Council News

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Girl Scouts can do anything and everything they set their hearts and minds to! You’ll find it all here.  From members sharing their adventures to Highest Award honorees describing their projects and news from council, cookie updates, travel opportunities, volunteer tips and much, much more.

Don’t forget the GSCO Classifieds too! Looking for Girl Scout materials or have some to sell or share, browse the Classifieds. Have a service to offer or need an expert for your next troop meeting, place an ad.

Cookies, Cookies Volunteers

Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana volunteer Amy Winstead shares tips for navigating eBudde™ Troop App Plus

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From Little Brownie Bakers

Amy Winstead of Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana is a troop leader and area cookie chair. When we talked to her in early January, she was busy helping 30 troops prepare for booth sales. She had the challenge of working out logistics and resolving issues along the way.

The eBudde Troop App Plus is a tool Amy says she uses to get things done on the go, and she has several tips for volunteers who are just learning how to navigate the app and its features.

Amy’s tips for new cookie volunteers

  • Explore the eBudde desktop site first to get a good feel for what’s there. The large format helps you get a bird’s-eye view of the system.
  • Then, download the eBudde Troop App Plus. Almost everything that you see on the desktop is on the app, so you can do most of your work from your phone on the go.
  • Keep eBudde and the receipt book updated, and you’ll have everything you need.
  • Keep it simple and don’t recreate the wheel. If all the information is in eBudde, someone can easily get remote help when needed.
  • Amy is looking forward to seeing how the app’s Cookie Exchange feature helps troops manage their inventory this year. There are always troops that need to exchange with other troops, especially toward the end of the season.

Amy’s tips for experienced cookie volunteers

  • Tired of leaving a meeting only to have “homework” to do? No more. Pull up the eBudde Troop App. Plus, write your receipt and do your data entry right there, where the girls can get more cookies.
  • You know certain booth locations are big opportunities and they fill up fast. Use the app to sign up to be notified if a time slot becomes available in a particular location you like.
  • Remember, if you can’t make your booth time, be sure to drop it in eBudde. The app makes it easy to do this, so we can be considerate of others who would like that slot.
  • If you’re leading older girls, consider letting them enter their own cookie orders into the app.

Because the app is formatted to show one girl at a time, you can keep the other girls’ information private.

“Our goal is to have the girls run the business in high school, so the technology aspect is important,” says Amy, whose own troop is comprised of Girl Scout Cadettes. “We want to get the girls involved in the app, so they are truly managing their own sale.”

Amy’s tips for area cookie chairs

  • Sometimes, two troops arrive for the same booth time and location. Use eBudde as the final word. Have everyone open the app to see who is supposed to be at the booth—and then use the app to find a nearby open booth for the other troop.
  • Helping troop volunteers with eBudde is easy with the app. You can walk them through issues step by step because you can see everything they see.
  • To prevent errors or misunderstandings, it’s generally best to refrain from editing a troop’s information unless you have permission from the volunteer.
  • One of the main jobs of the area cookie chair is connecting who needs cookies with who has too many. Encourage people to use the app’s Cookie Exchange feature to make it easier on everyone.
Events

Girl Scout Day with CMU Women’s Basketball

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Girl Scout Day with CMU Women’s Basketball is Friday, February 22, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. at Brownson Arena, Colorado Mesa University (1100 North Ave Grand Junction 81501).

Join Colorado Mesa University’s women’s basketball team as they take on Fort Lewis College! All tickets are free, and girls will receive a coupon for a free small popcorn. You can also meet and greet with the team after the game!

Email aimee.artzer@gscolorado.org for tickets. Registration deadline is Thursday, February 21 at 8 p.m.

40963104_cmu_wbb_2019

Events

Alice in Wonderland ballet performance

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Submitted by Ali Jaramillo

Metro Denver

Littleton

Littleton Youth Ballet, the non-profit youth ballet company associated with Littleton Ballet Academy, will be presenting Alice in Wonderland. Performances are presented with beautiful backdrops, full sets, and costumes at Lone Tree Arts Center. Follow Alice down the rabbit hole as she encounters such characters as the White Rabbit, Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat, and Queen of Hearts. This production is family friendly and is the perfect way to introduce your children to the ballet.

When:

Saturday, March 16, 2019 at 6 p.m.

