Girl Scouts of Colorado is proud to announce that Chief Executive Officer Leanna Clark is the 2021 inductee into the Denver Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Hall of Fame. Leanna, along with this year’s class of 40 Under 40 award recipients, will be honored during the Denver Business Journal’s virtual awards program on May 4. In 1998, Leanna was named to the list of 40 Under 40, honoring up-and-coming Denver leaders. Now as an inductee to the 40 Under 40 Hall of Fame, Leanna joins Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, who was the DBJ’s inaugural Hall of Fame inductee in 2020, in this prestigious group of leaders who have accomplished much and still have their greatest contributions ahead of them. As Leanna took the reins at GSCO in May 2020, the organization was responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and developed a wide variety of virtual programming so girls could continue on their Girl Scout Leadership Experience journey. With Leanna’s leadership and community connections, Girl Scouts of Colorado extended its diversity, equity, and inclusion badge work beyond Girl Scouts to families and community members, and took the lead on a series of roundtable discussions about race. Now in the midst of the Girl Scout Cookie Program, she continues to help girls find new and innovative ways to safely reach their cookie goals and learn essential life skills. Additionally, making a difference in her community, being an advocate for girls and women, and championing female ambition have long been traits Leanna values. She was named a Woman of Distinction by Girl Scouts of Colorado in 2009, co-chaired the signature event in 2014, and has remained well-connected to the network of amazing women. She’s also served on the boards of the DPS Foundation, Colorado Music Hall of Fame, Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Volunteers of America, the Red Cross and many others. #DenverBusinessJournal #40Under40HallofFame #LeannaClark #Denver #somemediacoverageofGSCO #MetroDenver #40Under40 #CouncilNews

Silver Award Girl Scouts Lauren C. and Annaliese A. of Troop 64626 in Aurora are fighting “period poverty” in their community by securing a donation of more than 75,000 sanitary pads. Always delivered the pads to Liberty Middle School in Aurora on Friday, March 5, 2021. The Girl Scouts also provided pad-only dispensers for every girls’ restroom in the school. The girls earned $1,200 to purchase six dispensers, one for each restroom. After purchasing the dispensers, the girls realized they wanted to make an even bigger impact and contacted Always. The company agreed to donate more than 75,000 pads for the dispensers! “We noticed that many students didn’t have access to period products and were too embarrassed to ask the nurse for a pad (which nobody should be embarrassed about, but there has been a generational stigma surrounding menstruation),” wrote Lauren. Through this project which Lauren and Annaliese completed last year, they earned the Girl Scout Silver Award, the highest honor for Girl Scouts in middle school. The girls are now students at Grandview High School. To continue to spread the word about the fight to end period poverty, the girls have also partnered with Period Kits. The nonprofit organization in Denver provides period supplies to those experiencing homelessness. Thank you to CBS4/KCNC-TV in Denver for sharing this story. Watch it here. 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. #CBS4KCNCTV #HighestAwards #SilverAward #menstrualequity #LibertyMiddleSchool #Aurora #KCNCTV #GirlScoutSilverAward #Denver #Periods #SilverAwardGirlScouts #periodpoverty #somemediacoverageofGSCO #MetroDenver #TakeAction #PeriodKits #CBS4 #GrandviewHighSchool #CherryCreekSchoolDistrict

Have you been saving your empty cookie cases and packages? Put them to good use along with other recyclable materials in the Arrow Cookie Box Innovation Challenge this spring/summer! Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors will be challenged to design a prototype that addresses a problem in our community and beyond. Registration will open in early April and the program kicks off in mid-May. Submit your interest form now (https://gscolorado.formstack.com/forms/arrow_patch_program_interest_form), so you don’t miss out on this awesome experience! (PS – Prizes for the top innovations will be announced soon too!) 👩🏽‍🔬🥽📦♻️ 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. #Communitypartnerships #ArrowElectronics #2021GirlScoutCookieProgram #cookies #GirlScoutCookies #communitypartners #GirlScoutCookieProgram #olderGirlScouts

