Girl Scouts sell cookies with a little dance and smiles.

Submitted by Rae Ann & Rich Dougherty

Thank You for being a part of our amazing WAGGGS movement!
(WAGGGS = World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, represented by the blue pin you wear on your uniform.)

World Thinking Day was first created in 1926 at the fourth Girl Guide/Girl Scout International Conference held at Girl Scouts of the USA’s Camp Edith Macy. Conference attendees decided that there should be a special day for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from around the world to “think” of each other and give thanks and appreciation to their “sister” Girl Scouts. The delegates chose February 22 as the date for World Thinking Day because it was the mutual birthday of Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scout movement, and his wife, Olave, who served as World Chief Guide.

Girl Scouts of the USA is celebrating its 100th year of the movement,
so let’s travel around the world and say Happy Birthday!

Click on the link to enjoy the beautiful, hand painted, animated birthday card created for you: http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=3381297268808&source=jl999)

Our founder, Juliette Gordon Low, had friends around the world and was committed to offering the benefits of Girl Scouting to girls around the globe. To honor Juliette’s love of travel, of experiencing different cultures, and of making new friends, Girl Scouts of the USA created the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund (JLWFF) in 1927.

Donations to the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund are used to support girls’ international travel and participation in training and other international events. These unique opportunities for fostering international friendships connect Girl Guides and Girl Scouts from 145 nations.

When I was a girl we collected pennies for every inch we were tall or a nickel for every pound weighed for the Juliette World Friendship Fund. We always found exciting ways to collect. What was even more exciting that many years later I was able to benefit from the Fund when I chaperoned an International Wider Op (the precursor to today’s Destinations Program) to our World Center in India, Sangam! How have you contributed to the Fund?

Happy World Thinking Day 2012!

After hitting the road at 0730 on a Saturday morning and driving to a ski resort 2 1/2 hours away for a three-hour booth, our troop shifted gears and drove about another hour to a little town for the a second booth that afternoon and early evening. Despite being a bit tired, our girls still had tons of energy left to stand up on a pile of snow and wave to cars passing by. Thanks to their enthusiasm, we were able to sell more cookies than we thought possible for being in the ‘middle of nowhere!’ Everyone we saw was friendly and most made a purchase for themselves or Hometown Heroes. What an awesome day!

This story was submitted via the Share Your Stories form on the website!
You can share your stories too.

Do you have limited time or are you looking for a one time volunteer opportunity? Girl Scouts of Colorado is looking for volunteers to lead onetime standalone program events. Events can be anything that you’re interested in – share your skills and passions with us to create an event for Girls. Volunteers can help plan the event by seeking community partners, finding a venue and connecting with Girls to attend the event. Or, event volunteers can help with set up, clean up, and other “day of” tasks like leading activities or checking in girls and community members.

Still not sure what an event volunteer might do? See below for some links of current events that Girl Scouts are attending and see what an event volunteer might do.

Earth Hour: Be part of a volunteer committee in Fort Collins or Colorado Springs to create an environmental fair. Connect with environmental organizations in the area, help publicize event and help find a venue. Or, if you have limited time help with “day of” logistics like checking in community members, helping set up or clean up and helping with our CFL swap.

Power Up: Be trained to be a facilitator for Power Up events across the state!

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Day: Help with day of activities like face painting!

Hogwarts School of Wizardy: Share your love of Harry Potter with Girls! Help lead Harry Potter themed activities like making their own Oobleck.

Those aren’t the only events we have planned! You can always check out our event calendar for events planned across the state.

Interested? Click on our volunteer match page to contact us, or contact: Kaylen.hopkins@gscolorado.org.

Girl Scout Troop 3499 at an outing last summer

Girl Scout Troop 3499, who are fourth-graders from Arvada, might have set out to simply “earn their Speak Out Girl Scout badge.” But what they ended up with was an inspired and changed community, as well as a front page story in the Denver Post on Saturday, Feb. 11th, 2012.

