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Service Unit: Sunny Peaks
Troop 529 (Seniors – Ambassadors)
Years as a troop leader: 9
What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
Our troop loves to socialize so we either have our regular meetings or meet at a local pizza shop. Some of our favorite activities include crafting and camping! Together, we’ve gone kayaking on the Verde River, and also enjoy going trick-or-treating in Uptown Sedona on Halloween.
Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
It’s hard to choose just one, but recently, while we were on a camping trip I watched the girls work together to set up their bunks, gather wood for the fire, and help with cooking and cleaning duties. It was satisfying and inspiring!
What would you like others to know about volunteer opportunities with the Girl Scouts?
I want others to know that volunteering as a Girl Scout leader is a real gift. The girls are inspirational and I’ve learned a lot from them about myself and about my relationship with my daughter. It’s a wonderful feeling to watch a group of girls evolve into wonderful young women. It’s truly special knowing that other volunteers and I played a small part in their growth.
What is the most inspiring moment you have experienced as a troop leader?
There have been so many inspiring moments – small and large. What I find most inspiring is watching the girls go from little kids to pre-teens to young adults, knowing they have learned a lot of valuable things in Girl Scouts and seeing them put those things into action. Their kindness to one another, the way they maintain respect despite their differences and then celebrate their achievements together is always inspiring and empowering.
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Service Unit: Sunny Peaks
Troop 6520
Years as a troop leader: 8What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
We go camping several times a year and the girls love to plan travel and service projects. Our troop meets at a community center and every year we attend and volunteer at their fundraiser, Ms. Cleo’s Tea Party. The girls love feeling connected to the community and the Murdoch Center.
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
The troop has built little libraries, made toys and care packages for the humane society, made wildlife escape ramps for the pool at Parsons Leadership Center, supplied and helped build an adult resource center at the food bank, and planted a pollinator garden and a new sign for the Murdoch Center.
What advice would you give other troop leaders?
It can be easy to focus on order and achievements, but the best troop is a happy one, where girls are comfortable enough to be a little wild and confident enough to speak their minds.
What are your troop’s cookie selling tips and tricks?
Keep morale high! Since we are in Flagstaff, we’ve had booths in snowstorms, and we’ve learned that if the girls are staying positive in rough weather, the customers buy more to support them.
What is the most inspiring moment you have experienced as a troop leader?
My co-leader, Lisa Brink, inspires me all the time. We have different talents and love working as a team. She does things every year that are impressive and inspiring, and it keeps me going and motivated to bring my best to every meeting and event.
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Service Unit: Cactus Patch
Troop 2237 (Juniors)
Years as a troop leader: 5What inspired you to become a troop leader?
I was inspired to become a leader to provide a safe and supportive space for girls to grow. I find joy in watching them discover their own voices and collective power.
What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
Our troop serves veterans and their families through the American Legion and other community service projects throughout the year. My favorite part of being a troop leader is seeing their creativity shine at community events.
Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
My favorite volunteer moment has been gathering birthday kits for foster children. Our troop made cards for each box, and this made our birthday kits extra special.
What would you like others to know about volunteer opportunities with the Girl Scouts?
Being a volunteer can extend past the troop. You can be involved in your council’s Service Unit and create a sisterhood with other Service Unit volunteers.
What are your troop’s cookie-selling tips and tricks?
We enjoy our cookie meetings and setting goals before cookie selling begins! Creating goals and working towards them can create such a great structure for the entire troop.
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Service Unit: Wild Horse
Troop 1123 (Multilevel)
Years as a troop leader: 1
What inspired you to become a troop leader?
I became a Girl Scout troop leader to help bring cultural change into my community and to create a space where girls can actively serve and make a difference. In our area, there are limited opportunities for young girls to engage in meaningful leadership and service, and I want to change that.
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
So far, our troop has proudly helped Troop 7569 to support our community through gardening. Together, we built fruit and vegetable garden beds at our local community space, Garden Social. The produce we helped cultivate was later donated to our local women’s shelter, providing fresh and healthy food to those in need.
Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
A moment that truly stands out to me was when I had the opportunity to reward my troop with a trip to Build-A-Bear. It was such a joy to watch the girls proudly walk through the mall in their Girl Scout uniforms, representing not only themselves but the values of Girl Scouts in a public space. Their excitement grew even more when they discovered that their bears could also represent Girl Scouts. Seeing their pride and happiness reminded me how special it is to create these kinds of experiences— moments that celebrate their hard work while also deepening their connection to Girl Scouting.
What advice would you give other troop leaders?
