Girl Scouts of all ages are invited to a special webinar with two expert meteorologists on Thursday, June 4, 2020 at 4 p.m. Register now: https://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/events-repository/2020/meet_a_meteorologist.html Registration closes June 3. Lightning, tornadoes, and storms… meteorologists work with all kinds of weather! Meet NOAA Meteorologist Megan Stackhouse and KREX5 Meteorologist Megan Montgomery. They will talk about what it is like to forecast the weather and their jobs working at the National Weather Service (NWS) and on television. Learn about launching weather balloons, issuing weather warnings to keep you safe at home, and how they talk about weather behind the scenes and in front of the camera. We will also do a weather experiment to show you how to make your own cloud at home! After the presentation there will be a live Q&A session. We will use Zoom to host this webinar. All information on how to join online or via phone will be emailed out to registrants the day before the webinar. Capacity is limited; each individual participant should be registered so we can track capacity. Please do not share the information on how to join with others who have not registered. 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. #NOAA #GirlScoutingatHome #GSCOevents #MeganMontgomery #GrandJunction #GirlScoutsatHome #Meetanexpert #KREX5 #Meteorologist #WesternColorado #MeetanexpertWebinarSeries

A big thank you to everyone who submitted photos of your “at home bridging” this spring! Bridging is an important transition in a Girl Scout’s life. It’s a defining moment when a Girl Scout becomes aware of her achievements and is ready for new adventures and responsibilities. We are thrilled to celebrate the 9,000 Girl Scouts across Colorado who are bridging from one Girl Scout level to the next this season. Watch the 2020 bridging slideshow video now. While we know bridging hasn’t looked the same this year as it has in year’s past, we hope this slideshow video gives Girl Scouts across Colorado an opportunity to reflect on their Girl Scout experience and look toward the next Girl Scout level. Whether the next Girl Scout level brings highest awards, community service, or an overnight experience, we know Girl Scouts will continue to be filled with new adventures, experiences, and opportunities. Congratulations to all the bridging Girl Scouts this year! We hope Girl Scouts continues to build you as a girl of courage, confidence, and character who makes 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. #2020Bridging #2020BridgingVideo #bridging #BridgingVideo

We’re so excited to welcome Leanna Clark as Girl Scouts of Colorado’s new CEO. In her first few weeks, she’s looking forward to “meeting” a wide variety of Girl Scouts of Colorado stakeholders and is excited to learn more about our community statewide. The campfire has always been a place to come together to share stories, learn about each other, and grow closer as Girl Scout sisters. Join GSCO for a virtual campfire chat with CEO Stephanie Foote, as she talks with incoming CEO Leanna Clark. Learn more about Leanna and hear from Stephanie about her favorite memories leading GSCO. Click here to watch. Campfire Chat Transcript A Message from Rae Ann Dougherty As Girl Scouts of Colorado’s Board Chair, let me introduce you to Leanna Clark, our incoming CEO. While I would prefer to do so in person, virtually will have to do for now. History is on our side as Stephanie departs and Leanna arrives. Over the years, you benefited from the legacy Stephanie created. Turns out Stephanie’s retirement aligns with World War II Memorial dedication date (2004), another powerful legacy. Wow! Leanna, a Colorado native, is poised to ensure our ongoing success of providing amazing Girl Scout experiences. Leanna began the same day in history of Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination to serve as the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice (2008)– a fitting highlight of our Movement’s diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy. Do you think we can serve every Colorado girl? I do, especially considering the depth and breadth of Leanna’s experience. Exhilarating when our future is so bright. #StephanieFoote #LeannaClark #RaeAnnDougherty #2020CampfireChat #CampfireChat

Girl Scouts of Colorado’s Outreach Program team has developed a series of “Think Like a Citizen Scientist” Challenges for the week of June 1, 2020. These activities aren’t Girl Scout level-specific. However, they would probably be best for Girl Scout Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors. Each activity correlates with the Think Like a Citizen Scientist Journeys and are weather-related. Watch this video to learn how to use common household kitchen items to make your own hurricane! Girls will learn about the formation of hurricanes and will be able to see how they form. 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. #ThinkLikeaCitizenScientistChallenges #GirlScoutingatHome #STEM #GirlScoutsatHome #ThinkLikeaCitizenScientistJourney #ThinkLikeaCitizenScientist #Journeys

