Friends make everything better,  so Girl Scouts of Colorado is hosting two Galentine’s Day events on Feb. 13 to celebrate your favorite gal pals and the special bonds of female friendship. Girl Scouts is a sisterhood built on friendships. Join us on Saturday, February 13 from 12-1 p.m. (DBJ) or 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. (CSA) for a fun program when you will connect with other girls, celebrate famous women, make a no-bake treat, complete a craft, and so much more. This is a unique bring-a-friend event where you will have the chance to invite a non-Girl Scout friend to celebrate with you! During registration you can enter their adult’s contact information. If the friend registers for the event, then you BOTH will have a program kit shipped to your house for FREE! Your friend must register by January 31 to be eligible. Program kits are also available for purchase for $30 per kit. By completing registration, you are telling us you will be joining the session LIVE on February 13. Please make sure to mark your calendar and join on time. We will NOT be recording this program. This event is open to only Girl Scouts of Colorado members and Colorado residents. If you are having trouble completing registration, please contact inquiry@gscolorado.org or 877-404-5708. #GalentinesDay #InviteaFriend

Submitted by Lori Major Northern & Northeastern CO Berthoud After a long process, Lorelai and Alexis of Troop 74087 were finally able to finish their Silver Award project! They added another Little Library, including a bench, to the Berthoud community. When asked why this project, their answer was, “We care about the kids in the community and want them to have books available to read that were easy to access when the library wasn’t open.” The process started with a class offered by GE Johnson in Colorado Springs. The girls built a bench and cabinet with the help of the company employees. GE Johnson drew three troop numbers to determine who got the benches. Their troop was selected to take the bench home and install it in the community. The challenge of finding the perfect location took the longest. These girls learned about the construction of the library and bench, as well as how to work as a team. They also learned great communication skills through the process. This project was long and hard but worth the success in the end. 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. #HighestAwards #SilverAward #ColoradoSprings #NorthernampNortheasternCO #littlelibrary #Communitypartnerships #GirlScoutSilverAward #SilverAwardGirlScouts #communitypartners #SilverAwardproject #TakeAction #PikesPeak #GEJohnson #Berthoud

Submitted by Kim Frederking Metro Denver Highlands Ranch Our Junior troop in Highlands Ranch provided “Jars of Holiday Happiness” to in-patient kids at Children’s Hospital Anschutz. Our girls hope these gifts bring some joy and smiles to kids in the hospital over the holidays. 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. #GirlScoutsGiveBack #ChildrensHospitalAnschutz #HighlandsRanch #MetroDenver

Submitted by Patty Hunter Pikes Peak Peyton Two of our Cadettes, Kaiya A. and Vanessa H., gathered ten cases of new and gently used clothes for middle-school age foster children. They did not do this for an award, that are only thinking of those in need. The items were given to Cases of Love just in time for Christmas. 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. #Suitcases #fostercare #CasesofLove #girlscouts #PikesPeak #Peyton

Submitted by Kim Frederking Metro Denver Highlands Ranch Our Junior troop held a food and supply drive for Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Pine Ridge is home to The Lakota People. They have been hit hard by COVID-19.  Pine Ridge median income is approximately $2,600 to $3,500 per year. There is an estimated average of 17 people living in each family home. Many homes only have two to three bedrooms.  We received hundreds of items! We want to thank the Highlands Ranch and Backcountry community for their overwhelming generosity! 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. #coronaviruspandemic #COVID #PineRidgeIndianReservation #HighlandsRanch #Coronavirus #MetroDenver #COVID19 #GirlScoutsGiveBack

Submitted by Danielle T. Metro Denver Arvada McKenna, a Cadette with Troop 62629 in Arvada, is pushing through with her Silver Award project during COVID! Her project, “A Bag of Their Own,” consists of collecting backpacks/diaper bags, clothing/pajamas/hygiene items/books/activity items (birth-17) for kids in foster care/adoption facilities. She had her first drop off yesterday with Packs of Hope in Arvada! 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. #Arvada #Cadette #SilverAward #COVID #oldergirls #PacksofHop #SilverAwardproject #MetroDenver #COVID19

Congratulations to Cadette Abigail R. from Castle Rock! Her illustration was featured on a special postcard sent to Girl Scout supporters statewide in December 2020. “The coat drive is a project my service unit, Service Unit 652 from Castle Rock, did in October. My troop and I participated in the coat drive, and I really enjoyed giving back to the community and helping those in need. The coats that we collected were donated to the organization Facing Homelessness Denver.  I hope to take part in a canned food drive in the future.” – Abigail R. Today’s girls have never faced more challenging circumstances. Remote learning and the difficulties that come with it Disrupted routines and the isolation of social distancing Financial hardship and personal stress impacting mental health and well-being When times are tough, Girl Scouts rise to the challenge. Girl Scouts of Colorado has adapted its programming, and the skills, connections, and resiliency girls gain in Girl Scouting are needed now more than ever. Your support is always important, but this year more than ever, our girls need you. This holiday season, please consider a gift of $30, $65, $125 or more to Girl Scouts of Colorado so that together we can ensure that our girls have the tools to prepare themselves for a lifetime of leadership. Join us by making a gift at www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/donate or mailing a check to 3801 E Florida Ave, Denver, CO 80210. Thank you for giving the gift of leadership to a girl! 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. #Cadette #FacingHomelessnessDenver #oldergirls #funddevelopment #coatdrive #MetroDenver #CastleRock #GirlScoutsGiveBack

