Archive

Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award Recipients honored at Highest Awards celebration in Grand Junction

More than 200 Girl Scout families and friends gathered at Colorado Mesa University on April 24, 2016 to honor the more than 1,600 Girl Scouts from across Colorado who earned one of Girl Scouts’ Highest Awards, the Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award.

The Gold Award, which is the highest honor in Girl Scouts, is presented to girls in grades 9th-12th who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through a project that makes a difference in their community. The Silver Award is the highest award a girl in 6th – 8th grade can earn. The Bronze Award is the highest award a girl in grades 4th and 5th can earn. For the 2015-16 Girl Scout awards program year, more than 1,000 girls across the state and 30 in Grand Junction and Western Colorado earned the prestigious Silver Award. 75 earned the Bronze Award.

Girl Scouts of Colorado President and CEO Stephanie Foot said the girls’ spirit and motivation inspires us all to think of the needs of others and take action to make the world a better place.

“You are strong role models for our community and our world,” she said.

2015 Gold Award recipient Mickayla TerLouw served as the celebration’s emcee. In addition to earning her Gold Award, she was also awarded Honorable Mention for the Stephanie Foote Leadership Prize. To earn her Gold Award, Mickayla designed and implemented a program at Orchard Avenue Elementary School, where she organized the first-ever “Fall into Reading Dinner and Game Night.” It was an evening of carnival-style games for kids as well as activities for parents that were designed to advertise and promote family literacy. She collected community donations of hundreds of books to use as prizes for some of these games, which were all book-themed. She also created the Reading Challenge, which was a school-wide competition between the classes to see who could read the most, with bonuses for when students read as a family.

“The Gold Award is a truly exceptional experience, both in the benefit for the community and self-awareness and skill-building the Girl Scout gains,” she said.

Jane Quimby, Director of Public Safety Department, Instructor of Criminal Justice at Colorado Mesa University, and a retired Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, gave the afternoon’s keynote speech. Jane spoke strongly about the character girls develop through activity in organizations like Girl Scouts. “You can’t teach character in a class.” When hiring for the FBI, she looked for character above all. Jane referenced the Girl Scout Law stating, “If only everyone lived by the Girl Scout law, the world would be a better place.”

This year Girl Scouts across the country are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts’ highest award. The focus of a Gold Award project is identifying and researching a community issue she is passionate about, developing a plan to address it in cooperation with her team and community members, establishing a global connection with others and providing sustainability for the project. Of the skills learned through Girl Scouts’ Highest Awards, leadership, organization and critical thinking are the fundamentals of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Some 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.

Girl Scouts of Colorado will continue to honor this year’s Highest Awards recipients at ceremonies around the state. These events include:

  • May 1st at 2 p.m. at the Denver Marriott Tech Center, 4900 S. Syracuse St., Denver
  • May 6 at 6 p.m. at the Penrose House Garden Pavilion 1661 Mesa Ave., Colorado Springs

 

 

Archive

Volunteer appreciation green carpet event

Submitted by Julie Gallagher

Northern and Northeastern CO

Loveland

On Friday April 15th, the Northern/Northeastern Colorado regional team held their 3rd Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event for all their wonderful volunteers. The theme was a green carpet event, complete with paparazzi waiting to take pictures as the guests entered.

Volunteers such as Service Unit Managers, trainers and mentors were presented with the coveted Golden Girl Scout award. All volunteers got to make a fun wine charm to put on the Trefoil wine glasses that they all received. Many selfies were taken at the photo booth and all enjoyed the yummy treats that the regional team made for the event. These treats included Girl Scout cookie Trefoils, cake pops, mini quiches, and NLT bites. Yum yum! GSCO President and CEO, Stephanie Foote, and COO, Jacky Noden, were in attendance, and Stephanie spoke to the volunteers, thanking them for all their hard work and dedication.

Much fun was had by all and the team is already starting to plan for next year’s event.

Archive, Uncategorized

Troop 45192 delivers cookies to Heroes Pack

Submitted by Carla Archuleta

Pikes Peak

Colorado Springs

Our Daisy Troop 45192 donated 127 packages of cookies to our hometown hero Heroes Pack. Heroes Pack is a (soon to be non-profit) service dog organization that specializes in teaching veterans how to train service dogs for themselves and other veterans in need. The girls really worked hard their first cookie season and surprised themselves with how many donations we racked up! Heroes Pack plans to deliver those cookies to veterans at the VA hospital here in Colorado Springs. Very proud of our girl scouts and honored to give those cookies to the veterans in our community!

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

Archive

Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award Recipients honored at Highest Awards celebration in Pueblo

Nearly one hundred Girl Scout families and friends gathered at the Center for American Values on April 22, 2016 to honor the more than 1,600 Girl Scouts from across Colorado who earned one of Girl Scouts’ Highest Awards, the Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award.