Girl Scouts of Colorado is excited to partner with Microsoft to offer online workshops for girls of all ages. Starting Thursday, June 4, 2020, one-hour workshops will be offered each Thursday and Friday through June. These workshops focus on content from the Brownie Computer Expert badge, but are open to Girl Scouts of all levels. Girls will get hands-on experience with the latest technology from Microsoft as they discover the versatility of computers, safe usage, and more. The workshops are designed to be taken in consecutive order, so do not join a Friday session before taking a Thursday session! You do not need to take each session in the same week. Girl Scouts must register individually for each session they are planning to attend. Registration closes the day before the session. Session One: Thursday, June, 4 from 3-4 p.m. Registration: https://www.microsoft.com/store/event_registration/?eid=711159381&locid=94958 Session Two: Friday, June 5 from 3-4 p.m. Registration: https://www.microsoft.com/store/event_registration/?eid=1667219084&locid=94958 Session One: Thursday, June 11 from 3-4 p.m. Registration: https://www.microsoft.com/store/event_registration/?eid=1847921327&locid=94958 Session Two: Friday, June 12 from 3-4 p.m. Registration: https://www.microsoft.com/store/event_registration/?eid=940152167&locid=94958 Session One: Thursday, June 18 from 3-4 p.m. Registration: https://www.microsoft.com/store/event_registration/?eid=964241137&locid=94958 Session Two: Friday, June 19 from 3-4 p.m. Registration: https://www.microsoft.com/store/event_registration/?eid=1507144622&locid=94958 Session One: Thursday, June 25 from 3-4 p.m. Registration: https://www.microsoft.com/store/event_registration/?eid=86209342&locid=94958 Session Two:  Friday, June 26 from 3-4 p.m. Registration: https://www.microsoft.com/store/event_registration/?eid=543644666&locid=94958 Please note, these sessions are hosted by Microsoft. Girl Scouts should complete the Girl Scout Internet Safety Pledge prior to participating. 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 #STEM #Communitypartnerships #GirlScoutsatHome #communitypartners #Microsoft

While we can’t gather in person with our troops or at camp, check out these links to practice your outdoor skills, work on outdoor badges, get outside with your family, and spend time in the great outdoors this summer. Make sure to stay safe by staying up-to-date on the current COVID -19 guidelines on travel, outdoor recreation, social distancing, and more by visiting the Colorado Department of Health website and reading the Leave No trace recommendations on recreating outside in a COVID-19 era. Pack some snacks, lace up your shoes, and head outside to unlock the Girl Scouts Love the Outdoors patch! You’ll enjoy nature, channel your creativity, and learn fun new things. Need to get outdoors, but live in an urban area? Go Urban Hiking! Visit the Leave No Trace website for outdoor activity recommendations to do as a family, online learning resources, and lots of other resources. Check out Children & Nature Network for tips, tools, blogs and webinars in outdoor resources. Sign up for the Outside Every Day Challenge to receive emails with ideas, tips and resources for getting your family outside every day. Now is a great time to get your outdoor gear in shape for your next adventure! Check out 50 ways to get your gear in shape. Check out the National Park Trust website for at-home activities and distance learning opportunities to help bring the outdoors and parks to you. Visit a Colorado State Park. Select campground are now open for reservation. Learn more on their website. 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. #outdoors #GirlScoutingatHome #GirlScoutsLovetheOutdoorsChallenge #GirlScoutsatHome #2020GirlScoutsLovetheOutdoorsChallenge #gsoutdoors #GirlScoutsLovetheOutdoorspatch