Sunday, March 17 at 12 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Where:

Lone Tree Arts Center

10075 Commons St Lone Tree, CO 80124

Parking is free

Ticket prices range from $25 to $36 and can be purchased at www.littletonyouthballet.org or (720) 509-1000. ***DISCOUNT for a GROUP OF GIRL SCOUTS by calling Littleton Youth Ballet at 303-794-6694***

Littleton Youth Ballet is a non-profit youth ballet company designed to give the talented dancers at Littleton Ballet Academy more performance opportunities. Each year our dancers perform a Storybook ballet in the fall and spring, The Nutcracker in December, and a separate ballet performance in June. Our dancers also learn the value of community service by bringing dance into the Denver metro area through community outreaches. Dancers have placed in ballet competitions (including two first place awards at Denver Ballet Guild last year) and received numerous scholarships to prestigious summer ballet schools. This year there are 120 dancers taking part in Littleton Youth Ballet.

Littleton Youth Ballet is a performing ballet company comprised of 105 young dancers between the ages of 7 to 18. Our mission is to maintain a first-rate non-profit youth company of dancers, enriching their lives and those of their families, schools, communities, and beyond. We also aim to provide a caring and respectful environment that offers each dancer quality performance experience to enable them to reach their fullest potential, not only as dancers, but in all areas of life. We strive to encourage and promote dance with dynamic, full-length productions and diverse outreach programs throughout the Denver area.

This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too.

Cookies, Cookies Volunteers, Volunteer News

2019 Best Cookie Dad contest: Dad leads the pack

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Submitted Jenni Grossman

Western Colorado

Grand Junction

Ryan is our troop’s Cookie Dad. He volunteered for this position after joining our troop. He had previous experience doing it for a smaller troop, but he made the jump to managing almost 30 girls and their cookies. He works full-time, so balancing Cookie Dad too is no easy feat! He even rented a giant Uhaul for cookie delivery to make it easier on the other volunteers. He has worked so hard and it’s just the beginning of the season. Our troop is so lucky to have Ryan as a part of our team!

Ryan was a go-getter when he organized cookie pick-up and did it all on his own! He is a leader by selecting as many booth sites as he can to help our girls reach their goals! He takes risks by jumping in to help and never looking back. He is using innovation skills to manage the girls’ cookies, money, orders, and work with parents—all with a smile on his face!

Dads are an important part of the Girl Scouts of Colorado Cookie Team. That’s why we honor dads who help Girl Scouts all across Colorado meet their goals. Tell us about what makes your dad an awesome Cookie Dad and he could win a cool prize. 

Volunteer News

Volunteer View: February 2019

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Product Program

Are you a smart cookie?

Smart Cookie emails are sent every Monday during the cookie program and contain all the information you need for success. Not receiving Smart Cookie? Contact your VSS.
Catch up on this year’s cookie news

Be booth ready

Council Booth sales start on February 15.

While girls are out and about selling Girl Scout Cookies, they often get asked about Girl Scouting in general, and we want everyone to know that Girl Scouts is about so much more than selling cookies! Let’s show all our cookie customers how the world’s largest girl-led entrepreneurial programprepares girls to lead, learn, and succeed all while making it possible for them to embark on amazing adventures, form a lifetime of memories, and unleash the power of G.I.R.L. (go-getters, innovators, risk-takers, leaders)™ to change the world. Share this two-sided sheet  with girls and families for tips on how to answer “Why Girl Scouts?” like a pro! Troop volunteers can also take a look at this Booth Essentials sheet to prepare for scenarios that sometimes come up while selling cookies.
Check out the rest of our cookie program information and resources.

GSCO eLearning

Online training classes are now available on your phone! Mobile accessible courses include Nuts and Bolts (for new leaders), Experienced Troop Cookie Manager training and cookie program enrichment classes. You can view the classes, take quizzes, and download class resources and completion certificates, all on your mobile device!

Head over to the GSCO eLearning site to complete your training classes.

If you need assistance accessing our eLearning site, please contact Shannon Weaver, adult experience manager, at (303) 607-4897 or email her at Shannon.Weaver@gscolorado.org.

Outdoor Programs

Join us at our upcoming Outdoor Program events! You can find all of our year-round events on the blog.

Free Camp Open Houses

Our free open houses are a great way to help your camper prepare for camp, and you too!  Take a staff-led or self-guided tour of camp, get those burning questions answered, and help little ones feel comfortable to attend camp this summer. Visit the different sleeping and program areas to get an idea of what the summer ahead looks like. Staff from Mountain Berry Culinary will also be available to answer any meal-related questions. Let’s bring on summer! Open to all ages.

