What did you do for your Gold Award project? I coordinated a special needs gymnastics camp at JetKids Gymnastics. I hoped to make an impact in the lives of families and children with a variety of special needs. I wanted to give these kids a chance to be involved in such an incredible sport. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? I measured my impact by watching the kids grow throughout the weeks, and making sure each kid was gaining something. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? The model I created (a four-week adaptive gymnastics camp for children of all ages with special needs) is currently being sustained at JetKids Gymnastics in Littleton, Colorado. An early-summer session was held, and the gym is making plans for more. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? JetKids Gymnastics has a working relationship with many other gyms across the country. By presenting my project to these other gyms and offering my advice and services to help them launch their programs, I am linking the success of my project to a national and global community. What did you learn about yourself? I learned I am smart, strong, able to organize and direct others, 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 with my enduring, global project. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? I am proud of the lasting legacy I will leave in my community when I go off to college. I feel like I have served not only children with special needs and their families, but also the sport of gymnastics, which has meant so much to me. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? If I had not camped with my Daisy troop (when we were just in kindergarten), I might not have learned the strength and tenacity it takes to survive challenges. If I had not found the courage to sell cookies to strangers, I might not have learned confidence. If I had not organized and put into action several Rendezvous weekends for younger girls, I might not have learned the organizational and leadership skills it took to create and implement my project. ***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 #MetroDenver #GoldAwardees #Littleton #Denvermetro #HighestAwardsProgram

Our Dove group Pinning ceremony Submitted by LeEllen Condry During the week of June 17-23, 2015, Troop #561 from Granby, Colorado, plus Marlene Logan and I from Denver, traveled to London, England to experience the British culture. We joined a troop from St. Paul, Minnesota and as one large Girl Scout troop we traveled throughout London. London is a fabulous city. There was so much planned on our agenda. Our group saw the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace; visited Kensington Palace and saw the rooms which contained Queen Victoria’s dresses; had tea at The Orangery which is located on the grounds of Kensington Palace; rode the London Eye; attended a theatre show called 39 Steps; painted a canvas; walked around the East End of London to see street art from artists such as Banksy; toured the National Gallery which housed works of art from Monet; walked through Hyde Park and saw the Princess Diana Memorial; and shopped in wonderful areas of London. The highlights of the trip were visiting Pax Lodge and having a Harry Potter Tour at Warner Brothers outside of London. At Pax Lodge, I truly enjoyed watching the girls experience the pinning ceremony under the beautiful tree. For dinner, we had a British delicacy of fish and chips. The Harry Potter tour included viewing the costumes worn by the actors, and visiting the sets that were used in the movies. The Hogwarts Express train, the Knight Bus, and Buckbeak, Hagrid’s pet were also on display. The gift shop also was incredible. Anything and everything about Harry Potter was in there. After the Harry Potter tour was over, I felt that I had personally connected with Harry Potter. For summer of 2016, Girl Scouts of Colorado will be hosting our first Destination trip to Ireland, Wales, and England. I hope you will be able to join us. Please check out our trip on the Destination page of GSUSA on August 15, 2015. All details including registration will be included. If you have any questions please contact LeEllen Condry at nemoursLM@yahoo.com. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #MountainCommunitites #London #InternationalTravel #oldergirls #GirlScoutstravel #travel #olderGirlScouts #mountaincommunities

Submitted by Mia A. Parker Denver Metro I got the amazing opportunity to go to San Francisco with Girl Scouts and I loved it! I got to see a lot of the main attractions such as Alcatraz, The Golden Gate Bridge, China Town, Lombard Street and more. We stayed at a pretty nice hostel where I met a lot of people from everywhere. We met Girl Scouts that were from California as well as Girl Guides that were from Europe. I met a lot of people and made new friends thanks to Jill and the troop that I traveled with. They were very nice and welcoming towards me and made the trip even better. Overall, it was a really fun trip. I learned a lot about San Francisco and I can safely say that it is officially my favorite city! This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #Parker #travelstories #GirlScoutstravel #travel #MetroDenver #Denvermetro