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the cancellation of many programs and activities that 12th grade Girl Scouts had planned for spring/summer 2020: extended travel, bridging-to-adult ceremonies, camping, Gold Award projects, and other Girl Scout activities. In response to this current situation, GSCO will allow a one-time extension for 12th graders to use Girl Scout money-earned funds to reschedule these cancelled activities into the next membership year. To meet the needs of troops/groups or girls who had plans for spring/summer 2020 that were interrupted due to COVID-19, the deadline to use the funds will be extended to August 31, 2021. All participants must maintain a current membership. All activities and use of funds must be directly tied to the mission of Girl Scouts and be permitted by GSCO. After September 30, 2020, these young alums may not participate in the Fall Product or the Cookie Program, and they may not do any additional money-earning to finance activities planned for the 2020-2021 membership year. Gold Award Project Funds The single exception to this guideline is money-earning for Gold Award projects: funds intended to be used toward Gold Award projects must be raised and used by December 31, 2020. Girl Scouts is offering a three-month deadline extension from September 30 to December 31, 2020 for Girl Scouts who are graduating from 12th grade and who seek to earn the Gold Award this year. These Girl Scouts will bridge to adults officially on October 1, 2020 and, without this extension, would be no longer eligible to earn the Gold Award. Funds intended to be used toward Gold Award projects must be raised and used by December 31, 2020. Girl Scouts should follow local GSCO guidelines and procedures for highest awards. Download the full details from our website. Going for Gold? GSUSA has extended the timeline for graduating seniors to finish their Gold Award projects. Girls who graduated in spring 2020 now have through December 31, 2020 to complete their project. The first Gold Award requirement is to attend an official Gold Award training. If you still need to take training, check out the GSCO Events page for upcoming in-person and webinar training dates. Have you already taken official Gold Award training but have not yet submitted an initial proposal? Would you like to talk over your project idea with someone before you submit or ask questions about the proposal?  Reach out to Highest Awards Manager Kaitie LoDolce at highestawards@gscolorado.org for help getting started on your project. #graduatingseniors #HighestAwards #oldergirls #COVID19pandemic #COVID19 #TakeAction #CouncilNews

The Girl Scouts of Colorado Global Action Team is so excited that you will be celebrating 2020 World Environment Day on June 5! Below are the activities for you to complete at home. We recommend completing these activities the week of June 5, but you can dive into them anytime! Step One: Watch the World Environment Day video from the Global Action Team. Scroll to the bottom of this post for a transcript for the video. Step Two: Complete at least one of the two activities listed below. Option One: Measure one square foot. Go outside and choose an area of land—it doesn’t matter where as long as it is about one-foot square. Carefully observe this small space. See how many things you can notice within that foot, things that no one has ever looked at before. This particular blade of grass. This unique pebble. Maybe an insect or a worm going about its day. How many unique things can you find in one square foot? Take about ten minutes to observe your square foot then write down all the unique things you found. BONUS: Observe more than one square feet in different places! How many unique things did you find? Don’t forget to track where you’ve measured one square foot and how many unique things you found! Option Two: Watch “Ask a Scientist about Cuba’s Biodiversity” from the American Museum of Natural History. Ana Luz Porzecanski answers children’s questions about Cuba in this video interview. She is a conservation biologist at the American Museum of Natural History. Answer the following questions: What is biodiversity and why is it important? What percentage of the world’s species of frogs are found in Cuba? What is a hutia? Step Three: Complete the activity listed below based on your Girl Scout level. Daisies – Learn about animal habitats Materials needed: Plastic bottle, 1-2L in size, or milk container Items from the backyard: small sticks, leaves, bark, pinecones, or recycle clay pots Paper Pencil, crayon, or pen Take a Hike. Go out on a nature hike either in your backyard, on a trail, or at the park. Be on the lookout for flying insects. Which ones did you see? Flies, bees, ladybugs, or butterflies? Write them down or draw them on a piece of paper. Did you know that insects live in many places? They live in the ground, on bushes, in trees, and even in your house! Learn about animal habitats and where bugs live by watching this video. Did you know that by kicking an ant hill or taking the leaves off a tree that you might be destroying a bug’s habitat? We wouldn’t want that! How can you protect their homes? Think of the ways you can help protect an insect’s home and write them on your paper. Build an animal habitat. Now you’re going to build an insect habitat. Once done, you can either hide it in a bush or near the ground, or even hang it up in the tree. It’s up to you! Just follow these steps, or watch the video, and you will have your own insect habitat! Get a 1L or 2L plastic bottle. Ask a grownup to help you cut it in half and then cut off the closed ends. You want to make sure you have a cylinder tube with an opening on both ends. Next, you will start to put in the sticks and bark pieces into the tube. You will want to stack everything into the tube, including any pinecones, leaves, and clay pot pieces. Once everything is inside the tube nice and tight, your new insect house is complete! You can either place it in a rock bed, near some bushes, or even tie a string around it to hang in a tree. Thanks for being a great Eco Learner and learning about how you can help protect insect habitats. Brownies – Biodiversity Bingo! Materials needed: Biodiversity Bingo Pencil, crayon, or pen Using the Biodiversity Bingo board (linked above), find five items in a row up, down, or diagonally. Take a walk around outside. Check off all the items you saw outside. You could even put a number in each square of how many you saw. Consider the following questions as you look for items: How many kinds of birds did you see? Did they have different coloring or size? How many kinds of animals did you see that had four legs.? Did the leaves that you found come from trees that had different shapes- some trees tall and slender, some trees large and spread out? How many kinds of trees taller than you did you see? Pine trees, trees with flowers on them, Trees with seeds on them. How many Bingos were you able to make? If you couldn’t find everything in the squares, perhaps you might like to explore a little farther into the neighborhood to try to find more items. Indicate where you saw each of the new items you have found. Note:  As you answered the questions above you are showing the diversity of your area.  The higher the number of kinds of different plants (trees, flowers, etc.). – or different animals (birds, dogs, cats, rabbits, squirrels) you saw indicates how diverse your area is. If the immediate area is only parking lots with little grass and wooden structures with no trees or flowers or animals, then the area wouldn’t be very diverse. Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors – complete the three sections below. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming, when we are constantly bombarded by messages that we are running out of time to protect our planet and that everything is going wrong. When we don’t know what to do, it can be easy to just decide there is nothing that can be done, tune out, and go back to whatever we were doing. However, there is a lot we can do; there is a lot that people all over the world are doing! Educating ourselves about the issues and other human’s actions is a great place to start. The task feels a whole lot less overwhelming when we know we are not fighting alone! Over the course of this week, spend some time exploring these different resources. Find what components of biodiversity are particularly interesting to you and learn how they interact with each other. When we are really interested in what we are trying to work on, it is much easier to stay motivated to stick to our path. Section One: Learning About Biodiversity Do you like to read to learn more? Start by exploring the Youth and United Nations Global Alliance’s Youth Guide to Biodiversity. Start with the first section on page 13 and read the section about What is Biodiversity? Then look over the table of contents on page five and see what seems interesting do you! Do you want to know more about how people are affecting biodiversity? What is interesting about biodiversity on land or in the oceans? What is happening about biodiversity in agriculture? Or, perhaps you would rather watch videos? The TED Earth School has put together a bunch of videos about the nature of our world and they included a great primer on The Nature of Biodiversity and The Nature of Biodiversity Loss. They also have a bunch of videos about all manner of questions relevant to biodiversity. Scroll through the different weeks and find something that seems interesting to you. Or, have discussions with your friends? There are many different perspectives that we can consider with respect to biodiversity. Explore this document for some interesting discussion points. Section Two: What are other people doing? There are tons of places on the internet where people are sharing the activities and projects they are doing. After taking Girl Scouts of the USA’s Internet Safety Pledge, search the internet to find what other people are doing or start exploring at these links. Pick one of the Sustainable Development Goals that’s relevant to biodiversity- Climate Action, Life Below Water, or Life on Land. Explore some of the stories of people working to accomplish the goal! Explore some UN News Stories about what other people are doing. ? Section Three: What can you do? Were you inspired by anything you have found this week? Would you like to start your own project? Would you want to join a project someone else is working on? Does something on SciStarter strike you as interesting? Or, would you rather change a few daily habits and encourage your friends to do the same? Steps Four and Five: If you registered to participate in the 2020 World Environment Day program, check out the email you received on May 31 for information about completing Steps Four and Five. Questions? Email aimee.artzer@gscolorado.org. 2020 World Environment Day Transcript 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 #GlobalActionTeam #GirlScoutingatHome #2020WorldEnvironmentDay #GirlScoutsatHome #WorldEnvironmentDay

