From Girl Scouts of the USA Girl Scouts of the USA has announced the first National Girl Scout Cookie Recipe Contest, Sponsored by Taste of Home, the world’s leading food magazine.  Through March 2, Girl Scout Cookie enthusiasts can create and submit their favorite dessert recipes using the iconic cookies as ingredients, for the chance to win prizes ranging from$250 to $500, plus a spotlight feature in Taste of Home. Chefs of all levels, from home cooks to established professionals, are encouraged to submit Girl Scout Cookie-inspired entries in one of four categories: (1) cakes, pies, cupcakes, (2) cookies, brownies, bars, (3) pudding, ice-cream, gelatin desserts, and (4) candies. The experts in the Taste of Home Test Kitchen will review and test the recipes, selecting the top 16—four from each category—based on taste, visual appeal, creativity, and crowd appeal. From March 30 to April 14, the public will have a chance to vote for their favorite finalist recipes here. The recipes with the most votes in each category win and winners will be announced in mid-April. “Each year, we see so many excited cookie fans share their own recipes using Girl Scout Cookies via social media and more, so we figured it was high time to do something with all this positive energy,” said Anna Maria Chavez, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA. “The creative possibilities are endless, just like the number of ways girls use their cookie money to give back to their local communities.” Taste of Home Editor-in-Chief Catherine Cassidy is equally enthusiastic about the contest and the opportunity to collaborate with Girl Scouts. “Fostering a sense of care and community in homes across America has always been part of the fabric of Taste of Home,” she said. “As a Girl Scout alumna, I’m thrilled to lend a helping hand in and outside of the kitchen. We are pleased to work with an organization that encourages young women to put their skills and creativity to positive use.” Participating in the National Girl Scout Cookie Recipe Contest, Sponsored by Taste of Home, could be a fun activity to do during this year’s National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend (February 27 — March 1, 2015). The weekend will celebrate the positive impact girls make on their communities through the Girl Scout Cookie Program. The Girl Scout Cookie Program aims to teach girls five essential life skills: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. #GirlScouts #GirlScoutsofColorado #GirlScoutsoftheUSA

Penny Roberts, a member of the Outdoor Programs Committee who also directs three camps as a volunteer director at Meadow Mountain Ranch as a Volunteer Outdoor Program Director recently attended a discussion group at the Estes Public Library on the book Last Child Into the Woods by Richard Louv. This book, published a few years ago, has been a hot topic of conversation about helping get kids outside and having authentic nature based experiences as an essential part of their development. Here is a report by Penny on what she learned: Recently, I attended a very interesting and engaging group discussion facilitated by the Estes Park Library about the provocative book, “Last Child in the Woods,” by Richard Louv.  To say that the ideas presented in this book are important and insightful is an understatement, and I would really like to encourage all troops, groups and staff members working in any capacity with the Girl Scouts to read it.  Buy one copy and pass it around to all in your area, and then look to incorporate the ideas presented into many activities with your girls and indeed with all parents, teachers and adults with which your girls have contact. Richard Louv presents the idea of “nature deficit disorder,” with the idea that all of us need to spend more time outdoors.  This discussion group’s membership was quite diverse, including younger and older folks, men and women, teachers, students, professionals, retired people and others.  Outdoor education staffers, park service employees, and well-read people from all walks of life were involved, and the discussion was quite wide-ranging and lively.  My report will includes specifics from my notes that give an overview of thoughts presented in the form of a list. The general discussion topic was divided into 3 more specific topics designed to get our interaction going: #1: Reasons why kids aren’t outside Danger/fear/safety issues – including these things passed on to children by adults; latch-key kids and their situations Technology – –  all those devices and gadgets Overscheduled – – school, home, other requirements Family strains, including time & cost constraints Lack of accessible outdoor play areas or knowledge of these Parental conditioning/societal emphases Demands towards competitive sports Demands toward some way to excel Ways to profit from children’s activities Population explosion – lack of green belts Pressures to over-use what we have Need more space person Some kids say they