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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