“Kids Care Week” was developed by Troop 3499 to help change the stereotype that “Kids can be cruel to other kids.” The troop partnered with their school, Meiklejohn Elementary, and the school’s Student Council, to put together a week focused on activities to help remind kids to be kind and, hopefully, break the stereotype.

“It was interesting to watch how the girls brainstormed various stereotypes that they might like to try to change as part of their Speak Out badge,” said Troop Leader Deb Guiducci. “When someone came up with the idea to tackle the stereotype, ‘Kids can be cruel to other kids’, that seemed to resonate with all the girls. They all started telling stories about how kids had been cruel to them.”

“It was fascinating to watch how the girls created Kids Care Week,” Deb continued. “This truly was a girl led idea.”

The activities during Kids Care Week included:

• Mix It Up Lunch Day: Sit with someone you don’t normally sit with at lunch.
• Pay It Forward Day: Do a kind act for another student that you don’t normally play with.
• Compliment Day: Give someone a compliment today that you normally don’t play with.
• Mix It Up Recess Day: Play with someone at recess that you don’t normally play with.
• Nice Note Day: Write at least one nice note at home to someone you don’t normally play with and give it to them at school.

“Kids Care Week gave me a chance to make new friends and to interact with new people,” said Girl Scout Olivia Quinn, who is a member of the organizing troop. “I also thought it was cool to see an idea we had turn into a school wide event.”

“I’m glad we did Kids Care Week as part of our Speak Out Badge,” said Girl Scout Elizabeth Guiducci, who is another member of the organizing troop. “I hope kids can stop being cruel and stop bullying each other. I hope other Girl Scouts will take our idea and do Kids Care Weeks in their schools. It would be great if this would spread all across Colorado!!”

“It meant a lot to me because it was nice to see everyone being nice to each other,” said Girl Scout Grace Drew, who is another member of the organizing troop. “We can teach that if you be nice to people, they will be nice to you.  If a lot of people do this, then the world will truly be a better place.”

In the end, Troop 3499 earned their Girl Scout Speak Out! badge. But the girls, their leaders, their school and the community at large gained much more during this successful project. In fact, Meiklejohn Elementary plans to hold the event next year.

“I think that the girls will take away many life lessons from this experience, but I  hope that one lesson  is that even a small group of people can help change something that they think is wrong if they join together and speak out,” said Troop Leader Deb Guiducci. “This has been an amazing experience for the girls in our troop, and, for me, having the opportunity to help these girls learn what I consider to be important life lessons is why I am a Girl Scout leader. I am so proud of these girls. They are amazing!”

Picture from the Kindergarten class at Meiklejohn Elementary during "Kids Care Week"

Have you ever dreamed of traveling to one of the WAGGGS World Centers?
In 2013 there will be three opportunities for adults (18 and older) to experience first-hand, Sangam in India.

See the Sangam website for details.

http://www.sangamworldcentre.org/en/events

Dates:
Discover your Potential I January 7-16, 2013
World Thinking Day February 18-27, 2013
Discover your Potential IV August 12-21, 2013

Deadline: March 1, 2012
Has the idea of this trip piqued your interest?

Contact:
Jo Anne Busch
Girl Scouts of Colorado WAGGGS Committee
jzbusch
970-218-7957

The Longmont Museum, in collaboration with the Girl Scouts of Colorado, presents Girl Scouts Together for 100 Years, an exhibition celebrating the centennial of the Girl Scouts. The exhibition, featuring hundreds of objects spanning nearly a century of Girl Scout history, will run from March 3 through April 29, 2012.

When Juliette Gordon Low decided to found an organization for girls in 1912, she dreamed big – her first phone call described it as something for the girls of her hometown Savannah, for the nation, and for the world. Today, 100 years after that first call, the Girl Scouts have more than 3 million members in the U.S., and are part of a worldwide association in 145 countries.

“We are delighted to be working with the Longmont Museum to showcase the contributions Girl Scouts have made nationally and locally over the past 100 years,” said Girl Scouts of Colorado Board Chair Stephanie Foote. “We are looking forward to an impressive centennial showcase of Girl Scout history.”