What did you do for your Gold Award project? For my Gold Award project, I developed a multi-media presentation about opportunities in middle and high school music geared towards 4th and 5th grade students. My video and oral presentation provided information about what types of music classes are available in middle school, high school, and outside of school. In addition to this, I explained the many benefits of being involved in music. I contacted 12 schools and visited five; I presented in front of 20 classes, meaning my message reached more than 300 students. These presentations will become an annual occurrence with the purpose of informing elementary school students about their future choices. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? At the beginning and end of each presentation, I surveyed the elementary students about their interest in middle school music. In every single class, less than three students raised their hands before I presented. After I finished, the opposite was true. Also, all of the teachers said they would love to host the visit every year. I discussed my project and the students’ reactions with each teacher, and they were just as excited as I was about my cause. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? After visiting the elementary schools, I created a “Standard Operating Procedure” (SOP) to keep at Thornton High School. The SOP is a manual that includes what my original project was, why I chose it, and step-by-step instructions on how to replicate the visits. Since my supervisor, Mr. Sebastian Adams, is the Instrumental Music Director at Thornton High School, the project will expand to include both orchestra and band (more details are included in the SOP). Secondly, there are several studies discussing the importance of music training and its long term benefits; music education changes an individual for life. Scientific American’s (2010) board of editors asserted, “Studies have shown that assiduous instrument training from an early age can help the brain to process sounds better, making it easier to stay focused when absorbing other subjects, from literature to tensor calculus.” This is one of many examples of research supporting my message. Lastly, I have made the connection between Thornton High School and local elementary schools, thus opening a line of continued communication between students, teachers, and parents. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? My entire project is based upon a concept that is universal: the love of music. Two people who do not speak the same language can still communicate and understand each other through playing music. There are also many international opportunities that students can take advantage of because of music. For example, college students can study music abroad or travel to another country for marching band. Music is the universal language. What did you learn about yourself? I learned a lot throughout this process, but there are two main lessons that stood out. I gained experience relating to adults. When communicating with the teachers and administrators at the elementary schools, I had to balance being professional with being personal. Adults need to see that I am trustworthy and passionate at the same time. Secondly, I learned that I am 100% capable of making a difference in the world. I created this project myself, and it was successful. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? As I mentioned before, the lessons I learned throughout the Gold Award process will assist me in both the near and distant future. The experiences of communicating personally and professionally will aid me in college, job interviews, and the workplace. Also, I have gained confidence through this project that will propel me through life. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scouts experience? The Gold Award was the perfect way to sum up everything I have experienced in Girl Scouts. I have developed commitment (I have been in Girl Scouts since Daises), confidence, courage, professionalism, and compassion. I feel that I am a girl of quality because of the experience Girl Scouts has provided me. ***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 #Denver #GoldAwardees #Denvermetro

Submitted by Pam Koschke, Program Associate for Girl Scouts of Colorado Girl Scouts Outreach Program participated in Youth One Book One Denver (YOBOD) programs this summer. For this program young people across Colorado read a book called “The Comet’s Curse” by Dom Testa.  The book was about a comet that came very close to Earth.  The comet left a virus as it passed by Earth that made everyone sick except people under the age of 18. Summer learning helps students do better in school and they will be more likely to graduate and be prepared for college. Girl Scouts is excited to be able to contribute to summer programs for YOBOD. A dramatic and effective way to begin a unit on comets is to make your own comet right in front of the class.  We made a comet in the classroom with dry-ice, sand, water, dark Karo Syrup and ammonia.  As the comet began to melt, the class noticed small jets of gas coming from it.  These are locations where the gaseous carbon dioxide is escaping through small holes in the still frozen water.  This type of activity is also detected on real comets, where the jets can sometimes expel sufficient quantities of gas to make small changes in the orbit of the comet.  The girls were very excited about the activity.  They really enjoyed watching as the comets gas escaped creating a fog that rolled out of the bowl and down off the table. This activity required a lot of preparation and supplies; however, it was worth it!  The ingredients for a comet are not difficult to find and watching a comet being “constructed” is something the students will remember for a long time.  The kids were so excited and had a great time as well as learning new things about comets.  After the activity, we asked the kids, “What did you learn about comets today”?  One girl said that she learned they are made out of carbon dioxide. This is a great STEM activity as they are learning science and math. To incorporate some creativity in the lesson, students also got to decorate their own comet! (Pictured here) It was wonderful to watch girls have fun and learn some science. I would definitely do this activity again! #Outreach #outreachprogram #STEM

