Thin Mints are awesome, especially if they’ve been sitting in the freezer for a week or so. Many people can’t enjoy Tagalongs without a glass of cold milk. And, we’re hearing from a lot of Girl Scouts that our new Rah-Rah Raisin cookie goes great with coffee or tea. However, we know there are so many other ways to enjoy Girl Scout Cookies and many cooks enjoy incorporating them into their favorite dishes! To celebrate this creativity and Girl Scout Cookie sales, Girl Scouts of Colorado is hosting a recipe contest. It is open to Girl Scouts of all ages. The only restriction is that you must be a registered Colorado Girl Scout. To enter, submit a photo of your dish and the recipe through Share Your Stories on the Girl Scouts of Colorado web-site. Entries must be received by February 22, 2015. A panel of Girl Scouts of Colorado staff members, whose roles are not directly tied to volunteers, will select winners for both sweet and savory dishes. First Prize: iPod Shuffle Second Prize: Girl Scouts of Colorado Shop gift certificate Third Prize: Girl Scouts of Colorado jump drive If you have questions, please email Girl Scouts of Colorado Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper. #GirlScout #GirlScoutsofColorado #girls #GirlScoutCookies #GirlScouts

Erin, left, enjoying one of her Tomahawk adventures. Girl Scout spirit of gratitude and generosity shines Erin had experienced the magic of Girl Scout summer overnight camp for several years when a family financial crisis stood in the way of her being able to attend again in 2011. Career transitions and mounting major medical bills created budget strain and dried up the family’s expendable income. Ten-year-old Erin’s family was not tremendously outdoorsy, and she had developed a true love of the outdoors at her summers at Tomahawk Ranch. She begged her parents to go again; but there was no money to send her. Erin sold cookies, but Cookie Credits were not enough to pay her way. Reluctantly, the family applied for and received a grant from Girl Scouts of Colorado (GSCO). Over the next three summers, Erin was able to get away from the stress caused by financial issues and medical conditions that affected the whole family and be a normal girl having grand adventures with other girls at camp, gaining independence and confidence. “Girl Scout camp has always been the best part of summer to me. Driving up the dirt road to lush green mountain tops would never fail to bring a smile to my face. My favorite memories are of hiking, riding horses and meeting new people that would soon grow to be dear friends to me,” said Erin, now 13. ” I was always worried that maybe next year would be the year that we weren’t able to get a scholarship to be able to go to Girl Scout camp, but that never happened. Year after year, I was able to continue seeing old friends, meeting new ones, and trying new activities. I am so grateful for the scholarship we got so I could experience the excitement and adventure of Girl Scout camp.” Fast forward to 2014, when Erin’s dad landed a great job in New Jersey, and the family moved to the East Coast. Now, the family is doing well financially, and they’re in a position where they can help Girl Scouts of Colorado to make camping dreams come true for another girl whose family needs help paying for camp. The GSCO staff was so touched to receive a generous donation from Erin’s family, and news that her father’s company would triple the gift with their matching program. “We were able to provide time for our daughter to just be a girl and have a fun summer through the generosity of Girl Scouts of Colorado, and we can’t thank you enough,” said Erin’s mother, Seana. “The way I was brought up and how I’m bringing up my kids is that when someone helps you and you’re in a better place, you pay it back to thank people for what they’ve done.” Seana remarked about how easy and comfortable GSCO made the process and that no one treated Erin differently because it was all done confidentially in the office. No one at camp knew that Erin was there on a grant. Girl Scouts of Colorado awards more than $100,000 every year in opportunity grants, including grants to help families with up to 80 percent of a summer camp fee, no matter what their financial struggles are. If your family needs some help this year, don’t be afraid to ask. You will be asked to contribute what you can, but we are here to help make sure every girl can have a Girl Scout summer camp leadership experience. For more info on camp grants and other financial assistance, visit http://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/financial-assistance. #camp

