Girl Scouts, who are interested in sharing their story and serving as Media Stars for the 2015-16 Girl Scout year. What is a Media Star? Before the Cookie Program each January, Girl Scouts of Colorado trains girls from all across the state to be Media Stars. They deliver the excitement (or do interviews) about Girl Scout Cookies with area TV and radio stations, as well as newspapers. These spokesgirls also help with other Girl Scouts of Colorado media interviews throughout the year.  Here are just some of the media interviews Media Stars participated in during the 2015 Cookie Sale. To be a Media Star, a girl must be in 4th grade and above. From time to time, we need younger girls to help with media interviews. However, the Media Star program is reserved for girls in 4th grade and above. How to get involved Girls who want to be Media Stars should email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org Please include a brief essay (250 words or less) about why you want to be a Media Star and video (no more than a minute) of you giving your best Girl Scout Cookies “sales pitch.” Girls 12-years-old and younger can have a parent help them. Submissions from girls 13-years-old and older must be girl-done. Potential candidates will be asked to participate in an individual, training session in November or December 2015. This training may be in-person, over the phone or via FaceTime. During this training, girls will learn everything needed to be a successful Media Star. Even if you have participated in this program before, you must be trained each year if you want to participate in the program again. ** Note: This is a very popular program, so spots will be taken on a first-come, first-serve basis. #CookieMediaStars #GirlScoutCookies #MediaStar #MediaStars

Submitted by Aimee Bianca, Highest Awards Manager for Girl Scouts of Colorado Denver Pueblo and Southeastern Colorado Attention all 8th grade Cadettes, Seniors, Ambassadors, Troop Leaders and parents in the Pueblo and Southeastern Colorado region! If you (or your girl) is thinking about going for her Gold Award, don’t miss Gold Award Training on September 19, 2015 in La Junta and September 26, 2015 in Pueblo. This is a FREE training that is mandatory for Seniors and Ambassadors, who plan to submit a Gold Award proposal within 6-12 months. Supporting adults are strongly encouraged to attend as well. Use this link to register for September 19: https://gsusa.ebiz.uapps.net/vp/FamilyManagement/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductId=1722617155 Use this link to register for September 26: https://gsusa.ebiz.uapps.net/vp/FamilyManagement/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductId=1722611675 You may be asking yourself . . . What is the Gold Award? Why would I want to go for the Gold? Should I encourage the girls in my troop to go Gold? The Gold Award training will answer all of these questions and more! You will learn about the benefits of earning your Gold Award, the steps you must take from beginning to end, how you will work with a Gold Award mentor and get all your questions answered. Girls and adults will participate in different trainings, concurrently, which will provide valuable information to make your Gold Award experience successful. You can also check out these awesome resources online: Highest Awards Frequently Asked Questions http://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/content/dam/girlscoutsofcolorado/documents/Gold%20Award%20FAQ%20-%20Final.pdf Gold Award Guidelines for Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors http://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/content/dam/girlscouts-shared/template/documents/about/Girl_Scout_Gold_Award_Guidelines.pdf GSCO Gold Award Quick Guide http://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/content/dam/girlscoutsofcolorado/documents/Gold%20Award%20Quick-Guide.pdf Gold Award Checklist for Parents and Troop Leaders http://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/content/dam/girlscoutsofcolorado/documents/Gold%20Award%20Troop%20Leader%20%26%20Parent%20Checklist.pdf If you have specific questions about the Gold Award email highestawards@gscolorado.org. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #GoldAward #LaJunta #GoldAwardTraining #southeasternColorado #GoldAwardCentennial #Pueblo #PuebloandSoutheasternColorado

Come to Sky High Ranch for our Blue Moon Harvest Rendezvous! The Celebration will include Glow in the Dark Archery, a Harvest Festival Dance (bring your own costume or borrow one of ours!), a visit to the farm, Zip line for groups with girls 60 Lbs. and over (or low-ropes for groups that have girls under 60 Lbs.), and crafts, such as seed mosaics, fun with paints and pumpkins, felt owls, etc. This is a great opportunity for troops as we provide all the food and program, all you have to do is show up!  Activities will be flexible due to weather (late September is anyone’s guess) so be prepared! Do you have a Cadette troop looking to earn their Program Aide Internship hours or Silver Award? Rendezvous are a perfect opportunity for girls to plan and run program under the guidance of Sky High or Tomahawk staff. Contact Kim.petau@gscolorado.org or Monica.gray@gscolorado.org for more information. Register here for this Rendezvous! #Cadette #camp #rendezvous #SkyHighRanch