Submitted by Isabella Lucero Thornton Denver Metro Join Troop 53979 for a Girls Only Career Fair on Saturday September 19, 2015 from 9am to 12pm at Northglenn Middle School, 1123 Muriel Dr, Northglenn. This Fair is in part to earn our Silver Award! We are hosting this event so girls can learn about all the available jobs they can have when they grow up, and to understand they can have ANY career- Engineer, Plumber, Financial Planner, Teacher, etc. Girls age 10-18 are invited to join us, meet our invited guest professionals, ask questions and find out how to get started chasing their career goals. Please RSVP to TL Jill Rampacek at jrampacek@comcast.net We hope to see you there! P.S. Are you a working mom in a non-traditional field? Or do you know a woman who would make a great addition as a guest! We’d like to hear from you! This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #Denvermetro #SilverAward #Thornton

Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef 1 onion 1.5 oz taco seasoning 1 gal bag of Tortilla strips 1 lb Grated Cheese 15 oz Pinto Beans 15 oz Black Beans 15 oz stewed Tomato 15 oz corn 15 oz hominy Directions: Heat dutch oven up to 350. Fry meat and onion and add 1/2 the pkg of taco seasoning. When meat is done and onion soft, add each can to the dutch oven, creating a stew. Stir in remaining seasoning. Simmer for about 30 min. serve hot. Top with chease and chips. #CowboySoup #recipe #SkyHighRanch #SkyHighRanchCamp

Submitted by Jill Holiman Highlands Ranch Denver Metro Our names are Jayne, Mia, Ashley, and Kenzie. We have gone on a trip to San Francisco to bridge to seniors. On this trip we encountered many people from different countries while staying in a hostel. We met people from Australia, Wales, England, Canada, and Scotland. Talking to them, we learned a little about these people and their home countries. One of the coolest things that we got to experice while in San Francisco was meeting Girl Guides from England. As a Girl Scout, we have always heard about Girl Guides, and it was a unique experience to finally met a few of them. When we saw them they were decked out in full uniform. While talking to them we asked the girls about school, lingo, sports, and Girl Scout cookies. Surprisingly enough, the Girl Guides have never had Girl Scout cookies before! We were able to learn about life in England as well as how Girl Scouts and Girl Guides compare and contrast around the world. After talking with the girls we got their Instagrams and gave each other patches. As a troop, we found it unique and cool that they swap patches. We gave them our patch and they gave us theirs. Overall, we had a very fun time in San Francisco and learned a lot during the trip! This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #Denvermetro #HighlandsRanch #SanFrancisco

Hello Colorado! I’d like to introduce myself, Aimee Bianca, as the new Highest Awards Manager for Girl Scouts of Colorado, effective July 6, 2015. I moved to Colorado about a year ago and joined GSCO as seasonal recruitment staff and became a Volunteer Support Specialist in October. Before moving to Colorado I was the Highest Awards Specialist for Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey. When I decided to make the move to this beautiful state it was bittersweet because I loved my job in NJ and am very passionate about the Highest Awards program and developing leadership skills for older girls. So, I am absolutely thrilled to take on this new role, expand and improve our highest awards program, and see more girls throughout the state earn their Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards! Each of the Highest Awards is an opportunity for girls to build real leadership skills that will greatly benefit them later in life. The Bronze Award is the first time that girls get to create a plan from the ground up and see it through to the end. The Silver Award is where girls work in small groups to make an impact in their community and take on a major leadership role. The Gold Award is the highest achievement in Girl Scouting – girls are expected to identify a real issue that they care about, develop a plan to make a positive impact on that issue, make sure the plan is sustainable, and then share their experience with others. It is certainly not easy for girls to earn their Gold but it is the goal of GSCO to develop the necessary tools, resources, and support so that any girl interested in earning her Gold is successful. GSCO has recently published a few new resources on the website to help girls, troop leaders, and parents learn more about the Highest Awards program and processes. Check out these amazing resources: Gold Award Quick Guide Highest Award FAQ Gold Award Troop Leader and Parent Checklist Highest Award Ideas Please feel free to contact me at highestawards@gscolorado.org if you have any Highest Awards questions or concerns. I’m so excited to see how girls in Colorado take action and make the world a better place! [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxSLdV1OR-Q] #BronzeAward #GoldAward #HighestAwards #SilverAward