What did you do for your Gold Award project? Educated others about North Metro Denver homelessness and about families in crisis. I created a sustainable program for supplying personal hygiene items for Growing Home clients. Why did you pursue this Gold Award project? If I had not been adopted, I could have been a homeless child and part of a family in crisis. I thank God I was adopted and this did not happen. My family and I have helped Growing Home for many years. After doing a survey of clients at Growing Home, I realized that they were in need of personal hygiene items. In fact, I heard one story where there were as a homeless girl. She had places to go to stay, food to eat, and could get food many places, but what she wanted most was personal hygiene items. How did your Gold Award project make a difference? To-date over 4,500 items have been collected and delivered to Growing Home for their clients. Growing Home clients who received those items potentially have better health and hygiene, were better able to get jobs, and had better self-esteem. People in our community were also educated about homelessness. What skills did you gain through earning your Gold Award? Most of all I learned to think of others and not just myself! That even though I am mentally and physically disabled I could plan and complete a large project where I was able to help others. I also am now able to make and give better presentations, talk in front of people more easily, and use Microsoft Office products better. How did you make your project sustainable? Three organizations that I gave presentations to agreed to have collection boxes for ongoing donations. They were: Community of Christ Church of Brighton, Summit of Peace Lutheran Church Senior Youth, and GS of CO Northwood’s Service Unit. My mother also continues to advertise my project and keeps the ongoing collection box out on our front porch. What was your connection to the national or global community? Homelessness and families in crisis is not a unique problem to the Denver Metro Area. More than 1.3 billion children live in extreme poverty. According to UNICEF, 22,000 children die each day due to poverty. I could be one of those statistics. But I am not! I can’t help everyone, but I can make a difference educating others and helping them by giving them hygiene items. Making a difference! One person, one family at a time! What will you most remember about your Gold Award project? That I was able to go to many hotels and dental offices, share my project with them and in return they gave many donations. That where I gave my presentation everyone was receptive and wanted to help. Becoming a Growing Home Ambassador by taking so many people on tours of Growing Home to learn more about ways they could volunteer to help too was a highlight! Additionally, the overwhelming positive response about my presentation and project by the Gold Committee when I gave my final presentation. How will earning your Gold Award help you in your future? Because I learned that by working hard, being persistent, and with help of others I can do anything I set my mind to do. As I enter into the transition program this fall and into the job market soon many skills I used and learned as part of my project will help me get and keep a job. Why do you feel the Gold Award is an important part of your Girl Scout experience? It is an important culmination of experiences and learning after being in Girl Scouts for twelve years. It is like the Grand Finale! The ultimate project I have been building up to all these years to do for addressing an issue, thinking of others and not yourself, making a difference and leaving the world a better place, and having it continue to live on. ***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 #Denver #GoldAward #MetroDenver

Our goal at summer camp and with outdoor programs, is to provide a safe environment where your daughter can gain essential skills and friendships while having fun and creating lasting memories. We look forward to helping your daughter discover the charm and magic of Summer Resident Camp. When your daughter unpacks her belongings and settles into her unit, she will be heading for the time of her life. Memories are sure to be made roasting marshmallows around a campfire, singing songs, enjoying meals in the dining hall with her new friends, hiking trails, building shelters, or getting creative with crafts. An extraordinary experience awaits her. CAMP IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR GIRL SCOUT MISSION Courage: Camp is a community unlike any other. In an unfamiliar setting, your daughter will find the courage within herself to meet new people and make friends.  As she makes choices and directs projects, she will learn to work within a team, become self- reliant, and develop her leadership skills. Confidence: For many girls, camp is their first experience away from parents, away from home, and away from familiarity. Camp has unlimited potential to boost your daughter’s confidence or help her find her way out of her shell. Character: Camp is the ultimate character-building experience. It is a safe place for girls to learn individual responsibility, as they are empowered to take care of themselves.  Though camp counselors provide structure, guidance, and supervision, your daughter is responsible for waking herself and readying herself for the day, making her  bed, being on time to activities, and assuming responsibility for her personal belongings, all often for the very first time. With all this in mind, send your daughter to camp!  She will gain the courage to tackle everyday obstacles faced with, the confidence to know she will get through, and most importantly gain positive character traits which will make her a successful and joyful individual. With love from your favorite ingredient within a S’more, Marshmello “Tonetta Brawley” at Tomahawk Ranch. Girl Scouts of Colorado offers many Troop Camp, Day Camp, Family Camp and Resident/Overnight Camp sessions at Sky High and Tomahawk Ranch this summer to help build girls of Courage, Confidence and Character in the outdoors! Learn more about our camp offerings, or register her now for her desired session of camp! #daycamp #overnightcamp #residentcamp #SkyHighRanch #familycamp #troopcamp #courage #confidence #GirlScoutMission #TomahawkRanch #character #camp

