Girl Scouts of Colorado’s 2020 Fall Product Program is now underway, and there’s still plenty of time for you to get started! Fall Product Program is a great way for troops (both new and existing) to earn proceeds to use for Girl Scout activities throughout the year or to get one step closer to reaching their next goal. All troops receive 13% of their magazine orders as troop proceeds, plus $1/per item for nuts and chocolates sold. GSCO Media Star Juliette from Parker told us what she likes about this program: How many years have you participated in Fall Product Program This is my fifth year participating in the Fall Product Program. Do you like creating an avatar that looks like you? Do you record a message too? I like to express how I look at myself when creating the avatar. What do you like about having an online storefront? Is it easy to connect with family, friends and other customers? Is it fun to use? It’s easier to use the online storefront since family and friends can order on their own time, and  they can also take their time in deciding what they want. What tips for success would you share with girls who are participating for the first time? Those that aren’t interested don’t have to say no directly to you, but (they can) feel free to continue sharing your personalized shopping link. What nut or candy item (s) do your customers like best? Nana really likes the Pecan Supremes and Pa enjoys anything with peppermint. You can’t go wrong with chocolate. What has your troop done with Fall Product Program troop proceeds that you’ve earned? My troop uses the funds we earn to go on camping trips. What’s the coolest reward that you have earned? I like to earn rewards for a plush animal. This year’s theme is the sloth. Thank you, Juliette, for sharing your experience and tips with other Girl Scouts! Want to participate? You’ll find the M2OS log-in instructions and set-up instructions, family guides, and an order card that shows all girl rewards are on the Fall Product Program page of the GSCO website. Parents/caregivers can also watch the How to Get Started in M2OS – For Families video and learn how to help their Girl Scout. Need more information? Go to the Fall Product Program page on our website: https://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/cookies/fall-product-program.html and check out the Fall Product Program weekly update videos posted to GSCO Facebook page and YouTube channel. Questions about Fall Product Program or need assistance? We are here to support you! Contact GSCO customer care at 1-877-404-5708 or email inquiry@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. #Parker #MediaStarprogram #cookies #MediaStars #2020FallProductProgram #MetroDenver #2020MediaStarProgram #FallProductProgram #MediaStar

Join Brownie Book Club for Fall 2020! We will be reading “Judy Moody and the Bucket List.” You can find this book at your local library, bookstore, or Amazon! When Judy Moody finds her Grandma Lou’s bucket list she is so excited to make one for herself. However, Judy must move fast if she wants to finish everything on her list before she starts fourth grade. Girls should read at least the following pages before each meeting: October 6: Pages 1-51 November 3: Pages 52-96 December 8: Pages 97-156 For our first meeting, we will make our own bucket lists. What you will need: Construction paper Printer paper Glue or tape Scissors Makers Pencil or pen Register Here: https://gscolorado.formstack.com/forms/fall_2020_brownie_book_club_virtual Why join Brownie Book Club? Girls will: Gain reading comprehension skills Practice reflection and application skills Read a fun book and participate in activities with other girls! 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 #Brownie #BrownieBookClub #GirlScoutsingatHome #Brownies #GirlScoutsatHome #2020BrownieBookClub #bookclub

Submitted by Lexi J. Western Colorado Glenwood Springs I have been involved in the Girl Scouts for five years. I love all the interesting, educational material and fun activities. I am part of a wonderful troop in my local community. In addition, I am involved with Girl Scouts at home and virtually.  I have already renewed my membership for the 2020 – 2021 Girl Scout year and last weekend, I joined girls nationwide participating in Girl Scouts Love State Parks Weekend. My mom and I have also worked to spread the word about Girl Scouts in our community by talking with others, sharing posters and fliers, and more. I also love singing, dancing, and the theatre. I light up the stage to bring love and joy to the world. Girl Scouts touches lives connecting girls locally, nationally, and internationally. I enjoy being a part of making the world a better place. 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. #GlenwoodSprings #WesternColorado

