Submitted by Ellie B. Metro Denver Parker This was Andie’s fifth year selling cookies. Selling during during a pandemic shifted her selling strategies. She decided to make door hangers for customers in the neighborhood to order cookies, instead of her usual door-to-door selling cookies in-hand on starting day. She brought flyers with the QR code for her site to school and handed them out to her classmates and school staff. She contacted previous customers by phone. She used her family’s social media sites to publish her site and send thank you messages for those who ordered. The new sales tactics were successful. She quickly met and surpassed her goal of 400 packages. The best part was one of the neighbors saw on the door hanger that Andie was going to deliver donated packages to the Heart Institute at Children’s Hospital. The neighbor called to ask for more details, and not only did the neighbor make a large donation, she also told her small business group about it, and some of those businesses also made donations. In the end, 140 packages of cookies were delivered to the Heart Institute at Children’s Hospital, plus three fleece blankets Andie made. Andie’s troop also contributed an additional 256 packages through the Gift of Caring program! We want to hear how your girl is using her Girl Scout skills by taking initiative, caring for the community, and Girl Scouting at home. She can send in her story here. #Parker #GiftofCaring #healthcareworkers #2021GirlScoutCookieProgram #cookies #GirlScoutCookies #GirlScoutCookieProgram #ChildrensHospitalColorado #HometownHeroes #MetroDenver #ChildrensHospital

Girl Scout Brownies and Juniors are invited to explore the outdoors with Catamount Institute’s trained naturalists and earn a badge at the same time! Come for the morning, afternoon, or both! This is not a drop-off program. All Girl Scouts must attend with a parent,  caregiver, guardian, or troop leader. Girl to adult ratios must be met. Pack a picnic lunch if you plan on staying all day. The cost is $10 per session and badges are included in the cost of the program. Brownie Badge Sessions: Senses, Bugs, and Outdoor Art Creator Junior Badge Sessions: Space Science Investigator, Flowers, Gardener Morning Session: 9 – 11:30 a.m. Afternoon Session: 1 – 3:30 p.m. Register now: https://www.catamountinstitute.org/scouts/ COVID-19 Guidelines Here are some of the ways we are working to create a safer environment: This event is for Girl Scouts only to keep our group sizes small. Siblings are not allowed. Activities will encourage social distancing. Temperature checks will be done upon arrival. Staff and adults must wear masks at all times. Girl Scouts will wear a mask in close contact and not up and moving around. There will be hand sanitation stations. Staff will be disinfecting of high contact surfaces and materials daily. Please do not come to the event if you have been in contact with someone who has experienced symptoms or you have experienced symptoms. Check out this symptom tracker from the Colorado Department of Public Health: https://covid19.colorado.gov/covid19-symptoms. Questions? Email info@catamountinstitute.org. We want to hear how your girl is using her Girl Scout skills by taking initiative, caring for the community, and Girl Scouting at home. She can send in her story here. #GSCOevents #ColoradoSprings #CatamountInstitute #Communitypartnerships #communitypartners #gsoutdoors #PikesPeak

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Katy Herstein of Highlands Ranch in the Metro  Denver is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community. GSCO asked Katy 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? When my now 17-year-old daughter was entering Kindergarten, a flyer came home from school about Girl Scout troops forming. I went to a parent meeting and hearing how I could affect the growth of girls outside schools and sports spoke volumes to me. I wasn’t completely aware I was looking for something for myself to grow from as well. Reflecting back on the moment I raised my hand to be a leader, I realize it was as much for me as for my daughter. Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. I began as a leader and very quickly realized that I was very passionate about Girl Scouts and made the move to do more for the organization. I run two troops and am a service unit leader. I also am a member of the MCC and sit on the committee for Volunteer Recognition. What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? I have learned that I have a lot of enthusiasm for learning new things!  Girl Scouts gives girls the opportunity to dive deep into learning new skills and embrace continued growth. I didn’t realize I had such a passion for also stretching my wings and learn along with them. What do you hope girls have learned from you? I hope that I have passed on the process of Discover, Connect, and Take Action. I love this process for everything in life and I talk about it a lot with my Girl Scouts. I feel it is a great process to go through in so many things in life. It triggers curiosity and to dive deeper into understanding things and then taking action in the right places to make a change. Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org. #2021VolunteerAppreciationMonth #VolunteerNews #volunteerspotlight #VolunteerAppreciationMonth #HighlandsRanch #VolunteerAppreciation #MetroDenver #2021VolunteerSpotlight

