[wpvideo 9Z53mjp3] [slideshow] Girl Scouts from all over the state teamed up with the crew from The Katie Show for Katie’s Challenge for Change to collect an amazing 5,000 coats for 7News and Dependable Cleaners’ Coats for Colorado drive. Denver was one of five cities Katie Couric chose to bring her challenge to, and we were thrilled that our famous alum wanted to partner with Girl Scouts of Colorado to make her challenge happen. Troop 4394 from Loveland and Troop 2510 from Wheat Ridge helped at the Colorado Avalanche’s coat drive at the Pepsi Center on Friday, Nov. 8 before the hockey game. The Loveland girls were no strangers to coat drives, having just led a drive at their school for coats and household items to benefit the victims of the September flooding in Colorado. Third-grader Annika Thayer told me that many families from their school had their homes lost or damaged, and they felt badly for them and really wanted to help. On Saturday, Nov. 9, the drive picked up again at the Highlands Ranch Town Centre and the Belmar Shopping Center in Lakewood. Troops 3894, 3895, 1369, 2131 and 4394 collected at the Belmar site and celebrated as Dependable Cleaners revealed that 4,600 coats had been donated and Old Navy donated another 500 new kids coats to put the drive over the 5,000 goal set by Katie’s Challenge for Change. The Girl Scouts had a great time at the Pepsi Center and Belmar with Katie Couric’s special correspondent Cameron Hughes, who interviewed them for the show, got them even more excited about Coats for Colorado and even played some Girl Scout games with them. The Katie Show featuring Girl Scouts of Colorado will air on ABC at 3 p.m. on Nov. 19, so be sure to see our amazing girls being recognized for helping to make the world a better place! #CoatsforColorado #communityservice #KatieCouric #TheKatieShow #TheDenverChannel

As we have communicated in recent months, one way Girl Scouts of Colorado is becoming more efficient on a smaller budget is to focus our resources on people instead of property. We have good news to share — we have a contract to sell the Colorado Springs Service Center. We plan to better serve our members in the Pikes Peak area by locating and securing new office space that is more in line with our needs: In a more centrally-located area With better access to staff for members To reduce expenses so more resources can go toward service to girls The move is expected to happen in late January. This philosophy of people over property is driving action statewide. We have sublet part of our Fort Collins Service Center. Our Durango Service Center has closed and moved to a direct-service model. We are pursuing options for creative office space use in Pueblo. We are also exploring options for a smaller, more affordable space for the Denver Service Center. We want to assure our members that we are 100 percent committed to excellent service in the Pikes Peak area and throughout Colorado. Our staff will be more in touch with volunteers, and we have set standards for improved response times. The online ordering of merchandise from GSUSA is working well statewide, especially taking advantage of special free shipping opportunities. In addition, we have weekly merchandise deliveries to Colorado Springs and mobile shops at major events. We thank you for your patience as we transition to a leaner, grassroots council. #ColoradoSpringsServiceCenter

Annamarie Pritt Rifle Rifle High School Wilderness Survival Camp What did you do for your Gold Award project? For my Gold Award project I created a camp for girls between the ages 11 and 16 to learn wilderness survival skills, self-confidence and leadership skills. The camp ran for two days and one night. The girls learned the skills mentioned above and much more. Why did you pursue this Gold Award project? I pursued this Gold Award project because I believe that every girl should be self-reliant and have leadership skills in order for them to have a better future. How did your Gold Award project make a difference? My Gold Award project made a huge difference in the girls who came to the camp. They learned new leadership skill and they learned how to be confident. What skills did you gain through earning your Gold Award? I learned how to be a better leader and a better listener. Each girl learned a little differently and I had to conform to their needs in order for them to learn. What will you most remember about your Gold Award project? I will always remember Alice. She was very shy and timid, but by the end of the camp she was outgoing. She gave me the wilderness name of “Golden Eagle.” She explained to me that I was a strong leader and I had just earned my Gold Award, hence the name Golden Eagle. I will remember all the girls. They all made a lasting impression on my heart. How will earning your Gold Award help you in your future? By earning my Gold Award it has given me more confidence and leadership skills. Both of these will prove to be helpful in my future by making me a stronger woman and a more efficient leader. Why do you feel the Gold Award is an important part of your Girl Scout experience? The Gold Award is a very important part of Girl Scouting. Every girl should earn their Gold Award. It is such a good experience and makes you a better leader. It is a huge accomplishment and it is very rewarding. #GoldAward #Rifle #WesternSlope #GirlScouts #Colorado