When natural disasters strike, the communities they affect are often in need of support. Our girls are typically wondering what they can do to help and make a difference, but how do you make sure your response is thoughtful and needed? Donate One of the immediate ways you can provide support to your Girl Scout sisters is to donate a portion of your cookie proceeds or other troop funds to councils in the areas that have been directly affected by disaster. Staff at Girl Scout councils can then work with their communities to provide relief where they really need it. Here are some councils that have been affected by natural disasters in 2020: Girl Scouts of Louisiana- Pines to Gulf Girl Scouts of Northern California Gather Supplies Many times shelters (both human and animals!) are in need of blankets and food, but check with local organizations to see what supplies they need. By doing this, you make sure you are addressing the actual needs and not assuming what is needed. Volunteer If you are local, relief organizations or shelters may need help handing out supplies, entertaining children, or even providing some animal snuggle time. Always check their website or call to see when and where they need help, don’t just show up. Be Prepared Support communities by helping them be prepared for the next natural disaster. By educating and assisting others to be prepared, you will help prevent loss and save lives in the future. Girl Scouts of the USA has developed a tips document for girls and for adults to know how they can help when disaster strikes. 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. #GirlScoutsofNorthernCalifornia #GirlScoutsoftheUSA #GSUSA #naturaldisasters #wildfires #GirlScoutsofLouisianaPinestoGulf #hurricane

Gather around your virtual campfire and grab your s’mores! Join Girl Scouts of Colorado staff from the Northern & Northeastern CO Region as we sing your favorite Girl Scout songs and learn some new ones.  Current and future Girl Scouts of all ages can join us for Songs and S’more Sing-Along on Friday, September 25, 2020 from 6 -7 p.m. This is a free event and everyone is welcome to join in! Current Girl Scouts, grab friend and join the fun! New to Girl Scouts? Don’t worry, we will send a virtual songbook out before the event. Register here: https://bit.ly/32kpf6y Make sure you have room to clap, dance, and move with our song leaders from all across the country. Singing together is a Girl Scout tradition and a chance to connect, make new friends, and share time together. 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 #GSCOevents #singalong #NorthernampNortheasternCO #GirlScoutsatHome

This easy craft is perfect for younger Girl Scouts (or younger siblings) and is a great follow-up to “Arnie the Doughnut” by Laurie Keller. Materials Needed: Glue Scissors White paper or colored construction paper Markers If the construction paper is not available, shapes can be drawn on white paper and colored. Cut two doughnut shapes (the second shape is for the icing- edges will be scalloped), mouth, and small white circles for eyes. Cut, color, and embellish parts. Cut the edges of one doughnut shape to be the icing. Glue on donut sprinkles. Now, it’s time to assemble your doughnut. Glue icing on the doughnut, then glue on eyes and mouth! Almost done. Give Arnie some arms and legs. Do you have a favorite kind of doughnut? Éclair? Apple Fritter? Glazed? Or, doughnut holes? Yummy! 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. #bookcraft #GirlScoutingatHome #GirlScoutsatHome #youngergirls #LaurieKeller #ArnietheDoughnut

You are invited to join the members of the Friends of Pax Lodge USA Committee for a virtual pub lunch to raise funds for the World Foundation for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts with an interest in Pax Lodge on Saturday, September 26, 2020 at noon. Colleagues from England will be joining for a joyful gathering with songs, games, and a (virtual) tour of Pax Lodge. There will also be a live auction and one basket will include a certificate for bed nights at Pax Lodge! Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/friends-of-pax-lodge-usa-virtualpub- lunch-tickets-107730687386?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch The deadline to register is Thursday, September 24. There is a $25 suggested donation for registration and patches will be available for an additional $5 to cover cost and postage. Pub recipes, song sheets, and game boards will be shared at the same time the link is shared with registrants. Pax Lodge Pub Lunch Flyer 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 #GSCOevents #WAGGGS #WorldAssociationGirlGuidesandGirlScouts #GirlScoutsatHome #PaxLodge