The “selfie project” by Troop 73392 of Longmont has Girl Scouts across the country talking and taking notice. As part of their Media Journey, the nine Cadettes studied ads featuring women and young girls. They quickly noticed nearly all of the photos had been edited or “Photoshopped.” To help themselves and other fellow Girl Scouts recognize real beauty and celebrate what makes each of them unique, they took selfies. Those selfies were displayed at a community event, where family and friends could write comments on Post-It notes and place them on the photos. “Your hair is just great. Your teeth are also amazing,” one read. “You are so pretty and show so much confidence,” another stated. What did the girls learn? “Your flaws are what make you beautiful,” sixth grader Ashley Reichenberg told reporter Whitney Bryen of The Longmont Times-Call. “That’s what makes you unique and special, like her being silly.” After the story ran in the newspaper, Girl Scouts of Colorado, along with Girl Scouts of the USA, shared the news on Facebook and Twitter. Soon after, Fox 31 in Denver invited the troop to come in for a live interview with Brooke Wagner. Click to watch the interview. Afterwards, Brooke took a selfie with the girls and shared it on Twitter. Girl Scouts of Colorado is so proud of these Girl Scouts for all their hard work to show women of all ages that real beauty is inside themselves, not inside a magazine. #GirlScoutsoftheUSA #Journey #oldergirls #Cadettes #Longmont #GirlScoutsofColorado #Journeys #media #GirlScouts

Girl Scout Camp is a place where YOU can be YOU! That’s why we asked YOU to design the T-shirt for Girl Scout Camp 2015. Choosing a winner wasn’t easy. We received more than a dozen entries! On Friday, January 30, 2015, Girl Scouts of Colorado was proud to tell Kayla that her design was chosen for the resident camp T-shirt! We love the concept. While there will be a few changes to the design, the spirit of her artwork will be translated to the new shirt! When asked to describe her design, Kayla wrote, “I wanted to make an outdoor scene that would represent how Girl Scouts can do anything when they put their minds to it.  The three girls signify teamwork and how when you work together you represent the Girl Scout Oath.  The Girl Scouts worked together to make a fire that would spread Girl Scout cheer.” Kayla is a 12-year-old Cadette Girl Scout from Parker. She will receive a $50 camp credit, which she will use to attend “Me & My Guy” at Tomahawk Ranch this summer. *** Registration for Girl Scout summer camp is now underway on the Girl Scouts of Colorado website girlscoutsofcolorado.org. #summercamp #overnightcamp #Parker #Cadettes #camp

Girl Scouts can do anything and everything they set their hearts and minds to! You’ll find it all here.  From members sharing their adventures to Highest Award honorees describing their projects and news from council, cookie updates, travel opportunities, volunteer tips and much, much more.