Josephine Natrasevschi Fort Collins Fort Collins High School Protect Yourself What did you do for your Gold Award project? My Girl Scout Gold Award project “Protect Yourself” became very real. “Protect Yourself” is a program I developed to teach young women to defend themselves against sexual assault with fighting methods and strategic thinking. I researched, trained and developed a class that teaches how to defend against sexual assault, blogged (http://protecty0urself.wordpress.com/), taught students and trained teachers. I identified a community issue, sexual assault, and decided to make a difference both locally and globally.  I dove head first into teaching anyone I could. I taught people at Fossil Ridge High School, Girls State in Gunnison CO, at the National Youth Leadership Forum of Medicine in Boston to my group the Nightingales, at Brown University to my floor in the dorms, and students and teachers at Fort Collins High School. After participants finish the class they gain basic self-defense skills as well as strategic thinking methods that will aid in surviving an assault. Through participating in the project many find themselves with confidence, which previously they were lacking. This project also provided information about sexual assault and what to watch out for when traveling alone or in a group so as to avoid being assaulted. To date I have 310 hours on my project effecting more than 4,900 people and counting, and ending the cycle of violence one class at a time. Why did you pursue this Gold Award project? I had been inspired to tackle this issue due to family members and friends being sexual assaulted and the exponential amount of victims. I had naively believed that teaching a few classes would somehow halt the progressive increase in victims but sadly that was not the case. The realization that I had not prevented anything came when my sister fell victim to a man who believed his sexual urges outweighed the well-being of a child who was just starting her life. Fueled by the disappointment I had in myself and the desperate need to prevent sexual assault I began integrating my program into the Poudre School District. This allowed me to reach and instruct a wider audience as quickly as possible. How did your Gold Award project make a difference? After participants finish the class they gain basic self-defense skills as well as strategic thinking methods that will aid in surviving an assault. Through participating in the project many find themselves with confidence, which previously they were lacking. This project also provided information about sexual assault and what to watch out for when traveling alone or in a group as to avoid being assaulted. It will be self-sustained program after graduation with teachers who have undergone training in order to continue on without me. What skills did you gain through earning your Gold Award? I learned I could do something special and that I could change the world. I am most proud of the fact that whoever is touched by this project will be more prepared to take on the world head on. They will be less hindered by the fears that come with living alone or walking the streets at night because of the information that they learned by taking the class. I have taught them to be safe and know that they are safer just by taking my class. I developed healthy relationships of trust and respect between myself and those I taught. I have learned how to teach, speak and communicate effectively. What will you most remember about your Gold Award project? Throughout my project I felt empowered to make a difference in the world and I acted on that empowerment by educating as many as I could about sexual assault and self-defense. I developed a deep connection to my community, locally and globally, by teaching the class to those who live as close as Fort Collins and as far as China. I identified a community issue, sexual assault, and decided to make a difference both locally and globally by developing a class and blogging. I made a difference because I acted. I did not sweep it under the rug or cover up the shame. I tried to solve the problem through positive actions. How will earning your Gold Award help you in your future? My Gold Award project shows how passionate and dedicated I am through the hundreds of hours in commitment. I followed through adversity, exhaustion and the sheer craziness of my life; let alone senior year of high school. I believe my project will show the caring, compassionate adults Girl Scouts has helped mold. I believe this makes me stand out. I am more than a number or a formula. I do not give up when the going gets tough. I follow through, and am ready to lead the way. Why do you feel the Gold Award is an important part of your Girl Scout experience? Dr. Peter J. Jannetta said, “Success is giving more than taking”. I whole heatedly believe this and live by that rule in my life. The most meaningful commitment I have taken on has been community service with my Girl Scout Gold Award project. It has opened my eyes and transitioned me from child to adult. My Gold Award, “Protect Yourself”, has helped shape me into the adult I want to be. #Colorado #FortCollins #GirlScouts #GoldAward