Girl Scouts of Colorado is proud to announce the 2015 inductees into the esteemed Women of Distinction program on the Western Slope. This year’s three honorees are: Susan Alvillar, Community Relations Manager, WPX Energy Robbie Breaux, Ceramic Artist Karen Troester, Vice President Commercial Banking, U.S. Bank These women were selected by a committee of their peers led by Betsy Bair, Woman of Distinction 2014, and chosen based on their contributions to the community, both professionally and personally. The event chair is Lois Dunn, Woman of Distinction 2013. Girl Scouts of Colorado will publicly honor these inductees at the 2015 Women of Distinction Breakfast in Grand Junction at Two Rivers Convention Center, October 1, 2015 from 7:30-9 a.m. Attendees will learn about the impact that Girl Scouting is making on the girls of the Western Slope and within its communities. The morning’s keynote speaker is Jaime Gardner, small business owner and wife of U.S. Senator Cory Gardner. The Women of Distinction program began on the Western Slope in 2013. Including this year’s honorees, Girl Scouts of Colorado has recognized just six other women on the Western Slope with this honor. Tickets for the event are $20. For more information, including how you can help, please contact Cindi Graves at 970-242-4461 or cindi.graves@gscolorado.org. You can also visit the Girl Scouts of Colorado website for more information or to purchase tickets and/or sponsorships at: www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/wodgj #funddevelopment #GrandJunction #WesternSlope #WomenofDistinction

Arguably, the most impactful part of Girl Scouts is the earning of the Girl Scout Gold Award. This prestigious award represents the highest achievement in Girl Scouts and challenges high school girls to initiate meaningful, sustainable change locally, nationally, and/or globally through unique “Take Action” projects of their own creation. Girl Scouts of Colorado is proud to have honored 50 girls in the 2014-15 Girl Scout year who have successfully earned their Gold Award. There are currently more than 100 girls across Colorado who are actively pursuing their Gold Award and are anywhere in the process from developing a project proposal to perfecting their final reports. We cannot wait to see what these girls accomplish! Any girl in high school is eligible to earn her Gold Award! All it takes commitment, persistence, and a desire to make an impact in her community or beyond. Girls who earn their Gold Award continue to experience benefits throughout the course of their lifetime. They are also able to distinguish themselves in the college admissions process, earn college scholarships, and enter the military one rank higher than women who have not earned their Gold Award. Throughout life Gold Award recipients are seen as role models and leaders, able to master time management, and have the skills to collaborate with community partners to make their visions a reality. 2016 marks the Gold Award Centennial, and we are looking to provide the support and guidance necessary so any girl who wants to earn her Gold Award is able to successfully do so. Girl Scouts of Colorado is also excited to showcase what girls have accomplished at such a young age through the Girl Scout program over the past 100 years at our Highest Awards Celebrations and the Gold Award Day at the Capitol in the spring. If you’re interested, or know a young lady interested in the Girl Scout Gold Award, keep an eye out for “Highest Awards & Take Action” and “Gold Award” trainings coming soon to your community and online. You can also email highestawards@gscolorado.org anytime with questions. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nsAKM_oGZc] #GoldAward #GoldAwardCentennial #HighestAwards

