On March 19, a massive operation was conducted that included the boxing and shipping of over 6,000 boxes of cookie donations. The cookies arrived at the base location on March 28 and were immediately accepted with smiles from each of the Soldiers. They received two large boxes packed to the brim with Girl Scout cookies so there were plenty to share with friends in the Air Force and Space Force. Here are two of the Soldiers with the cookies and the two cards they received from the Girl Scouts. Although their deployment is coming to an end, there are always Military members overseas who enjoy receiving care packages that provide a little bit of an escape and remind them of home. Especially if it is in the form of Girl Scout Cookies!!

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state. Mary Bucklin in the Western Slope region is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community. GSCO asked Mary to answer a few quick questions about her volunteer experience. We hope you find her as inspiring as we did. Why did you become a Girl Scout volunteer? I first became a cookie mom for my oldest daughter’s Brownie troop in 1982 in So. Calif. I continued with this troop until my youngest daughter was old enough to be a Daisy in 1986. In 1989 I also became the Service Unit Manager for the next 9 years. Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. I have been a Daisy Leader Trainer, a leader for all levels, a consultant/mentor to new leaders, a SUFPM, SUCM, event planner, day camp organizer and director. What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? The one thing I love about Girl Scouts is the growth in self-confidence in the adult volunteers as well as the girls. What do you hope girls have learned from you? I greatest hope is that they never stop being a Girl Scout and to continue the program as an adult leader. Nominate an exceptional volunteer for a Volunteer Award! Nominations are open April 1-June 30, 2022 https://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/for-volunteers/volunteer-appreciation/adult-recognition-nominations.html

Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors are invited to explore water at Chatfield Farms through the lens of important ecosystems of Colorado! Girl Scouts will use STEM techniques to discover how ecologists examine water quality, learn how Coloradans get and use water, and create hydro art. Learn more and register here: https://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/sf-events-repository/2022/-girl-scout-hydro-heroes-at-chatfield-farms.html

Bibrib, the story of kindness, as presented by Gold Award candidate, Caroline Landers, was the STAR of World Thinking Day in Steamboat Springs. All ages of Girl Scouts gathered to hear the story of Bibrib, a frog who can’t say ribbit! The story and the activities were presented by Caroline Landers, of Ambassador Troop 52622, who is working on her Gold Award! The activities served as the World Thinking Day for Service Unit 546/Steamboat Springs. Those in attendance shared their experiences with Girl Scouts around the world and we all focused on KINDNESS. Patches were earned by all!

Girl Scout Olivia from Troop 26237 in Pagosa Springs donated cookies and other items to Denver Children’s Home. Denver Children’s Home helps kids who have survived trauma, neglect, and abuse confront serious mental health challenges.

Summer Ella’s favorite principle of Leave No Trace is “Leave What You Find.” As the only Daisy in Multi-Level Troop 65659, Summer Ella wanted to complete her Outdoor Journey. She had already completed her Buddy Camper and Outdoor Art badges. One thing she loves that lives outdoors is donkeys. She wanted to learn what she could do to help protect them. Summer Ella met virtually with Victoria Schroeder, Executive Director of Longhopes Donkey Shelter, and asked questions about what donkeys need. Then she got out her markers and drew donkeys to illustrate the information the rescue gave her. Next, she narrated the donkey care tips for a video that presented her artwork, posted online at https://youtu.be/iWL1w37LBOc. Summer Ella hosted a virtual meeting with the girls and volunteers of her Multi-Level troop to showcase her work. She wrote an acrostic poem about donkeys and shared it with troop members to celebrate. She glued the artwork to a poster and used her cookie money to purchase a frame. She took the framed poster to the Longhopes Donkey Shelter and delivered it to Victoria, who showed Summer Ella the classroom where children and adults learn about donkey care. The poster was a great addition to the rest of their materials, especially the visual component of teaching. Victoria said the poster would be a big help to teach people what donkeys need. “What this project means to me is donkeys are cute,” said Summer Ella. She is very proud of her achievement and happy to know that donkeys are getting the care they need at Longhopes.

Troop 66861 delivered 306 packages to their Hometown Hero, Bridge of Hope Greater Denver (https://www.facebook.com/DENBridgeofHope/). This organization assists with ending and preventing homelessness for women and children. Through the generosity of our customers, these women and children will be treated to their own bundle of GS Cookies.

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state. Hanna Goff in the Pikes Peak region is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community. GSCO asked Hanna to answer a few quick questions about her volunteer experience. We hope you find her as inspiring as we did. Why did you become a Girl Scout volunteer? I became a volunteer after my daughter’s troop leader moved out of state.  I wanted my daughter to have the opportunities and experiences Girl Scouts had to offer, so I stepped up to give others in our area the chance to be a part of a sisterhood. Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. I started as a parent volunteer with the former troop, and moved into a leader role upon the disbanding of my daughter’s former troop.  I have become a part of the service unit team, both as a SUFPM and the SUCM.  Our service unit is an amazing team that works to better the Girl Scout experience for all of the girls in our area.  I am also a mentor for our wonderful older girl advisory group, SPLAT. What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? Being a leader comes with many challenges.  There are some great trainings through gsLearn about conflict resolution and how to truly be a girl-led troop.  I have had to learn how to request and accept help from others, leaders and parents, included.  I have learned how to adapt and overcome through Covid-19, go back and forth between in-person and virtual meetings, and how to handle sensitive situations that have arose out of the pandemic. What do you hope girls have learned from you? I hope the girls have learned how to be persistent and how to set and accomplish goals.  I hope girls learn that they can be anything they want to be, do all the things they want to do, and that they will always have someone to come to when life is just a little too much for them. Nominate an exceptional volunteer for a Volunteer Award! Nominations are open April 1-June 30, 2022 https://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/for-volunteers/volunteer-appreciation/adult-recognition-nominations.html

