Submitted by Jenifer Ramirez Troop 3712 This year we did two service projects that we really enjoyed. First, we participated again in the Christmas Shoe Boxes (Operation Christmas Child). Our troop really enjoys making shoe boxes filled with fun and necessary stuff to give to children without around the world. One troop member said, “I know that we are helping somebody and making kids happy!” Our second project that we really enjoyed was helping to support a local project called “Because of Bella.” We liked this project because prior to making blankets we got to learn about preemie babies and what NICU is. It was helpful because it made making the blankets more meaningful. “This project made us work together as a team.” This story was submitted via the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #BecauseofBella #communityservice #OperationChristmasChild #Troop3712

Submitted by Virginia Brown Glenwood Springs Colorado On April 27, 2013, I had the pleasure of attending a Thinking Day Event hosted by the Glenwood Springs Service Unit. The troops all picked countries from the continent of Africa. They also had a panty drive to support the girls at the Tasaru Girls Rescue Centre in Narok, Kenya. Mary Walker from Steamboat Springs came and talked to the girls about how the girls live and their customs and games they play in this rescue center. (For more information on Mary Walker’s work please see www.marywalkerkenya.blogspot.com) Girls also shared what they learned through a program called Beads for Life, including the typical layout of a 10×10 foot home of typical families, how to make the paper beads that are made by the young girls in the country they choose. Another troop learned how to make banana cookies from their country (Mali), and had a hut set up for attendees to relax in and play a local game. Of course, no study of countries of Africa would be complete without studying Eygpt. I was thrilled to see mummies and Eygptian princesses in attendance! Way to Go Glenwood Springs! I can’t wait to see what next years Thinking Day event will be! This story was submitted via the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #GlenwoodSprings #WorldThinkingDay

In December 2010, Grace noticed a numbness in her right foot a few times a day. She went to Children’s Hospital thinking she had a pinched nerve, but doctors diagnosed Grace with a malignant brain tumor in the motor cortex of her brain. She endured an 8-hour surgery and 30 days of intense radiation and chemotherapy and then two different chemotherapy treatments each week over the next year. The process was tough, but in April 2012 she was declared cancer-free. She and her mother began planning Grace’s Race a year ago, and members of her Girl Scout troop took up the cause too, helping to plan the details, seeking sponsors, marketing and publicizing the race. The race became their Silver Award project. All the girls shined as they watched more than 700 participants crowd around the starting line on Sunday.  Grace blew the starter horn and all the girls knew they’d achieved something special. “It feels really good to be helping my friends and the families at Children’s Hospital, especially those who are still in treatment,” Grace said. #Centennial #GracesRace #HomesteadElementary #Troop2540

Submitted by Cindy Orton Littleton Troop 256 embraced the Breathe Journey and addressed the Jefferson County and Douglas County School Boards regarding diesel emissions from idling school buses. The girls spent two months gathering data on the habits of school bus drivers who drop students off at their schools.  What they found was that several buses idled for more than three minutes in front of the school buildings, exposing students, parents and school employees to harmful diesel emissions. They made a recommendation of enforcing a policy that allows buses to idle for only one minute or less in front of a school. “By reducing the idling time to less than a minute, the districts could see a minimum of $230 in fuel savings per school per year.:  Both the Jeffco and the Dougco boards received the public comment from the girls with interest and promised to further investigate the practices of their school bus drivers. Furthermore, the girls were approached by several officials of Jefferson County to continue a project and possibly help with writing policy next year. #BreatheJourney #Littleton #Troop256

Girl Scouts from Denver marched in the 26th Annual Cinco de Mayo parade on Saturday, May 4 to invite more girls to join Girl Scouts for fun, friendship and leadership skills. The kindergarten to eleventh grade girls from troops 2520 and 2824 participated with Girl Scouts’ media partner, La Voz, Colorado’s Hispanic-owned bilingual publication. The girls were proud to wear their Girl Scout uniforms and share the fun that they have in Girl Scouting with others. Once the girls reached the end of the parade and were announced by presenters, everyone cheered for them! A great time was had by all. If you know of a girl or adult who wants to get involved with Girl Scouts, visit http://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/girls/join The parade took place at Civic Center Park in Denver, CO., and is the largest two-day Cinco de Mayo celebration in the United States. The park was filled with arts and crafts, Mariachi bands, Aztec and Folklorico dancers, three stages featuring traditional and contemporary Latino entertainment and a variety of Mexican culinary delights. #CincodeMayo #GirlScouts #GirlScoutsofColorado

Submitted by Patty Vinci Evergreen To earn their “Make the World a Better Place” petal, the Daisies of Troop 4452 sold lemonade through Blood Water Mission’s Lemon:Aid program at the annual Sock Hop. For every dollar they raised Blood Water Mission can supply one African with clean water for one year. The girls raised over $120! This story was submitted via the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #communityservice #evergreen #Troop4452 #Daisies #BloodWaterMission

