[slideshow] Submitted by Isabella Mendoza Longmont Annelis and Isabella built 3 “Awesome Boxes” for the Longmont Library inspired by the Doctor Who time traveling British Police Box. How does it work? Visit the Awesome Public Opinion Box in the Children and Teens section of the Longmont Library or spot the TARDIS as it travels from school to school. If you recently checked out an item that you think is AWESOME, leave behind the slip provided to help us spread the AWESOMENESS across Time and Space! Check the website for the all the latest recommendations. http://greyhavensya.com/awesome/ We couldn’t have done this without the help of our parents, leaders, librarians, grey havens-ya leaders, and Home Depot! They are all “AWESOME”! This story was submitted via the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #AwesomeBoxes #DoctorWho #LongmontLibrary

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. Silver Award Recipients October 2014 Troop10094 – Montrose Loveann Cox Troop40444 – Colorado Springs Erin Kitchenka Troop51866 – Morrison Callie Grawe Casey Johnston Cecelia Kronemeyer Rachel Shirlaw Riley Morgenthaler Troop53301 – Golden Sarah Haban Troop61772 – Aurora Ally St John Brittany Stadler Hannah Carey Madeline Crespo Madison Leeper Mikayla Algeo Troop61951 – Highlands Ranch Emily Jones Troop62847 – Castle Rock Cassie Unruh Troop80925 – Hugo Jaidyn Knutson #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. Bronze Award Recipients October 2014 Troop14643 – Grand Junction Felicity Eli Troop41736 – Colorado Springs Hailey Decker Jadzia Brown McKenzie Costa Troop43944 – Colorado Springs Katherine Pierce Kayla James Troop61046 – Aurora Anna Carpenter Anna Kriss Avery Echols Danae Johnson Ella Mahaffy Gabriella Black Kira Heidebrecht Lauren Linnebur Lekili Hodge Malayne Perry Megan Hutchinson Molly Morello Talia Rosales Troop71043 – Longmont Anna Sallee Emily Wiggins Janice Newton Laney Miller Libby Burton Madison Capezzano Makayla Allman Tess Northcutt Vera Schmutz Wiley Denesha #BronzeAward #HighestAwards #TakeAction

Kim “Ruddy” Petau, Sky High Ranch Director With the re-introduction of Resident Camp for summer 2015 at Sky High Ranch, we are excited to share about Kim “Ruddy” Petau, Sky High Ranch’s new camp director! Kim has been a Girl Scout for over 25 years, most of her time has been spent at camp!  She grew up in the Pacific Northwest at a camp called St. Albans where she learned boating, horseback riding, swimming and hiking.  After spending her years a camper and then a WIT (Wrangler In Training), she graduated high school and joined the camp staff. She started as a unit counselor and then on to Riding Director, Outdoor Program Specialist, and eventually troop camp Director. After meeting her husband in Antarctica while doing research for graduate school, and moving to Colorado, she spent seven years as the Statewide Day Camp director with Girl Scouts of Colorado, coordinating both Volunteer and Staffed programs.  She also developed program for many of our amazing properties including Meadow Mountain Ranch, Hamp Hut, and Twisted Pine.  Last year she and her husband welcomed their first child to their family. She is excited to start new adventures at Sky High Ranch, and hopes that campers ages Brownie through Ambassador will join her!  To contact Kim with questions about camp programs at Sky High Ranch, you can email her at kim.petau@gscolorado.org. #daycamp #summercamp #SkyHighRanch #GirlScoutsofColorado #camp

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. Bronze Award Recipients September 2014 Troop11665 – Granby Abby Kuhnel Amanda Freeman Cate Kauber Dominvka Reventaite Emily Lantermans Krista Conrad Madeline Ruttenberg Troop12214 – Grand Junction Bella Gigoux Kendyl Macaskill Troop40206 – Colorado Springs Ariana Mares Claire Costa Lisa Ward Troop43485 – Colorado Springs Iris Eisele Kelsey Buzbee Troop43661 – Monument Lily Goudreau Troop43841 – Colorado Springs Brooke Unsell Emily Nelson Gabrielle Pylate Troop44005 – Colorado Springs Abigale Pace Isabella Anderson Madison Brace Troop44179 – Colorado Springs Gianna Walla Troop52525 – Arvada Gabriela Rubio Troop53112 – Lakewood Cadence Allen Emily Garcia Gina Cowhick Grace Cambruzzi Gretchen Franz Lauren Yarnell Lindsey Mink Molly Rogers Troop53279 – Westminster Bridget Glaspey Ella Decker Jelena Price Julianna Carlson Samantha Bonfiglio-Oswald Shelby Miles