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Kacey Turner in the Metro Denver region is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community. GSCO asked Kacey 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? My daughter. When she was in second grade, I decided to move her to a new school. She didn’t know anyone and was super shy, so we decided to enroll her in Girl Scouts to try to break her out of her shell. I became a parent volunteer. When the leader left the following year, myself and two other moms became co-leaders together. Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. I started off as a parent volunteer, then I became a part of a co-leading team, then I became a leader and ran my own troop. I also helped out on the service unit team as needed and in a joke at a volunteer event, I stuck my tongue at our service unit manager who was looking for a new service unit product manager and she volunteered me in return. I have loved being the SUPM. We joke all of the time about how you never stick your tongue at the service unit manager. I also help my daughter’s troop with camp in the summer. What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? I have learned to be patient and to just have fun and laugh, and to go with the flow. I think the best moments I’ve had with my girls are when our plans go awry and we just wing it. What do you hope girls have learned from you? I hope my girls have learned to just be the best version of themselves that they can be. To try their hardest and never give up and to laugh and have fun doing whatever it is that they do. Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org. #2021VolunteerAppreciationMonth #VolunteerNews #volunteerspotlight #VolunteerAppreciationMonth #VolunteerAppreciation #MetroDenver #2021VolunteerSpotlight

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Shana Barbera 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 Shana 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 Girl Scout volunteer when my daughter was in kindergarten.  I volunteered to be her Daisy co-leader. Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. I quickly became her Daisy leader and I have continued moving up and leading her group for eight years. I have also taken on a few other roles. I have been the troop cookie manager for five years now. And, I am also the service unit cookie manager and service unit fall product manager for two years now. I also plan on taking on a new role this year with a another leader and we will be training our Cadettes for Reach for the Peak and taking them to the competition. I’m super excited for this opportunity. What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? I have learned so much as a Girl Scout volunteer! I have learned a ton of life/survival skills that I probably wouldn’t have learned or practiced had I not been in Girl Scouts. But most importantly, I get a close-up glimpse of my daughter growing up and developing into the sweet, confident young lady she is today, plus all the wonderful girls I get to work with and watch grow. What do you hope girls have learned from you? I hope that the girls I get to work with will learn from me that it is ok to be different. It is ok to have our own opinions. I hope they learn how to be confident, kind and courageous, and that they always have fun. Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org. #2021VolunteerAppreciationMonth #VolunteerNews #volunteerspotlight #VolunteerAppreciationMonth #VolunteerAppreciation #2021VolunteerSpotlight #PikesPeak