We are so excited to gather all across the state to recognize and celebrate girls who have earned the Highest Awards in Girl Scouting. Check for an event near you, mark your calendars and help us commend these girls of courage, confidence and character! Please RSVP for the event you intend to join using the links provided. Pikes Peak Highest Awards Celebration May 15 6:30pm Penrose House Garden Pavilion 1661 Mesa Avenue Colorado Springs RSVP here Western Slope Highest Awards Celebration May 1 Roper Ballroom 6:30pm 136 N. 5th Street, Grand Junction RSVP here Boulder Area Highest Awards and Bridging Ceremony April 26 2pm Mountain View Methodist Church 355 Ponca Place Boulder RSVP here Denver Metro Highest Awards Celebration April 28 7pm Faith Bible Chapel Atruim 12189 W 64th Ave, Arvada RSVP here Northern Colorado Highest Awards Celebration April 24 5:30pm The Ranch- McKee Building 5280 Arena Circle, Loveland RSVP here #BronzeAward #celebrations #GoldAward #SilverAward

When you think of camping with Girl Scouts of Colorado, what pops to mind?  Maybe it’s hiking, camping, forests, mountains or any of the hundreds of fun things you can do outside.  With Colorado’s distinct four seasons and 300 days of sunshine a year, it’s no wonder we can’t help but be drawn outside.  Alas, with all of the outdoor activities this beautiful state has to offer, there is always the chance that things could go very wrong.  So what do we do if that happens, are you prepared to survive or help others survive?  If you’ve ever wondered about what it would take to be able get out of the wild safely, then Tomahawk Ranch is the place to be this summer.  With several Survival themed camps being offered we can make sure you’re ready for just about anything Mother Nature may throw at you. We will give you the tools and the talent, transforming you into a true Survivor Scout! It can happen to the best of us-you go out for a hike or a one night camp-out and the unthinkable happens, a wrong trail is taken or maybe a little off trail hiking and the next thing you know you’re lost.  Things start to happen quickly, panic and fear set in, questions flood your mind, and you get that feeling in the pit of your stomach that things are very, very bad.  There is a bright spot though, situations like these are very survivable if you have just three things: preparation, a few basic skills, and a survivor mentality.  Now you may say to yourself, “I just don’t have the knowledge it takes to become a Survivor Scout,” or maybe its “I don’t think I can do that,” or the famous, “That could never happen to me.”  First off the bad news, it can happen to anybody.   Lucky for us though, the good news is you can do it, all it takes is a little positive thinking and proactive planning. Two of these three things need happen before we ever set foot on the trail or in the woods, and the first step is done from the comfort of your own home.  Since home is where we are all most comfortable we will start with that piece of the puzzle, being prepared.  It probably seems silly, but most of the items you will need are right in your home.  There are some things that are good to carry every time you go hiking, so we will focus on those.  Most of the materials put in a survival kit can be found pretty easily and don’t cost a lot of money and can literally save our lives.  One warning though, we have all walked down the outdoor section of our favorite sporting goods store and seen all the really fancy and expensive stuff they sell to help people survive and stay comfortable.  Well friends, I hate to say it, but surviving is never comfortable (and neither is emptying our wallets) so steer clear of the fancy stuff and just stick to the old adage of Keep it Simple.  Let’s break it down by item and figure out why we need them. Matches (Waterproof or in a waterproof container) – For building that wonderful thing called fire that provides warmth, signaling and a way to cook. A back up fire making tool (or three) – Yes you have matches already, but let’s face it, sometimes they just don’t work. So whether you like flint and steel, a 9-volt battery and steel wool, a lighter, magnifying glass or you become master of a primitive form of fire making, it’s always a good idea to have a few backups. Rope (Paracord/550 Cord is the best) – Helps with shelters, and who know what else. Paracord or 550 Cord is meant for parachutes so can take a real beating and not break. Multi-Tool – It doesn’t have to be a certain brand, so long as it has plyers, a knife, and some sort of serrated saw blade. The rest of the do-dads are nice additions but not always necessary. Metal Cup or Can – You’ll need water when you are lost-even more than normal-and the cup/can gives us a way to collect it and even better