Thank you to everyone who joined Girl Scouts of Colorado on Saturday, May 16, 2020 for our first-ever VIRTUAL Highest Awards Celebration! We honored more than 1,200 Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award Girl Scouts across Colorado. Missed the live event? That’s OK! You can watch the video on our Facebook page or YouTube channel. A transcript of the celebration is below. There’s still time to go to our KudoBoard to share congratulations for your troop and help our Highest Awards Girl Scouts feel even more proud of their huge accomplishments. Also, be sure to share photos and videos of your Highest Award Girl Scout with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Twitter and Instagram users should also use #GSColo. Questions? Email highestawards@gscolorado.org. 2020 Virtual Celebration Script Transcript #2020VirtualHighestAwardscelebration #GoldAward #HighestAwards #SilverAward #SilverAwardGirlScout #GoldAwardGirlScout #GoldAwardGirlScouts #BronzeAwardGirlScouts #virtualHighestAwardscelebration #GirlScoutBronzeAward #GirlScoutSilverAward #SilverAwardGirlScouts #HighestAwardscelebration #GirlScoutGoldAward #BronzeAward #TakeAction #BronzeAwardGirlScout #CouncilNews

The safety and well-being of our members and their families are of paramount importance as we all navigate through the COVID-19 situation together. Because of the continued uncertainty and risks associated with group gatherings, Girl Scouts of Colorado will prohibit all in-person Girl Scout events through June 15, 2020. We will evaluate cancellation plans every two weeks. All GSCO property reservations have already been canceled through June 30, and all GSCO summer camp programs are canceled through July 31. GSCO staff will continue working remotely this summer. Troops or groups with events planned for more than 50 people this summer, should work on contingency plans. We know it’s a bummer that we can’t get together in person yet, but check out the Girl Scouts at Home section of our website and blog for fun and innovative ways to stay engaged. In addition, the GSCO Retail Shop is working on alternative shopping experiences to bring the best service to our members and continue to comply with stringent social distancing requirements. We are hoping to be able to announce more options in the coming weeks. Questions? Email inquiry@gscolorado.org. #CouncilNews #COVID19 #GSCOclosures

