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Celebrate World Thinking Day in Durango

Girl Scouts are invited to celebrate World Thinking Day and learn about Girl Scouts around the world. Girls will “visit” the five Girl Scout World Centers and learn about each Center and do a craft or game from the area.

When: 

Saturday, April 6, 2019

9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Where:

Florida Mesa Presbyterian Church

Durango

Cost: FREE

This is not a drop-off event. Girl Scouts must attend with a troop leader, parent, or guardian. Adult-to-girl ratios must be met.

Register online by April 1 at: https://gscolorado.formstack.com/forms/world_thinking_day_durango_sw_4_6_2019

GSCO Photo Challenge: Brownies away from home

Submitted by Karen Grealy

Metro Denver

Parker

In 2018, our Girl Scouts attended the Brownie Camporee at Tomahawk Ranch. They were between 7 and 8-years-old, and for nearly all the girls, it was their first time away from home. Not only did they earn their “Girl Scout Way” and “Potter” badges, they also completed the “Wonders of Water” Journey by assisting with planting a garden at Tomahawk. They had a wonderful time!

These Girl Scouts were risk-takers by leaving their parents for two nights. It was hard for some of them, but they ended-up having so much fun. They will be spending their 2019 cookie proceeds on camp again this year!

Girl Scouts of Colorado is hosting a photo challenge! Just submit your favorite Girl Scout photo and the story behind it using the Share Your Stories form (www.gscoblog.org/share). Winners will be featured in future GSCO marketing materials, on GSCO’s social media networks, and on the GSCO Blog.

Gold Award Girl Scout: Summer Gehman, Littleton, “The Roundup River Library”

What did you do for your Gold Award project?

For my Gold Award project, I built a library at Roundup River Ranch. The camp is for children who have or have had life-threatening illnesses. Due to the children having these illnesses, they are missing school and their literacy rates are dropping. The library that was built at the camp to address that problem, along with giving the campers something to do.

How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience?

To measure the impact on my project, I went directly to the people who are going to be using it. I asked the campers for their feedback and also got families and camp staff to give me feedback. Through their feedback, I was able to see how my project was going to affect the campers.

How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement?

To make sure that my project would continue after I finished it, I asked my project supervisor to sign a letter of commitment. On top of a letter of commitment, I left extra supplies for the checkout system, so it would last them longer. Lastly, the camp helped me come up with the idea of the library.

What is your project’s global and/or national connection?

For my global connection, I ended up working with a non-profit organization located in Kentucky called the International Book Project. This organization works with third world countries to increase literacy rates.

What did you learn about yourself?

This project helped me learn a lot of good and bad things about myself. One of the main things that I was able to learn was that I am not a people person and like to have my alone time to work on my projects. I also got to see how much of a perfectionist I was and was able to learn that not everything has to be perfect.

How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future?

The Gold Award will help me in the future because I was able to work on many of the skills that I needed. For example, I learned to be a team member, instead of doing it all on my own. Also, I grew to have stronger leadership skills that will help me.

Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience?

The Gold Award was an important part of my Girl Scout experience because it let me go higher in Girl Scouts. Also, it helped me become an inspiration for the little girls in Girl Scouts to keep going.

How did earning your Gold Award help you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)?

Through this project, I have grown as a leader in so many ways. One way that I have grown as a leader is not being afraid to tell someone that they are doing something wrong. Before the project, I was afraid to talk to adults, but also to tell them they are doing something wrong since they are older than me. I also grew to be a risk-taker through the project. I took the risk of setting the final date of my project so close to my approval date. That was a risk because it was about a month to complete the library.

**IMPORTANT NOTE: This blog represents only a small fraction of the hard work, dedication, and requirements that go into earning a Girl Scout Gold Award. It is simply a brief summary, which is meant to inspire Girl Scouts to Go Gold in the future. For more information on earning your Gold Award, please email highestawards@gscolorado.org

GSCO Photo Challenge: For the love of cookies

Submitted by Brandiy Blair

Metro Denver

Thornton

I love challenging myself by setting a higher goal each year. I work hard to meet and beat my goal, as well as donate cookies to the military and our Hometown Hero, CASA.

I love Girl Scouts because it gives me the chance to do things I haven’t done before and step out of my comfort zone.