What did you do for your Gold Award project? I created a website and social media presence made up of art created, inspired by, or created during the COVID-19 pandemic. I made it as a way for artists to express how they felt during this tumultuous time. I also created sticker designs in order to raise money for the website. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? I knew my project has made an impact because I have gotten submissions from many different states and communities, all with different perspectives and ideas they wish to express through their art. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? My website will stay active online after I have stopped receiving submissions. This is why I created my sticker designs. I also created a YouTube video as an advertisement to fully explain my project. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? I have received submissions from Ukraine and the UK. I have also gotten a blog up on the WAGGGS website to reach the international community further. What did you learn about yourself? I learned I am more capable of connecting to dozens and dozens of people than I first thought I was. My time management skills were also strengthened as a result of this project. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? I am planning to pursue a career in graphic design in college. I can point to this project as an example of my web design and organizational skills. It could also potentially help me get a job later down the road. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? I feel as though this project was a really good, finalizing way to end my time with Girl Scouts. It represents all the things I have learned and all the friends I have made being a part of it. I’m so proud of all I have been able to accomplish. How did earning your Gold Award help you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? I feel as though my project in itself was a huge risk. Cultivating an online presence is extremely difficult and there were so many times I wondered if this would even work at all. I’m so thankful to say it did. I was lucky enough to have a mentor and support system that helped me find artists willing to submit. **IMPORTANT NOTE: This blog represents only a small fraction of the hard work, dedication, and requirements that go into earning a Girl Scout Gold Award. It is simply a brief summary, which is meant to inspire Girl Scouts to Go Gold in the future. For more information on earning your Gold Award, please email highestawards@gscolorado.org. #AcademyDistrict20 #GoldAward #HighestAwards #PineCreekHighSchool #ColoradoSprings #GoldAwardGirlScout #COVID19pandemic #GirlScoutGoldAward #COVID19 #TakeAction #PikesPeak

Girl Scouts of Colorado extends a giant thank you across 7,891 miles from Colorado to Dhaka, Bangladesh to Proma, a Bangladeshi Girl Guide who participated in our “Meet an Expert” program on February 22 in celebration of World Thinking Day. Missed the program? Listen or watch now on our Meet an Expert playlist on YouTube. More than 60 Girl Scouts from across the country joined the program to learn about Girl Guiding and life as a young woman in Bangladesh. The program was moderated by two young women in Colorado, Cassidy Christian, a Gold Award Girl Scout and active member of the Global Action Team, and Bebe Lin, also a Gold Award Girl Scout, active girl member of the Global Action Team, and current member of the Older Girl Advisory Board. Proma answered questions that Girl Scouts submitted in advance and told the girls all about her Girl Guide traditions, activities, and structure. She also spoke about her favorite foods, hobbies, and her interest in studying biology and genetics. Girl Scouts who participated in the live session or listen to the recording can purchase their “Meet an Expert” patch online: https://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/about-girl-scouts/gsco-shop.html Questions? Email aimee.artzer@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. #GlobalGirlScouts #WorldAssociationofGirlGuidesandGirlScouts #GirlScoutingatHome #WAGGGS #2021WorldThinkingDay #GirlScoutsatHome #GirlGuides #Bangladesh #WorldThinkingDay

Submitted by Kay Martley Metro Denver Aurora We still need APO addresses for Girl Scout family and friends to ship Girl Scout Cookies to them as part of Hearts Across the Miles. Please email hatm@gmx.com  and kaymartley@gmail.com by Monday, March 15, 2021. 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. #HeartsAcrosstheMiles #2021GirlScoutCookieProgram #cookies #GirlScoutCookies #GirlScoutCookieProgram

What did you do for your Gold Award project? I taught people how to sew and I also tied it in with a community service project.  This helped them learn the skill of sewing and then since we made pillowcase dresses, we donated the dresses to people who needed them. How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience? I couldn’t have in-person classes, so I decided to measure my impact on how many people watched the videos I made on YouTube.  I had more than 1,600 views on one of my YouTube videos. How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement? All my videos are on YouTube, so anyone can watch them at any time, and anyone can teach a class on how to make the pillowcase dress or a scrunchie. What is your project’s global and/or national connection? The places that I’m donating the pillowcase dresses to are a church that goes on missionary programs. I’m also sharing my online class guide with Girl Guides in Germany and Italy. I also have videos online that anyone can watch if they have internet access. What did you learn about yourself? I learned that teaching someone how to sew is hard and that you must be adaptable and go with the flow. I learned a lot, but I need to work on my communication skills for how to get the idea across. I also learned how to take charge of things and how to be a better leader. How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future? I have always known that I want to help other people as a career choice. This is just giving me one step closer to achieving helping other people. Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience? Since I did this my senior year, I feel like it’s just wrapping up Girl Scouts, in general, this is the last year to do everything to get it done. I think this is just the last hoorah of a Girl Scout. How did earning your Gold Award help you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? I feel in a way I became a G. I. R. L. I’m an innovator because nothing went according to plan, so I always had to reinvent my idea to go about it a different way.  I think I’m a risk-taker because I have never taught a class before and it’s a hard thing to accomplish and so just trying to get the idea across was just hard and putting yourself out there is a risk. I also had to be a leader during this project because I had to teach other people and to be able to do that, I had to be a leader and have good communication on how to explain how to do each step of how to make something. **IMPORTANT NOTE: This blog represents only a small fraction of the hard work, dedication, and requirements that go into earning a Girl Scout Gold Award. It is simply a brief summary, which is meant to inspire Girl Scouts to Go Gold in the future. For more information on earning your Gold Award, please email highestawards@gscolorado.org. #AcademyDistrict20 #GoldAward #HighestAwards #sewing #ColoradoSprings #AcademyD20 #GoldAwardGirlScout #RampartHighSchool #GirlScoutGoldAward #TakeAction #PikesPeak