* El evento será ofrecido exclusivamente en español y será organizado por el Concilio Caribe de Girl Scouts. ¡Las Girl Scouts de nivel Cadette, Senior y Ambassador y niñas en grados 6-12 están invitadas a “Pensar como una científica” con Johnson & Johnson! A través del Journey (Aventura) de Think Like a Citizen Scientist las niñas aprenden cómo los científicos hacen observaciones, recolectan datos y ayudan a los científicos a llevar a cabo investigaciones científicas e importantes. Durante el evento, las niñas: Escucharan un empleado de Johnson & Johnson hablar sobre su trabajo y su trayectoria profesional. Observarán y recolectarán datos sobre su ambiente mientras trabajan en actividades del Journey de Think Like a Citizen Scientist. Participarán en un proyecto de ciencia donde registrarán datos sobre las nubes para el proyecto GLOBE Observer: Clouds de la NASA. Reflexionaran sobre lo que han aprendido y cómo pueden tomar medidas. Al final del evento, se les alentará a las niñas a crear un proyecto de acción sostenible que resuelva un problema en su comunidad. Después del evento, las niñas pueden planificar y crear sus proyectos para ganar el premio Take Action (premio de Tomar Acción) y completar el Journey. El generoso apoyo de Johnson & Johnson al Journey de Think Like a Citizen Scientist para Girl Scouts de nivel Cadette, Senior y Ambassador preparara a las niñas para experimentar, explorar su ambiente y empujar los límites de maneras saludables, todo mientras aprenden cómo pueden mejorar el mundo a través de la ciencia, tecnología, ingeniería, y matemáticas (STEM, por sus siglas en inglés). 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 #GSCOevents #STEM #Communitypartnerships #JohnsonampJohnson #GirlScoutsatHome #communitypartners #ThinkLikeaCitizenScientist

Register now for STREAM Girls programs and pick up your gear in Longmont or Greeley! Longmont Register here: https://gscolorado.formstack.com/forms/stream_girls_blended_nc_09_24_2020 Gear pick-up at Izaak Walton Park in Longmont: Friday, September 25, 2020 from 4 – 6 p.m. Gear drop- off at Izaak Walton Park in Longmont: Sunday, October 4, 2020 at 5 p.m. Virtual kick-off: Thursday, September 24, 2020 at 5 p.m. via Zoom Virtual reflection: Sunday, October 4, 2020 at 3 p.m. via Zoom Registration closes September 22, 2020 Greeley Register here: https://gscolorado.formstack.com/forms/stream_girls_blended_nc_10_08_2020 Gear pick-up at Poudre Learning Center in Greeley: Friday, October 9, 2020 from 4-6 p.m. Gear drop-off at Poudre Learning Center in Greeley: Sunday, October 18, 2020 at 5 p.m. Virtual kick-off: Thursday, October 8, 2020 at 5 p.m. via Zoom Virtual reflection: Sunday, October 18, 2020 at 3 p.m. via Zoom Registration closes October 6, 2020 STREAM Girls gives Girl Scout Juniors and Cadettes the opportunity to earn a special patch as they serve as citizen scientists, anglers, and artists, to build an appreciation for watershed conservation and the environment. This outdoor watershed experience employs STEM-education (science, technology, engineering, math) plus recreation and arts to explore a local stream. Every person is a citizen of her watershed, and Colorado Trout Unlimited (TU) has partnered with Girl Scouts of Colorado so that girls will get the complete picture of what their stream could mean to them. In this hybrid take home/virtual program, TU will provide Girl Scouts with the necessary gear, a STREAM Girls Field Notebook, and a resource list with videos guiding Girl Scouts through six activities that they will complete over ten days. Additionally, girls are expected to join a virtual program kick-off on Thursday and a reflection meeting the next Sunday to discuss what they have learned. Activities include: Stream Walk – Observing and documenting the stream/river and surrounding area Go with the Flow – Calculating river flow rates using everyday tools and simple math Macroinvertebrate Survey – Investigating the insect life that lives in the stream and support fish Fly-Casting – Developing skills to fly fish and practicing in your own backyard/neighborhood park Fly-Tying – Creating a “fly” to imitate one of the macroinvertebrates commonly found in Colorado Scavenger Hunt/Bracelet Building – Testing your knowledge of healthy streams and creating a unique bracelet to represent your local watershed Activities are expected to take approximately six hours, in total, and can be broken up into several days. Colorado Trout Unlimited will provide the necessary gear and supplies associated with each activity. Gear will be picked-up and dropped off at designated locations depending on which program you register for. Colorado Trout Unlimited has enough gear/supplies for 24 participants at each program. Additional participants may be able to register, if using their own gear or sharing with another Girl Scout. Please acknowledge any shared gear in registration. Adults picking up gear on behalf of Girl Scouts will be required to complete a gear agreement upon pick-up. Certificates of completion and patches will be distributed upon gear drop off. If using your own gear, certificates of completion and patches will be mailed after the program is complete. Please indicate if you are picking up supplies or using your own supplies. As a self-guided event, Colorado Trout Unlimited and GSCO encourages Girl Scouts to complete this activity with their families. Please be sure to follow all state, county, and local public health guidelines surrounding COVID-19. 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. #GirlScoutingatHome #NorthernampNortheasternCO #Greeley #2020STREAMGirls #Longmont #Communitypartnerships #GirlScoutsatHome #STREAMGirls #communitypartners