would “rather be in jail than in the outdoors” #2: Skills Lacking in children today Problem solving Lack of creativity Orientation/navigation (by a certain time in their young lives) Survival skills Social skills “Coping with boredom” Respect for nature Understanding of interconnectedness Sensual connectedness/sensory skills Identification of organisms – biology, zoology, geology, science in general Out of touch with their own bodies Losing art, music and creative writing Delayed gratification Patience “The journey” of life Male/female differences Extremes of most everything in their lives, lack of ability to “simplify” #3: Steps to take to overcome challenges in #1 and #2: Spread the word, read the book Vote for nature whenever possible Get involved on all levels – become an activist yourself Learn the ecology of what we are buying and eating (re: food labels, etc.) Publicity Visit urban pocket parks Watch TV shows like “Nature” Personal experiences – i.e., adults sharing their history with children TEACH! MENTOR! Parental Ed / involvement I am an active member of the Outdoor Program Committee of the Girl Scouts of Colorado and this group is working hard to bring more outdoor programs to all areas of activities for Girl Scouts of all ages.  The ideas presented in this book would lead us to make a general guideline – – give your troop/group/girls get a chance to go outside at least once a month during Girl Scout activities.  Plan for events in all seasons of the year.  Call on us committee members to help you create and organize activities if you need help.  Interconnect with outdoor education groups in your town or area – – – parks, zoos, playgrounds, bike paths, hiking trails, high adventure options, etc.  If adults need encouragement, let’s plan activities to get THEM outdoors as well, so that adults can be turned on by the excitement of the out-of-doors, so that they can pass the legacy on to the girls. If you are looking for an organized experience outdoors, this summer we have several Troop Camps planned. Check them out and register here. Penny leads Troop Camps called Meadow Mountain Ranch Core Camp 1 (7/24-7/27) and Core Camp 2 (7/27-7/30) at Meadow Mountain Ranch . To register your troop, contact Jennifer Hayes “Wally” . Penny also leads the Meadow Mountain Ranch Women’s Week, a camp for adult women who want to experience the fellowship of camp. (How many times do you think, “I wish I could go to camp!” when you drop your daughter at a camp program?). Women’s Week is 7/20-7/24, contact Penny “Pan” Roberts to register or with your questions. Learn more about these and many other outdoor options for your girl or troop this summer. Register for GSCO camp programs here. Please contact Outdoor Programs Director Betsy Till or Manager of Outdoor Volunteer Programs Haley Peel for more information. #adultcamp #womensweek #womenscamp #RichardLouv #MMRWomensWeek #MMRCoreCamp #LastChildIntoTheWoods

Submitted by Jill Marostica Rye Southwestern Colorado As the time for Winter Camp at Lazy Acres approached, I worried that there might not be enough snow. I also worried that the furnace would go out, the patches wouldn’t arrive, there wouldn’t be enough food, and on and on. You see, as the volunteer director, I wanted everything to be perfect. The first thing I did every morning was check the weather on my phone. Sun, sun, sun, with zero percent chance of precipitation. Then one morning things began to change. A slight chance, then a 20% chance , then a 50% chance. A week before camp it looked like I could stop worrying, and I did. Three days before camp, it snowed 14 new, wonderful inches! The morning of the first day of camp, Lazy Acres looked like a Thomas Kinkade painting. I was excited, and as the first participants arrived, I could tell they were too. After some housekeeping and a few get to know you activities, the fun in the snow began. Sledding, archery, snow shoeing, snowman and igloo building were just some of the activities we did. When we got cold we warmed up by the fire in the Lodge with a cup of hot chocolate, then back out in the snow we went. The second day was more of the same, and all too soon it was time to say good bye. One by one the troops packed up and began their hike to their vehicles, but not before they had one more time down that sled run! In my mind, Winter Camp had been perfect. Not because the furnace didn’t go out, or there were patches. Not because there was plenty of food. It was perfect because thirty girl scout sisters got together for a weekend and laughed, sang, played, got to know each other and made memories at that beautiful camp. Oh, and because there was snow, it was perfect because there was snow! This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #LazyAcres #Rye #WinterCamp