Girl Scouts of Colorado is hosting a photo challenge! Just submit your favorite Girl Scout photo and the story behind it using the Share Your Stories form (www.gscoblog.org/share). Winners will be featured in future GSCO marketing materials, on GSCO’s social media networks, and on the GSCO Blog.

Gold Award Girl Scout: Keaton Maring, Arvada, “Dress for Success, Grab a Jacket!”

What did you do for your Gold Award project?

I built a life jacket loaner station at Standley Lake where people who visit the lake can borrow life jackets for kids 12-years-old and younger for the day. I also spoke to 7th and 8th graders at Excel Academy Charter School about water safety and the importance of wearing a life jacket. I completed this project because Colorado law is that children 12 and younger must wear a life jacket while on the lake, but there are numerous people who ignore the importance of water safety. In the United States, drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional death in children ages 1-14, according to the CDC.  The CDC says “potentially, half of all boating deaths might be prevented with the use of life jackets.”

How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience?

I created a survey about the life jacket loaner station with five questions, asking how people felt about the station being there, if they thought it was beneficial, if and how many times they used the station, and if they’d like to see more stations like this one around the community and in other places. The survey will be attached to the permits for the 2019 season, so I will have more detailed information about the impact. So far, there have been more than 10 life jackets donated from members of the community, bringing them in when they visit the lake. Overall, people were very excited to see the life jacket loaner station become a reality.

How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement?

The life jacket loaner station is a stand alone structure at Standley Lake Regional Park and will be sustained by the park rangers working there, as well as Carmen Babcock, head coach of Jeffco Hurricanes swim team in Arvada. Ms. Babcock has committed to talking about my project and its importance in the summer newsletters sent out to the team and will continue asking for life jacket donations as well. The rangers will also continue asking people who visit the lake about donating any life jackets they no longer use to the station, so the station remains full even though people have been bringing them in on their own.

What is your project’s global and/or national connection?

I have emailed and been speaking to several parks and recreation districts around Colorado and neighboring states like California and Utah. I also made a “how to” manual that gives details about the project and how it was completed. It includes what materials were used for the station at Standley Lake Regional Park, how we got the supplies, pictures before, during and after the build, statistics on drowning, and more.

What did you learn about yourself?

From this project, I learned that drowning is a bigger problem than I had initially thought. I knew from growing up in Colorado and being a swimmer that drowning is a big problem all over the world and is preventable in most cases. But looking at the statistics, I was shocked. I also learned how to communicate with people of all ages using a variety of mediums. I learned that I am capable of so much more than I previously thought. I know now that I can achieve anything I want if I give it my best effort and want it enough.

How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future?

Achieving the Gold Award has been an incredible experience I have been looking forward to since I was very little. I will be proud to tell people about my project and all the work I put in to achieve the Gold. Because few girls earn the Gold Award, I can put it on my resume because it distinguishes me from other candidates and makes me stand out as a hard worker..

Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience?

My troop leader, Jan Shoup, who is a Gold Award Girl Scout as well, always pushed us to go on and get our Gold Award so I am very proud that I have achieved this great honor. Girl Scouts has had such a positive impact on my life and has provided me with numerous opportunities to grow as a person. Completing the Gold Award was definitely one of those opportunities that has allowed me to go out of my comfort zone and expand my abilities while also making a difference in the community and hopefully inspiring other young women to do the same.

How did earning your Gold Award help you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)? 

I definitely became a better leader and a more confident risk- taker. I had to put myself and my idea for this project and sometimes, when asking for donations or about growing the project outside of the Arvada community, I was rejected. I also learned how to talk on the phone and email adults with different backgrounds and careers which I never would have done without completing this project. By putting my idea out there and asking others to contribute to this project, I took a risk. By organizing people into teams and composing numerous emails, letters, flyers, presentations, etc I became a better leader.

**IMPORTANT NOTE: This blog represents only a small fraction of the hard work, dedication, and requirements that go into earning a Girl Scout Gold Award. It is simply a brief summary, which is meant to inspire Girl Scouts to Go Gold in the future. For more information on earning your Gold Award, please email highestawards@gscolorado.org

Meadow Mountain Ranch Nature Trail: Now open for troops without property reservation

You asked, and we listened! The nature trail at Meadow Mountain Ranch will now be available for troops to use without a property reservation, and troops will be able to go to Meadow Mountain Ranch for the day and hike the trail.