Congratulations to Christina Bear, 2015 Gold Award recipient from Golden! On August 28, 2015, she was named Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. The award comes with a $2,500 prize to be used for education expenses. It is presented to an individual youth volunteer (18 and under) who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the promotion of philanthropy and volunteerism through his/her work in the community. This commitment and impact is demonstrated specifically through sustained activity over a period of time. The individual acts as a role model for other youth in the community and generates interest in volunteerism in other groups. In April 2015, Christina was awarded the inaugural Stephanie A. Foote Leadership Prize for Gold Award Excellence. Christina earned her Gold Award for organizing a week-long summer program for Latino students at the Horizons Summer Program at Colorado Academy. Through informal learning in computer and robot programming and mini-science experiments, students were engaged and excited about technology. Christina was not only recognized for her project to earn her Gold Award, but also for a project she completed with her younger brother, Eric, in 2010. Their Radon Awareness Project (RAP) was locally- and nationally-recognized as a program to educate the community on the dangers of radon. With input and support from the Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment, EPA, American Lung Association, Jefferson County Health Department, Habitat for Humanity, Girl Scouts, 4-H, and CanSAR (Cancer Survivors against Radon), Christina and Eric created a targeted campaign to educate the community about radon and testing. Since inception, RAP has reached over 500,000 people via newspapers, TV, social media and rallies and more than 500 schools are contacted annually to participate in a Colorado radon poster contest. In 2012, Christina and Eric were invited to speak at the White House Summit on Environmental Education and at the Children’s Environmental Health Network (CEHN) where they discussed how youth can collaborate with public health officials to make a difference in environmental health, In addition, RAP has championed a Radon Resistant New Construction building code that has been adopted by 20 Colorado cities and contributed to writing HB 12-1165 which would require radon testing whenever a home is sold. “Christina exemplifies courage, confidence and character. Her continued pursuit of excellence in all aspects of her life inspires her peers and community members to listen and follow, taking action to make their world a better place,” wrote Girl Scouts of Colorado CEO Stephanie A. Foote, who nominated Christina for this prestigious award. Christina will officially accept her award at the annual National Philanthropy Day Luncheon on November 13, 2015 at Seawell Grand Ballroom, Denver Center for the Performing Arts. 2015 NPD winner release ALL #Golden #GoldAward #HighestAwards #OutstandingYouthinPhilanthropy #StephanieFoote #GoldAwardees #Denvermetro #HighestAwardsProgram

What did you do for your Gold Award project? My project addressed the issue of inadequate accommodations  for children with special needs who attend Sunrise United Methodist Church.  My goal was to provide tools and/or a therapeutic area for these children.  While the scope of my project was scaled back from an entire room to a mobile chest, I feel children with special needs will benefit  greatly from the tools I put together for them. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? I know that I made a difference because the children with special needs at SUMC are already using the tools I have provided to help them in their classes. The parents also feel more comfortable leaving their children now that they know they have ways to help with their disabilities.  My church community is now more aware, as are other churches, of the need for the appropriate area and tools for special needs programs. There are many people now willing to be volunteers to help continue to build on the project in the future and spread the word about it in the community. The children with special needs and their families are very happy that a program like this has started and the hope is that that will help them continue to attend church. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? I created a Special Needs Project Report booklet that outlines the life-cycle of the project.  It details what equipment is needed, how to make some of the projects, suggestions on how to expand the program and a list of resources (books) that can be used for study. My project will continue to make an impact because there are people at Sunrise who will continue to work on growing this project and letting the community know that they have a safe place for children with special needs. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? I presented my booklet to three other churches  (First United Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church and Wilson United Methodist Church).  It is my hope that this booklet will aid these churches in starting their own programs and become a growing force in the community so that even more people can be educated on the importance of a comfortable and safe environment for the special needs community. What did you learn about yourself? I learned that being in a leadership role is a big responsibility that requires good communication skills, but that I am capable of managing a project this size. I now have a better understanding of how to manage and coordinate a project start-to-finish  and have attained better skills in gathering requirements for a project. I also learned that I have the skills to present a project like this to a person or group of people. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? I am now more aware of those with special needs and working on this project has inspired me to want to do more for not only children with special needs, but anyone who is under-privileged.  I will strive in the future to make an impact in their lives. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? Through my project, I have discovered ways to find challenges and overcome them. I have also gained practical life skills of communication through setting up meetings with various members of my church community. I found a way to promote cooperation and team building, as many members of my church came together to assist me on my project. I have many new relationships with these people and feel more connected to my community. I was able to identify a major community issue and can now identify more that I may be able to take action to resolve in the future. I know that I will be able to resolve more issues because I have gained a lot of confidence through this project, learned how to problem solve, discovered how to advocate for myself and those who can’t do it for themselves, and been able to inspire others to act and help me in my goals. ***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 #ColoradoSprings #GoldAwardCentennial #GoldAwardees #PikesPeak #HighestAwardsProgram

Submitted by Charlotte Blish Arvada Denver Metro Arvada Troop 3301 bridged from Cadette to Senior Scouts across eight ziplines on Saturday, August 22. Our Zipline Bridging Ceremony was an excellent example of what is means to be a Girl Scout. We had to be daring! We wanted to live life to the fullest as Girl Scouts and on Saturday we did all that and more. We lept into mid-air with nothing between us but six stories of time and space and flew screaming over white water rivers. And we had the time of our lives! We are now Senior Girl Scouts – come join us on the adventure of a life time. Say “yes” to scouting! This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #Arvada #bridging #Denvermetro