Want to try gardening but don’t know where to start? Think it’s too expensive? Composting is an easy way to help the environment and also to save money too! At Tomahawk Ranch we have a working greenhouse with outside raised gardening beds too.  This needs a lot of soil to plant new things. So at camp we COMPOST!! Did you know all plants take out nutrients from the soil each season to grow, so it’s vitally important to put that nutrient goodness back in the soil each year to ensure continued success! So whether you have a large project in mind or simply want to help your house plants, think about what you are throwing away and start composting today. What’s good in compost? Fresh fruits and vegetables – All peels, skins or simply fruit gone bad are excellent for compost. All the reasons we eat them are the same for your plants too. They need all the vitamins and minerals they can get. For example banana peels are full of potassium which is great for plants in small doses. Egg shells – These are full of calcium. (Also, crushed egg shells placed on top of soil help keep those nasty bugs out which eat your delicious plants & beautiful flowers) Dead leaves – Collect all the fallen leaves each autumn, and add them to your compost! They help bulk it out and add the richness of carbon, a necessary element of compost. (Did you know the leaves from a large tree are worth up to $50 of plant food?!) Ashes – Who doesn’t love a campfire? Remember to collect your ashes once cooled and add them to your compost. These are also good source of carbon. Ashes are also useful if you have acidic soil (pine needles are especially acidic) so consider sprinkling ashes on areas of your garden where pine needles fall. Dryer lint – Another good source of carbon Coffee grounds and tea bags – Good for putting nitrates back into the soil. Although coffee smells great to us, when it is sprinkled on top or around your garden it is also a simple but effective critter repellant! Grass clippings – Full nitrogen goodness. Plant cuttings/ Dead plants – Complete the circle of life! Add all your pruning cuttings to the compost. Once an annual plant is done throw the plant and the soil it was growing in to your compost where it will regain the nutrients it lost growing, and be good as new next year for your next crop of plants! Manure – Nature’s fertilizer! At Tomahawk Ranch we have plenty of manure from our small animal farm! Look around locally within your community, many farmers/horse owners will be extremely happy for you to muck their poop for them! (Must be from grass/hay eating animals – dog, cat, etc. poop is no good!) Straw – Straw helps bulk up your compost. It also aids in drainage and helps aerate your pile. Newspaper/shredded paper/cardboard – avoid glossy paper and colored ink. Most of our summer camps at Tomahawk Ranch get to have some experience in our working greenhouse. Learn more about our camps and then register your girl for a summer camp experience she will never forget! #summercamp #overnightcamp #homesteading #homesteadingcamps #TomahawkRanch #compost

Submitted by Tina Saunders Westminster Denver Metro Under the Big Top – Circus Fun Day Camp Come one, come all, big and small to our super fun circus camp! Campers will enjoy a week of crafts, themed activities, super fun games, and preparing a circus performance for family and friends to come and see. At a circus there is shouting, roaring, stamping, whistles tooting, tumbling, pushing, falling, wrestling, and a rolling and rooting. Things keep moving, constant motion and constant noise. It’s not Ringling Brothers, but we think you will enjoy it, so let’s get on with the show! We will have day camp at Oakhurst Park. Campers will get a T-shirt, patch and have lunch and 2 snacks each day for the week. Program Aide Interns and Program Aides are welcome. Campers $165; PAI & PA $50, Tagalongs $10 and volunteers are free, but are on a first come approval basis. Please contact Tina Saunders (Poppy) at westydaycampgsco. Registration will open Jan. 27, 2015 at http://westydaycampgsco.blogspot.com/ This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #daycamp #UndertheBigTop #Westminster

What did you do for your Gold Award project? I planted a garden for all the residents of the Medalion nursing home to enjoy outdoor activities, blooming flowers, potted plants, vegetables, and landscaping. Why did you pursue this Gold Award project? There are no locally grown vegetables for the residents to help assist in a balanced diet. Also, the gardens were not maintained and I felt this was just as important. How did your Gold Award project make a difference? Looking at how beautiful the front of the facility is with my help. Watching my eight containers grow from start to finish. Watching the flowers and vegetables bloom in the main garden. The food from the gardens were given to the staff and residents for them to enjoy all summer. What skills did you gain through earning your Gold Award? I learned life skills and how to work with older people and groups. I learned how to manage my time as well as others. How did you make your project sustainable? Residents can maintain this garden. What was your connection to the national