Girl Scouts of Colorado is thrilled to announce the dates for the 2022 Highest Awards celebrations statewide. Northern Colorado Highest Awards Celebration – Saturday, April 23 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Meadow Mountain Ranch Western Slope Highest Awards Celebration – Sunday, April 24 from 2-4 p.m., Colorado Mesa University Pikes Peak Highest Awards Celebration – Tuesday, May 10 from 6-8 p.m., University of Colorado, Colorado Springs Mountain Communities Highest Awards Celebration – Wednesday, May 18 from 5-7 p.m., Silverthorne Pavilion Denver Highest Awards Celebration – Sunday, May 22 from 2-4 p.m., Hyatt Regency DTC These celebrations are an opportunity to recognize the outstanding Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award Girl Scouts who have earned their distinction in the last year. All troops and/or girls who have earned their Bronze, Silver, or Gold since March 2021 are invited to participate in a celebration of their choice. Questions? Email Kaitie LoDolce, highest awards manager, at highestawards@gscolorado.org.

Gold Award Girl Scouts are change-makers. They have changed the world, changed their lives, and earned the most prestigious award in Girl Scouting. Congratulations to the 45 Girl Scouts from across Colorado who earned the distinction of Gold Award Girl Scout, the highest honor in Girl Scouts, between March 1, 2021, and March 1, 2022. They include: Kayla Bauer, Aurora Grace Bielefeldt, Highlands Ranch Samantha Bonfiglio Oswald, Westminster Ruby Boswell, Colorado Springs Caitlyn Branine, Centennial Hannah Brothers, Monument Kailani Cantu, Denver Gillian Clark, Steamboat Springs Natasha Curzon, Steamboat Springs Macy Dehm, Glenwood Springs Olivia DiGiacinto, Castle Rock Iris Eisele, Colorado Springs Brooke Ferrel, Castle Rock Hailey Forar, Littleton Lauren Frisch, Broomfield Celeste Fullerton, Carbondale Janae Gadbois, Thornton Bella Gigoux, Grand Junction Allison Graham, Colorado Springs Laura Greichen, Centennial Tessa Griffith, Hotchkiss Kaitlyn Harris, Aurora Anna Hartwick, Broomfield Jessica Johnson, Colorado Springs Jane Kealey, Denver Megan King, Monument Allison Kisicki, Arvada Jackie Lawless, Westminster Ciara Leal, Lakewood Kendyl MacAskill, Grand Junction Julia Martin, Castle Rock Nicole McCloskey, Colorado Springs Alexis Mobley, Aurora Sophie Reynolds, Castle Rock Heather Robson, Colorado Springs Genesis Rodriguez, Arvada Corinne Roe, Westminster Sarah Schumacher, Berthoud Madison Seckman, Centennial Larissa Snoddy, Colorado Springs Zofia Stroman, Steamboat Springs Jayden Thomason, Mancos Alexis Vaille, Dillon Willow Wilson, Westminster Hannah Wurl, Aurora To earn the Gold Award, a Girl Scout identifies an issue in their community, drafts a plan to address a root cause, and leads a team of volunteers to implement it. When the project is complete, the Gold Award Girl Scout and their team have made a sustainable impact on the world that continues to last beyond their involvement. It’s a huge accomplishment that also impacts the Gold Award Girl Scout as a person. How they see the world—and how the world sees them—is forever changed. It’s also a credential that will be with them for the rest of their life; having the Girl Scout Gold Award on a high school transcript or resumé can make a Girl Scout stand out when it comes to college admissions, scholarship applications, internships, and job interviews. “Gold Award Girl Scouts don’t just change the world for the better, they change it for good—and these Girl Scouts embody everything this achievement stands for,” said Leanna Clark, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of Colorado. “Each of these young women addressed an issue that’s important to her in order to earn her Gold Award, and we congratulate each of these Gold Award Girl Scouts on this momentous accomplishment.”

There are 2 organizations for alumni associated with Girl Scouts of Colorado.  Promise Partners has been involved in helping to sponsor the Girl Scout Choir as well as assisting with the International Festivals and planning trips to Our Cabana in Mexico.  This group is open to men or women who would like to gather and help support and expand our reach into the community.  Contact for Promise Partners is Linda Robinson at linrobinsn@gmail.com. The Green Hat Society is a nationwide group of folks who are age 50 and up, who want to stay connected with Girl Scouts and maintain a good connection with girls.  These folks can still go camping, cook out, teach knot-tying, travel at home and abroad and sponsor events to keep the movement moving.  Contact our “Green Queen,” Karen D’Ambrosio at karendambrosio@gmail.com

The Songbirds Girl Scout Choir began in 2002, and sadly has been sidelined for a long hiatus due to the difficulties of meeting and singing in a group.  Before March of 2020, the Choir always met on the 2nd Saturday of each month, September through April, at the Berthoud Elementary School.  Guitar lessons were offered as well.  A big master song book as well as a guitar book and clapping games book were provided.  Royal blue logo shirts are always provided for performances.  This choir is open to anyone.  There is no fee and no registration is required.  It is fun to bring your troop, but it’s also a great experience to bring your family, friends or neighbors.  The choir had sung for many fund-raising events as well as highest awards ceremonies and was featured at World Singing Day in Boulder.  Please contact director, Penny Roberts at probertscolo@gmail.com or 970 586 1775 for updates and information as to when this group will catch up and start singing again.