Celebrate Girl Scout Week 2021 at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs.  From March 8 to 14, all Girl Scouts wearing their sash, vest, or a Girl Scout T-shirt will receive complimentary admission at the door. (Please note Tuesday, March 9 and Wednesday, March 10 are closed to general admission, but groups can visit by appointment. Contact groupsales@usopm.org for more information or to schedule a visit.) The 60,000-square foot U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs is dedicated to America’s greatest athletes and their compelling stories, with the artifacts, media, and technology behind the athletes who make the United States proud. The Museum focuses on the core values of the Olympic and Paralympic movements: friendship, respect and excellence; determination, equality, inspiration and courage. For more information and contact information, visit https://usopm.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. #ColoradoSprings #USOlympicampParalympicMuseum #PikesPeak #GirlScoutWeek2021 #GirlScoutWeek

Submitted by Ariella Wells Northern & Northeastern CO Fort Collins Some of the girls from Troop 720 had some downhill skiing fun last weekend! The sun was shining. The snow was fresh and great for skiing. The girls thoroughly enjoyed themselves. 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. #gsoutdoors #FortCollins #NorthernampNortheasternCO #skiing

Girl Scouts across Colorado are invited to pilot the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum’s new Resiliency Curriculum Program. The program is called, “Becoming Your Personal Best.” Click here to get started. Next, choose to pilot one or more curriculum module for students in grades 4-12, focusing on the following resiliency skills: self-identity, perseverance, mindset, relationships, problem solving, and/or confidence. Video components highlighting the life experiences of an Olympic or Paralympic role model are included with each resiliency skill. When the module has been completed, pilot participants should complete a survey about their reactions and feedback. Modules have been designed for maximum flexibility. Accelerated lessons will take 15-20 minutes and each full-lesson will take 45-60 minutes. Now more than ever, students and teachers alike need resiliency in their lives. The newly opened United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs invites educators and students to provide critical feedback on a brand new, research-based resiliency curriculum curated by classroom teachers, resiliency experts, and informal education institutions. Before offering this free curriculum to all Colorado schools and after-school programs in fall 2021, the museum needs people to pilot one or more curriculum modules throughout the spring to ensure each activity achieves the exceptional desired learning outcomes we are striving to reach. Questions? Email the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum. Tiffany Stahl McQella Adams 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. #GirlScoutingatHome #ColoradoSprings #USOlympicampParalympicMuseum #Communitypartnerships #GirlScoutsatHome #communitypartners #PikesPeak