This spring 44 Colorado Girl Scouts received the Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouts. These young women are challenged to change the world – or at least their corner of it. Gold Award Girl Scouts are making the world a better place. They’ve completed a large-scale project that solves a community problem not only in the short-term but for years into the future. By doing so, they’ve gained extraordinary skills that mark them as valuable contributors to their communities and world. Colorado Gold Award projects benefited communities around the world. Topics varied from mental health, improving the environment, increasing literacy rates among children, menstrual equity, bullying, access to technology, and more. The following Colorado Girl Scouts are among the 44 statewide who earned the prestigious Gold Award between March 2, 2019 and March 1, 2020: Lakin Altman from Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs Christian School, created “Baby Bundles,” a program to provide low-resource families with clothes and necessities for their babies. She also designed a resource guide for new mothers, so they could know where to go if they need help. Kaitlyn Barto from Colorado Springs, Pine Creek High School, painted a large, colorful (16’ x 27’) map of the United States on the asphalt near the playground at Peyton Elementary School. She also created multiple lesson plans for each grade level (K-6), as well as eight games that allow the map to be used in a fun and interactive way to learn geography. Blakeley Bennett, from Colorado Springs, William J. Palmer High School, created a workshop for middle and high school students, in partnership with Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, that spreads awareness about the impact humans have globally on the environment. Kate Bleyle from Highlands Ranch, Kent Denver School, designed a creative writing curriculum for students K-12. It is available for students of any background (e.g. homeschooled, low-income, the average student). Kate also taught her curriculum with Boys and Girls Clubs. Christine Bolt from Steamboat Springs, Steamboat Springs High School, organized an annual summer camp for children with autism. Each day focused on an aspect of camping and outdoor skills, including building a fire, setting up a tent, and wildlife awareness. Christine is the 2020 Stephanie Foote Leadership Prize winner and will receive $1,000 cash gift to recognize her sustainable impact through leadership. Bianca Bryant from Woodland Park, Woodland Park High School, worked with city leaders to build the community’s first dog park, which is now maintained by the city and a volunteer group. Faith Carino from Colorado Springs created a lending closet band students can use for concerts. She collected, sorted, and organized clothes that everyone now has access to, eliminating extra costs for students’ families. Devyn Dhieux from Evergreen made dozens of reusable grocery bags out of animal feed bags. She also taught others how to prepare the bags to be sewn and even created a “How-To Manual” with instructions on how to make this type of reusable bag. Emma Downing from Colorado Springs, Rampart High School, remodeled the children’s space for a non-profit that helps women, children, and other victims escaping abuse. Emma also provided inventory boxes for the residents that can be used to store and catalog their personal belongings. Emerald Doyle from Colorado Springs, William J. Palmer High School, held a series of drives and collected items to benefit One Nation Walking Together. To date, she has collected more than 3,000 pounds of food, 375 pounds of feminine hygiene products, and 844 pounds of furniture and clothing. Emerald is recognized with this year’s Debbie Haskins Spirit of Girl Scouting Award for her confidence, resilience, and courage in succeeding in life. Hanna Ellis from Vernon, Wray High School, worked with city leaders to increase the number of pet waste dispensers around the town. She also educated others throughout the community about the adverse health effects related to pet waste. Heather Fleming from Englewood, Cherry Creek High School, knows first-hand how children of alcoholics can feel lost and alone, so she developed a series of materials to help families affected by alcoholism. These resources are being distributed by the Colorado Mental Wellness Network and at rehabilitation centers here in Colorado and across the country. Renee Gangwish from Boulder, Fairview High School, led a group of volunteers to restore fences at the historic Walker Ranch Homestead in Boulder County. She also created a curriculum to educate others about the importance of Colorado’s open spaces. Emma Gibbs from Longmont, Silver Creek High School, brought together different organizations at her high school to create an ongoing incentive program as part of an effort to increase school spirit and boost attendance at school-sponsored events and activities. Fiona Goe from Denver, East High School, designed a project to address the lack of informed voters at her high school and in her community. She created a survey to help the participants understand if they are most closely aligned with the Republican, Democrat, or Independent political party. Inspired by her own struggle with celiac disease, a serious autoimmune disorder, Emma Graziano from Arvada, Ralston Valley High School, started a support group for teens living with celiac disease for the Denver Celiac Support Group, a local chapter of the National Celiac Association (NCA). Joslyn Hays from Gunnison, Gunnison High School, promoted the game of Ringer within the community of Gunnison and with tourists. She also built a kiosk by the Gunnison Marble Rings explaining the game of Ringer and its history in her community. Avery Hendrick from Parker, Ponderosa High School, constructed a permanent StoryWalk Trail with 16 signs and six rotating stories at a nature trail. The National Honor Society at her high school is now responsible for the rotating of the signs, changing the story, two or three times a year. Abby Kennedy from Lakewood, Lakewood High School, created a music tutoring program for elementary school students. Students not only improved their performance, but their interest in continuing their music education was increased as well. Lauren Kettler from Thornton, Horizon High School, developed “Popsicles of Positivity” to teach middle school-aged students about the need for kindness and perspective. The program is designed