Girl Scouts of Colorado thanks Danielle Ardrey and Kelsey Lesniak for co-hosting our “Meet a Forester” webinar! More than 30 Girl Scouts from across Colorado participated in this webinar on May 27, 2020. Missed it? Listen to the recording now. A transcript of this webinar is at the bottom of this post. Danielle is a Conservation and Youth Education Specialist and Kelsey is a Forester. Both women work for the Colorado State Forest Service. Kelsey taught Girl Scouts about her work to manage and maintain healthy forests in Colorado and Danielle talked about Project Learning Tree and the other wonderful educational resources the Forest Service has to offer. Girl Scouts asked lots of wonderful questions about wildfire safety, trees, and life as a forester. We all learned that Kelsey’s favorite tree is a spruce and favorite Girl Scout cookie is a Samoa. Danielle’s favorite tree is an elm, specifically the one in her backyard, and her favorite Girl Scout cookie is a Thin Mint with Tagalongs coming in close second. Listening to this webinar satisfies Step Two of the Cadette Trees badge: Dig into the amazing science of trees. Here are some resources from the Colorado State Forest Service: Colorado State Forest Service website Project Learning Tree’s Nature Activities for Families– More than 30 different fun, easy-to-do outdoor activities Trees in Trouble Adopt a Tree Meet an Expert – Forester 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 #GirlScoutsatHome #Meetanexpert #oloradoStateForestService #MeetaForesterWebinar #MeetanexpertWebinarSeries