[slideshow] Submitted by Sharyn Nevins Highlands Ranch The 11th Grade Ambassador troop 6-2286 in Highlands Ranch just celebrated Juliette Low’s birthday (October 31st). They made a cake to celebrate her #153rd birthday year. They also fondly refer to her as “J-Low”. They feel the founder would have approved of her new modern nickname and would like to use it for the next 100 years of Girl Scouts. Although “J-Low” was not present to blow out the candles on her cake, the girls knew she was there in spirit! #ambassadors #HighlandsRanch #JulietteLowsbirthday

Girl Scouts in Colorado Springs and Denver celebrated Day of the Dead at events on Nov. 2nd and Nov. 4th. The Colorado Springs event was attended by 140 and was the first event put on by the Girl Planning Group (GPS). For the second year in a row Denver Girl Scouts partnered with Regis University for a Day of the Dead event held on the Regis campus with 100+ attending. Both events featured traditional Day of the Dead activities, such as face painting. The events also recognized the life and legacy of Girl Scouts’ founder, Juliette Gordon Low, and helped participants learn more about the significance of the Day of the Dead, or celebrating the lives of family and friends who have passed away. Fresh Ink story about Colorado Springs event YourHub story about Denver event #ColoradoSprings #Denver #RegisUniversity #GirlPlanningGroupGPS #GirlScouts #DayoftheDead #Colorado

Submitted by Dena Thomason Cortez Happy Birthday to Juliette Gordon Low! The Girl Scouts of Troop 2619 donated a gift basket to the first baby girl born on Halloween in honor of our Founder whose birthday was on Halloween. We met a sweet new mom and her beautiful baby girl at Southwest Memorial Hospital. She was very gracious and allowed the entire troop into her room to see her newborn daughter. Our gift basket included many fun and useful baby items, including a handmade blanket. We hope that they like the gifts and the Girl Scout cookies. Our troop also gave some cookies to the nurses and staff at the hospital for doing such a great job. This story was submitted via the Share Your Stories form.  You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #SouthwestMemorialHospital #JulietteGordonLowbirthday #Troop2619 #communityservice #Cortez

Submitted by Elan Robinson Aurora Troop 61045 in Aurora decided in March that they wanted to do something special for the ILC students at Peakview Elementary School for their Bronze Award. They noticed that the kids in the ILC program needed some help sitting still. After meeting with Colleen, head of the ILC program they found that not only did they need weighted stuffed animals to help the kids sit still but they needed weighted vests and shoulder bags to carry their pencils and schedules in. Colleen asked that the vests be in colorful and gender-appropriate patterns that the kids would be excited to wear. The girls opened up the animals and inserted rice bags that they made. They donated 18 animals. Their leader Elan, made four vests for the kids and again they made rice bags to weight them. They also made the shoulder bags. We presented the items to the ILC program at the end of September. The ILC kids were so excited to be able to pick their own special animal to hold. Colleen said that the kids are excited to wear the vests now and can pick the one they like the most. Colleen is so happy with the items. They can now use the funds that they would’ve used for new vests on other essential items for the program. The girls are Jessie, Alexis, Brittney, Kaylee, Payton, Acelynn, Sopia, Kylie, Katie, Kaitlyn, leader Elan, Chloe, Katelyn and co-leader Kim. Not pictured is Campbell. #Aurora #communityservice #PeakviewElementarySchool

[slideshow] Submitted by Nancy Schott Arvada In early October 2013 Troop 2749, Seniors and Ambassadors from Arvada, picked 30 bags of vegetables at Miller Farms in Weld County. We picked corn, potatoes, carrots, onions, celery, turnips, eggplant, chilies, and pumpkins. We shared them with family and donated 48 pounds of veggies to the Arvada Community Food Bank. This story was submitted via the Share Your Stories form.  You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #ArvadaCommunityFoodBank #communityservice #TakeAction