to boil it and make it safe to drink. Solar Blanket – These tinfoil looking blankets don’t look like much, but in a pinch they can make the difference between a really cold night and hypothermia. Water Purification Tablets – There will be times when a fire just won’t work, so it’s good idea to still have a way of getting fresh water. Warning: it won’t taste the best, but it will be safe. Compass – Having a compass, and being trained in its use, can get you home. You may be thinking why not just use a GPS? When they work, GPS’s are a great tool. But they are full of problems: they are expensive, the batteries die, and in deep woods they don’t work a large portion of the time. A compass’s batteries will never die on you and unless North and South switch they are always reliable. Whistle – This last one is easily over looked. But a very loud whistle will help Search and Rescue teams find you, and it scares the heck out of any unfriendly animals that may come nosing around. Survivor Snacks – These are what will give you energy and help you feel better. Keep a few Protein Bars, Almonds, Honey Sticks or anything similar in your bag to can keep you from eating some other gross stuff that you’d have to scavenge for. Another item that goes unthought-of is any medication you may take. Always have a few extra stashed in your kit. Trash Bags (2) – Trash Bags are great, they can help collect water, be your poncho or transform into a tent. This list is just the basics, you can fit most of these items into a small coffee can and it will be fairly light weight.  The important part is to keep it small and light weight, nobody wants to carry something huge and heavy on a hike.  Not to mention if you keep it easy to carry, it makes it much more likely that you will toss it in your bag whenever you go adventuring.  Remember though, just carrying these things is only the first step, knowing how to use each and every item is what will help you get home.  Feel free to add to the list if something seems important; some people carry little fishing kits, hammocks, signal mirrors, knives of all sizes, folding saws or hatchets.  All are great additions, but add weight and take up room so test your pack first to see if it’s ok to carry. While you are still thinking of things that can be started at home, take a look around you, find the things, people, pets that you love…go on…take a walk around and look, it’s ok, I’ll wait. Great, now that you’ve seen all those things you need to remember them.  When that worst case scenario happens and you need that motivation to press on just think of those things, think of getting back to all the things you love.  That’s just the start of survivor mentality.  That way of thinking that helps you push through the hunger, the cold, the fear and gets you home.  Being scared is completely normal, don’t be hard on yourself, even the best trained and equipped survival experts in the world have that fear when things go wrong.  The difference is how they work through that fear, how they try to stay positive, and how they take even the smallest victories and use them to push on.  That’s what survivor mentality is, it’s accepting the negative and moving past it, it’s about saying, “I can do this!”  The truth is, you’re stronger than you think, and once you realize that, there’s no limit to what you can get through. The last piece of our puzzle is the training.  Building shelters, fires, purifying water, navigation, learning how to use the items you’ve packed, and learning what foods are best in the woods.  The key to the Survival Training is learning by actually doing.  This is the fun stuff, the building our own shelter and camping out, collecting firewood and building fires to cook your own food with, and the pride that comes from knowing you can face the trials of the forest.  These are only a few of the things that a Survivor themed camp at Tomahawk Ranch offers.  Build the skills you need to face the challenges that the wilderness presents you with, and find the courage and motivation to press on when others may want to quit.  Learn to channel your inner strength and become the Survivor Scout you were always meant to be! Your friend in adventure, Flint “Kevin Igo” Girl Scouts of Colorado features many “survival” themed summer camps, including, but not limited to: SH03 Mystery Mountain, SH11 inTents, SH31 Sky High Base Camp, SH32 Backpacker, SH43 #EpicQuest, TR07 Survivor 2.0, TR11 & TR39 Arrows, TR13 & TR46 Girl vs Zombie, TR14 Scout vs Wild 1.0, TR21 Crossbows, TR22 Mocking Jay, TR27 Outpost 4.0, and TR45 Lady Marvel. Learn more about these “survival” sessions for your girl, and register her now! #summercamp #zombiecamps #hungergamescamps #SkyHighRanchCamp #outdoorsurvivalcamp #camp #TomahawkRanchCamp