Troop53572 – Westminster Carlie Hartwick Troop53947 – Breckenridge Lily Windsor Madison Fortner McKenna Ritchea Skylar Halverson Sophia Elsass Troop60912 – Parker Avery Thomas Molly Peek Troop63274 – Highlands Ranch Abigail Johnson Emily Wilson Shantell Hafner Taylor Walters Troop64099 – Aurora Andrea Kaiser Caitlyn Silvester Claire Hurd Troop69649 – Thornton Annie McDonnell Troop72081 – Longmont Emma Polischak Gwendolyn Kamenides Haley Jones Katie Wilson Molly Mathews Zoe Bucklin Troop73362 – Erie Isabelle Sease Troop82928 – Brush Angelis Medina Karmia Strand Madison Stewart-March Makayla Salazar Oriyana Pribble #BronzeAward #HighestAwards #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. Silver Award Recipients September 2014 Troop10094 – Montrose Brianna Hernandez Genevieve Lesniewski Kennitha Hawley Natasha James Troop40305 – Monument Cailin Foster Kristen Courtney Troop41547 – Colorado Springs Anna Kramer Annika Breeden Troop41642 – Buena Vista Bailey Stokes Troop42055 – Colorado Springs Aila Benz Alexa Tartaglini Cassie Capela Danica Simpson Haley Maki Isabella La Grassa Kate Danis Peyton Walters Regan Jolstad Sydney Dawrant Troop43841 – Colorado Springs Emma Lilly Mackenzie Pylate Rita Nelson Troop50485 – Denver Rachel Golledge Reese Smith Troop50548 – Arvada Jessica Asay Troop51770 – Arvada Abigayle Post Ashley Webster Jenna Reichert Taylor Cillessen Troop52525 – Arvada Abrianna Winship Larysa Medina Troop53302 – Denver Arianna Martinez Shelley Larson-Reeves Troop60204 – Aurora Alexis Tenorio Laura Kaiser LeAnn Smith Lindsay Bergquist Troop60762 – Highlands Ranch Olivia Myers Troop61292 – Parker Chase Morris Kaitlyn Verbrugge Troop62847 – Castle Rock Hope Larson Troop63528 – Highlands Ranch Jacqueline Laing Troop69639 – Centennial Peyton Dailey Troop70151 – Berthoud Laurelanne Hardy Troop70710 – Longmont Amanda Harvey Anna Knipscheer Ashlyn Kofford Holly Nicholas Megan Samide Renata Comeau Sarah Long Sierra Figueroa Tanna Carson Troop70884 – Fort Collins Roselyn McClure Troop71328 – Louisville Julia Litz Laura Minter Lauryn Legeer Lily Horst Natalie Fitzpatrick Troop71943 – Boulder Janelle Ross Kallan Gabriel Katrina Greenwood-Stroud Molly McPherson Olivia Brown Sabrina Wilsdon Sarah Thomas Troop72372 – Loveland Britta Wenman Evyn Batie Zoe Vavrina #HighestAwards #SilverAward #TakeAction

The girls of Troop 43992 decided they wanted to focus their Bronze Award project on providing help to the Humane Society in the form of creating items to donate to newly adopted dogs and their human families. They connected with a representative at HSPPR to see what sort of items would be most helpful. Then one of our girls taught all the other girls how to make homemade dog collars, toys, and treats. The girls got to work and created 80 homemade dog collars and 60 care bags with homemade tug toys and homemade doggie treats. They also created a pamphlet of helpful information and hints, including the dog treat recipe, for the Humane Society to give to newly adoptive families. The girls then presented the fruits of their labor to the Humane Society. It was a lot of work, but the girls all agreed they had fun and felt proud that they helped make the world a better place for some deserving dogs and their humans! –Kristi Barto, Troop 3992 Co-leader This story was submitted via the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #BronzeAward #communityservice #HumaneSocietyTroop43992

To focus its efforts on delivering a high quality outdoor leadership experience for all girls, Girl Scouts of Colorado’s Board of Directors has decided to put Magic Sky Ranch up for sale. The board is optimistic about the opportunities this will create to strengthen the programming throughout the state and at our other outdoor properties. As responsible financial stewards, the board decided to sell the property which generates the highest annual financial loss (Magic Sky Ranch) and reallocate the resources to mission-focused programming that includes and goes beyond camp and the outdoors. One year ago, the board chartered an Outdoor Property Evaluation Task Force to gather and present a thorough evaluation of each Girl Scout property. Considerations included historical and future financial analysis, feedback from the membership via a formal survey and 8 town hall meetings throughout the state. Girl Scouts is changing to meet the changing needs of today’s girls. With