Tomahawk Ranch Open House:  Sunday, February 24, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Sky High Ranch Open House: Saturday, March 9, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Sky High Ranch April Open House: Sunday, April 28, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Outdoor Adventure Club

Outdoor Adventure Club Trailblazers Snow Mountain Ranch 

Our entire group will go dog-sledding and cross-country skiing on wintry trails. In the evening we will have a group pool party and roller-skating night. Everyone loved this event last year so much we are doing it again!

Dates: March 16-17

Program level: Cadette- Ambassador (7-12 grade)

Cost: $115/girl, free for Trailblazers Passport holders

Outdoor Adventure Club Explorers Keystone Science School Snow Spectacular 

We partnered with Keystone Science School for a weekend of play in the snowy mountains! You’ll cross-country ski, snowshoe, use an astronomy telescope, and compete in a winter Olympics challenge.

Date: March 30-31

Program Level: Cadette (sixth grade).

Cost: $110/girl, free for Explorers Passport holders

Outdoor Program Training

Archery Training: This Level 1 USAAA Archery Training will allow you to lead your troop in archery and reserve the statewide archery set.

Date: Saturday, March 23

Time: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Location: Twisted Pines, Genesee,CO

Cost: $45

Outdoor Skills Learning Events

Calling all Girl Scouts who want to increase their outdoor skills and abilities! Girls will learn or improve skills including knife-craft, using a compass, fire building, setting up camp, leaving no-trace, planning a camp out, and much more!

  • Program level: Girl Scouts first grade and older, no experience necessary.
  • Cost: $17/girl, includes hot lunch and outdoor skills patch.
  •  Three dates available

Highest Awards

Save the Date: Highest Awards Celebrations

Girl Scouts who are working on their Bronze or Silver awards have until March 1 to submit the Bronze and Silver Notification Form to be invited to the 2019 Highest Awards Celebrations. Find a celebration in your area.

Questions? Kaitie LoDolce, highest awards manager, at highestawards@gscolorado.org.

Upcoming Events

Harlem Globetrotters at CMU

February 28, Grand Junction

See event flyer on the online calendar for discounted ticket details. Deadline to order tickets is February 25 at 12 p.m.

Habitat Badge Day at the Pueblo Zoo

March 23, Pueblo

Girl Scout Juniors are invited to the Pueblo Zoo to work on their Habitat Badge!

Disney on Ice at the Broadmoor World Arena

March 23, Colorado Springs

Discounted tickets available at $18/person.

Girl Scout Pajama Jam with the Colorado Nuggets

March 2, Denver

Cheer on the Nuggets as they take on the New Orleans Pelicans. Tickets are on sale now.

CSU Campus Tour with Kappa Delta

March 30, Fort Collins

Fun and educational event for Girl Scouts to learn more about CSU and college in general. Please RSVP to phiepsilonvpcs@gmail.com by March 23.

Girl Scout News, Girl Scouts News

Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame

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Submitted by Mikayla Geeve

Metro Denver

Westminster

I learned about women who are part of the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame. I researched these three women: Lily Nie, Marion Downs, and Jill Tietjen.

Lily Nie helped Chinese babies from orphans and brought them to America to be adopted. She did this because foreigners could not adopt Chinese children.

Marion Downs was able to change the world by giving babies hearing aids, so that they could learn and read at the same time that other kids did. She did this to help these kids be able to learn, write, and read at the age of about 5-6, instead of waiting to be tested at 9-10. This would be better, since they could have a better understanding of reading and writing.

Jill Tietjen writes books about other women’s successes who changed the world. By writing these books, other women could be inspired to do the same, and do something good for the world.

Overall, I learned that women all over the world can accomplish anything if they set their minds to it, and have a passion of their interest.

The Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame is excited to partner with Girl Scouts of Colorado to provide girls across the state an opportunity to learn the stories of women who have shaped our state and the nation’s history with courage, leadership, intelligence, and creativity. Girl Scouts are future female leaders of Colorado and the Hall of Fame recognizes and preserves the accomplishments of past and present Colorado women. – M.L. Hanson, Founder of the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame

Thanks to Mikayla for sharing her story earning this special patch with Girl Scouts of Colorado!

