Tag Archives: Western Colorado

Volunteer Spotlight: Bonnet Riddles

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Bonnet Riddles in the Western Colorado region is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community.

GSCO asked Bonnet to answer a few quick questions about her volunteer experience. We hope you find her as inspiring as we did.

Why did you become a Girl Scout volunteer?

I became a Girl Scout volunteer because I saw the tremendous value in the program. My troop leader status happened rather by accident. Our current leader was stepping down and without new leadership our troop wouldn’t be able to continue. Despite my many fears over taking on such an endeavor, I knew I had to try for my daughter’s sake, but also for the other girls. They had already built such an amazing sisterhood! 

Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout.

My first volunteer role was as a support parent. I helped with cookie booths and attended most in-person meetings. If I could lend a helping hand in some way, I did. Now as the troop leader, I have many volunteer roles, but am supported by an amazing volunteer team. 
What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer?
As a Girl Scout volunteer, I get to learn right alongside the girls. Whenever we are exploring new communities, ideas, or topics, it’s guaranteed that I will learn something. It’s been a lot of fun exploring new passions and learning more about myself while helping the girls explore their growing identities. 
What do you hope girls have learned from you?
I hope that I can pass along to my girls that you should always be learning and growing as a person. I strive to instill a great sense of responsibility in them for what is going on in their lives and communities. I don’t want them to be bystanders in their lives. 
Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org. 

Volunteer Spotlight: Gena Baker

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Gena Baker in the Western Colorado region is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community.

GSCO asked Gena to answer a few quick questions about her volunteer experience. We hope you find her as inspiring as we did.

Why did you become a Girl Scout volunteer?

I became a Girl Scout volunteer because the leaders of our troop were moving on with their older girls. I’d seen such growth in my daughter that I didn’t want to risk the troop dissolving and her losing the opportunity to continue participating. Also, because I knew that another mom was ready and willing to step up so neither of us would be alone in this journey! I was in Girl Scouts for a few years as a child and I have fond memories of meetings, outings, and camping (all things I want my daughter to have a chance to make friends while doing!).

Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout.

As a Girl Scout volunteer, I wear many hats! Not only is it my role to help organize and maintain records for the troop, but also to interact with the girls, set a positive example, serve as a mentor and teacher, demonstrate positive relationships with other adults in the troop, put on meetings, plan for events, and be a facilitator to help make the girls’ wishes and hopes a reality. In addition to being a member of the TLT, this year I also was a product program manager for fall product program and that was a new layer of responsibility to learn through. It’s been a great experience this year, even through some challenges we’ve faced, and I’m excited to do it again!

What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer?

I think the biggest thing I’ve learned as a Girl Scout volunteer is how to be a little more resilient and able to appreciate the differences between individuals. My daughter faced a challenge this year that had me ready to quit. It was actually her perspective on it after the fact that helped me to shift my view, open my mind, and be able to process and move forward. I am so proud of her for sharing her thoughts with me and showing me (and others) her forgiveness and huge heart!

What do you hope girls have learned from you?

My one hope for the girls is that they learned that they are important, their thoughts matter, and they have worth! We learned about becoming citizen scientists this year and I’d love to end the year knowing that the girls left with a better understanding of the impact they’re capable of in this world and that every little piece, every detail, is important to the bigger picture. That’s a big ask, I’m aware, so I’ll be happy knowing that the girls just felt like their time was well spent and they learned something. lol  I’d like them to feel affirmed by us, their friends, their troop family that they are important to us.

Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org. 

Volunteer Spotlight: Shannon Cordova

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Shannon Cordova in the Western Colorado region is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community.

GSCO asked Shannon to answer a few quick questions about her volunteer experience. We hope you find her as inspiring as we did.

Why did you become a Girl Scout volunteer?

I became a Girl Scout volunteer because my daughter was interested in joining. I wanted to be a part of it and take an interest in the things and activities that interested her.

Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout.

I started out as  a simple volunteer. I helped where and when needed. I was an extra set of eyes, I helped at cookie booths, and with activities such as World Thinking Day.  Last year, our troop leader left the area and our girls found themselves without a leader, so I became the leader of the troop.

What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer?

The most important thing I learned is that the girls do not need a hero. They just need someone that cares and is invested in them. They have the most amazing ideas and with a little bit of guidance can come up with some pretty cool ideas for badges and activities.

What do you hope girls have learned from you?

I hope they learn to be free thinkers. I hope they learn to share their thoughts and ideas loud and proud. I hope they learn that they can do anything they want to do. Most importantly, I hope they learn to support each other.

Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org. 