The Gold Award, which is the highest honor in Girl Scouts, is presented to girls in grades 9-12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through a project that makes a difference in their community. The Silver Award is the highest award a girl in 6th – 8th grade can earn. The Bronze Award is the highest award a girl in grades 4th and 5th can earn. For the 2015-16 Girl Scout awards program year, more than one thousand girls across the state and 24 in Pueblo and Southeastern Colorado earned the Bronze Award. Over the last two years, 18 girls across Pueblo and Southeastern Colorado earned the prestigious Silver Award.

Girl Scouts of Colorado COO Jacky Noden said the girls’ spirit and motivation inspires us all to think of the needs of others and take action to make the world a better place.

“You are strong role models for our community and our world,” she said.

Gold Award recipient and Troop Leader Carrie Chase served as the celebration’s keynote speaker. She talked briefly about earning her Gold Award, but most of her speech focused on how becoming a troop leader has impacted not only her and her daughter’s lives, but also how she has seen it change the lives of girls throughout Pueblo and southeastern Colorado.

This year Girl Scouts across the country are celebrating the 100thanniversary of Girl Scouts’ highest award. The focus of a Gold Award project is identifying and researching a community issue she is passionate about, developing a plan to address it in cooperation with her team and community members, establishing a global connection with others and providing sustainability for the project. Of the skills learned through Girl Scouts’ Highest Awards, leadership, organization and critical thinking are the fundamentals of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Some 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.

Girl Scouts of Colorado will continue to honor this year’s Highest Awards recipients at ceremonies around the state. These events include:

  • May 1st at 2 p.m. at the Denver Marriott Tech Center, 4900 S. Syracuse St., Denver
  • May 6 at 6 p.m. at the Penrose House Garden Pavilion 1661 Mesa Ave., Colorado Springs

 

 

 

Archive, Uncategorized

Troop 2013 hosts an art show

40963104_art 003

Submitted by Deb White

Rifle

Western Slope

There is nothing better than finishing up a badge and showing your friends and family what you learned. And that is exactly what Troop 2013 Junior girls did. They finished off their drawing badge by hosting an art show to showcase their skills.

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

Archive

Volunteer Spotlight: Nancy Mucklow

2 Comments

Nancy Mucklow

 

Ask Nancy Mucklow how long she’s been a Girl Scout and she’ll say “forever!” This lifetime Girl Scout joined our sisterhood in the second grade and hasn’t looked back. She planned on having a daughter and becoming a troop leader, but life doesn’t always work out like we plan.

After she and her husband moved to Steamboat in 1989, they had two boys. Nancy remained involved in Girl Scouts as a Service Unit Manager, but soon the boys’ 4H activities required more of her attention. Even though Girl Scouts had to “take the backseat” for a few years, she remained involved and did what she could to support local girls, leaders, and other volunteers.  After her youngest son graduated from high school a few years ago, she jumped full force back into Girl Scouts.

“Nancy has REALLY helped grow Girl Scouts in our Mountain Communities, particularly in her service unit,” said Cricket Hawkins, Volunteer Support Specialist for Girl Scouts of Colorado.

So, how did she do it? Nancy will tell you it was one volunteer…  one troop… one girl at a time. She got to know each of them personally. What did they want to do as Girl Scouts? What did they need help with? What activities did they only dream of doing and what was getting in their way of accomplishing their goals?

Nancy did all she could to help. She worked to secure local funding, which enabled Routt County Girl Scouts to go horseback riding regardless of their ability to pay. She has also helped to organize a STEM Day, troop camping trips, and events designed for specific age groups, like Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors.

“Our older girls need to be participating in events designed just for them, so Girl Scouts is more than just a line on their resume or college application,” she said.

Nancy realizes she is able to do more than the average volunteer, but that doesn’t stop her from encouraging others to help whenever and wherever they can.

“Whatever small amount you are doing—whether it’s providing snacks at a meeting or driving girls to a field trip–  it’s important. Even if you can only do one small thing, it matters and it makes a difference in the lives of girls,” Nancy said.

Nancy is also a member of the Girl Scouts Board of Directors. Her term expires later this year, so she applied for a seat on the GSCO Membership Connection Committee. In addition to her role as a Girl Scout volunteer, Nancy also sits on the board of the Routt County United Way and volunteers with the local Methodist church.

Archive

Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award Recipients Honored at Highest Awards celebration in Boulder

More than fifty Girl Scout families and friends gathered at Mountain View Methodist Church in Boulder on April 24, 2016 to honor Colorado Girl Scouts who earned one of Girl Scouts’ Highest Awards, the Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award.