or global community? The use of organic materials are becoming popular so using organic materials is what I chose to do. Just like the Girl Scouts theme of “Going Green”, using organic plants, helping the environment and giving back is very important. What will you most remember about your Gold Award project? What I will remember the most is pulling weeds and maintaining the gardens for the residents and the staff members. How will earning your Gold Award help you in your future? I think I will grow my leadership skills because this project taught me so much. I have learned how to budget my time, my resources, and team members. Why do you feel the Gold Award is an important part of your Girl Scout experience? I feel that every Girl Scout should do a Gold Award project to give back to our community. ***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 #GirlScout #ColoradoSprings #oldergirls #GirlScoutsofColorado #girls #TakeAction #GirlScouts #Colorado

To our Juliette families: We are so excited that your daughter has chosen to participate in the cookie program this year! Our cookie program helps girls learn key business and leadership skills, including: Goal Setting, Decision Making, Money Management, People Skills, and Business Ethics. It is also a great way to earn credits that can help them fund their Girl Scout experiences, like camp and travel. In the information you have received to date, you were provided with a chart that identified the number of credits that each girl can earn for the various selling levels. The purpose of this email is to let you know that we are revising that chart to provide better parity between our troop proceed level and our Juliette credit level. Many thanks to our volunteers for providing such great feedback to help inform this change. Attached is a chart that shows how Juliette sales translate into the number of credits earned. Credits will be issued on cards similar to Cookie Credits and there is no limit to the amount of credits a Juliette can earn. As a reminder, credits will not be issued until all deposits for sold cookies are complete. The reason we moved to a sales range instead of a straight credit/box recognition this year was in response to new IRS guidelines regarding money earning programs for non-profits. An individual child is a different entity from a Girl Scout troop, and troop proceeds are for troops. We absolutely value Juliettes and we want to do the best we can to reward individual girls while in compliance with IRS regulations. As an individual, the IRS would require us to give tax documentation to the individual, as they see it as personal profit and personal income, and Girl Scouts cannot do that. Troop proceeds are for groups of girls to accomplish mission-related activities. What we can legally do to make it as equitable as possible for Juliettes is offer Program Credits as an additional reward path for individual girls in place of troop proceeds. All rewards must be within package ranges and may not be based on a dollar amount per package, again per regulations. If you have any questions, please contact your Service Unit Cookie Manager, or cookies@gscolorado.org. Thanks again for supporting your Juliette¹s sale this year and happy Girl Scouting! Juliette Cookie Program Credit Chart.pdf: https://ebudde.littlebrownie.com/dl/26_201415/14404/36a4bb #individualGirlScouts #Juiliettes

What did you do for your Gold Award project? I worked to encourage family literacy and increase the amount of parents who participate in reading-related activities with their children. I organized an event at Orchard Avenue Elementary School on October 2nd, a carnival-style “Fall Into Reading Dinner & Game Night.” There were 10 stations, each run by a volunteer where the students and their parents could play games and receive reading-related prizes, such as books and bookmarks. Parents could also participate in a Literacy Bingo game, where they could visit each of the stations and read a poster with different ways to encourage kids to read. Once they filled out the bingo board with reasons to participate in family literacy, they were entered into a drawing to win a reading promotion gift-basket, with books, notepads, and a beanbag. The second part of my Gold Award was the Reading Challenge, which was a six-week long competition at Orchard Avenue. Students received reading logs to fill out when they read for 20 minutes, or read with their family. I collected the logs every week and displayed them on a bookshelf display with a shelf for each class in the lobby, so that the kids could track their progress. The class with the most minutes read at the end received a pizza party, and the top four individual winners received gift baskets with gift cards and other miscellaneous prizes. Also, there was a drawing every week where one kid from each class who had read that week could choose a small prize. Why did you pursue this Gold Award project? I love to read and I wanted other children to