Girl Scouts of Colorado CEO Leanna Clark presented the 2021 Debbie Haskins Spirit of Girl Scouting Award and the 2021 Stephanie A. Foote Leadership Prize to Gold Award Girl Scouts on April 5, 2021. Watch it here. This year’s ceremony was a virtual celebration due to COVID-19. In past years, this special ceremony has been part of Gold Award Day at the Colorado State Capitol. Inspired by her own experience with bullying, Lily Goudreau from Monument, Lewis Palmer High School, wanted to encourage self-confidence and self-worth in middle school students. She did this by painting positive affirmations around a local school and worked with the no-bully club to maintain and add to the affirmations each year. She also created a “lunch bunch” group that helps watch out for bullying and does not allow any student to eat alone. Lily is recognized with this year’s Debbie Haskins Spirit of Girl Scouting Award for her confidence, resilience, and courage in succeeding in life. Elizabeth Gumper from Colorado Springs, Coronado High School, created a rich online resource website, mycareerconnections.com, that gives high school students a personal, insightful look at numerous careers available throughout society through personal interviews with professionals. Elizabeth is the 2021 Stephanie Foote Leadership Prize winner and will receive $1,000 cash gift to recognize her sustainable impact through leadership. Charlotte Blish from Arvada, Arvada West High School, started a nonprofit, Watering Communities, to teach elementary-aged students about how the lack of clean water impacts socio-economic and education resources in developing countries. Charlotte was named 2021 Stephanie Foote Leadership Prize Honorable Mention and will receive a $250 cash prize for her project’s impact. Each year, Gold Award Girl Scouts are eligible to earn the Stephanie A. Foote Leadership Prize. This award was made possible through a generous gift to Girl Scouts of Colorado’s Endowment by former Girl Scouts of Colorado President and CEO Stephanie A. Foote. “I am proud to recognize Girl Scouts whose Gold Award projects have made a lasting impact,” Foote said. In addition, the Debbie Haskins Spirit of Girl Scouting Award is given in memory of Girl Scout Gold Award Mentor Debbie Haskins, who had a passion for working with older Girl Scouts. It recognizes one outstanding Gold Award Girl Scout from Colorado who exemplifies the Girl Scout spirit through courage, confidence, and character. “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.” Open only to girls in high school, the Girl Scout Gold Award is the most prestigious award in the world for girls—and the most difficult to earn. The Gold Award project involves seven steps: 1. Identify an issue, 2. Investigate it thoroughly, 3. Get help and build a team, 4. Create a plan, 5. Present the plan and gather feedback, 6. Take action, 7. Educate and inspire. Of the skills learned through Girl Scouts’ Highest Awards, leadership, organization, and critical thinking are the fundamentals of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Universities and colleges offer scholarships unique to Gold Award recipients, and girls who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces may receive advanced rank in recognition of their achievements. Be sure to join us on the GSCO Facebook page on May 16 for a virtual, statewide Highest Awards Celebration honoring Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award Girl Scouts from the past Girl Scout Awards Program year. Aren’t on Facebook? That’s OK. Email highestawards@gscolorado.org for an alternate link. We want to hear how your girl is using her Girl Scout skills by taking initiative, caring for the community, and Girl Scouting at home. She can send in her story here. #GoldAward #2021StephanieFooteLeadershipPrize #2021GoldAwardDayatthecapitol #GoldAwardDayatthecapitol #GirlScoutGoldAward #StephanieFooteLeadershipPrize #2021GoldAwardScholarshipCeremony #DebbieHaskinsSpiritofGirlScoutingAward #GoldAwardScholarshipCeremony #2021DebbieHaskinsSpiritofGirlScoutingAward #GirlScoutGoldAwards

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Sarah Johnson of the GSCO Global Action Team is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community. GSCO asked Sarah 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 believe in the power of young women and girls to change the world both today and into their future. As a volunteer, I get to help propel this movement forward with my contributions of time, expertise, and energy. Volunteering with Girl Scouts expands my circle of strong amazing women to become friends with while sharing a common bond and goal to make the world a better place. Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. Currently, I serve on the Girl Scouts of Colorado Global Action Team, the Gold Award Committee, and am a Gold Award Mentor. I am also a Lifetime Member, Gold Award Girl Scout, and member of Daisy’s Circle. What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? As a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado, I am being reminded of how a diverse team of committed women can not only work together to advance the movement, but also inspire and support each other to live out the Promise and Law while growing in leadership and sisterhood. Serving on statewide committees, I am learning how Girl Scouts of Colorado operates at a council level and seeing opportunities for meaningful program advancement and engagement for girls across the state. What do you hope girls have learned from you? While I only volunteer at the committee level and am a new Gold Award mentor (awaiting a mentee), I have not yet worked closely with the girls. I hope the movement (the committee work I serve in) has benefitted from my curious mind, constructively productive approach, critical thinking, preparedness, and readiness to see new ways to move forward together. I will be sharing experiences from my citizen science field work in the mountains and rivers with our girls through statewide programming in May and August. My hope for these programs is for girls to be inspired and confident to stay curious, full of wonder, and realize they can investigate anything they can observe, and that they share and celebrate their excitement and astonishment with the world. Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org. #202VolunteerAppreciationMonth #2021VolunteerSpotlight #VolunteerAppreciationMonth #volunteerspotlight