Outdoor Program Advisory Committee Meeting 10/23/13 Committee Members First Name Last Name Role Betsy Till Outdoor Programs Director Haley Peel Assistant Outdoor Programs Director Sharyl Kay Lawson Adult member Debbie Wiggins Adult member-Day Camp Task Force Alonit Cohen Adult member JoAnne Busch Adult member Bonnie Ledet Adult member Abby Weiske Girl member Jill Marostica Adult member Anna Beucler Adult member Jean Beucler Adult member Krista Beucler Girl member – Older Girl/Girl Led Task Force Monica Elliott Girl member – Older Girl/Girl Led Task Force Connii Rogers Adult member– Older Girl/Girl Led task Force Expectations of Committee Members We brainstormed how we wanted to work together as a committee. Work positively as a team together Respect each other, listen, be open to ideas NEED: create a mission/position statement Create/implement/increase/promote council-wide Be an example of the Girl Scout Promise Be considerate of each other’s time Be prepared Ask questions/ask questions about processes Be ready to share ideas and take action Help share talking points about outdoor programs with other volunteers Suggested Reading List: Last Child Into the Woods The Nature Principle Both by Richard Louv What is Outdoor Programs? – Brainstorm Getting girls outside in any manner Developing skills, with a progression of challenge Year-round Specific to unique geographic areas and options within our state No Child Left Inside If we want to pass on our heritage, we cannot ignore needs of children to explore, get dirty, get their hands wet – NATURE PLAY – in a safe & unstructured environment Alleviating Nature Deficit Disorder Develops self efficiency and new experiences Simple – Affordable – Accessible (Inclusive) In your experience, what were you lacking when you first started leading girls in the outdoors? What have you seen lacking for other leaders/volunteers? Wasn’t aware of manuals that already existed for Day Camps Wish I had a list of trails listing if they are easy, medium, hard and if they are marked or not Where was all the equipment, what was available? Wish I had a mentor or “training buddy” Wish they trained volunteers as well as girls from day 1 in Daisies Wish I had a list of program-level appropriate outdoor activities Wish it was more integrated into the 6 GSUSA pathways: trop, travel, events, camp, events, virtual Resources established in areas outside of what we normally see – recreation districts, park districts, community service groups, schools – easy program partners or already ready to deliver programs to scouts but not connected with them Trainings – more affordable and less repetition of content, ways for people to test out… Communication & Marketing of opportunities: Service Unit communication, council newsletter, regions, website, blog, facebook, and? Simple-don’t need lots of planning (easy-meaningful-fun) Outdoor volunteer opportunity list Cultivate programs for PA’s outdoors-specialize in assisting activities we provide resources for, good for new leaders to have girls shot them the way Older girl programming aside from PA/CIT stuff Cultivate love for being outdoors and doing outdoor activities for the sake of love of doing it (rather than doing something to get something) Have Get Outdoors Days – every so many months – like Troop Tuesday Cultivate the ethic of being out there – not being out there to get something 3 Ideas for Outdoor Programs Each committee member submitted 3 ideas in their application. We will compile that list and vote on them in a survey before we meet again. We’ll publish our prioritized list after our next meeting. #GirlScoutsoftheUSA #GirlScoutPromise #nochildleftinside #RichardLouv #naturedeficitdisorder

Natalia Suárez Fort Collins Fossil Ridge High School ¡A Nadar! Let’s Swim! What did you do for your Gold Award project? For my Gold Award Project I taught little kids how to swim in a community in Spain and in the U.S. in both English and Spanish. I also wrote a bilingual book on how to swim for the kids that I worked with. Why did you pursue this Gold Award project? I chose this project because my brother was always scared of the water as a little kid. I never wanted kids to feel unsafe in the water, and felt they needed the basic skills. How did your Gold Award project make a difference? I taught kids in two separate communities basic water survival skills in case an emergency ever presented itself. What skills did you gain through earning your Gold Award? I learned that I loved working with little kids. It takes a lot of patience, which I had to develop, but it has encouraged me to pursue a major in elementary education. What will you most remember about your Gold Award project? I will remember how fun it is to work with kids. I will never forget the little kid’s faces light up when they learned how to do something new. How will earning your Gold Award help you in your future? Earning my Gold Award will help me receive scholarship opportunities and will help me get jobs that involve working with little kids. Why do you feel the Gold Award is an important part of your Girl Scout experience? I feel that my Gold Award was a necessary step towards finishing being a Girl Scout because it gives back to the community. I felt that I have given back to two communities and left a mark. #Colorado #FortCollins #GirlScouts #GoldAward