Don’t Miss Out on GSCO Summer Camps Making summer plans? There is still time to secure a spot for your Girl Scout at a GSCO summer camp. At summer camp, the adventure is high and the fun is big—like, really big. Girl Scouts will learn new things, explore the great outdoors, make incredible memories with awesome new friends, and so much more.Come ready to play, explore, discover, and have the time of your life. It’s going to be epic! Spaces are still available for overnight camps. Don’t wait, reserve your Girl Scout’s spot today! Family Reservations are open Families can reserve Twisted Pine in Genesee. Reservations must be for the whole weekend and the fee is $300/weekend. Read more information and booking instructions here. Outdoor Adventure Club The Outdoor Adventure Club (OAC) is back! The OAC is a staff-led program offering outdoor adventures around the state that expose older Girl Scouts to outdoor activities and skills beyond what they might do with their troop. Registration opens on March 25 at 9 a.m. for the May MMR Spring Camp-in-a-Day! More information on the OAC page. Help Recognize Outstanding Girl Scout Volunteers Girl Scout volunteers change the lives of girls in their communities every day. Some volunteers go above and beyond all expectations and make a positive impact on their troop, service unit, region, or sometimes the entire council. This past year especially, we have seen outstanding resilience, creativity and determination on the part of many volunteers as they helped their Girl Scouts navigate a world pandemic, all while encouraging them to have courage, confidence and character no matter the circumstance. Volunteers, girls, and caregivers are asked to help recognize outstanding volunteers they know by nominating them for a 2021 Volunteer Recognition Award. Nominations and all accompanying endorsements are due on or before March 31. Nominators are responsible for ensuring that enough endorsements are submitted to support their nomination of a volunteer for an award. Your volunteer support specialist can verify nomination and endorsement submissions for you. More information about the awards and the number of required endorsements for each award is listed on the volunteer appreciation page on our website and in the  Volunteer Recognition Award Guide. You can also learn more about how to write strong nominations and endorsements on the Volunteer Appreciation web page. Questions? Please contact your Volunteer Support Specialist or Customer Support at inquiry@gscolorado.org. Early Bird is Just Around the Corner 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. Amazing things happen when we stick together. We’ve got this. MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Girl Scout membership renewal opens April 1. Virtual Highest Awards Celebration is May 16 Girl Scouts of Colorado’s virtual Highest Awards celebration is scheduled to premier on our Facebook page on Sunday, May 16 Aren’t on Facebook? That’s OK!  Watch on GSCO’s YouTube channel! We encourage families to make the live event feel special for their Highest Awards Girl Scout in any way possible! Dress up with your Girl Scout vest/sash, put a special sign in your yard or front window, or maybe bake something special. You can also share photos and videos from your celebration at home with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Twitter and Instagram users should also use #GSColo. Cookie Box Innovation Challenge Making the world a better place starts with innovation. Together, Arrow Electronics and Girl Scouts of Colorado are challenging Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors to design a prototype that addresses a problem in our community and beyond by using Girl Scout Cookie boxes and other recycled materials for the Cookie Box Innovation Challenge. Connect with experts in innovation with Arrow Electronics. Let your imagination run wild with possibilities. Put your cookie boxes to good use. Earn your Cookie Box Innovation Challenge patch! Compete to win exciting prizes. Watch for a virtual kickoff in May. Final designs will be submitted and judged at an Arrow Innovation Fair in October. Fill out the online interest form and details about the challenge will be sent to you directly as they are announced. Interest Form Cookie Program Update Due to the challenges of running a business during a pandemic, Girl Scout councils around the nation are extending their cookie programs, and Girl Scouts of Colorado has decided to give girls here the opportunity to take more time to meet and exceed their goals as well. The 2021 Girl Scout Cookie program will end Sunday, March 21. Each week we’re seeing additional girls join the Cookie Program because they have seen how cookie sales can be done safely and want to join. The added time will give those Girl Scouts and others who may have gotten a slower start to their season a chance to reach their goals. Of course, each troop, girl, and parent/caregiver will decide whether or not they want to take advantage of the extension. Upcoming Events We have lots of fun events planned that you can enjoy with your family, friends, or your troop! Invite a non-Girl Scout friend to any of these events and show her how fun Girl Scouts can be.  View the events calendar for more exciting events in your community. Be sure to check out our selection of monthly Badge Series and GSCO Clubs. Girl Scout Virtual Spring Break Vacation March 15 – April 15 Are you missing your spring break vacation plans? We’ve got you! Girl Scouts of Colorado is hosting a full month of on-the-go program activities to get that spring break vibe from the comforts of your home. Outdoor Skills Patch – Virtual Kickoff April 6, 5 p.m. Girl Scouts of Colorado is excited to announce the release of the Outdoor Skills Patch! Join us for a presentation of this new program where we will walk you through how to get started on earning the patch. For the first half of the webinar, we will introduce the patch and offer ways to start working on it with your troop or on your own. And for the second half of the webinar, we will work on one of the patch activities together. Meet an Expert: Police Commander April 7, 4:30 p.m. Girl Scouts of all ages are invited to a Meet an Expert session with Commander Suzette Freidenberger with the Grand Junction Police Department. Meet an Expert: Forensic Scientist May 19 – 4 p.m. Girl Scouts of all ages are invited to a Meet an Expert session with Teresa Cheromcha, a forensic scientist in the biological sciences unit for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. She will talk about her education, career path, and what motivates her! Be sure to check the events calendar for more information coming soon on the following events: Meet an Expert: Dietician – April 22 Meet an Expert: Brig. Gen. Linell A. Letendre, Dean of the Faculty, U.S. Air Force Academy– April 27 Meet an Expert: Educator, Citizen Science & Watershed Education – May 5 #2021Connections #Connections

Submitted by Kaela Brooks Metro Denver Denver At EF Tours for Girls, we believe that girls who travel the world become the women who change it. At an adult enrichment event on Thursday March 4, 2021 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., there will be a 20-minute presentation with time for questions. You will learn about safety and traveling with EF, how EF supports the Girl Scout Travel Progression, the steps to travel, and take a closer look at a few of the 20+ itineraries JUST for Girl Scouts! Register for this event here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/learn-about-traveling-with-ef-tours-for-girl-scouts-tickets-138452462041. Those who register will be sent a link to the Zoom prior to the meeting. 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. #VolunteerNews #EFTours #GSCOevents #Denver #travel #MetroDenver