Challenge and Change
Girls seek to accept the challenge to change their communities
Challenge and Change is a new Girl Scout program that teaches girls ages 14 - 17 how to design and lead social entrepreneurial projects that help create positive change in their community. A social entrepreneur is someone who solves social problems by applying business strategies. The Challenge and Change program gives girls the tools to make lasting change and teaches them how to use them.
What do girls do?
Challenge and Change starts with an intensive and engaging summer experience. Girls learn important skills: how to recognize personal leadership styles, how to identify problems, imagine solutions, find community resources and inspire others through their leadership. During the summer experience, girls learn to put their ideas into a sustainable project plan for their community. Then, the girls head out into their community and implement the plan, leading community action teams and making a difference!
How can girls participate?
Twenty-eight girls from eastern and western portions of the state attended a summer retreat at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, July 13-17. They have identified 21 new projects to strengthen communities in rural Colorado. They are beginning work on projects such as: creating a teen center in Wray; starting an organic community garden in Parachute; ending bullying in Otis; starting a program for foster parents to check out equipment in Burlington; and several others.
The 2009 projects are:
- W.I.N.G.I.T., a teen center, Wray
- J.O.Y. (Journey of Youth), teens doing good deeds, Parachute
- G.A.B.S. (Girls and Boys Generation Station), Teen Activities Center, Sterling
- Organic fun, organic community garden, Parachute
- Get Your Glow On, performing arts project, Glenwood Springs
- P.O.W. (Pets on Wheels), pet visits to elderly and ill, Parachute
- B.E.A.T. (Bullying Ends As of Today), bullying prevention program, Otis
- Wonderful Wray Campaign, economic development project, Wray
- The Eagle Garden Club, beautification project, Eagle
- Checkout for Children, equipment for parents of foster kids, Burlington
- The Homework Café, after-school tutoring, Meeker
- T.U.T.O.R. (Teens uniting to organize reading), tutoring, Steamboat Springs
- Book Bridge, reading program for kids and elderly, Byers
- TEENSEEN, Teen Center, Burlington
- S.T.O.P (Safe Teens on Patrol), safety on the highways, Otis/Akron
- Beautiful Brain Campaign, sensitivity to mentally disabled, Rifle
- Kick Stress Goodbye, therapy through Tae-kwon-do, Holyoke
- Shady Ladies, beautification campaign/trees, Rifle
- Drop out rate (still working on a name), lowering the drop out rate, Sterling
- Smother the Smoke (S.T.S.), smoking cessation program, Wray
- Go Green Glenwood, recycling program, Glenwood Springs
In 2008, Girl Scouts of the USA selected Colorado to participate in this new leadership development program and already 15 girls from the Western Slope and Eastern Colorado are making their marks as they continue work on long-term community service projects. The girls are discovering more about themselves and their communities as they work on projects ranging from curbing teen pregnancy to building a science discovery program or creating an after-school theater program and much more. View the full list of 2008 projects.
With the help of Girl Scouts, you can challenge yourself and change the world!
For more information about the Challenge and Change program and how girls and volunteers can be involved, please contact (Western Slope) Heidi P., Manager-Mission Delivery at 970-285-7144 or e-mail Heidi or (Eastern Colorado) Peg P., Director-Mission Delivery at 970-522-5233 or e-mail Peg.
What some of the 2008 participants are saying about their experience:
“The program changes you and helps you to change your community.”
“You don’t only learn about your community, you also learn a lot about yourself -- who you are. This program has opened my eyes to a new me!”
Download a Challenge & Change brochure for more information.