[slideshow] Submitted by Kristin Hamm Centennial The Girl Scout Brownies from Troop 61133 at Willow Creek Elementary School completed the Brownie Quest Journey by delivering a Take Action project to the preschool students at Summit Elementary School. The Brownies spent much of their year learning how to Discover, Connect and Take Action. For their Take Action project, the girls brainstormed places and people in their community who needed help. They advocated for their favorite causes and voted to help preschool students in a Head Start program. The 2nd grade girls set a budget based on a percentage of their cookie sales proceeds and were able to spend $300 to purchase playground equipment for the preschool program. All 12 girls in the troop got together on a day off from school on Friday to deliver the new balls, hula hoops, bean bags and much more to the preschoolers. The preschoolers were thrilled. Dan Wray, director of Early Childhood Education and Special Education for the Cherry Creek School District, met the Brownies and shook their hands, telling them what a wonderful thing they had done. This story was submitted via the Share Your Stories form. You can share you Girl Scout moments too. #Centennial #communityservice #Brownies #SummitElementarySchool #WillowCreek #CherryCreekSchoolDistrict #Troop61133

Our first Girl Scout Summer Day Camp registration deadlines are coming up on May 6! Is your Girl Scout registered for camp yet? To learn more about Day Camp or Resident Camp options with Girl Scouts of Colorado, please visit our website or contact our registrars at 877-404-5708. To learn more about these Girl Scouts of Colorado Camps, check out our Summer Camp Program Guide.Colorado   Springs Day CampsDC01-Kaleidoscope   Fairy Adventure-Hamp HutPartially OpenDC01V-Kaleidoscope Fairy Adventure-Hamp HutPartially OpenDC02V-Sports   & Nature Sampler-Bear Creek Reg ParkPartially OpenDC03-Make a   Mess-Faith Presbyterian ChurchPartially OpenDC03T-Make a   Mess-Faith Presbyterian ChurchOpenDC03V-Make a   Mess-Faith Presbyterian ChurchOpenDC04-Show   Stoppers-Sand Creek High SchoolPartially OpenDC05V-Dance   Explorer-Rampart High SchoolPartially OpenDC05-Dance   Explorer-Rampart High SchoolPartially OpenPA01-Kaleidoscope   Fairy Adventure-Hamp Hut-Partially OpenPA02-Sports   & Nature Sampler-Bear Creek Reg ParkPartially OpenPA03-Make a   Mess-Faith Presbyterian ChurchPartially OpenPA04-Show   Stoppers-Sand Creek High SchoolPartially OpenPAI01-Kaleidoscope   Fairy Adventure-Hamp HutOpenPAI05-Dance   Explorer-Rampart High SchoolPartially OpenPA05-Dance   Explorer-Rampart High SchoolPartially OpenDenver Metro   Area Day CampsDC06-Awesome   Animals-Interlocken Park-BroomfieldPartially OpenDC07-That’s   Entertainment-Addenbrooke ParkPartially OpenDC08-Monster   Camp-Dedisse Park-EvergreenPartially OpenDC09-Neverland-Franktown   Elementary-FranktownPartially OpenDC10-Animal   Planet-Nottingham Park-WestminsterPartially OpenDC10T-Animal   Planet-Nottingham Park-WestminsterPartially OpenDC16-Princesses   on the Prairie-Plains Conserv CenterPartially OpenDC17-Explorers-City   Park-DenverPartially OpenDC19-Art   Explorers-Twisted Pine-GeneseePartially OpenDC18-Girl   Power-Interlocken Park-BroomfieldPartially OpenPA08-Monster   Camp-Dedisse Park-EvergreenOpenPA10-Animal   Planet-Nottingham Park-WestminsterPartially OpenPAI06-Awesome   Animals-Interlocken Park-BroomfieldPartially OpenPAI07-That’s   Entertainment-Addenbrooke Park-LakewoodPartially OpenPAI08-Monster   Camp-Dedisse Park-EvergreenOpenPAI10-Animal   Planet-Nottingham Park-WestminsterPartially OpenPAI11-Art in   the Park-DeKoevend Park-CentennialPartially OpenPAI21-Oopy   Goopy Science-DeKoevend Park-CentennialPartially OpenPAI23-Science   in Our World-Clement Park-LittletonOpenLyons/Boulder   Area CampsPA15-Brave   Games-Boulder Valley Church of Christ-BoulderPartially OpenPA24-Among the   Pines-Kiwa Korral-LyonsPartially OpenDC24T-Among   the Pines-Kiwa Korral-LyonsPartially OpenPueblo Day   CampsDC25-Wild in the Outdoors-Nature and Raptor Center-PuebloOpenPA25-Wild in   the Outdoors-Nature and Raptor Center-PuebloOpenBear   Creek-Lakewood-Aquatics and other CampsDC12-Canoeing-Bear   Creek Lake Park-MorrisonPartially OpenDC14-Windsurfing-Bear   Creek Lake Park-MorrisonPartially OpenDC20-Countries and Cultures!-Bear Creek Lake Park-MorrisonPartially OpenDC22-H2O   Sports Sampler-Bear Creek Lake Park-MorrisonPartially OpenPA20-Countries   and Cultures!-Bear Creek Lake Park-MorrisonOpenPAI20-Countries and Cultures!-Bear Creek Lake Park-MorrisonPartially OpenMagic Sky   Overnight CampsMS02-It’s Your   Camp-Create itPartially OpenMS03-Brownie   Discovery CampPartially OpenMS04-Scientifically   Speaking…Partially OpenMS06-Brownie   Discovery CampPartially OpenMS07-Crayons   and CreativityPartially OpenMS08-Night   OwlsPartially OpenMS11-Best   3-Day Camp EverPartially OpenMS12-Best   3-Day Camp EverPartially OpenMS13-Moose   MagicPartially OpenMS14-It’s Your   Camp-Create it!Partially OpenMS15-Brownie   Discovery CampPartially OpenMS18-CIT IPartially OpenMS19-CIT IIOpenMS20-Archery   AdventuresPartially OpenMS21-Archery   AdventuresPartially OpenMS22-Archery   AdventuresPartially OpenMeadow   Mountain Ranch Overnight CampsMM01-Becoming   an Outdoor ScoutPartially OpenMM05-It’s Ur   WildernessOpenMM06-Blazing   Saddles IIPartially OpenMM09-Citikids   Wilderness ExpoPartially OpenMM10-Mountain   MusicPartially OpenMM11-Blazing   Saddles IOpenMM13-Backpack   102OpenMM14-Wild   Basin SamplerPartially OpenMM15-Rodeo   Rider IOpenMM21-Rocks and   RopesOpenTomahawk Ranch   Overnight CampsTR04-BackpackerPartially OpenTR12-Bronze   MustangsPartially OpenTR14-Photography   4.0Partially OpenTR17-Golden   Top HandPartially OpenTR21-BackpackerPartially OpenTR22-Muddy   MadnessPartially OpenTR32-Program   AidePartially OpenTR36-WIT IIPartially Open #BearCreekPark #BearCreekRegionalPark #RapmartHighSchool #SandCreekHighSchool