every change there are challenges, but we believe these changes will create a stronger organization. Property decisions are always difficult, and this has been a thoughtful and thorough analysis. We understand the emotional toll this may have on some members, and we will do everything we can to help address those needs. Nonetheless, at the heart of this decision is what’s best for meeting the needs of today and tomorrow’s girls. Like most Girl Scout councils, we are fortunate in Colorado to own many beautiful outdoor properties. After careful analyses of the resources needed to run and maintain these properties, along with the recognition of how today’s girls choose to go camping, several councils have come to the conclusion that they no longer need, nor can support, the portfolio of camps that served them well in the past. While some councils have gone away from owning outdoor property, we are committed to keeping council-owned property as a part of our outdoor leadership program in Colorado. The future Girl Scouts of Colorado has no plans to sell other properties at this time. In keeping with our mission, we plan to continue underwriting our camp programs and evaluating the opportunity to invest in Sky High Ranch and Meadow Mountain Ranch to improve the camping experience for girls at these properties. As previously announced, resident camp sessions in 2015 will be at Tomahawk Ranch and Sky High Ranch, with troop or group camping availability at all of our properties as well as many volunteer-led day camps and other summer leadership opportunities statewide. Delivering outdoor programs at council-owned properties is a priority for Girl Scouts of Colorado. We are pleased to underwrite these programs through donor and fund raising contributions. The fees collected from campers represent roughly half the cost of running the programs and maintaining the properties. Camping will always be a part of Girl Scouts Girl Scouting provides unmatched camping experiences that will grow stronger by adapting and changing to meet the needs girls tell us they have today. Girl Scouts of Colorado is fully committed to offering outdoor experiences that set girls from all communities on a path to leadership. We believe strongly in the power of outdoor experiences to contribute to the healthy development of girls: physically, cognitively and emotionally. The Girl Scout Research Institute reports that girls who regularly spend time outdoors eclipse their peers who spend less time outdoors in environmental stewardship, challenge-seeking and problem solving—all important traits in twenty-first century leadership. Outdoor activities for Girl Scouts include playing, walking, hiking and cooking outdoors; field trips to outdoor places; camping; and environmental volunteering. Girl Scouts of Colorado is dedicated to bringing quality outdoor programs to the girls of Colorado. We do this by making good use of our Girl Scout properties plus the millions of acres of public lands, millions of parks and trails in our communities and the very strong community of outdoor education volunteers in our membership. #MagicSkyRanch #outdoorprograms #summercamp

Submitted by Sarah Greichen My name is Sarah Greichen. I’m a sophomore at Heritage High School and I am currently working on my Girl Scout Gold Award. I was inspired to start this project by my twin brother. Jacob and I have grown up in a family of five and grew up doing almost everything together. When we were little we had lots of joint friends, parties, and activities. Jacob, however, got less and less busy and had fewer friends. It wasn’t until 4th grade that I realized that Jacob actually had no friends at all. It wasn’t because friendship wasn’t something he didn’t want or pursue or because he didn’t try tons of sports and activities. It was because he has an Autism Spectrum disorder and the opportunities for friendship were few. In 8th grade, I wanted to earn my Girl Scout Gold Award and for me the choice was easy. I wanted to find a friend for my twin brother. I knew that if I could find Jacob a friend, I could help other kids with disabilities find friends too. I interviewed tons of parents and community providers and researched kids with disabilities and friendships. I learned that kids with disabilities often cannot make friends on their own and need help from a parent. I also learned that parents connect and talk to