to be a short activity that can be integrated into other programs, such as a class period or club/group meeting. Samantha Kucera from Steamboat Springs, Steamboat Springs High School, created a wilderness skills program for children. Through this program, she ran numerous educational events for more than 230 children, created an online skills guide, and has a booklet available as a Wilderness Junior Ranger Program at Steamboat Lake State Park and as a patch program with Girl Scouts of Colorado. Alexandra Lanucha  from Divide, Woodland Park High School, built a satellite library outside of the Pikes Peak Community Club. Her goal is to help elementary school students develop the six key literacy skills, which are essential building blocks for reading and being successful in school. Those skills are: vocabulary, print motivation, print awareness, narrative skills, letter knowledge, and phonological awareness. Madelyn Letendre from Colorado Springs, Palmer Ridge High School, created a “Buddies Club” at her school. It partners a student with disabilities and a non-disabled peer to form a long-lasting friendship, improving social skills, and reducing stereotypes. Bella Lucero from Thornton, Horizon High School, created and hosted a half day therapeutic horseback riding camp for kids with disabilities in her community, focusing on kids from low-resource families who would not otherwise have an opportunity to try horseback riding as a therapy option. Audrey Pass from Thornton, Eagle Ridge Academy, partnered with detectives and victims’ advocates to create a video and website with accurate and sensitive information regarding sexual assault. Emma Popkin from Colorado Springs, William J. Palmer High School, installed two hydroponic Grow Towers at her high school. These Grow Towers are currently growing a variety of herbs and vegetables, and are being incorporated into a series of educational workshops. Ellie Schueler from Colorado Springs, William J. Palmer High School, addressed a decrease in interpersonal neighborhood connections by writing a book about her neighborhood.“This is Patty Jewett: The History and People of the Neighborhood” includes information on the history of the neighborhood), as well as personal stories from its residents. Taylor Sich from Lakewood, Lakewood Senior High School, created “H.O.P.E” (Hold On, Pain Ends) a program for teenagers to help identify and reach out to their peers when they are in need of mental health support . She also established many peer-facilitated groups at school, as well as created a website for parents and children to find resources and read about the stories of others who are going through the same thing as they are. MariAnna Smith from Berthoud, Berthoud High School, addressed bullying at her former middle school. She installed “bullying boxes” in each of the grade hallways, so students could have a safe and anonymous method of reporting bullying and asking questions. Cassandra Sterns from Arvada, Ralston Valley High School, developed and taught ongoing technology classes through her local library for independently living seniors to help them learn how to use their Android smartphones. Each class taught the attendees how to use different apps on smartphones such as messages, camera, email, and Internet. Jessica Sweeney  from Highlands Ranch, Highlands Ranch High School, addressed the issue of deforestation through her ongoing tree planting initiative. She gathered 31 community members to plant 40 trees and shrubs, as well as two flats of sedges at CALF’s Lowell Ranch in Douglas County. Kennedy Taylor from Elbert, Banning Lewis Preparatory Academy, built an obstacle course for the non-profit Thunder Cliff Shires to help train their horses more effectively. Olivia Tighe from Monument, Palmer Ridge High School, provided military families, who have a family member deployed, gifts for their family during the holiday season and throw a Christmas Party for them all to help relieve the stress of the holiday season. After experimenting with container gardening  herself , Kyra TerLouw from Grand Junction, Grand Junction High School, partnered with Community Food Bank to create vegetable container garden kits that are available to members of her community. They included soil, seeds, nutritional information, and a bilingual “how-to” brochure. Amy Tomshack  from Northglenn, Northglenn High School, addressed the topic of emergency preparedness in schools. She did this by organizing and running a Hands-Only CPR and Stop the Bleed first-aid class, as well as organizing and running an ongoing supply drive to collect supplies to expand her school’s first-aid kits. Julia Trujillo, from Arvada, Arvada West High School, asked Colorado Representative Brianna Titone to introduce a bill on her behalf. House Bill 1131 aimed to create a grant program to provide funding for free and accessible menstrual products/product dispensers in Title One Colorado schools. Julia was named 2020 Stephanie Foote Leadership Prize Honorable Mention and will receive a $250 cash prize for her project’s impact. Bri Wolle from Arvada, Ralston Valley High School, partnered with SCOPE International to share her love of music with children in Kenya. She bought and shipped 60 recorders, 15 to four schools, in addition to recorder books. Nine months later, she visited the schools and learned that her hope to spark a passion for music into the lives of the children half a world away was achieved. 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 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. This year, all Gold Award Girl Scouts in Colorado are being honored with a special gift. Thanks to a very generous donation from a family foundation, each Gold Award Girl Scout will receive a custom Gold Award necklace and cash award. Members of the family want to ensure that each Gold Award Girl Scout in Colorado has a cherished and unique memento of her experience and is rewarded for her tremendous efforts. 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. “Earning the Girl Scout Gold Award is truly a remarkable achievement, and these young women exemplify leadership in all its forms,” said Foote. “They saw a need and took ownership of helping to develop a solution and took action to make it happen. Their extraordinary dedication, perseverance, and leadership are making the world a better place.” #GoldAward #HighestAwards #GoldAwardGirlScout #GoldAwardGirlScouts #GirlScoutGoldAward #somemediacoverageofGSCO #TakeAction #CouncilNews