My advice would be this: as volunteers, it’s natural to want to give more—and that’s perfectly okay. Go above and beyond when you can, because for some girls, the opportunities they have in Girl Scouts may be the only time they experience certain activities, adventures, or life lessons. What you expose them to now could leave a lasting impact, and even if they don’t realize it in the moment, they’ll carry that appreciation with them later in life.
What do you wish someone had told you as a new troop leader?
I wish someone had told me that not only would I create a sisterhood for the girls, but I’d also create a sister bond with other leaders, co-leaders, and volunteers.
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Service Unit: Yavapai Sky
Troop 764 (Multilevel)
Years as a troop leader: 6
What inspired you to become a troop leader?
All of my best childhood memories are with the Girl Scouts. I wanted my daughter to experience the same adventures that I had. I became a leader to teach girls how to become the best versions of themselves, while becoming a blessing to their communities!
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
For Christmas, we collect donations for homeless veterans then stuff 150 large stockings with socks, gloves, deodorant, powder, ChapStick, and much more.
What would you like others to know about volunteer opportunities with the Girl Scouts?
There’s a place for you! Whatever you excel at or enjoy, I guarantee Girl Scouts can put you in the position to encourage and help girls thrive.
What are your troop’s cookie selling tips and tricks?
We decorate our table in red and pink hearts with cute toys and nesting dolls. This attracts lots of attention and entices kids to bring their parents over.
What is the most inspiring moment you have experienced as a troop leader?
The troop regularly vocalize their closing circle wishes as prayers for sick children in the hospital. It shows their hearts and the love they have for others!
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Service Unit: Yavapai Sky
Troop 0371 (Multilevel)
Years as a troop leader: 53
What inspired you to become a troop leader?
Becoming a troop leader just happened naturally for me. I was a Girl Guide in my troop (formerly known as “village units”) when I was 16. I needed to move into Rangers, which was not nearby, so I became a young leader for my unit, then an assistant leader. When I moved, I became a leader wherever I went. I loved being a Girl Guide; my friends and I had so much fun participating in challenges, adventures, and international camps. I did odd things like entering a national raft building contest with my unit. We travelled on a barge down the River Rhine, visited our chalet, Pax Lodge, and many more European sites. Because I had so much fun, I wanted others to have fun too.
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
As a troop, we have done creek clean-ups, given supplies to animal shelters, and read to the animals! We’ve also donated clothing and cookies to various shelters and learned about composting through the Let’s Go Composting Program.
What would you like others to know about volunteer opportunities with the Girl Scouts?
There are lots of opportunities for volunteers to expand their knowledge and skills. There are also helpful resources to support your journey as a troop leader. Do not be afraid to ask.
What are your troop’s cookie-selling tips and tricks?
We, as a troop, like to pair an experienced girl with a new seller. If possible, at a booth, make sure the girls are in uniform and are welcoming customers. In regard to selling individually, we discuss what girls may have done in the past, and to make sure the girls and their parents realize they are not alone, and we are there to help as needed.
What is the most inspiring moment you have experienced as a troop leader?
The inspiring moments are when you see a girl smile (and an adult) because she has achieved something she did not think she could do.
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Service Unit: Yavapai Sky
Troop 3220
Years as a troop leader: 1.5
What inspired you to become a troop leader?
When my daughter entered kindergarten, I just knew I wanted her to join Girl Scouts and I wanted to be a part of her journey!
What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
My troop loves doing crafts, we complete on average one badge a week! We like doing field trips too; recently we toured Culvers.
Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
The biggest volunteer moment is definitely cookie season.
What advice would you give other troop leaders?
Do what works for your girls and have fun.
Does your troop sell cookies? If yes, please tell us in your own words, why it is important to participate in the Cookie Program?
Yes, participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program is important for our troop because we learn how to set goals and what it takes to achieve those goals. The best part is when we get to have some fun with our proceeds.
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Service Unit: Cave Creek
Troop 7053
Years as a troop leader: 6
What inspired you to become a troop leader?
I was a Brownie and have great memories of Girl Scouts, and I wanted my daughter to be able to experience the same things. There wasn’t a troop to join, so we created a new troop, and I was happy to take the reins and become the troop leader. I have a background in education, so I knew it was something I could offer to support the girls!
What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
We love to be outside in nature. We recently hiked with a focus on studying rocks. Soon, we will go to Willow Springs in Prescott for our first overnight adventure as a troop. Our troop loves nature, taking care of animals and creating art.
Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
I love seeing some of the shy girls come out of their shell and try new things!
What advice would you give other troop leaders?
I would tell others to be willing to adjust on the fly to meet the needs of their girls, even at the expense of skipping portions of a plan that you spent a lot of time and effort developing/planning. I would rather meet the girls where they are at and ensure they are having a positive experience than rushing through activities.