Summer is the perfect time to get outdoors safely while social distancing! While you’re at it, join the Girl Scouts Love the Outdoors Challenge. You’ll enjoy nature, channel your creativity, learn fun new things, and EARN A COOL PATCH. If you are unable to complete an activity due to social distancing guidelines, you can find an alternative. Take a virtual tour of a park online, gaze out of a window, or look through family photos of outdoor adventures. Drawing a picture works too! Here’s how to get started: Check out the activities. Learn more about the Girl Scouts Love the Outdoors Challenge patch here: https://www.girlscouts.org/content/dam/girlscouts-gsusa/forms-and-documents/at_home/GSlovesOutdoors_Woorksheet_v5.pdf Nominate someone. We may be distanced, but we’re certainly not distant! This challenge is a great way to connect with your fellow Girl Scout sisters and invite your non-Girl Scout besties to join in the fun! Nominate someone to take the challenge with you. 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. Remember, you don’t have to do all 51 suggested activities to earn your snazzy new patch! Complete the required number of activities based on your grade level. Don’t rush! The Girl Scouts Love the Outdoors Challenge doesn’t end until Girl Scouts Love State Parks Weekend, September 12–13, 2020. This means you have plenty of time to select the activities you’re most interested in and complete them at your own pace. As you earn this patch, be sure to share your photos and videos with GSCO on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and here on the blog. Twitter and Instagram users should also use #GSColo and #gsoutdoors. The Girl Scouts Love the Outdoors Challenge is possible thanks to Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson has been championing women and giving them the tools, resources, and opportunities to succeed at work and at home since its founding more than 130 years ago. Johnson & Johnson’s generous support of the Think Like a Citizen Scientist Journey for Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors prepares girls to experiment, explore their environment, and push boundaries in healthy ways, all while learning how they can improve the world through STEM. 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. #outdoors #GirlScoutingatHome #2020GirlScoutsLoveStateParksWeekend #STEM #JohnsonampJohnson #GirlScoutsLovetheOutdoorsChallenge #GirlScoutsatHome #2020GirlScoutsLovetheOutdoorsChallenge #GirlScoutsLovetheOutdoorsChallengePatch #GirlScoutsLoveStateParksWeekend #patch

Update: This opportunity is for Colorado Girl Scouts ONLY. We are excited to announce that Girl Scouts who participate in the Global Action Team’s World Environment Day 2020 celebration will receive their Global Action Days patch in the mail in June at no cost! Girl Scouts earn their Global Action Days patch by celebrating three Global Action Days (not including World Thinking Day). Learn about all nine Global Action Days using the Global Action Days Toolkit: https://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/content/dam/girlscoutsofcolorado/documents/globalactiondaystoolkit_final_aug2018.pdf Register NOW to participate in the World Environment Day at-home program, May 31 – June 5, 2020: https://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/events-repository/2020/celebrate_world_envi.html REGISTRATION CLOSES FRIDAY, MAY 29. 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 #GirlScoutingatHome #2020WorldEnvironmentDay #GirlScoutsatHome #WorldEnvironmentDay #patch #WorldEnvironmentDaypatch

Girl Scouts of all ages are invited to a special webinar learn about the business side of fashion with Lindsey Nelson, a buyer for The North Face on Tuesday, June 9, 2020 4 p.m.  Lindsey will teach girls about the process of designing clothes, studying customer trends, and picking the best styles for shoppers in The North Face stores and on the website. She will also lead girls through an activity about how to pick the best clothes that you think will be the top sellers to hit your sales goal. After her presentation and activity there will be time for a live Q & A session. This is an awesome opportunity for girls to learn from an expert at one of the top outdoor retailers in the world! Register now: https://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/en/events-repository/2020/meet_an_expert_the_b.html Registration closes June 8 We will use Zoom to host this webinar. All information on how to join online or via phone will be emailed out to registrants the day before the webinar. Capacity is limited; each individual participant should be registered so we can track capacity. Please do not share the information on how to join with others who have not registered. 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 #GSCOevents #Communitypartnerships #GirlScoutsatHome #Meetanexpert #communitypartners #MeetanexpertWebinarSeries #TheNorthFace