Troops will be able to request a date or dates that they would like to hike the trail up to six months in advance by going to https://gscolorado.formstack.com/forms/mmr_nature_trail_request. Requests will be considered based on the availability of the property and if any other requests have been received. Requests are not guaranteed, and will be considered on a first come, first-served basis.

If a request is approved, troops will be charged $10 for use of the trail, which will go to the upkeep of Meadow Mountain Ranch and the Nature Trail.

If a troop or service unit has reserved the full property, they will have full access to the nature trail without an additional charge.

What is the Nature Tail at Meadow Mountain Ranch?

It’s a one-way 21-stop guided journey along the north lateral moraine up to the top of Vista Spur with its nearly circular panoramas of high mountain peaks.  Trailgoers experience history, geology, biology, math, and science, along a seasonal journey.  You will learn about plants, flowers, animals, rocks, trees – all with a view!

What’s the best way to enjoy the Nature Trail?

Plan on two – four hours for maximum immersion and to accommodate all experience levels. Pick up a seasonal guide book and reference materials from Homestead House. Start the trail at the wooden kiosk on the right side of the main road west of the Lodge across from Nature Nook and end the trail at the C.I.T. House to the east of main camp.  Plan for uphill and flat sections.  The goal is to complete as many activities as possible. Use a guide book for each season and stop at each numbered post for information and activities.

Helpful hints:

  • Groups of eight-ten are ideal, so everyone can see and hear at each station.
  • Wear comfortable, camp-appropriate shoes.
  • Bring water and snacks and day pack to hold your stuff.
  • There are benches to sit on about half way up and at the top of Vista Spur.
  • A walking stick is helpful and winter boots or snowshoes are needed in winter.
  • Watch for sudden weather changes; think you’ll need a raincoat?  Maybe!

What about the patches?

The complete patch set is a five-segment, 4” square colorful seasonal collection.  Anyone can purchase the central circle patch to show your pride in MMR, but you must complete a seasonal series of activities to earn any of the other four segments. You’ll need to hike the trail and complete that season’s activities from the guide books.  Each segment costs $1.50 and patches are available for purchase in the GSCO Retail Shop.

“Science in the Summer” day camp

Submitted by Kirsten Allison

Metro Denver

Westminster

Register your girl for “Science in the Summer” day camp, and she will join other Girl Scouts entering grades 1-5 for a week of fun and learning. Each day, girls will explore a different theme of science including dinosaurs, oceans, weather, and plant science. Camp will be held in a park in Westminster from June 3 – June 7, 2019.

Visiting science experts will make engaging presentations, including a special presentation on sea turtles and bird migration. Our days will include a lot of hands-on activities, so the girls are able to experiment with the information they learn.

In addition to fun science activities, your girl will have the opportunity to learn Girl Scout cooking skills. We’ll be making a hot meal for three of the camp days, and all girls will participate in meal preparation.

This fun week will be rounded out by some traditional Girl Scout fun, including songs and games. Younger girls will be inspired by the older Girl Scouts working as Program Aides.

Camp is filling up quickly, register your camper soon!

Register for camp: https://girlscoutsciencecamp.wordpress.com/

Questions? email: GScamp64021@comcast.net

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

Girl Scout Day at CSU Environmental Learning Center

Girl Scout Day at the CSU Environmental Learning Center is Saturday, May 4, 2019.

Brownies, 9 – 11:30 a.m.

Juniors, 12:30 – 4 p.m.

Register online: https://elc-colostate.nbsstore.net/scout-programs

Registration closes April 20 or when capacity is reached.

The ELC is an ideal place for Girl Scouts to work toward and complete many of their badges Our site provides great, close-to-home opportunities to explore and learn about the natural world.

Brownies: Join us to earn your Hiker Badge at 9 – 11:30 a.m. This program is limited to 40 participants.

Juniors: Join us to earn your Geocacher Badge at 12:30 – 4 p.m. This program is limited to 20 participants.

Cost is $7 per Girl Scout for each program. Price does not include badge and no badges will be distributed at this event.

Troop 65659 honors Maxfund as Hometown Heroes

Submitted by Jessica Spangler

Metro Denver

Denver

The girls of multi-level Troop 65659 wanted to reward and support those in our community who help homeless animals. They selected Maxfund for Hometown Hero cookies this year. While they were there, they toured the cat shelter and gave the cats much needed love and attention. There are many, many cats at Maxfund in need of a loving home!