Submitted by Alyssa N. Northern & Northeastern CO Longmont My name is Alyssa N. My original plan for my Silver Award had to be reconsidered due to the recent lockdowns and school closures. As a Girl Scout, I saw that many elderly citizens had trouble getting what they needed and that they couldn’t go out as often due to concerns related to coronavirus. The City of Longmont had been holding mask drives near our city’s rec center and I was eager to help. I created this PDF (40962780_how_to_sew_a_mask ) on how I made 30 masks to donate to our elderly citizens and how to care for your masks. As a Girl Scout, we are taught to use resources wisely. My mom had many fabrics from previous projects. Some of the fabrics had been cut awkward, but they were big enough to be cut to the appropriate width and length. I was also able to use bias tape which my mom had inherited from my great grandma. I really had to be able to innovate new ways to make the masks easier, but also faster. Because my original plan wasn’t able to work, I had to think of a new way to earn my Silver Award, but also from a safe distance at home. I learned that trying to help a community is not hard to do from a safe distance and that many articles and other cites have valuable information to help the earth. One of my accomplishments during this journey is helping my community during a global pandemic and helping people in need. 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 #NorthernampNortheasternCO #SilverAwardGirlScout #Longmont #GirlScoutSilverAward #masks #COVID19 #TakeAction

Submitted by Merry Hammes Pikes Peak Colorado Springs Troop 42694 selected Fire Station 19 as our Hometown Hero for our 2020 Cookie Program. They are helping our community as first responders during this pandemic and we wanted to show our appreciation. We were able to donate more than 100 packages of Girl Scout Cookies. Due to social distancing, Sara represented the troop during delivery. 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. #GiftofCaringHometownHeroes #ColoradoSprings #2020GirlScoutCookieProgram #GirlScoutCookies #GirlScoutCookieProgram #HometownHeroes #PikesPeak

The Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame highlights extraordinary women with ties to Colorado and their accomplishments to advance the roles of today’s women to levels of heightened recognition and as models of inspiration. Since 1985, the Hall has inducted 162 visionary and trailblazing women from the past and present who have impacted the state of Colorado in an exceptional way. Inductees include teachers, doctors, scientists, politicians, social activists, bankers, newspaper publishers, philanthropists, aviation pioneers, humanitarians, and authors. So many women in the Hall are unsung heroes, “hidden figures” who have endured with superlative strength, beauty, and love. They deserve our respect and acknowledgment as shining examples of the potential of all women. Their accomplishments are a strong legacy, as tall as the Rocky Mountains they stand beside and as broad as the plains they look out upon, and have shaped history and transformed lives. Three exhibits are now available on Google Arts and Culture! Colorado Leaders in STEM and Aviation Colorado Women Innovators in Healthcare Saluting 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage Don’t forget to check out the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame and Girl Scouts of Colorado patch 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. #ColoradoWomensHallofFame #GirlScoutingatHome #Communitypartnerships #GirlScoutsatHome #communitypartners

Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) is hosting virtual tours of all WAGGGS World Centers during the week of May 18 – 22, 2020! Recordings of each session will be available via the GSUSA virtual calendar after each program. Sangam – Monday, May 18, 10:15 a.m. MDT (https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1248350724579030283) Kusafiri – Tuesday, May 19, 11:15 a.m. MDT (https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3718484960235969294) Our Chalet – Wednesday, May 20, 1:45 p.m. MDT (https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7865918686509375758) Pax Lodge – Thursday, May 21, 4:15 p.m. MDT (https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7252239465433661966) Our Cabana – Friday, May 22, 10:45 a.m. MDT (https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6873352156677676811) 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 #GlobalGirlScouts #WorldAssociationofGirlGuidesandGirlScouts #GirlScoutingatHome #GSCOevents #GSUSA #WAGGGS #WAGGGSWorldCenters #GirlScoutsatHome

Girl Scouts of Colorado is proud to partner with Crocs to teach girls to Come As You Are™! Based in Niwot, Colorado, Crocs’ proclamation to the world is to be comfortable in your own shoes. Everyone is unique in their own way and at Crocs, we celebrate one-of-a-kinds and stand together with all kinds. This patch program teaches Girl Scouts to embrace who they are and accept others for who they are. Download the full activity booklet online. Steps Get to know Crocs and their values. Get confidently comfortable with your idea of friendship. Get creative! Use your imaginative innovation to express your uniqueness. Spread the word! Purpose When I have completed this patch program, I will: Be confidently comfortable in what makes me one-of-a-kind. Understand what it means to be delightfully democratic and stand together with all different people. Share what I have learned with other girls, family members, and my community. Please contact the Girl Scouts of Colorado shop at retail@gscolorado.org to order your Come As You Are™ patch. Girl Scouts from across the country are also welcome to earn this special patch. 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. #CrocsComeAsYouArePatch #GirlScoutingatHome #patchprogram #Communitypartnerships #CrocsComeAsYouAreTMPatchProgram #Crocs #GirlScoutsatHome #communitypartners #CrocsComeAsYouArePatchProgram #patch