Samantha Preston Fort Collins Fort Collins High School T1D K.I.T.S. What did you do for your Gold Award project? For my Gold Award project I made kits for kids with type one diabetes. These kits contained all the supplies kids need to be healthy at school. I then donated the T1D K.I.T.S. to the Poudre School District nurses who are distributing them to kids that have been recently diagnosed. In addition, I educated dozens of people about diabetes. I presented to many different age groups about what diabetes is, the different types, and how people live with it. Why did you pursue this Gold Award project? I pursued my Gold Award project because I wanted to make a difference. I focused my project around helping kids with type one diabetes because my little brother was diagnosed a year before I started my project. His diagnosis was a difficult transition for my family and I wanted to make it easier for people. After talking to my brother and the school nurse I decided to make kits for newly diagnosed kids. They said that learning how to handle diabetes in school, and getting the right supplies, was one of the hardest parts for families. How did your Gold Award project make a difference? My kits are currently helping diagnosed kids in Poudre School District and their families. The kits let families know there is support out there for kids with diabetes. They also give parents good tips on what snacks are healthy for their kids, who to contact in an emergency, and what type one diabetes actually is. In the near future these kits are going to help kids that are diagnosed. A long term impact of my project is how it had and is going to inspire others to do good.  In addition, the new knowledge that I have given dozens of people will allow them to raise diabetes awareness and will help them be more prepared if they encounter a situation with diabetes. What skills did you gain through earning your Gold Award? This project gave me the opportunity to grow as a leader dramatically. Over the past two years I have been organizing myself and other people. Before this project I had always had my parents or mentors organize meetings, planning sessions, and other times to work on projects. My Gold Award was just that, mine. No one was in charge of contacting people or making time to work on the project.  I was forced to dedicate myself and my time to my Gold Award, and as a result, I became a leader of my own life. At a leadership conference I was told that being a leader starts with yourself, if you aren’t your own leader no one else will want to follow you. I embraced this concept and became in charge of my life so I was able to organize time to work on my project. After I became my own leader I was able to contact people that were willing to follow me and help me accomplish my goals. This was an empowering experience. Most of the people I worked with during my Gold Award were much older and had more authority that I did, but they still chose to let me lead them. This made me realize that I can do almost anything I set my mind to, and has made me want to become more involved in my community and start new service projects. Lastly, after I distributed the kits and gave my final presentation I was able to look back on what I had done and realize that as a leader, I was able to inspire people. Not only did I reach out to young kids, but I also touched the lives of many adults. The realization that I had inspired others to do good in the community made me understand what is means to be a true leader. What will you most remember about your Gold Award project? The most moving part of my project was seeing results. One day I was talking to the nurse at Linton Elementary, and she asked me if she could have a kit because a kid was just diagnosed with diabetes at another school in the district. I gladly gave her a kit, and at our next meeting she told me how excited the family was to receive a kit. She explained how inspired and impressed they were with me and my project. The fact that my project directly helps families is what I’m most proud of. The feeling I had when the nurse told me how I helped that family is something I will never forget. How will earning your Gold Award help you in your future? My Gold Award will help me tremendously in the future. Colleges are very impressed with my extensive community service and leadership roles I have taken throughout the past two years. Also, my Gold Award gave me the skills to talk to many people of different age groups, which will be useful throughout my life. Why do you feel the Gold Award is an important part of your Girl Scout experience? Girl Scouts has helped me gain many different skills, and I wanted to put them all together for one final project. I think that it is very important for girls to be able to showcase their talents by pursuing their Gold Award. It allowed me to be a leader, and take responsibility. My project also showed me that I can make a difference, and makes me want to give back to the community. #Colorado #FortCollins #GirlScouts #GoldAward