At Girl Scouts, we care about your experience—good or bad—and we want to hear from you! In April 2021, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) be conducting a national survey with girls, parents or caregivers, and troop leaders called Girl Scout Voices Count. (Service unit volunteers will be surveyed in May.) We will use your feedback to find out what’s working and what’s not to improve our services and programs. The surveys opened April 5, so be sure to check your email for the invitation to participate. As a thank you, everyone who completes the survey will have a chance to win one of 20 $50 gift cards! We can’t wait for you to make your voice count! Got questions? Email GSVoicesCount@girlscouts.org. We want to hear how your girl is using her Girl Scout skills by taking initiative, caring for the community, and Girl Scouting at home. She can send in her story here. #GirlScoutsoftheUSA #VolunteerNews #GSUSA #2021GirlScoutVoicesCountSurvey #GirlScoutVoicesCountSurvey #GirlScoutsoftheUSAGSUSA

In Partnership with Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) From Massachusetts to California and Brazil to Beijing, Girl Scouts is proud to serve military families across our country and the world. Each day, we’re inspired by the sisterhood of military-connected girls and volunteers who live and breathe our Girl Scout Promise to serve our country and continue to make a difference (and have fun!) while doing it. That’s why this April, we’re proud to celebrate our military-based Girl Scouts who give so much to our Movement during the Month of the Military Child. No matter where a family’s military service takes girls, Girl Scouts is at the ready with tried-and-true programming and a supportive network that allows girls to continue their unique leadership journeys; build new friendships; and enjoy a reliable, safe space of their own. How can you participate? It’s easy! Upcoming Events April 15 – Purple Up! Show your support and celebrate military-connected children by wearing purple. Purple represents the joint environment of the military and encompasses all service branches, Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard, and veterans. April 20- View from My Window Art Workshop for military-connected children Celebrate Month of the Military Child through art! Each year the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) encourages military-connected children to express their creative side. This year’s theme is “The View from My Home,” showcasing the varying life experiences through the different military branches. Register here April 27- Meet an Expert: Brigadier General Linell A. Letendre Brigadier General Linell A. Letendre is also a robotics lawyer and aeronautical engineering graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy. She will talk about her career, education, and experience in the U.S. Air Force. Register here Celebrate on Social Media Share your story! Post a picture or video on social media using #MonthoftheMilitaryChild and #BecauseofGirlScouts. Tag GSCO on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Twitter and Instagram users should also use #GSColo. You can also submit your story and photos to the GSCO Blog.  Like Chloe did, a Girl Scout Junior with USA Girl Scouts Overseas in Germany: Girl Scouts has been a place I can come to be myself and to experience things I never thought I could. The best part of being a girl scout here in Germany is the girl power my troop has . . . we have bonded so much and have come together through all our experiences. I am so glad that I made the choice to become a Girl Scout, military life isn’t always easy but my troop has made it easier. Color at Home Although we may not be able to gather to celebrate our military communities, you can show your Girl Scout and military pride with our Month of the Military Child coloring packet! Decorate your homes, windows, and communities with your own versions of this artwork throughout the month of April. Earn Badges Visit Girl Scouts at Home to complete creative activities that celebrate you, your families, and your communities. The Carla Montana Distinguished Military Veteran Memorial Girl Scout Adventure Fund Carla grew up in a family where service to one’s country and friendship to sister Girl Scouts were important values. In honor of Carla’s military service, love of Girl Scouts and travel, Carla’s family has made a generous lead gift to establish The Carla Montana Distinguished Military Veteran Memorial Girl Scout Adventure Fund. In March 2020, we reached out to Girl Scout supporters and military families with a challenge to raise a minimum of $10,000 to complete this endowment.  Thanks to donations from many of you and a generous matching gift we have achieved this goal. Distributions from the endowment will provide Colorado Girl Scouts from military families with scholarships to experience the learning, joy and camaraderie acquired through travel and adventure. Learn More We want to hear how your girl is using her Girl Scout skills by taking initiative, caring for the community, and Girl Scouting at home. She can send in her story here. #2021MonthoftheMilitaryChild #GirlScoutsoftheUSA #GSUSA #GirlScoutsoftheUSAGSUSA #MonthoftheMilitaryChild #military

Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors are gearing up to become innovators to make the world a better place through the Cookie Box Innovation Challenge powered by Arrow Electronics! Together with Arrow Electronics, GSCO will be challenging girls to design a prototype that addresses a problem in our community and beyond using Girl Scout cookie packages and other recycled materials. Register now and join us for the virtual kickoff on May 14, 2021! Throughout the program,  girls will be asked to attend workshops and complete activities to get their inner innovators thinking and creating. At the end of the program, all girls who complete the activities will earn their Cookie Box Innovation Challenge patch and be invited to enter the Arrow Innovation Fair and compete for amazing prizes thanks to Arrow Electronics! First Place: $250 and a ride in the Arrow SAM Car! Second Place: A ride in the Arrow SAM Car! There will be one first and second place winner in grades 6-8 and one first and second place winner in grades 6-12. The SAM Car rides will be in the Denver Metro area in late October/early November. More details will be announced prior to the Arrow Innovation Fair. You might be asking, what on earth is the Arrow SAM Car? The Arrow SAM Car is the only car like it in the world – a Corvette modified with advanced electronics so that a former race car driver with a disability can drive the car at racetrack speeds using only head controls and voice commands. You’ll learn how advanced electronics can expand mobility for those who are disabled. You will sit in the co-driver’s seat while an Arrow engineer drives you around a closed course testing acceleration, braking, and sharp cornering. You’ll get to experience a world-class innovation firsthand in this once in a lifetime experience! Questions? Email girlexperience@gscolorado.org. We want to hear how your girl is using her Girl Scout skills by taking initiative, caring for the community, and Girl Scouting at home. She can send in her story here. #oldergirls #Communitypartnerships #ArrowElectronics #2021GirlScoutCookieProgram #cookies #CookieBoxInnovationChallenge #GirlScoutCookies #communitypartners #GirlScoutCookieProgram #2021CookieBoxInnovationChallenge

Raising kids today is essentially uncharted territory, which is why Girl Scouts is here for you and your family through it all. Cheering you on, lifting you up, celebrating your strengths. Today, tomorrow, together—we’re on your team. You’ve got this. Renew Today Celebrate your story in our Becoming Me program, inspired by former First Lady Michelle Obama! As we celebrate your strength, we want you to celebrate how far your girl has come this year and how far she’ll continue to go. Check out our new Becoming Me program, through which girls can explore their stories and who they can become, earn badges, and even attend a special members-only virtual event on May 6 with Mrs. Obama! Kick off a new year of Girl Scouting and save your spot by April 30. You must renew you GSCO membership or join Girl Scouts before registering for the event with Mrs. Obama. We want to hear how your girl is using her Girl Scout skills by taking initiative, caring for the community, and Girl Scouting at home. She can send in her story here. #2021EarlyBirdRenewal #BecomingMe #EarlyBirdrenewal #MichelleObama #EarlyBird #formerFirstLadyMichelleObama #FirstLadyMichelleObama #Obama

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Lindsay Smith 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 Lindsay 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 have fond memories of my Girl Scout days and going to Sky High Ranch for camp when I was a Brownie, so I was excited when my daughter wanted to join Girl Scouts. When she bridged from a Daisy to Brownie, the troop was in need of another leader and I had the time and desire to get more involved, so it was the perfect opportunity to dive right in! Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout. I’ve been a Brownie leader for the last two years and I hope to continue in that role or move up as my daughter bridges. What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer? I have learned the importance of pre-planning, but also flexibility when activities don’t go exactly as anticipated. I’ve pushed myself out of my comfort zone and have learned things right along side the girls when we’re doing badge work. I enjoy being a mentor and watching the girls grow. Most of all, I love hanging out with the girls, being silly, laughing, having fun, and learning from them. What do you hope girls have learned from you? I hope I’m helping the girls feel empowered and confident in themselves and excited about the things we are doing in Girl Scouts. I want the girls to know that our meetings are always a safe place where they can be themselves and build solid friendships. I also hope the girls learn they can set big goals and work hard to accomplish them, not only in Girl Scouts but life. Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org. #2021VolunteerAppreciationMonth #VolunteerNews #volunteerspotlight #VolunteerAppreciationMonth #VolunteerAppreciation #2021VolunteerSpotlight #PikesPeak