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 May 2014 Troop10561 – Granby Brooke Stacy Karmen Reynolds Taylor Stacy Troop19113 – Rifle Chandra Starr Hanna Spencer Troop40584 – Monument Amy Keisling Camryn Palmer Ciara Bobak Emma Kerr Erin Flood Jenna Lewis Julie Lacrampe Madison Miller Makayla Kocher Morgan Senn Muriel Evans Shannon Heintz Shelby Kravchin Sydney Chytka Tyesha Lockyer Troop42012 – Colorado Springs Jessica Butterly Julia Uddenberg Taylor James Troop50675 – Broomfield Faith Bochert Faith Gardner Haley Vasey Madison Enney Mika Zaharescu Samantha Fleming Troop51639 – Thornton Amy McClure Courtney Vignerot Jillian Campbell Joana Olsen Kalani Moberg Rita Bell Troop81080 – Haxtun Emma Duvall #HighestAwards #SilverAward #TakeAction

Connie Campbell, Chair of the GSCO Board of Directors Girl Scout friends: As the chair of Girl Scouts of Colorado’s Board of Directors, I want to share the news that the board reviewed the initial recommendations of the Outdoor Property Task Force at our May meeting, and the work of this group is moving forward. The initial report and recommendations are posted to the GSCO website in the spirit of openly sharing this process with our members. It’s really important to remember that no property decisions have been made at this point. I am very proud of the thorough and thoughtful work that the volunteer-led task force has done, taking a detailed view of the finances, usage, resources, needs, potential and emotions surrounding each property. Interesting findings: Only 20% of registered girls used a GSCO camp in 2013. (This data is likely overstated because it does not quantify unique girls. For instance, a girl who attends two resident camps and a troop camp would be counted for 3 visits in this data.) Less than 8% of registered troops used a GSCO camp in 2013. The four ranch properties (Magic Sky, Tomahawk, Meadow Mountain and Sky High) had a combined financial loss of almost $1 million per year, and half of that loss was at Magic Sky. The other four lodge properties (Hamp Hut, Lazy Acres, Pawnee and Twisted Pine) are well used and represent a very small underwriting of less than $15K per year. Please know that GSCO places the highest value on outdoor learning and will always feature outdoor experiences as a core program for girls. That program can happen in many places and many ways, not exclusively at GSCO properties. The question comes down to whether the current level of underwriting for the four ranch properties of almost $1 million per year is the best use of our mission-focused resources, or could those dollars be redirected into more accessible outdoor experiences for girls all over the state? Our cookie sellers are currently underwriting our property costs – the revenue from one of every eight boxes of cookies sold goes to underwrite these camp properties. Is that the best use of this money to serve every girl in Colorado? The task force conducted an evaluation of each of our outdoor properties, with the exception of Kiwa Korral, which was lost due to the impacts of last fall’s flood. Each property received a score which resulted in a tiered ranking system from A to C. The scoring was based on site data, legal factors, surrounding land use, accessibility, natural features, facilities, amenities, usage and financial considerations. Tomahawk Ranch scored the highest and is in Tier A; Meadow Mountain Ranch and Sky High Ranch are in Tier B; and Magic Sky Ranch is in Tier C. The next steps for the Outdoor Property Task Force are: A survey that ask Girl Scouts what they think about camp and what they want in camps. Girls and parents are encourage to speak up and take the survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Resident_Camp_Opinion_Survey. A second series of town hall meetings in GSCO communities statewide. An investigation of potential property values. The board will take all of these findings and discuss them at our retreat in September to make final decisions. The board may find that this is an acceptable and appropriate use of resources. Or it may decide that given the limited property usage, the money could better be more wisely spent to fulfill our mission. What do you think? Please tell us by participating in the survey, the town hall meetings, talking to your MCC representative or commenting on this blog. The board is committed to providing information as it is known and being transparent about our decisions. Thanks for all you do to make GSCO successful. #OutdoorPropertyTaskForce

