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Local teen girls invited to create positive change in their community
Girl Scouts respond to girls’ changing views on leadership
Girls ages 14 to 17 in Garfield, Logan and Morgan counties have a unique opportunity to take part in a new national Girl Scout program that teaches teens how to design and lead entrepreneurial projects to strengthen their own rural communities. Responding to girls’ changing views on leadership, Girl Scouts of Colorado is launching the Challenge and Change: Challenge Yourself, Change the World initiative in June. This initiative is structured around the results of a recently released study by Girl Scouts of the USA that says girls have a desire to be leaders who change the world. Only 14 Girl Scout councils across the country and three counties in Colorado have been selected to participate in this program.
Girl Scouts of Colorado will kick off Challenge and Change during an intensive learning experience retreat at Colorado Mountain College, Leadville Campus, from June 9 to 12. At this retreat, girls will build their leadership, problem-solving and entrepreneurship skills. They will also learn more about their own communities by mapping local assets and identifying local experts. In the end, they will identify a problem in their community, come up with a project idea to help and go back to their communities to lead a team to turn the idea into reality. This program is open to registered and non-registered Girl Scouts.
Challenge and Change is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through a partnership with Girl Scouts in Rural Communities. It aims to strengthen rural communities by building youth leadership skills. More than 1,500 girls and other community members across the country will be participating in Challenge and Change this year.
There will be many opportunities for adults from the community to support Challenge and Change during upcoming months. Each girl will be matched with an adult community champion to help be a resource and advisor to them along the way. Girls will also interview adults who have experience as business owners, entrepreneurs or community leaders.
For more information about Challenge and Change and how you can register or get involved, contact your local Girl Scouts of Colorado representative. For Logan and Morgan counties, contact Peg Peterson at peg.peterson@gscolorado.org or at 970-522-5233. For Garfield county, contact Heidi Pankow at heidi.pankow@gscolorado.org or at 970-285-7144. Get your reservation in by mid-May to guarantee your spot at the event!
Girl Scouts of Colorado is where girls throughout the state gain courage, confidence and character alongside a group of girls who will be their friends for life. It’s a safe place for girls to explore their world, develop an understanding and empathy for others and take action to make the world a better place. Girls are guided by committed, caring adults who make learning fun. No other activity helps each girl achieve her personal leadership pathway like Girl Scouting. Girl Scouts has been the nation’s leading expert on girls for nearly 100 years. For more information or to volunteer, visit www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org or contact your local service center.