[slideshow] Submitted by Tammi McNeece Parker The Town of Parker held its annual Arbor Day event on Saturday, April 27, 2013 in the Arboretum at McCabe Meadows Park and the Parker Service Unit Girl Scouts were there to help! Girl Scout Junior Troop 2531 sponsored this event for the Parker Service Unit in an effort to encourage support from our Girl Scouts to aid in such a worthy cause. Approximately 80 Daisies, Brownies, Juniors and Cadettes from 20 troops along with a number of parents and other residents of Parker turned out to help the Town of Parker maintain its designation as a “Tree City USA.” “The Tree City USA® program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. Parker has been named as a Tree City USA for 19 years!” The volunteers helped to plant 60 elm, bur oak, white fir, pear and evergreen trees. It only took us about an hour to get all of the trees planted with a lot of support from the Town¹s Park and Forestry team. It was a great event and we all can¹t wait to ride our bikes or take a walk on the Cherry Creek bike trail past the trees we¹ve planted, enjoying them for many years to come. This story was submitted via the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #Parker #Troop2531 #ParkerServiceUnit #communityservice #ArboretumatMcCabeMeadowsPark #Juniors #ArborDay

View more photos from the event Our April 19th Cocktails & Cookie Creations event at Two Rivers Winery and Chateau in Grand Junction was a huge success! More than 200 people attended and helped raise more than $19,000, which will be used to provide Girl Scout programming in the area. Girl Scouts of Colorado thanks all the event sponsors and chefs who participated, particularly our presenting sponsor U.S. Bank. Also congratulations to Christopher Boyd and Michael Aschmann of No Coast Sushi who won fan favorite with their lobster quiche with 118 votes! We also received a lot of great media coverage of the event, including from one of our media sponsors KREX-TV (CBS) (Clip 2). Posted by Amanda Kalina, PR Director, Girl Scouts of Colorado with assistance from Cindi Graves, Fund Development Manager for Girl Scouts of Colorado on the Western Slope. #GrandJunction #KREX #WesternSlope #fundraisingevent #CocktailsampCookieCreations #USBank #GirlScouts #NoCoastSushi #Colorado