Did your American Red Cross First-Aid/CPR certificate recently expire? The American Red Cross is now offering a free, online-only 120 certification extension course. This is open to anyone, not just Girl Scouts of Colorado members! This enables a certificate holder to extend any base level certifications that expire between March 30 – September 30, 2020 which were acquired through instructor-led or blended learning classes. To utilize this extension certificate, it must be presented with the expired certificate. To learn more about this extension course and register, view the class listing here: Red Cross 120 day Certificate Extension Course ** Please note this extension does not apply to instructor certifications, instructor trainer certifications, online only classes, or the recently released provisional certifications. 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. #RedCross #RedCrosscertification #VolunteerNews

Girl Scouts of Colorado is excited to announce the NEW Get Outdoors Challenge patch! This is a checklist challenge full of fun outdoor activities for the fall/winter and spring/summer seasons. Complete the required number of activities for your Girl Scout level to earn each side of the patch. This patch is designed to be girl-led and to get girls outside and having fun! Steps Check out the activities. Learn more about the Get Outdoors Challenge patch here. Be prepared. As Girl Scouts, we know the importance of being prepared! If you’re venturing to a local park or hiking trail, first make sure they’re open. Pack sunscreen, bug repellant, snacks, protective gear (sunglasses, hat), and water! Get your patch. Between September 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021, complete the required number of activities for your level from the fall/winter list. Between April 1, and August 31, 2021, complete the required number of activities for your level from the spring/summer list. Share your story. As you work on earning this patch, be sure to share your photos with GSCO on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and here on the blog.  Be sure to tag GSCO, and Twitter and Instagram users should also use #GSColo and #gsoutdoors. Purchase your patch through the GSCO Retail Shop. Head to the GSCO website to find more links to practice your outdoor skills, work on outdoor badges, get outside with your family, and spend time in the great outdoors this summer. 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. #GetOutdoorsChallengePatch #2020GetOutdoorsChallenge #gsoutdoors #camp #GetOutdoorsChallenge

Two years after earning the Girl Scout Bronze Award, Troop 6608’s project continues to make an impact on their community. The Girl Scouts from Centennial rebuilt an outdoor classroom for their school, Willow Creek Elementary. It was completely overgrown, so the girls cleaned it up and built six benches, reusing a couple of dead trees. They also painted rocks. 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 #WillowCreekElementary #BronzeAwardGirlScouts #GirlScoutBronzeAward #CherryCreekSchools #BronzeAward #TakeAction #BronzeAwardGirlScout