be encouraged to read more with their families, so that they may have the same love of reading as they grow older. How did your Gold Award project make a difference? I addressed the growing problem in our community with the decreasing amount of reading by students. I wanted to encourage more students to read, and also to involve their parents. What skills did you gain through earning your Gold Award? I developed strong communication skills during this project. I have never considered myself a strong communicator, but I not only learned better ways to communicate, but also realized the methods of communication that are easiest for me. I talked to many people during this project, whether it be teachers, volunteers, or businesses. The ability to communicate with different types of people is crucial for everyday life, and this project allowed me to develop these skills. When I had difficulty working with people, or we mis-communicated, I had to think critically to quickly overcome these problems. Talking to others has always been difficult for me, but I challenged myself to interact with many people in order to make the project a success. I also learned the importance of time management and careful planning. With the “Fall Into Reading Dinner & Game Night,” I sometimes felt rushed, so I learned to budget my time better for the reading challenge. I also had detailed plans and back up plans to consider the many problems that could happen. This critical thinking ensured that even during the challenges and setbacks, the project could run smoothly. How did you make your project sustainable? The “Fall Into Reading Dinner & Game Night” will be an annual event organized by the Orchard Avenue PTA, to remind kids and parents annually to keep participating in family literacy. I hope the students at Orchard Avenue were inspired by the Reading Challenge to read more with their families, and that they will continue to do so even though the challenge is over. The teachers also discussed having a Reading Challenge again next year. What was your connection to the national or global community? Because this is a growing issue in my community, it is also a national and global issue as well. As I researched the importance of family literacy, I found many statistics from across the country highlighting the need to read as a family. Not only does family literacy raise reading test scores (by up to 74 points, with an average increase of 10 points), but it helps with other aspects of school, such as math. Reading also drastically increases a child’s vocabulary. Since more time is spent at home than at school, parents have a greater influence on their children’s reading capabilities than teachers. This influence can be best exercised by reading regularly with their children, although many parents do not know this. I was able to inform many families about the importance of reading. As the students and parents at Orchard Avenue learned the importance of family literacy, I would hope that they would tell other people they know, like friends and family, so that more people may become aware of its importance and how they can encourage family literacy. What will you most remember about your Gold Award project? I will remember the time and effort I put in to making this project a success. I also built many strong relationships with the teachers at Orchard Avenue, as well as the volunteers. I will remember the excitement of the kids who won, but also their enthusiasm about reading when I visited their classrooms every week and talked to a few students about their reading. How will earning your Gold Award help you in your future? I have learned many important life skills, such as communication, collaboration, time management, etc. These are all skills important to adult life and work. Learning these skills now will allow me to be more successful later on in my life. Why do you feel the Gold Award is an important part of your Girl Scout experience? I enjoy helping my community, and the Gold Award gave me an opportunity to perform an elaborate project to address an important community issue. I also connected with many more Girl Scouts, primarily while I was seeking out more volunteers. ***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 #oldergirls #GirlScoutsofColorado #WesternSlope

[slideshow] Submitted by Cricket Hawkins Frisco Four girls and 12 adults kicked off Gold Awards in the Mountain Communities on Saturday, Jan. 18 in Frisco. Our candidates, representing Grand and Summit counties, are excited to get started with their mentors! Group photo, girls left to right in first row: Karmen, Katie, Taylor, and Brooke. Mentors representing Routt, Eagle and Summit counties, left to right: Carey Hofner, Sarah Braucht, Nancy Mucklow and Katie Hess, missing from photo Maggie Murray. Thanks to Victoria Lanthrop and Jo Ann Lanthrop for providing training to the girls; and Leslee Randolph for providing training to the adults and mentors! This story was submitted via the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #Frisco #GoldAward