What do you wish someone had told you as a new troop leader?
I wish someone had told me more about training offered by Girl Scouts for leaders. The ones I have attended have been so good, like the recent TCC2 in person camping training.
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Service Unit: Juniper Ridge
Troop 2191
Years as a troop leader: 6
What inspired you to become a troop leader?
I was actually asked to become a leader for my daughter’s last year as a Brownie. I’m a person that can’t say no, so I jumped into the role of leader. I absolutely love watching these girls blossom and learn things they normally would not learn. As their leader, I am always learning from them.
What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
We are a troop that loves to volunteer. We work on High Awards, and our girls enjoy completing different trainings; all of our cadettes are CPR/first aid certified, And PA trained. We also love getting outdoors, visiting Girl Scout camps and of course traveling.
Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
Not only am I a leader, I’m also the canoe instructor at Shadow Rim. My favorite volunteer moment was meeting Natalie; this Girl Scout was absolutely scared of water and being in the canoe, so I sat with her and talked through all her fears with her. I stayed by her side, and finally she entered the water and had a great time. In October, I saw Natalie again and her attitude for canoeing completely changed. She was so confident, and even designed my patches.
What advice would you give other troop leaders?
Just breathe. Remember you are just a volunteer and are supposed to have just as much fun as the girls do. Not every troop is the same, something that works for one troop does not always work for another.
What do you wish someone had told you as a new troop leader?
I wish someone had told me there were so many resources out there. If you can’t find anything there is someone out there either in your neighborhood or another that can point you in the right direction. My favorite line to share with new leaders is: Welcome, Girls Scouts is not for just the girls it’s for us adults as well. All my best friends are volunteers!
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Service Unit: Palo Verde
Troop 3531 and 4320
Years as a troop leader: 9
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
Some of our troop’s favorite service projects have been making activity boxes for children in the hospital, buying presents for the Christmas Angel program, feeding the homeless, and helping animal shelters.
Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
A volunteer moment that stands out is watching my older girls earn their Bronze Award a few years ago. Now that my troops are in the process of completing their Bronze and Silver Awards, It’s fun to watch them brainstorm and plan what they want to achieve.
What advice would you give other troop leaders?
You get out of it, what you put into it. I spend a lot of time and energy into being a Girl Scout leader. I absolutely love it and wouldn’t change it. The excitement and enthusiasm I see during meetings and activities makes all the work worthwhile.
What do you wish someone had told you as a new troop leader?
Girl Scout troops are all different. It’s not one size fits all, and each troop can decide what works best for them and their families. Some examples include how often they meet, how many events they do each year, and how active they are with cookies.
What is the most inspiring moment you have experienced as a troop leader?
One of the most inspiring moments for me is watching my troops grow. My juniors are starting to take an active roll in their meetings, and are taking turns leading different badges, which is fun to watch. Girls that were so shy when they joined are now planning, leading activities and running cookie booths by themselves.
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Service Unit: Meadowlark
Troop 3218
Years as a troop leader: 3
What inspired you to become a troop leader?
I was a Girl Scout in the 80s and loved it. I went to Day Camp for two summers with my aunt who was a troop leader in another town. I loved being outdoors and “squish hiking” in the Wolf River near New London, Wisconsin. I went to Chalk Hills Camp on the Wisconsin Michigan border with my troop and then went there for a week the summer between 6th and 7th grade in the summer of 1987. I am still friends with my tent mates to this day, one of them now buys cookies from my daughter. I have such fond memories of being a Girl Scout, that I wanted the same experiences for my daughter. After Covid and with a move, it was hard making friends in our new neighborhood. We joined an amazing troop in our neighborhood, but my daughter was the only girl to bridge, which is when I signed up to start a troop.
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
Our troop earned their Bronze Award last spring by collected pounds of clothing and textiles that would otherwise go in the landfill. We delivered them to Phoenix Fibers where they recycle them into insulation and other materials. Some of our girls also helped an older sister of a troop member paint a mural at a food bank as part of her Gold Award project.
What advice would you give other troop leaders?
It takes a village; therefore, you need to have parents who are willing to help. Building a community with parents and families is important. I am lucky to have a wonderful co-leader, Melissa Jamshidi, and parents that have since become friends and family to us. I’d also remind troop leaders that the Girl Scout experience is supposed to be fun for everyone, including them.
What would you like others to know about volunteer opportunities with the Girl Scouts?
I would like others to know that we have fun, and these experiences build a lifetime of memories and skills for our girls. If you have a skill, share it!
What is the most inspiring moment you have experienced as a troop leader?
It’s inspiring to see friendships form and grow outside of the troop. I think the girls are growing and learning together and it makes me proud of them and proud to be one of their leaders.
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