Submitted by Jessica Holbrook Northern & Northeastern CO Fort Lupton Troop 70757 chose Blessings in a Bag for their Hometown Heroes for the 2020 Girl Scout Cookie Program. Blessings in a Bag is a local non-profit that gathers food of which they pack into backpacks and deliver to local schools every Friday. They provide meals for kids during the weekend when they aren’t able to get school lunches. The kids who receive these backpacks are those in the most need. With COVID-19 closing the schools, these backpacks are needed now more than ever. Our troop donated 200 packages to Blessings in a Bag. They filled two weeks worth of backpacks. 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. #GiftofCaringHometownHeroes #NorthernampNortheasternCO #2020GirlScoutCookieProgram #cookies #GirlScoutCookies #GirlScoutCookieProgram #HometownHeroes #COVID19 #BlessingsinaBag #FortLupton

Submitted by Juliana J. Northern & Northeastern CO Superior To help protect the elderly in our community, Juliana sewed 75 cloth face masks, and distributed them to elderly people in our area.  She delivered 25 masks to individuals and families in our neighborhood, and 50 masks to a nearby nursing home and senior living center. The seniors were thrilled to receive the masks, which were a variety of colors and patterns. She has completed more than 70 hours on the project so far, and has earned her Silver Award. She is planning to sew more masks 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. #Cadette #GirlScoutCadette #HighestAwards #clothmasks #SilverAward #NorthernampNortheasternCO #Superior #SilverAwardGirlScout #GirlScoutSilverAward #masks #COVID19 #TakeAction

Join Girl Scouts of Colorado on Saturday, May 16 at 2 p.m. for the 2020 VIRTUAL Highest Awards Celebration honoring Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award Girl Scouts across Colorado! You can watch live on our Facebook page. You can get a notification that the event is starting, by clicking the “Get Reminder” button on the bottom right of the Video Premiere post. Aren’t on Facebook? That’s okay. Watch on our YouTube channel using this link: https://youtu.be/lgc-0OSV5GM Please note that this link will not work until the celebration starts at 2 p.m. If you log on early, you may need to refresh your screen at this time. We encourage families to make this live event feel special for their Highest Awards Girl Scouts in any way possible! Dress up, have your girl wear her Girl Scout vest/sash, decorate your home, or maybe bake something special. Also, be sure to go to our KudoBoard to share congratulations for your troop and help our Highest Awards Girl Scouts feel even more proud of their huge accomplishments. 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. Questions? Email highestawards@gscolorado.org. #2020VirtualHighestAwardscelebration #HighestAwards #GirlScoutingatHome #GSCOevents #SilverAwardGirlScout #GoldAwardGirlScout #GoldAwardGirlScouts #BronzeAwardGirlScouts #virtualHighestAwardscelebration #GirlScoutBronzeAward #GirlScoutSilverAward #GirlScoutsatHome #SilverAwardGirlScouts #GirlScoutGoldAward #TakeAction #BronzeAwardGirlScout #CouncilNews

Submitted by Sydney T. Northern & Northeastern Longmont This year,  I was a Cookie Captain and I had a lot of fun. I did a cookie rally and pick-up, and I helped a Brownie troop with their first year of cookie sales. I also went door-to-door with a Daisy who was selling cookies for the first time. While attending the cookie rally, I taught the girls about what to do at a booth and what to do if a customer says no, plus what Hometown Heroes are and how to choose one. At the cookie pick-up, my fellow Cookie Captains and I were a huge help to the adults. We told them what number the car was there to pick up their cookies and got the sheet with the cookie amounts to pick up all ready, so the adults could follow the car that was to be loaded with cookies. This event was actually my favorite. I made a new friend who was also a Cookie Captain and I really enjoyed being helpful for the adults. I learned that it was a very difficult job and I have a new appreciation for the workers at cookie pick-up and what cookie parents have to do to get their girls ready for the cookie season. With the Brownie troop, I talked about what to do for cookie sales at a booth and what they can do with the cookie money. After that, with the same troop, I helped them with their first booth and helped them get through it, although they were so good I didn’t need to do much. For a Daisy friend, this was her first sale and I helped her by going with her for door-to-door sales. I was able to help with her money management and built her confidence in talking to people. By the last house, she was doing everything, except the cost by herself. The cost was really trying to memorize all the different possible totals due for different numbers of packages sold. That can be tough your first time. I would definitely do this again and I look forward to doing it again. I have a new appreciation for all the parents who help get everyone ready for cookies. This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too. #CookieCaptains #oldergirls #CookieCaptain #NorthernampNortheasternCO #2020GirlScoutCookieProgram #Longmont #cookies #GirlScoutCookieProgram