Submitted by Tracy Nash Castle Pines Denver Metro All members of Junior Girl Scout Troop 4502 were recently awarded their Bronze Award for revitalizing the garden plots behind Acres Green Elementary School. The plots had been neglected for several years and the girls decided this would be a great project. They planted everything from vegetables to flowers with the assistance and generous donations from Master Gardener Jean Henke. The troop made a sign to let people know who was responsible for enhancing the garden and have been diligently watering it this summer to be sure everything continues to grow. We’ve already been able to enjoy some zucchini and plan to announce at the beginning of the school year that our garden is flourishing and people are welcome to enjoy the products of our labor. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #AcresGreenElementary #CastlePines #Denvermetro

Girl Scouts of Colorado is moving to a no-return policy for the 2016 Cookie Sale. This policy will allow girls to be more successful because we’ll have better control over inventory, a more accurate Starting Inventory Order and girls will have the cookies they need. After production issues experienced at the bakery last season caused challenges nationwide, Girl Scouts of Colorado decided to move up our planned timeline for a no-return sale. Girl Scouts of Colorado was one of only a few councils that allowed returns. Girls and troops still will be able to transfer cookies from troop-to-troop and order more cookies from their local cupboard as needed. Additional training will be provided to Troop Cookie Managers to ensure that troop Starting Inventory Orders are well thought-out and meet the needs of the girls and troops. We’re looking forward to an awesome 2016 Cookie Program where Girl Scout Cookies can do a world of good! Frequently Asked Questions: 1. Why is GSCO moving to this policy now? Inventory shortages at Little Brownie Bakers created a situation in 2015 where some troops and girls ran out of cookies to sell and couldn’t get more. Moving to a no-return policy and troops submitting a Starting Inventory Order of what they actually plan to sell will ensure we have all the cookies on hand at the beginning of the sale. 2. Can I still checkout booth sale cookies on consignment? No, booth sales will need to be accounted for in your SIO. We will provide solid estimates of the number of cookies you can expect to sell of each variety at a typical booth sale. Make Hometown Heroes a prominent push at your booth and door-to-door sales and any leftover packages you have will go to your HTH donation. Additional cookies will be available at cupboards but cannot be returned. 3. Can I swap varieties of cookies for others at the cupboard? The council cupboards will not accept any returns or swaps. Troops and girls can swap with other troops. Service Unit-level volunteers will be able to help facilitate these transactions. 4. Can I return damaged cookie boxes? Yes, if you find damaged cookies in your inventory, please exchange the package for a non-damaged package at your local cupboard as soon as possible. 5. Will GSCO recommend a SIO per girl? A new section of cookie training will focus solely on Starting Inventory Order. Council can recommend an average SIO for a new troop or girl based on program level and region. 6. What happens if we have a girl who cannot sell at the last minute due to a family emergency or something? As we saw during the 2015 Cookie Program, Girl Scouts are happy to help sister Girl Scouts. Your troop can transfer those cookies to another troop looking to supplement their inventory. 7. Can GSCO return cookies to Little Brownie Bakers? Girl Scouts of Colorado pays for every case of cookies that we put in our warehouses. We cannot, nor have we ever been able to, return any cookies to the bakery or exchange cookies with other Girl Scout Councils. 8. How will this change the volunteer role of Cookie Cupboard Managers? Cupboards will still be used for storing, managing and delivering cookies to troops/girls. A new Cupboard Manager training will be provided to focus on the no-return policy, troop-to-troop transfers and the number of cookies needed for booths. #cookies #GirlScoutCookie #GirlScoutCookies

Submitted by Jess Moore A fun and visual way to talk about camp fires are by building Candy Campfires. Camo, the outdoors expert here at Sky High Ranch has been using this demonstration as a great way to help the girls learn about the types of fires they can build and the best use for each. The activity is also rooted in fire safety. The girls start with the fire ring made of Dots instead of stones, and talk about why they are important for controlling fires, as well as other safety precautions that we use at camp, including the Critter Stick and water. The demonstration moves on to the size difference between tinder, kindling, and fuel and why each are important. Coconut flakes (tinder) and pretzels (kindling) are used to build the basic structures, and Red Hots are used to show the fire source. During the session with Camo, the girls go over the types of fire structures that can be built, and they rearrange their pretzels to demonstrate the principles: A-frame, log cabin, lean-to and the teepee all can be arranged for different uses. Be sure to ask your Girl Scout which is best for roasting marshmallows next time you have s’mores!