The exhibit explores different eras in Girl Scout history with vintage uniforms, historic photographs and hands-on activities. Visitors will discover some of the unusual aspects of Girl Scouting, including Mariner Scouts, a sailing-based branch of Girl Scouting, and a 1940s recipe for s’mores, which included pineapple! A central camping area will include hands-on knot-tying activities, a “Chippewa kitchen” and a full-size tent.

Of course, the exhibit will cover Girl Scout Cookies, from their origins as home-baked goods in the 1920s to the varieties available today – historic boxes, posters and tins will be exhibited. A very rare survival – authentic quarter-century old cookies that somehow escaped being eaten and remain intact today – will highlight the cookie area.

Admission to this exhibit is $5 for adults, $3 for students and seniors (55+), and free for ages 11 and under. All Girl Scout troops receive free admission.

Public Programs

Exhibit Reception: Friday March 9, 7 p.m. (Admission: $5, Friends members free)

Girl Scout Memories!

• Tuesdays, March 6 – April 24, Noon – 1 p.m.
• Free with the price of exhibit admission
• Every Tuesday at noon, a volunteer Girl Scout representative will talk about the exhibit and her experiences growing up as a Girl Scout.

Girl Scouts Sampler Days

• Saturday, March 17, 9 a.m. to noon
• Saturday, April 14, 1 to 4 p.m.
• Ages 5-11 (grades K-5)
• $3 per participant/$5 with Event Patch
• Edible fires, flat Juliettes, friendship bracelets, scavenger hunts, songs and more! Sample classic and contemporary Girl Scout activities throughout the Museum. Open to Girl Scouts and non-Girl Scouts. Space is limited. Pre-registration strongly encouraged. Please call 303-651-8374, or visit the Museum’s website at www.ci.longmont.co.us/museum.

Girl Scout Visits

• March 3 – April 29
• Free admission for Girl Scout troops
• Girl Scout leaders will receive a tour packet complete with a leader’s guide that incorporates special hands-on exhibit interactives, activity and craft pages, and resources from the Longmont Museum and Girls Scouts of Colorado.
• Girl Scouts planning to visit the Museum must make a reservation. To make a reservation, download the Self-Guided Tour form from http://www.ci.longmont.co.us/museum/exhibits , or call 303-774-4786.

General Information

The Longmont Museum & Cultural Center is located at 400 Quail Road in Longmont, Colorado. Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, contact the Museum at 303-651-8374, or visit www.ci.longmont.co.us/museum.

My daughter Antoinette is a very special girl. She has being through very rough times. She gets picked on in school, some kids are mean, and they don’t understand that she has to work harder to learn. But since she’s been in Girl Scouts, I see her and she looks very relieved and happy. She’s learned so much I’m very much proud of her.

This post was submitted through our Share Your Stories button. You can share you Girl Scout stories too.

I am writing to celebrate your success in cookie sales, as well as helping your girls strive to meet their personal cookie goals.

My name is Kreg “Frank” Hamburger the Outdoor Programs person with Girl Scouts of Colorado. I wanted to take the time today to remind you and the parents in your troops that the “Priority Placement” for camp is rapidly approaching. Priority Placement is for girls who plan to sell at least 1,500 packages of cookies or more.

The registration form is due in the Denver office by this Friday, February 17th. Please mark priority placement in the upper right corner, include your top three camp session preferences and send it in along with the registration processing fee to the Denver Service Center. It can be hand delivered to Denver, faxed (303-733-6345), mailed to Girl Scouts of Colorado, PO Box 9407, Denver, CO 80209 (postmarked before Friday) or emailed to inquiry@gscolorado.org.

I would like to be sure nobody shooting for this recognition misses the deadline! I’m including a link to the registration form posted on our website, which can be filled out, printed or saved and sent into the office.

• 2012 Summer Camp registration form

If you have questions, please call Customer Support at 1-877-404-5708.

Again, I wish you much success in your cookie business venture!

Sincerely,
Kreg “Frank” Hamburger
VP, Outdoor Programs