Two Girl Scouts were presented the Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn. Brittany Jaros from Boulder, Holy Family High School, developed a program to educate middle school students about the importance of mental health and suicide prevention. Courtney Howell from Niwot, Silver Creek High School, organized a science, math, and engineering exploration day for middle and elementary school students to show them that science can be fun. Both described their projects and how earning the Gold Award has impacted their lives. Girl Scouts in grades 9-12 who earn the Gold Award demonstrate extraordinary leadership through a project that makes a difference in their community. Several Silver Award honorees (the highest award a girl in 6th – 8th grade can earn) also were presented their awards. The Bronze Award is the highest award a girl in grades 4th and 5th can earn.

Girl Scouts of Colorado COO Jacky Noden said the girls’ spirit and motivation inspires us all to think of the needs of others and take action to make the world a better place.

“You are strong role models for our community and our world,” she said.

Kaitlin Jaros, whose sister Brittany accepted her Gold Award, served as the celebration’s emcee. She earned her Gold Award several years ago for a project that focused on three areas of health: eating, exercise, and getting enough sleep. She teamed up with gym and health teachers at Casey Middle School, Sacred Heart of Jesus, and St. Louis middle schools. The teachers had students track for a week their food intake and the number of hours of exercise and sleep they completed. She took the data and created spreadsheets, showing where students could improve. She presented the information at each of the schools, explaining the importance of forming healthy habits early.

“Girl Scouts has ultimately shaped me into the person I am today by instilling values of courage, confidence, and character, ultimately giving us the mission to make the world a better place.” she said.

This year Girl Scouts across the country are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts’ highest award. The focus of a Gold Award project is identifying and researching a community issue she is passionate about, developing a plan to address it in cooperation with her team and community members, establishing a global connection with others and providing sustainability for the project. Of the skills learned through Girl Scouts’ Highest Awards, leadership, organization and critical thinking are the fundamentals of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Some 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.

Girl Scouts of Colorado will continue to honor this year’s Highest Awards recipients at ceremonies around the state. These events include:

  • May 1st at 2 p.m. at the Denver Marriott Tech Center, 4900 S. Syracuse St., Denver
  • May 6 at 6 p.m. at the Penrose House Garden Pavilion 1661 Mesa Ave., Colorado Springs

 

 

 

Archive, Uncategorized

Pueblo Girl Scouts share unique bond

FullSizeRender

We love it when you share your stories and photos with us on social media! This recent post and photo from @jac3683 in Pueblo on Instagram caught our attention and we wanted to share it with you.

“When my kiddo was born without fingers, I always knew she would be just fine. But I worried a bit about the school years when kids can be so cruel. When we joined Girl Scouts, one of the first things my new co-leader told me was that we had another #OneHanded little girl in our troop. This friendship has been an awesome one to watch grow as these two work together to figure out how to accomplish some of the same tasks their ten-fingered friends can do! #GirlScouts has been priceless for so many reasons, but especially this one!”

Archive

Daisy troop makes memories during overnight adventure

Over the weekend of April 15 and 16, Daisy Troop 1224 enjoyed their first overnight in preparation for their cabin and tent camping trips this summer. The Daisy Girl Scouts , ages 6 and 7, enjoyed making their own s’mores from a gourmet menu, learning to set up tents, performing skits, and signing personalized pillow cases as a momento before settling into their tents and giggling their way to sleep. They woke up sleepy-eyed, but still full of energy, ready for breakfast burritos and fresh fruit smoothies. They designed their own friendship bracelets before heading home in several inches of snow and sleet. Everyone had a great time making memories, laughing together and bonding as a troop. They’re ready for their  summer camping trips!

To watch a video of their adventure, use this link:  https://vimeo.com/163646645#t=203s

Archive

Troop 30222 from Pueblo earns Bronze Award

Pueblo Girl Scouts earn Highest Awards

Seven Girl Scouts from Junior Troop 30222 in Pueblo will accept the Bronze Award, the Highest Award a Girl Scout Junior can earn, for their work to collect about a hundred packages of socks and underwear for families served by the Pueblo Cooperative Care Center. In order to collect these items, girls enlisted the help of their classmates at Morton Elementary School. They challenged all of the classrooms to collect the most socks and underwear. The girls treated the winning classroom to a root beer float party.

The troop will officially accept their award at the Highest Awards celebration on Friday, April 22 at 6 p.m. at the Center for American Values (101 S. Main St. #100, Pueblo). They will join dozens of other Girl Scouts and troops from across southeastern Colorado who have earned their Bronze and Silver Awards.

The young ladies, who will be accepting these awards, have demonstrated exceptional commitment to taking action to make the world a better place through their community service. Their accomplishments reflect extraordinary leadership and citizenship skills that mark them as valuable contributors to their communities and world.

Girl Scouts of Colorado