By Girl Scouts of the USA When you’re a Girl Scout, you’re part of something much bigger than just your troop or group. Your “network” stretches across your state, throughout the nation, and to more than 150 countries in the world where Girl Scouts or Girl Guides are found. Together, you’re a powerful force! Every February 22 on World Thinking Day, Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world unite in purpose to focus on one issue, or theme, to make the world a better place. This year, the World Thinking Day theme is “Create Peace Through Partnerships.” Here a few things you can do to make this World Thinking Day special: Share your #guidinglight Candles have always been a powerful symbol of friendship for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world. This year, Girl Scouts and Girl Guides will light up social media with the glow of thousands of candles on World Thinking Day. So how do you participate? Here’s the short version: Light a candle. Take a selfie. Upload it to social media using the hashtag #guidinglight. Include a message that inspires others to do the same. And don’t forget to tag @GSColo, @girlscouts, @WAGGGS_world—and any other friends you might want to join you! Check out more details. Show that peace is in your hands! We all have the power to make changes for the betterment of our world. Learn about the international symbols for peace. Trace your hands and draw one of the symbols between them. If you want to start a conversation with members of your community, see if you can display your artwork at a community center, a local business, or house of worship. Invite community members to an “art opening” and talk about this year’s World Thinking Day theme. Earn your World Thinking Day award! Explore this year’s theme, “Create Peace Through Partnerships”! There are lots of ways to participate. Reading books, watching movies, constructing a “peace pole,” inviting a returned Peace Corps volunteer to talk to you about her/his experiences… Girl Scouts of all ages can participate in World Thinking Day. Check out our list of activities by grade level. Questions about World Thinking Day? Learn more. #Colorado #GirlScoutsofColorado #GirlScoutsoftheUSA #WorldThinkingDay

Individual or combined Service Units are encouraged to plan celebrations honoring the highest awards recipients. Please contact your local Program Support Specialist for additional support. Our annual spring celebrations are now in full swing! Friends and family are invited to attend any of the following celebrations. Please RSVP for all events online: girlscoutsofcolorado.org/highest-awards-rsvp Northern Colorado (Boulder), April 26th. Bronze, Silver, Gold and Bridging Celebration, RSVP before April 20th. Denver Metro (Arvada), April 28. Silver and Gold Recognition (Bronze encouraged to attend), RSVP before April 15th. Western Slope (Grand Junction), May 1st. Bronze, Silver and Gold Recognition, RSVP before April 24th. Pikes Peak (Colorado Springs), May 15th. Bronze, Silver and Gold Recognition, RSVP before May 5th. Fort Collins, TBD. Silver Award Recipients January 2015Troop40920 – Colorado SpringsClaire MurphyTroop50256 – LittletonAbigail OrtonTroop60470 – AuroraNicole ReiserTatum CampbellTroop63068 – AuroraElizabeth StacksJuliana DavisKarina TatarkaMadalyne HeikenToptim DuffyVanessa MaldonadoTroop70552 – FrederickAileen ArroyoKaylee Congdon #HighestAwards #SilverAward #TakeAction

Individual or combined Service Units are encouraged to plan celebrations honoring the highest awards recipients. Please contact your local Program Support Specialist for additional support. Our annual spring celebrations are now in full swing! Friends and family are invited to attend any of the following celebrations. Please RSVP for all events online: girlscoutsofcolorado.org/highest-awards-rsvp Northern Colorado (Boulder), April 26th. Bronze, Silver, Gold and Bridging Celebration, RSVP before April 20th. Denver Metro (Arvada), April 28. Silver and Gold Recognition (Bronze encouraged to attend), RSVP before April 15th. Western Slope (Grand Junction), May 1st. Bronze, Silver and Gold Recognition, RSVP before April 24th. Pikes Peak (Colorado Springs), May 15th. Bronze, Silver and Gold Recognition, RSVP before May 5th. Fort Collins, TBD. Bronze Award Recipients January 2015Troop43591 – MonumentAshley EllisMackenzie RoehrigMorgan ScarsbrookNicole AntoshNicole McCloskeyOlivia SmithTroop62074 – ParkerCallie RhyneHannah WorlandKylie WillstatterLindsay PhillipsPeyton TinsleyRachel ZwerenzSophia BrabecTroop72021 – LongmontAlexandra ClementElizabeth CroninEmma BovardGrace BatorGracey ObergMargaret AdamsMia Gamber #BronzeAward #HighestAwards #TakeAction