Metro Denver Arvada My name is Tehya and I am working to earn GSCO’s Get Outdoors Challenge patch! I did an eight-mile hike, built a snowman, and helped a neighbor shovel. I also went to zoo lights and on a winter scavenger hunt. I am strong and courageous in my adventures. I use my skills to help others and change the world. 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. #2020OutdoorsChallengePatch #Arvada #outdoorprograms #OutdoorsChallengePatch #MetroDenver #camp

Submitted by Kendall Simono Metro Denver Brighton We were thinking about an elderly friend of ours who is going to be alone this Christmas because her sister (who lived with her) passed away earlier this year. And because she doesn’t live in Colorado for us to visit, my daughter decided to make her a snowflake ornament out of beads to let her know we were thinking of her along with a letter. Because we had extra materials, she decided to make ornaments for older neighbors on our block to brighten their day (and maybe their trees) along with a simple note of happy holidays. We’ve been told this really made them smile. Due to COVID, we’ve been spending a lot of time on crafts to keep us busy so why not share them with others to keep a smile on their face during this lonely time (for some). 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. #COVID #COVID19pandemic #MetroDenver #Christmas2020 #COVID19 #Christmas #Brighton

Girl Scouts of Colorado is excited to share a new resource from South Metro Fire and Rescue,  a fire and first-aid adventure! Please use this online resource to help complete requirements for your Girl Scout First-Aid badge. If you use this resource, please make sure to complete the “exit ticket” linked on the last page. Questions? Email reducingrisk@southmetro.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. #SouthMetroFireDepartment #GirlScoutingatHome #FireandFirstAidAdventure #Communitypartnerships #GirlScoutsatHome #communitypartners #firstaid #badge #FirstAidbadge

Girl Scouts of Colorado thanks Ranger Laura from Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park for participating in our “Meet an Expert” webinar series on December 8, 2020. More than 60 Girl Scouts from across Colorado and beyond joined the session to learn all about how to become a National Park Ranger and what the job looks like on a daily basis. Ranger Laura put together an awesome presentation for Girl Scouts based on the questions they submitted when registering. You can now watch and listen to this webinar on the GSCO YouTube channel. Ranger Laura talked to Girl Scouts about the history of the National Park Service and how the parks protect our land, sky, plants, animals, and more. She told girls about black Canyon of the Gunnison – how it go its name, what the trails are like, and what she does as a park ranger there. After her presentation, Girl Scouts had an opportunity to ask Ranger Laura questions live. Girls asked about her experience growing up, in college, and working at other parks. At the end of the webinar we learned that Ranger Laura’s favorite Girl Scout cookie is the Samoa! 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. #NationalParkRanger #GirlScoutingatHome #NationalParkService #GirlScoutsatHome #Meetanexpert #MeetanexpertWebinarSeries #BlackCanyonoftheGunnisonNationalPark

Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors are invited to attend The CELL’S Virtual 365 National Security Event Series: Radicalization and Violent Extremist Today on Thursday, February 4, 2021 from 4 – 4:45 p.m. This program session is for Girl Scouts in grades 9-12 only. Girl Scouts from outside Colorado are welcome to participate. Register now: https://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/events-repository/2021/feb04_the_cell_s_vir.html Registration will close Thursday, January 28 OR when capacity is met. The Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab (CELL) is dedicated to the prevention of terrorism through education, empowerment, and engagement. As a nonprofit, non-partisan institution, its exhibit, speaker series, and training initiatives provide a comprehensive look at the threat of terrorism and how individuals can play a role in the prevention of terrorism, ultimately enhancing public safety. This program has been adapted specifically for virtual learning. A CELL educator will take girls through a lesson and they will hear from Jesse Morton, former Al-Qaeda propagandist, and Christian Picciolini, a former white supremacist. Their remarkable stories will address: Violent extremist threat today Who is vulnerable to radicalization and why Ways to recognize and help prevent extremist recruitment tactics Information on how to join the program online will be included in your confirmation email. This program will be available to watch as a recording for one week after the program date. If interested in watching, please register and use the information provided in the confirmation email to watch the recording. The recording will not be available to those who do not register and will not be available past February 11. Questions? Email aimee.artzer@gscolorado.org. 40963104_cell_gsco_365_flyer_02.04.20 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. #seniors #GirlScoutingatHome #GSCOevents #oldergirls #Ambassador #Communitypartnerships #GirlScoutsatHome #communitypartners #TheCELL #senior #ambassadors