New Castle Girl Scouts Earn Bronze Award

Submitted by Karen Campbell

Western Colorado

New Castle

It was an exciting time at Alder Park in New Castle on Sunday, April 11, 2021! Gracie, Sylvia, and Abby, three Girl Scout Juniors from Troop 10239,  officially completed the final installation of their Bronze Award project. Many family and community members came to help, including Ron Acee from Trout Unlimited; Tom Skutley and Sheldon Doonan from RFV Flyfishing Club; and Dave Reynolds from the Town of New Castle. The girls worked thru 2020 COVID challenges and winter weather delays. They finished strong with this important environmental project. Job well done, everyone!

If you are in the neighborhood, stop by Alder Park to read these valuable interpretive ecology signs, each written by Bronze Award Girl Scouts. If you are fishing at Alder Pond, please be sure to check out the new Fishing Line Recycle Bins. Recycle bins will be managed thru a partnership with the Town of New Castle and the Girl Scouts. Last, be on the look out for more fishing line recycling opportunities around the valley. With the help of local fishing club chapters, these girls donated three additional bins to the Middle Colorado Watershed Council and look forward to expanding the program. Special thanks to our community volunteers for bringing enthusiastic support, power tools, and great digging skills! Thanks also to Aspen Rent-All for the donation of a valuable generator for the day! We are thrilled to live in a place where our neighbors, businesses. and our city manager care enough to join a few motivated girls to get amazing things done!

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.

 

Volunteer Spotlight: Victoria Gigoux

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Victoria Gigoux of Grand Junction in the Western Colorado region is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community.

GSCO asked Victoria to answer a few quick questions about her volunteer experience. We hope you find her as inspiring as we did.

Why did you become a Girl Scout volunteer?

I originally became a leader so I could spend time with my kids. I work fulltime, but I was able to leave a little early to take 90-minutes each week with my (at the time) Kindergarten and first grade daughters.  A year later, I had another little girl, so here I am 12 years later as a volunteer with three girls who are still active Girl Scouts. Those two little girls are in 11th and 12th grade this year, but with a fifth grader, I’m not going anywhere anytime soon!

Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout.

  • Troop Leadership
    • Leader in two troops, 12214 and 10065, covering Daisies through Ambassadors
    • Cookie Manager
  • Region One/Service Unit
    • Currently Service Unit Co-Manager for Western Slope, having been here once before
    • Service Unit Treasurer for several years
  • President’s Cabinet
  • Cookies and Cocktails Event Lead
  • Statewide Committees
    • Currently, at-Large member of Board Governance Committee
    • Previously, MCC, having also served as MCC rep to the Board of Directors for four years
  • Previously, Volunteer Awards review committee

What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer?

How much time do you have?  Kidding…

Truthfully, I’ve learned that I love doing this way more than I ever imagined I would. What started out as about two hours a week of spending quality time with my own kids has become such a huge part of who I am. I love volunteering with this organization at every level. I have formed my very best female friendships as a result of working with my truly amazing co-leaders. I have grown networks in my community as a result of my time on the service unit, on statewide committees, and working closely with GSCO staff. I have gained 120-ish (I lost count) new “daughters” over 12 years of being a leader, each I care for as much as my own children. I have learned I would be where I am in life or who I am as a person without each of these relationships. I feel, quite by accident, I am a mentor. I have learned my passion in life is relationship building and fostering girls and women as leaders.

What do you hope girls have learned from you?

When I talk about my Girl Scouts, I like to say, “if any one of *my* (because, of course, they are ALL mine!) girls come to a crossroads in life and hears my voice in their head, then I’ve done my job.” To me, this means I hope they’ve learned whatever is most valuable to them in life, whether it be self-confidence, making good choices, trying new things, being kind to others, never giving up….whatever!  If there is a choice and they don’t know where to go or what to do, I hope they always know they have someone in their life who always had their back, was always cheering for them and wishing for the very best life had to offer. I hope they know there is always time to do what you love, to spend with those you value, and give back. I also hope they realize I mean it when I call them “mine” because I am invested, long term, in each of them. If they ever need someone to turn to, I am always just a message away!

Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org. 

Volunteer Spotlight: Katie Hone Wiltgen


Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Katie Hone Wiltgen in the Western Colorado region is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community.

GSCO asked Katie to answer a few quick questions about her volunteer experience. We hope you find her as inspiring as we did.

Why did you become a Girl Scout volunteer?