Wind swept planes, thick pine forests, crystal clear lakes and desert badlands, all this and much more await you (Senior and Cadette level Girl Scouts) on Tomahawk Ranch’s Alpine 4.0 trip to South Dakota this summer.  This is a 12-day camp that is full of adventure and fun as you make new friends and hang out with old ones too! White water raft down the might North Platte River and enjoy a cooling dip, try your hand at rock climbing in Custer State Park, summit a mountain and take in the view, visit many of the monuments and museums South Dakota has to offer.  If the sun gets to bright take a tour by candlelight of the second largest cave system in the world.  You will back through the stunning Badlands National Park and see why the Lakota named it “mako sica.”  On the way home you will have a chance to relax with a dip in a natural hot spring, and sleep next to the lake on a real sandy beach.  Before returning to Tomahawk, stop off for a fun dinner with the new friends you have made.  After returning to the Ranch, there will be time for archery, visiting the farm, and other camp activities.  All after experiencing some of the most beautiful places on Earth. Click here when choosing the best rock climbing shoes. To help you choose the best ones. Use this link to sign up for camp now! #caveexploration #seniorcamps #Ambassador #AmbassadorCamps #TomahawkRanchCamps #GirlScoutCamp #BadlandsNationalPark #TripandTravelCamps #WhiteWaterRafting #ColoadoGirlScoutCamp #camp #rockclimbing #senior

What did you do for your Gold Award project? For my project, I focused on helping new transfer students at my high school adjust to their new environment. I created a program through which I provided a place where transfer students could feel comfortable, as well as get all of the information that they would need for their duration at the high school. Why did you pursue this Gold Award project? Having been a transfer student myself, I noticed that there was a lack of transitional help for new students. I wanted to change that, so I decided to create a club to aide students, such as myself during this rocky time for them. How did your Gold Award project make a difference? My project made a difference by empowering the transfer students and giving them the opportunity to grow and discover their niche within their new environment. After being a part of the program I created, they were able to more easily adapt to their new environment and allow them a smoother and less stressful transfer process. Not only did it make a difference for the transfer students, it was also able to help the host students that helped out. Although they were not new, they gained the knowledge about how people adapt to new environments and what to do when welcoming someone who is new. This experience was able to benefit these students just as much as the transfer students. What skills did you gain through earning your Gold Award? As I worked through my project, I felt that my personal growth as a leader helped to develop a stronger sense of self. By creating and working on a project that I had such a personal connection with the issue that I was addressing, I was able to discover the kind of person I am. This discovery was very helpful to the growth of my project as well because it gave me more confidence to reach out farther. This project also helped me to gain stronger critical thinking and problem solving skills as I ran into a variety of obstacles that took a bit stronger problem skills than I had already had. How did you make your project sustainable? As I have left for college, I needed to pass on my program. So, I have gone through the Link Crew program at my high school to find someone to carry on my visions. A rising junior, Paula, has agreed to take charge of my program starting next year. Since she too was a transfer student, she too knows what it is like to transfer part way through high school better than someone who has never moved schools. I will continue to check in on her even though I am not at the school, just to make sure she feels confident and comfortable with certain processes and procedure needed to effectively keep the program running. What was your connection to the national or global community? I found that the national and even global link to my issue is that transfer students are at most schools all over the world. There are always going to be students moving to different schools, whether it is in the same county, same state, different state, or even another country. The issue of being new to a strange place and the concept of transitioning can also go beyond moving to a new school. By discovering more effective ways to make this process smoother, we can reduce the stressful nature of the situation. What will you most remember about your Gold Award project? Something that I will remember the most about my project is the difference I was able to make for students. Throughout