Submitted by Kimberly Robertson Aurora Girl Scout Troop 63468 (Aurora) completed their aMuse Junior Journey by creating a bully-proofing video called “Stand Up To Bullies.” The 5th graders learned how a film is created by working hands-on to complete this journey. The juniors not only wrote the script, but memorized their individual lines, blocked their actions, worked in front of and behind the camera, and even ad-libbed some of the lines, to create more action. The video editing was completed by their Troop Leader: Kim Robertson. The girls also learned how to get into character with their individual parts. An addition to the video, at the end, was an impromptu music video featuring Sara Bareilles’ song, “Brave,” sung and beat boxed by the 5th graders. This story was submitted via the Share Your Stories form. http://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/share. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #aMuseJourney #bullyproofvideo

Submitted by Peg Perl Denver Metro As the finale to their “Get Moving” Journey, Junior Troop 53408 in Denver helped our planet in two ways.  After talking to volunteers at the Wild Animal Sanctuary about their needs, the girls used cookie proceeds to purchase 2 recycle bins and many pounds of fresh fruits and veggies for bears just awakened from hibernation.  The Juniors delivered their donations in person and visited the animals in May 2014. This story was submitted via the Share Your Stories form. http://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/share You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #Juniors #Troop53408 #WildAnimalSanctuary

Submitted by Mika Zaharescu Denver Metro Our troop decided to teach girls about something that needed to be stopped: bullying. We decided what we had to do was host a Girl Scout anti-bullying sleepover. The idea inched towards reality as suggestions were flung around. Before we knew it the idea had a name (Stand Strong Scouts), a location, and content (the games). The day was set and we prepared. Finally the sleepover arrived and none of us could believe it! We all thought the same thingsŠ’Will this work?’ or ‘Will something go wrong?’. Nothing went wrong! The sleepover went as planned, with little bumps of course. All of our hard work paid off seeing kids learning about how to stop bullying. With our project finally over, our plate is clean to start something new. This story was submitted via the Share Your Stories form. http://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/share . You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #antibullying #StandStrongScouts

Submitted by Rebecca Wilson Longmont This was posted to H.O.P.E.’s Facebook page recently and we are so proud of our involvement with this wonderful organization. Six of our Juniors will be completing their Bronze Award with a project for H.O.P.E. “We are so thankful Troop #72081 chose HOPE as their nonprofit community partner this year. From a sock, glove and hat drive to preparing Soup Angel meals, donating delicious Girl Scout cookies and helping out in the warehouse – their support has been amazing. These Junior Scouts are now working on a summer-long Bronze Award (the highest elective junior award possible) project to crochet sleeping mats out of plastic bags. Each mat requires 700 bags and hours of work. Thank you Girl Scouts — you are remarkable!” This story was submitted via the Share Your Stories form. http://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/share You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #BronzeAward #HOPE #Troop72081

Girl Scout Troop 922 donated cookies to the Springs Rescue Mission. This special treat will go into prepared grocery bags for needy families. #ColoradoSprings #SpringsRescueMission #Troop922

Congratulations to Troop 53406 from Harper’s Ferry service unit for earning their Bronze Award! The project received attention from several local news sources, including the Commerce City Sentinel Express, who gave the girls this glowing review (click on the photo above for the direct link): “Junior Girl Scouts in Troop 53406 spent most of Saturday morning installing the recycling bins with Park Manager Michelle Seubert and were able to earn their bronze award, the highest award a junior girl scout is able to achieve. Troop Leader Sondra Bourgeois said the troop selected the project because it would make a really big difference in the community. She said the girls did all of the research for the project, contacted the Evergreen Audubon Society about their recycling program, contacted Seubert and made the calls to get the materials donated. “You hope this is an idea that maybe other troops will catch onto — whether it be Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts — and maybe they’ll take them to other reservoirs here in this area that I know have the same issue with a lot of the fishing line that’s been discarded,” Bourgeois said. Leader Reina Sterling said the girls were able to connect with the project because they’ve done a “water journey” at Barr Lake in the past where they learned a lot about the lake, the water and how it affects the community. She said the troop, which is based out of Turnberry Elementary School, was able to make a personal connection because the water that’s used in their homes comes from Barr Lake. Junior Abby Taugner said on a previous visit to Barr Lake she saw a duck with fishing line tangled around its feet and hanging out of its mouth. Junior Lydia Jimmerson said she’s happy to earn the bronze award and that she likes the project because wildlife won’t get tangled up anymore. Junior Jerray Sterling also liked the project for that reason. “I liked that we were helping the community so no more animals and birds and ducks and stuff like that would die because of the fishing line,” Sterling said. Seubert said now that people have a place to put their fishing line they’ll be less likely to leave it on the ground. She said often times they’ll find a goose or duck with fishing line wrapped around their legs or their wings which could injure them forever and sometimes even kill them. “A lot of times we’ll go out and there’s fishing line everywhere and its a danger to wildlife as well as to people,” she said. “(This project is) going to help make the area look nice and then also protect the wildlife.” Another article can be found at: http://www.c3gov.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/210 We at GSCO want to give an extra special THANK YOU to leaders Sandra Bourgeouis and Reina Sterling for the extended hard work and support that made this huge project a reality. And to the girls- YOU ROCK! Thank you for making such a big difference in your community. We are very proud of your accomplishments! As always, please let us know if your troop has a special story to share! #commercecity #gsco #53406 #girlscouts #bronzeaward #Troop #Colorado #leadership