each other through Unified Sports. I learned that friendship is necessary for a happy and productive life. I also learned that tons of kids with disabilities have no friends. Most people put kids with disabilities in a group together and think that a kid with a disability can only be friend’s with a kid with a disability. But, that’s not true. A Friendship between a kid with a disability and a kid without a disability is the best kind of friendship to have. This kind of friendship is called a Unified Friendship and it allows both people to learn a lot and gain a new perspective. I know this because Jacob is the best friend I will ever have and I want other kids to share this same experience and Score A Friend! A Score a Friend Club is a youth leadership club that promotes unified friendships and school-wide inclusion. The first Score A Friend cub is starting at Heritage High School this year! I am also starting a Unified Kayak Club at my school and the National Sports Center for the Disabled is providing staff, equipment, etc. I am so excited that my brother gets to participate in two new unified activities this year! I hope that all Girl Scouts will read this blog and consider starting a Score A Friend Club at their schools! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQoe4Db3qe8]

Girl Scouts of Colorado has expanded our social network! While in the past, we have focused primarily on Facebook and Twitter, we are happy to announce an increased presence on both LinkedIn and Instagram. Both of these outlets will give members and those interested in joining our organization new ways to engage with us and stay up to date on Girl Scout news, activities, and support opportunities. Instagram allows users to capture and share moments with both pictures and video. Recent research indicates Instagram has as many as 200 million monthly active users. More than 75 million use it daily, making Instagram one of the fastest growing social networking services. Under the username GSColo, we will share photos and videos of Girl Scouts participating in Take Action projects, community events, enjoying camp, selling cookies, and much more. Wherever Girl Scouts and volunteers are, GSColo will be. Instagram will also allow us to simultaneously post pictures and videos to Twitter and Facebook, so those who continue to follow us on those sites won’t have to miss any of the action. By its own definition LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking service, mainly used by professionals. With more than 313 million members in over 200 countries and territories, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network on the Internet. For these reasons, the Girl Scouts of Colorado LinkedIn page will focus on making connections with volunteers, donors, and corporate sponsors by showcasing how our organization gives young girls the confidence to become tomorrow’s leaders. We will also use this social network to spread the word about the latest research regarding the health and well-being of girls in Colorado and across the country. We encourage current members to connect and engage with us on both LinkedIn and Instagram. This will help spread the word about our organization, how we impact the lives of girls and adult volunteers, and all the fun we have. For more information on how you can become part of our social network, contact AnneMarie Harper, Public Relations Director for the Girl Scouts of Colorado, at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org

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. Silver Award Recipients June – August 2014 Juliette – Arvada Kendall Ritger Troop11482 – Steamboat Springs Amanda Walker Daisy Thunstrom Josephine Morrow Katelyn Ibarra Lana Pivarnik Troop30146 – Pueblo Jacquelyn Arellano Taylor Lanoue Troop40172 – Monument Emily Hartlaub Troop41642 – Buena Vista Savannah Case Troop43810 – Colorado Springs Brooke Barber Kaily Kessinger Kali Normandy Troop44598 – Colorado Springs Isis Nichols Maliya Gillins Troop51369 – Lakewood Annabelle Schaeffer Elise Dillard Haley Bolen Sydney Barr-Manning Troop51715 – Brighton Alyssa Hill Caitlyn Kane Kyla Glenn Morgan Starner Troop52035 – Littleton Arianna Hernandez Destyny Bartel Troop52494 – Arvada Cassandra Sterns Troop61951 – Highlands Ranch Julia Anhalt Troop62660 – Highlands Ranch Ally Miniter Emma Mays Katie Lodge Madison McCoy Moira Davis Molly Ireland Riyan