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06Z5xoEAnOM&feature] Submitted by Kristin Coulter Denver Girl Scout Troop 3573 chose to help Alzheimer’s patients as their Bronze Award project. Several of the girls had personal experiences with family members with the disease. The girls had planned to make scrapbooks for the residents of the Alzheimer’s center but when they visited the center they noticed that the patients were cold. Even though the center was quite warm the residents were wearing sweaters and coats. Older people can feel cold easily. They often have little body fat or take medications that can lower their body temperature. The girls worked together to make 35 fleece blankets for the patients. They visited the center as often as they could. They also brought cookies, sang songs and made friends. They were able to complete this project through teamwork, using their cookie money and donations. Thank you to everyone who supported them on their journey to make the world a better place! This story was submitted via the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments too. #fleeceblankets #Alzheimersdisease #communityservice #Denver #BronzeAward #Troop3573

Our photo images from staff below are just a hint of the Top 10 Things You Never Knew About Camp, (a great article from on the American Camp Association’s parent page) which include: “10. Camp is older than dirt, almost literally. Started in 1861, the camp experience turned an impressive 150 years young in 2011. The secret behind the longevity? “Camps are constantly adapting to meet the changing needs of today’s families,” said Peg Smith, chief executive officer for the American Camp Association® (ACA). 9. Camp is worth its weight in gold, and then some! The camp experience is life-changing – developing friendships and memories that last well beyond the final campfire. And, there is a camp for literally every budget. Often camps offer special pricing or financial assistance, and some camp experiences qualify for tax credits or for payment with pre-tax dollars. Visit www.CampParents.org/affording-camp for more information. 8. Green is “zen.” Research shows that first-hand experience with nature, like those at camp, reduce stress in children and help them better handle stress in the future. In addition to teaching children how to be good stewards of the environment, camps are teaching children how to enjoy the world around them and take a minute to breathe deep and feel the nature, which ultimately teaches them how to de-stress the natural way. 7. Mommies and Daddies do it too. Camp is not just for children and youth. There are family camp experiences, and camps for single adults, senior adults, and any adult that wants to relax and enjoy all camp has to offer. Adults benefit from the same sense of community, authentic relationships, and self-discovery that children do. Camp is an excellent vacation option, allowing adults to try a variety of new activities in a safe and fun environment. 6. Try this on for size! Camp is a great place to try new activities and hobbies. Afraid of rock walls? According to ACA research, 74 percent of campers reported that they tried new activities at camp that they were afraid to do at first. And, those activities often leave lasting impressions. In the same survey, 63 percent of parents reported that their child continued new activities from camp after returning home. 5. Manners matter, and often linger. The camp experience teaches more than just archery or lanyard making. The entire experience is made of teachable moments, perhaps one of the biggest is how to live with a group of people. Campers learn to pick up after themselves, respect each other’s property, and to say “Please” and “Thank You.” 4. Veggies taste better with friends. Hollywood and fictional novels may have given camp food a bad reputation, but in truth, camps are constantly exploring healthy food options, and often are at the forefront of things like allergy specific diets, healthy snack options, and vegetarian meals. According to ACA’s 2011 Emerging Issues survey, 90.7 percent of responding camps indicated that healthy eating and physical activity was an important or very important issue. 3. If everyone else went to camp, maybe there’s something to it! Camp has played an important role in the lives of some of the most talented people in history. ACA’s family resource site offers a list of notable campers – including business professionals, celebrities, artists, and great thinkers. 2. Camp gets those neurons pumping! Education reform debate and concern over summer learning loss have pushed academic achievement into the spotlight. Research shows that participation in intentional programs, like camp, during summer months helps stem summer learning loss. In addition, camp provides ample opportunity for developmental growth, which is a precursor to academic achievement. And, because of the “hands-on” nature of camp, often children who struggle in traditional education settings do well at camp. 1. Camp builds leaders for the 21st century and beyond! Independence, resiliency, teamwork, problem-solving skills, and the ability to relate to other people — these are the skills that tomorrow’s leaders will need, and the skills camp has been adept at building for 150 years. “Tomorrow’s leaders will not be those who can type or text with lightning speed, they will be those who can have a face-to-face conversation and articulate their thoughts, ideas, and values,” said Smith. “Tomorrow’s leaders will be able to relate globally and find common ground with people who are vastly different from themselves — people from different backgrounds and cultures. Tomorrow’s leaders will be made and educated by experiences like camp.” What are your favorites on this list? At Girl Scouts of Colorado, we are excited about #7! Check out two really cool parent/daughter opportunities coming up at Magic Sky Ranch! June 21-23 July 26-28 #AmericanCampAssociation #familycamp #financialassistance #naturalstressreliever #teachablemoment #summerlearningloss