my time working with this issue, I have had quite a few people come to me and just thank me for all of my help during their transition period. Knowing that something that I said or something that I did was able to help someone and actually stick with them is one of the best feelings I have ever felt. How will earning your Gold Award help you in your future? Earning my Gold Award will help me in the future because it has helped me to learn and develop critical skills for leadership. This will benefit me because it has given me the opportunity and the advantage of leading such a big project. It will also help me because it has taught me the most effective ways to network and work with a variety of groups of people as well as has taught me how to delegate in order to most effectively and efficiently accomplish great work. Why do you feel the Gold Award is an important part of your Girl Scout experience? I feel that the Gold Award is an important part of my Girl Scout experience because it is a culmination of all of the skills that I learned and honed in my early years of Girl Scouts. For me, the Girl Scout Gold Award was the most important service project of my Girl Scout career and I am so proud to have had the opportunity to complete and accomplish such a high achievement. ***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

Girl Scout Lanie Allred, of Glenwood Springs, can’t wait for summer! She’s going on an epic quest, where she will have adventures and make memories that will last a lifetime. As the first recipient of the Mary Jo Jacobs, M.D. Memorial Girl Scout Adventure Fund, Lanie will attend “Epic Quest,” which is one of the many camp sessions at Sky High Ranch, a Girl Scouts of Colorado camp in southeastern Colorado. Girl Scouts of Colorado announced Lanie’s selection on Jan. 11, 2015. Mary Jo’s four children established the scholarship in December 2014 to honor their mother’s extraordinary legacy. As an 8-year-old girl growing up in 1937, Mary Jo wanted a new pair of roller skates. She wanted them more than anything in world— until she learned her Brownie troop was going to be able to go to summer camp. Mary Jo had to make a choice: spend the $8 she had worked so hard to earn on roller skates or Girl Scout camp? For Mary Jo, the decision was simple. She was going to Girl Scout camp. Mary Jo’s mother walked her to the local Girl Scout office, so she could be the first to register. A reporter for the Artesia Daily Press in New Mexico even wrote a story about Mary Jo and her decision. After returning home from camp, Mary Jo continued to participate in Girl Scout activities, including going to camp. Eventually, she became a doctor and worked tirelessly to serve the people of Eagle and Garfield Counties, Colorado. The Mary Jo Jacobs, M.D. Memorial Girl Scout Adventure Fund will provide Girl Scouts from Eagle and Garfield counties in Colorado with a scholarship so they can experience the learning opportunities, joy and camaraderie of attending Girl Scout Camp. “Our hope is that that many girls will have the same positive experience, education and adventure that mom had through her involvement in Girl Scouting and her opportunity to attend Girl Scout camp,” said Dr. Patricia VanDevander, daughter of Dr. Mary Jo Jacobs. The awarding of this new scholarship comes just as registration for Girl Scout camp begins. It starts Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 9 a.m. on the Girl Scouts of Colorado website at girlscoutsofcolorado.org. For summer 2015, Girl Scouts of Colorado is excited to announce girls will be able to attend sessions at Sky High Ranch! Overnight camp is returning to this beautiful rustic camp near Manitou Lake and Woodland Park for the first time since 2012. For many Girl Scouts, attending camp at Sky High Ranch is a family tradition. Their mothers, grandmothers, and even great-grandmothers, in some cases, have fond memories of their summers at Sky High Ranch. Girl Scouts of Colorado will also offer overnight camp at perennial favorite Tomahawk Ranch near Bailey, southwest of Denver. Some of the activities at camp include archery, backpacking, photography, and rock climbing. Overnight camp runs from 3 to 12 days for girls ages 6 and up.  Girl Scouts of Colorado will continue to offer day camping adventures throughout the state. The summer camp schedule is live on the Girl Scouts of Colorado website (girlscoutsofcolorado.org). Girl Scout summer camp programs are open to all girls throughout Colorado, whether they’re in a troop or not, and new campers get a 10-percent discount. Girl Scouts has been helping girls shine for more than 100 years. Girl Scouts of Colorado is proud to serve 25,000 girls across the state with the help and support of 10,000 adult volunteers! Learn more how you can be part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience by visiting girlscoutsofcolorado.org, calling 1-877-404-5708, or emailing inquiry@gscolorado.org. #camp #overnightcamp #SkyHighRanch #summercamp