Shepherd Victoria Gonzales Troop62831 – Lonetree Annika Rennaker Madison Browning Natalia Lopez Sydney Becker Tate Martell Troop71720 – Lafayette Bailey Craig Hailey Ettinger Nina Mays Troop73101 – Nederland Anna Sciacca-Peters Joya Franck Olivia Greeley #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. Bronze Award Recipients June – August 2014 Troop10825 – Hotchkiss Gracie Pham Isabella Spano Kyra Stevens Tessa Griffith Troop22786 – Bayfield Alayna Lee Emily Luzietti Kayley Greyeyes Madison Abernathy Madison Lemke Madison McInroy Staci Martin Summer Hollingsworth Victoria McDonald Troop23929 – Dolores Alexcia Sharp Troop40187 – Buena Vista Meghan Rodriguez Troop40763 – Colorado Springs Grace Johnson Shyann Hancock Troop40902 – Colorado Springs Alicia Hay Heidi Cornelius KaLia Cha Marley Chlebus Orion Tonge Troop40923 – Colorado Springs Caitlin Jock Camryn Adams Cynthia Trujillo-Castillo Jillian Kellick Libby English Mary Hansen Megan Clavenna Miranda Kochis Rachel Walraven Yelena Valentine Troop42393 – Colorado Springs Audra Richister Troop43107 – Monument Haley Henderson Troop43627 – Colorado Springs Abby Hutcheon Abigail Komrofske Emily Stewart Erin Bettner Isabella Wilson Sadee Gray Troop43661 – Monument Amelia Saffold Emma Turner Isabelle Coon Madeline Sullivan Meghan Blazi Paige Dayton Riley Jones Tori Sharratt Zabel Germano Troop43992 – Colorado Springs Audrey Houser Emily Hawkins Hannah Jordan Kaitlyn Barto Kayla McCullum Naleya Carlisle Troop44598 – Colorado Springs Olivia Bernstein Troop50696 – Westminster Autumn Baker Emma Houseman Jackie Lawless Kyla Dillon Michaela Schoen Tyahna Grizzle Troop50839 – Thornton Brooklyn Widhalm Jessica Tomshack Justyne Anderson Kaytee Hillman Skyler Salvador Troop51206 – Lakewood Carli Hamilton Elle Harjo Rebecca Hug Sophia Maley Tiernan Gray Troop52131 – Thornton Addyson Harrison Ajai Smallwood Allison Quintana Alyssa Valdez Anna Frisina Arica Meyers Autumn Coraggio Brianna Piccone Dylann Duffy Elise Meyers Emily Polak Heather Benson Janae Gadbois Jennifer Knerr Kelsey Petrick Madylin Garcia Meghan Thornton Mia Weimer Rebekah Vigil Samantha Corning Stormie Paris Troop52502 – Westminster Allison Ramirez Ashton Schmidke Izabella Grandy Janessa Esquibel Kassidy Carlson Kendall Hauswirth Maggie Meade Troop53239 – Denver Meredith Neid Troop53572 – Westminster Anna Hartwick Avery Lankford Eila Cansler Elizabeth Bogart Emily Reese Emma Brooks Haley Croell Haley Whitfield Mimi Zimmerman Morgan Albert Rylee Garrido Shelby Rojas Sophia Goodman Troop53894 – Lakewood Elisa Sandoval Troop53895 – Lakewood Bailey McCool Desiree Sandoval Kailee Robertson Paige Steffens Troop53979 – Thornton Abigail Weston Aliya Clark Catherine Rampacek Elizabeth Duncan Emma Hahn Grace Rampacek Isabella Lucero Julia Cornelsen Kaitlyn Duncan Kaitlyn Frydenlund Kylie Clark Madeleine Greiner Natalie Fogel Taylor Herrera Trinity Lazoskie Veronique Andrade Zoe Bierman Troop60970 – Aurora Adia Hunt Alexandra Pruitt Hannah Duston Makenna Schweigerdt Megan Spence Simone Beauchamp Troop61068 – Parker Aubrey Pierce Baylei Bicket Delaney Morris Devin Bell Gabriella Haupt Hannah Schulken Katie Miniter Kelsey Beyerly Lauren Seifert Megan Lavell Morgan Matous Veronica Harding Troop63258 – Larkspur Alison Bloomfield Alyse Russo Briana Legrotte Brooke Steflik Carissa Odonnell Christina Roman Isabella Prosceno Lauren Bloomfield Leigh Walden Mallory Russo Raelyn Roskilly Vanessa Padron Troop63290 – Highlands Ranch Alison Edwards Ashley Romney Iris Toney Sadie Ruckel Troop63316 – Highlands Ranch Kailin McCormack Lauren Popp Madeline Davis Taylor Welling Troop63574 – Centennial Eden Rivera Emily Hiltz G Austin Karly Sokolowski Katelyn Banks Katherine Butscher Kathryn Edwards Leah Kennedy Troop63660 – Parker Charlotte Higbee Hope Chiappini Jessica Eisler Reannah Padilla Troop70006 – Fort Collins Annaliese Johnson Jennifer Hahn Juliana Douglas Katie Holbrook Maraya Kankel Olivia Black Xeska Martinchick Troop72706 – Lafayette Jamie Luna Julianna Winding Meredith Rupe Natalie Brown Tenzin Lhamo Troop73362 – Erie Amy Hood Emma Kester Isabella Johnston-Martinez Troop73819 – Loveland Alexandria Warner Anna Lingl Avari McWatters Isabella Otero Josephine Klusman Rachel Metcalf Zoanna Goar Troop83688 – Wray Alara Parrish Danielle Krehmeyer Elizabeth Gilstrap Hannah Gelvin Hannah Krehmeyer Nichole Foster Shyla Hatch #BronzeAward #HighestAwards #TakeAction