Girl Scout News, Girl Scouts News

Centennial Juniors take action to help homeless animals

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Submitted by Niki Spiers

Metro Denver

Centennial

Girl Scout Juniors from Troop 60168 decided to take action to help homeless animals. The troop finished up their Outdoor Journey by visiting the Dumb Friends League in Denver. The fourth graders learned what the current needs for the shelter were and set out to collect donations. They made posters, asking for donations and hung them in Peabody Elementary. Then, they made school announcements requesting donations. They reached out to family, friends, and neighbors for donations. On January 29, 2019, they arrived at Dumb Friends League with bags of paper towels, Q-tips, cotton balls, dish soap, and more! During their tour, they learned Dumb Friends League helps over 22,000 animals every year with most homeless dogs and cats being adopted within two weeks! It was a fun and educational visit for both Girl Scouts and parents. Everyone left grateful knowing homeless animals were being well taken care of at the Dumb Friends League!

This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too.

Girl Scout News, Girl Scouts News

Daisy’s Circle supporter spotlight: Nancy Muklow

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Tell us about your connection to Girl Scouts.

From Girl Scout Brownie Troop 54 in Wyoming to the present, Girl Scouts have been a part of my life. My fondest memories are of Girl Scout Camp and Wider Opportunities in the United States, Canada, and Norway. In high school, when I moved to the Mountain Prairie council, I was the first to earn my Gold Award there in 1981. I progressed through collegiate Girl Scouting at CSU and led my first Cadette troop in the Wagon Wheel council, and moved to Chipeta where I was Steamboat’s service unit manager until my boys grew into 4H age. I took a hiatus to be in their activities and now continue as service unit manager, Daisy and Cadette leader, Gold Mentor, and former GSCO Board Member and MCC member.

Why did you join Daisy’s Circle?

As a Lifetime Girl Scout, I continue to see the value of Girl Scouts in today’s world. I want to show my continued financial support for Girl Scouts, locally and statewide. As an avid volunteer, it’s only natural to put my money where my volunteer heart beats… Girl Scouts! AND I like the opportunity to join with other like-minded folks to support a movement that is growing and helping to change the world!

Why is monthly giving important?

Monthly giving makes it easy and shows consistent support. It is easy to change the monthly giving amount if circumstances change one way or another.

Why should other people join Daisy’s Circle?

Daisy’s Circle impacts the lives of our Girl Scouts, go-getters, innovators, risk-takers, and leaders. It helps to be sure no girl is left out, that exciting programming continues, and that we ensure a future for this movement for girls!

What is the most valuable thing that Girl Scouts gives girls today?

Girl Scouts gives girls a platform for leadership, a chance to learn together, explore in a safe and adventuresome environment, and experience friendships with a sisterhood of girls and women worldwide.

Why is it important to support Girl Scouts and other youth organizations?

Girl Scouts and other youth organizations give the opportunity to learn about our world and its opportunities, pitfalls, and rising stars. It’s an investment in the future!

Is there anything else you would like us to know about you?

My Girl Scout adventures are endless and they continue to grow each year as I take on leadership of another troop or another event or another mentoring role. As an adult, it’s just as important to me as it was when I was growing up. Many lives are touched by Girl Scouts, both girls and women, and community leaders. I enjoy pulling those worlds together by exploring the world of Girl Scouts!

Named after Girl Scout founder, Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low, Daisy’s Circle is Girl Scouts of Colorado’s monthly giving program. Funds raised through Daisy’s Circle provide financial assistance for girls and volunteers, support Outreach Programs and more.  For more information: https://www.gscodaisyscircle.org/

Cookies, Cookies Volunteers, Volunteer News

2019 Best Cookie Dad contest: My dancing dad

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Submitted by Jon S.

Northern & Northeastern CO

Fort Collins

My dad says to just have fun with it. He dances and acts goofy – and that gets cars to stop at our booth and buy cookies. He is awesome and makes all the hard work fun!

I am nine and a Junior, but I can be shy. Cookies have helped me get tons more comfortable talking to people.

Dads are an important part of the Girl Scouts of Colorado Cookie Team. That’s why we honor dads who help Girl Scouts all across Colorado meet their goals. Tell us about what makes your dad an awesome Cookie Dad and he could win a cool prize. 

Girl Scout News, Girl Scouts News

Daisies earn cybersecurity patch

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Submitted by Anna Coconati

Metro Denver

Roxborough

Daisy Troop 68098 from Roxborough earned the cybersecurity patch! We learned about the parts of a computer. We also sent a message to our friends along a string. By the time we sent the message to each friend, we could see that our “computers” had many connections and the string looked like a web. Finally, we learned that it is important to protect our information, and we demonstrated this by wrapping layers of protection around a treasure. We got to decorate our treasure boxes, then protected them with layers of paper, tape, bubble wrap, and plastic bags.

By completing this activity, the girls will earn this special cybersecurity patch. Learn how to earn yours.

Girl Scouts of Colorado