Growing up in a small town in western Ohio, I was a Girl Scout from Kindergarten through high school (Girl Scouts of Appleseed Ridge), and my Girl Scout memories are some of my fondest from childhood.  Our troop loved to camp together, sleeping in covered wagons and old, drafty cabins at Camp Myeerah, learning to cook outdoors, exploring the ravines lined by slate rock creeks, singing and laughing around the campfire, and eating more red licorice than a person should consume in a lifetime. My mom (Carol Hone) and Donna Bidlack were our troop leaders, and I’m still so thankful that they made Girl Scouts possible for us, allowing the freedom and providing the support for us to develop our independence and confidence.  I wanted that same positive, supportive, growth-oriented Girl Scout experience for my daughter and the other fabulous girls in her grade. Becoming a Girl Scout volunteer allows me to give back and create those Girl Scout possibilities for them, just as Donna and my mom did for us. The group of girls who grew together as troop sisters during those formative years are all still friends today, and even though we’re now spread across the country, we keep in touch via social media and get together whenever we can, celebrating big life milestones, welcoming new babies into the fold, grieving together through tough times, and cherishing each other’s long-time love and support. 

Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout.

I serve as co-leader of Troop 16190 in Basalt for our troop of fourth grade Juniors that formed when the girls were in first grade. We now have 12 girls in the troop, and we can’t wait to be back together in person when it’s safe to do so! As a former middle and high school choir and band director and now the Director of Education for the Aspen Music Festival and School, I love to plan curriculum and lead groups of kids, so I take care of the activities and meeting-leading for our troop, while my fantastic co-leader and troop volunteers handle our finances and cookie program management. I’ve also recently taken on the role of co-service unit manager for Service Unit 111 (Aspen, Basalt, and Carbondale).

What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer?

First, I’ve learned to be even more thankful for my mom and Donna (my troop leaders from childhood), as it is SO much work to do this well, and they were masterful, making the Girl Scout leading process look totally enjoyable and effortless. Oh, if we only knew!  But more than that, even as an experienced educator, I’m thankful that the 12 girls in our troop have helped me reconnect with some of the most important elements of being a teacher-leader. I learn so much as a Girl Scout volunteer because our girls are constantly teaching me how to be a better educator, mom, and member of our community. I see their willingness to ask each other and me for help and support, and it reminds me that it’s okay to be vulnerable and reach out to others for assistance.  I see their enthusiasm and adorable naïveté, and it reminds me to seek the positivity and disregard the little negative voice in my head that tells me “it can’t be done.” I see their curiosity and bright-eyed wonder, and it reminds me of how important it is to find the child-like magic in everyday moments. I see their flexibility and openness, and it reminds me that sometimes it’s important to leave my curriculum plan behind and make time instead to just talk, bond, and allow everyone to be heard and feel understood. In my four years of working with these girls, they’ve already taught me so much, and they’re only 9 and 10-years-old! I can’t wait to see what comes next in our adventures together.

What do you hope girls have learned from you?

Above all, I hope our girls have learned how important it is to be KIND to one another. In the 15 years that I’ve been teaching elementary, middle, and high school students, I too often see just how vicious girls can be to one another, and it breaks my heart. At our very first parent meeting when we were forming our new troop, I told the group of parents gathered there that my number one goal was to lead these girls to the realization that being benevolent and supportive was so much more powerful than tearing other girls down, and I design every single thing that we do with that mission in mind.  I hope our girls have learned that singing classic camp songs is one of the most fun, uplifting things we can do together (they love it!) and that the music we make together is more beautiful than what we could create alone. I hope they’ve discovered that they can tackle big projects and big problems, and that they have the power to do important things and produce meaningful change.  And finally, I hope they’ve learned that forming a sisterhood with each other is truly joyful and that those friendships are to be cherished, just as I still cherish my own Girl Scout sister relationships formed back in troop meetings and drafty cabins, through hikes and songs and laughter to last a lifetime, all those years ago.

Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org. 

Volunteer Spotlight: Sandy Jackson

Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Sandy Jackson from the Western Colorado region is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community.

GSCO asked Sandy to answer a few quick questions about her volunteer experience. We hope you find her as inspiring as we did.

Why did you become a Girl Scout volunteer?

I grew up in a Girl Scout family. My mother was a long time troop leader as well as served on the Chipeta Girl Scout Council Board. Girl Scouts had a big impact on me and I wanted to share that influence with others.

Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout.

I was briefly a troop leader. Our family has hosted Girl Scout day camps and jamborees at our ranch for many years. Most recently, I have been a Gold Award mentor and serve on the Gold Award Committee for the Western Slope.

What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer?