MaxFund provides emergency care and a home for injured animals until the owner is located or a suitable home is found. MaxFund is a TRUE no-kill shelter. They also provide low-cost vaccinations, pet food, and spay/neuter clinics for pets of low-resource families, and a Therapy Program. It takes pets to visit senior centers, the VA Hospital, and nursing homes.

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

Gold Award Girl Scout: Kimberly Jones, Colorado Springs, “Project B.A.R.K.”

What did you do for your Gold Award project?

In order to earn my Gold Award, I worked with the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region to create a volunteer training program for an already existing Pets Day for children. After much collaboration, I created a handbook, which I shared with other humane societies around the United States and one shelter in Germany. I decided to do this project because as a volunteer for Pets Day in the past, I had noticed the difference in volunteers, specifically the inconsistency between volunteers on different Pets Days and the lack of volunteers on Pets Day. I wanted to change this. After talking with Lynda Grove, the Education Manager at HSPPR, about my ideas, she agreed that a training program would be necessary.

How did you measure the impact your Gold Award project made on your target audience?

I measured the impact of my project using a Kahoot, electronic quiz, for the trainees after the training session. Using this, I was able to find out what needed to be tweaked within the training program in order to make it more effective. In addition, I created a survey for volunteers to fill out after they volunteered for Pets Day, in order to receive their feedback. Based on this, I changed the structure of the training program. Finally, I created a small game for the kids to play. This allowed me to find out what the kids at Pets Day think.

How is your project sustainable? How will your project continue to impact after your involvement?

My project will be sustained by HSPPR for many years to come by Lynda Grove, who is the Education Manager. Additionally, a handbook was created that can be referenced. It is planned to be run every year with one training on a Saturday and one training on a Friday in the same month as a Pets Day. My project will also be sustained by other humane societies, who have decided the implement Pets Day and training program. The handbook also helps with this. In this way, there will be plenty of volunteers for years to come.

What is your project’s global and/or national connection?

Since my project address the inconsistency of volunteers as well as the lack of volunteers at humane societies, I created a handbook, which was sent to multiple humane societies, who had interest in the program. I sent handbooks to shelters in Colorado, Tennessee, Germany, and the National Humane Education Society and all have agreed to take on the program. Therefore, my project trains volunteers to help at their local humane societies and helps educate young children about the importance of humane societies and proper care of animals around the country and internationally. Additionally, I have created a website with “digital materials” and a questions/comments form is located on the home page which allows other organizations to submit any feedback or questions they have.

What did you learn about yourself?

I learned that I am a bit impatient, but with waiting and proper timing I can overcome impatience. In addition, I learned that I am more creative than I thought and am quite tech savvy.

How will earning your Gold Award impact you in the future?

As a Gold Award Girl Scout, I will carry the accomplishment with me for the rest of my life. Earning the Gold Award will help me with not only college and job applications, but also the knowledge I gained from earning my award is priceless.

Why do you feel the Gold Award was an important part of your Girl Scout experience?

Growing up with a troop of older girls as mentors, inspired me to earn my Gold Award. Now, I get to say that I also earned my Gold Award and have a stronger bond with them. In addition, I was able to impact the community in such a way that I could not have done with out the push to do my Gold Award project.

How did earning your Gold Award help you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)?

My Gold Award helped me become all four of the aspects of G.I.R.L. I became a go-getter because I had the drive to get my Gold Award and do a project that retains to something I love. I became an innovator when I started problem solving in order to create the training program. I had to think outside the box in order to create a fun training with hands-on materials. I also became a risk-taker because I jumped in to create the program without having any experience in training people. I had to try things that had a possibility of not working. Finally, I also strengthened my leadership skills because I lead three trainings full of volunteers. I was responsible for teaching them all of the items they needed to know. The training also taught the trainees to become leaders and equipped them with life-long skills.

**IMPORTANT NOTE: This blog represents only a small fraction of the hard work, dedication, and requirements that go into earning a Girl Scout Gold Award. It is simply a brief summary, which is meant to inspire Girl Scouts to Go Gold in the future. For more information on earning your Gold Award, please email highestawards@gscolorado.org