The Outdoor Properties Advisory Committee has been working with an amazing volunteer from Northern Colorado, and is helping Girl Scouts of Colorado with exciting project. Information gathered in this survey help guide us in future resident camp and other Outdoor Program decision making. This survey takes 15-20 minutes of your time. If you have a Girl Scout who is of camp age (Daisy through Ambassador) we’d love to hear from you. Click here to complete the survey now. NEW (as of 5/12/14): Get a Patch for your girl when she completes the survey with you! If you have already completed the survey, and would like the patch for your girl, please use this link to give us your information. Thank you for your time, we look forward to hearing your thoughts! For questions regarding this survey, please contact: Lisa Wellington Director of Marketing Strategy & Insights at The Coca-Cola Company, and Girl Scout Volunteer LisaWellingtonGS@gmail.com land line: 970-223-4488 cell: 970-214-3087, text messages welcome and voice calls too #outdoorprograms #outdoorproperties #residentcamp #summercamp

Girl Scouts of Colorado is announcing the 2014 inductees into the esteemed Women of Distinction program in the Pikes Peak area at a private reception in June (location TBD). This year’s seven honorees were selected by a committee of their peers led by Selection Chair Amanda Mountain, Vice President and Chief Membership & Branding Officer of Rocky Mountain PBS and Woman to Watch 2012, and chosen based on their contributions to the community, both professionally and personally. The Women of Distinction commit to supporting Girl Scouts of Colorado and serving Girl Scouts today. The Women of Distinction program began in the area in 2000, though 56 area women were named Women of Distinction in 1994 during Girl Scouts’ 75 Anniversary. Including this year’s honorees, Girl Scouts of Colorado has recognized 113 area women with this honor. The Women of Distinction program brings together a group of women dedicated to raising funds to support Girl Scout leadership programs. More than $325,000 has been raised in 12 years. Later this year, Girl Scouts of Colorado will publicly honor these inductees at the 2014 Thin Mint Dinner in Colorado Springs at the Antlers Hilton. This event is on Sept. 12 and the program will feature one of Colorado’s up and coming women leaders, Amelia Earhart, who will share her inspirational story behind her summer 2014 around-the-world flight. Lynette Crow-Iverson, President/CEO of Conspire! and Woman of Distinction 2013, is the event chair. Renita Wolf, Senior Strategy Consultant of Wells Fargo Asset Management Group and Girl Scouts of Colorado Board of Directors member, is serving as the event sponsorship chair, and Erica Oakley-Courage, Corporate Market Director of the American Heart Association, is the logistics chair. For more information on the Sept. 12 event, including how you can help, please contact Karen Burghart at 719-304-8322 or karen.burghart@gscolorado.org. You can also visit the Girl Scouts of Colorado website for more information or to purchase tickets and/or sponsorships at girlscoutsofcolorado.org/women-of-distinction-pikes-peak. Girl Scouts of Colorado’s 2014 Pikes Peak Women of Distinction: Debbie Chandler, CEO, Colorado Springs Health Partners Susan Edmondson, President/CEO, Downtown Partnership Carla L. Hartsell, community volunteer, City of Colorado Springs, retired executive (recipient of the Sandy Taylor Distinguished Community Service Award) Judith Mackey, President, Benefit Services Group Diane Price, President and CEO, Early Connections Learning Centers Shirley R. Stewart, Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Associates, P.C. Lynne Telford, President and CEO, Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado #women #ColoradoSprings #fundraisingevent #WomenofDistinction #GirlScouts #PikesPeak #Colorado #leadership