There have been so many things that have been reinforced through being a Girl Scout volunteer. Girls are amazing, they can accomplish so many things. Sometimes they need a little guidance, but often support is all that is needed. The organization of Girl Scouts is doing a great job “changing” with the times and it is so important to demonstrate the multiple paths a girl can follow.

What do you hope girls have learned from you?

I hope they have learned that they can accomplish anything, to push their comfort zone, and go for Gold!

Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org. 

New Castle Girl Scouts Earn Bronze Award

Submitted by Cindy Adams

Western Colorado

New Castle

Troop 10239 in New Castle, Colorado has three girls, Abby, Gracie, and Sylvia, who earned their Bronze Award in 2021. The Bronze Award is the highest award the girls can earn as a Junior. Girl Scout Juniors need to complete a Junior Journey, build a Bronze Award team, explore their community, choose a theme, and design and complete a community Take Action project.  The first step to earning a Bronze Award is completing a Girl Scout JuniorJourney and Take Action project.

Last summer and fall, the Girl Scouts earned their Outdoor Journey and started their Take Action project.  On the Journey, the girls held a clean-up activity at Alder Park, created animal habitats, hiked New Castle local trails, planned a camping trip, and created maps of Alder Park and waterways. The girls decided their Journey Take Action project will be a fishing line recycling program at Alder Park Pond.  This project was born from picking up trash at Alder Park and the girls picked up a lot of old fishing line. Fishing line is a frequent source of litter in ponds and rivers, and can cause injury and death to birds, fish, turtles, and many mammals. Monofilament fishing line takes 600 years to decompose (that’s 150 years longer than a disposable diaper!), but IT IS RECYCLABLE! Berkley Fishing provides free shipping boxes to mail in used fishing line to be recycled.

The girls built two fishing line recycling bins and will install them at Alder Park.  They also received three additional bins from the Roaring Fork Valley Fly Fishing Club, which will be donated to other community groups to install and manage as part of the program.

The girls were set to install their Take Action Project in November 2020, unfortunately COVID-19 regulations stopped them in their tracks, as girls from no more than two households could meet. The girls did not lose faith in their project, they just postponed the installation of their Take Action Project until April 11, 2021 now that COVID-19 regulations have allowed for groups to meet. The troop also has a COVID-19 plan in place with the Garfield County Health to meet in person.

Abby, Gracie, and Sylvia’s Take Action Project involved researching, talking with community members including Trout Unlimited and Roaring Fork Fly Fishing Club, presenting to the New Castle town council, building monofilament recycling bins, and installing them. The girls started their project in October 2020.  The girls received a donation from the Town of New Castle to help offset the cost of the fishing line recycling bins, as well as a donation from Trout Unlimited.

Since finishing the planning and construction of their Take Action project, the girls started to brainstorm ideas for their Bronze Award project. They had come to know Alder Park Pond, a neighborhood hangout, and decided that they wanted to build permanent educational signs for the community about the importance of the animal species, the wetlands, and the human impact on Alder Pond.  The girls said if people know and love a place, they will care for it! Sylvia, Gracie, and Abby presented to the Town Council their idea for both their Take Action project and Bronze Award project in October 2020 and both were approved.

Over the winter, the girls designed and produced three educational signs about Alder Park Pond by the end of February 2021. The girls plan to install both the signs and fishing line recycling bins on April 11.  These girls have learned so much about community involvement, planning, how a project that people get excited about can expand rapidly, and about perseverance.

Cooperating Agencies for the project included: Roaring Fork Valley Fly Fishing Club, Trout Unlimited, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Roaring Fork Conservancy, Town of New Castle, Berkley Fishing and BoatUS.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.

Troop 16200: Silver Ticket Winner

Submitted by Jillian Thompson

Western Colorado

Grand Junction

Picking up cookies from the cupboard, I saw a ticket slide around in the box from the top. Sue witnessed this, we opened it together, cheered in excitement, and took a photo!

Hometown Hero: VA Hospital

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.

Troop 16232: Bronze Ticket Winner

Submitted by Bonnet Riddles

Western Colorado

Montrose

Our troop has been so grateful for the cookie season extension! Most of our girls had already reached their goals. Having more time has meant even bigger secondary and stretch goals. Girls that set original goals of 500 packages are now just shy of 1,000!

Troop Goal: A selling girls average of 700 packages

Hometown Hero: Public school teachers

Girl Scout troops statewide have found golden, silver, and bronze tickets in cases of cookies that they picked up at area cupboards since the beginning of March! More tickets are out there. Check your cases of cookies when you pick up your Hometown Hero cookies. Learn more here. The last day to pick up Hometown Hero cookies from cupboards is March 24.