[slideshow] (More photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gscolorado/sets/72157644118952800/ ) More than a hundred Girl Scout family and friends gathered in Boulder on May 4 to honor Colorado Girl Scouts who earned one of Girl Scouts Highest Awards, the Bronze, Silver or Gold Award. Six girls were presented with the Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout in grades 9-12 can earn. Girls who have earned this award demonstrate extraordinary leadership through a project that makes a difference in their community. Several Bronze Award honorees (the highest award a girl in grades 4-5 can earn) and Silver Award honorees (the highest award a girl in 6th – 8th grade can earn) also were presented with their awards. during Sunday’s ceremony, emceed by Annie Davis, a 2013 Gold Awardee from Boulder. Girl Scouts of Colorado President and CEO Stephanie Foote said the girls’ spirit and motivation inspires us all to think of the needs of others and take action to make the world a better place. “You are strong role models for our community and our world,” she said. Emily Calzolari, Caitlyn Danielle Fitch, Ailee C. Rowe, Rowan Alaina Seabolt, Alexa Jo Stringer and Monica Teagan Weller spent a few minutes describing their Gold Award projects and how working toward Gold impacted their lives. Emily, of Longmont, provided helmets for the Longmont Ice Pavilion and educated Learn-to-Skate parents and participants of the dangers of skating. Caitlyn, from Northglenn, taught self-defense classes for girls and boys between the ages of 6 and 18 to promote the value of confidence in everyday life. Ailee, of Westminster, designed and instituted a program in the local homeless shelter system to stimulate brain activity when the kids were not at school. Rowan, from Westminster, created a summer horse camp program for children in the community who might not have the resources to have such an experience to explore the world around them and develop their passions. Alexa, of Lafayette, wrote a curriculum and ran a counseling group for middle-school aged girls to raise self-esteem. Monica, from Westminster, planned and participated in monthly events alongside Rotary Youth International Exchange students to help them make friends and experience all of the fun and culture of Colorado. In addition at the ceremony, Curtis Stringer (Gold Awardee Alexa’s father) was presented with one of GSUSA’s top volunteer awards, The Honor Pin, for his outstanding work as a cookie volunteer. The award recognizes an individual’s exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) which has had measurable impact on two or more geographic areas of service, allowing the council to reach and surpass its mission-delivery goals. The ceremony culminated with a bridging ceremony for all of the Girl Scouts present who were “bridging” or progressing to the next level of Girl Scouting. We are immensely proud of these inspiring young leaders in our community. #GoldAward #HighestAwards #SilverAward #celebration #boulder #BronzeAward #NorthernColorado

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 April 2014 Troop 33246 – Pueblo West Brittany Ruby Emily Liebnow Hannah Delmarco Hope Edgecomb Joey Parks Jordan Paisley Kayla Mello Portia Carrera Tori English Troop 50301 – Lakewood Holly Hufford Troop 50548 – Arvada Carrie Bishop Katherine Wood Troop 51887 – Thornton Ameila Tomshack Audrey Pass Danise Bachman Elexis Richards Emily Clark Jordan Wood Mykaela Ryan Troop 52276 – Thornton Alexis Baker Athena Short Lauren Kettler Makenna Watson Payton Pritchard Troop 52758 – Westminster Alison George Ariana Ehrenfeucht Emily Butler Helina Thoma Lauren Buckley Lauren Davis Meghan Schutt Savannah Purdy Shaughnessy Schmidt Troop 61189 – Parker Kirsten Newkirk Troop 62183 – Castle Rock Ariana Fleet Blayn Masoner Isabel Ellertson Kaitlin Sanchez Shannon Thompson Troop 62518 – Castle Rock Aspen Medberry Jocelyn Tweddle MeganMay Phibbs Paige Ferguson Troop 70634 – Longmont Darcy Traynor Emily Potter Jewel Ng Macy Brown Natalie Trujillo Troop 72312 – Windsor Makena Sanger Troop 73265 – Erie Emily Arnold-Mages Emma Lilly Lindsey Welch Rowan Phillips Troop 73830 – Firestone Brianna Nuss #HighestAwards #SilverAward #TakeAction