What inspired you to become a troop leader?
My oldest daughter struggled to understand that she could make new friends every school year after her best friends from kindergarten were placed in a different class for first grade. She stopped eating at lunch and sat quietly, keeping to herself. Not eating lunch was unusual, but her new teacher didn’t think it was an issue. We looked into Girl Scouts because that was something she expressed interest in. I wanted her to be a part of an intimate group where they could really build friendships and grow together, so starting our own troop seemed like the way to go. When I started learning more about what we can offer the girls, I was all in.
What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
Aside from our meetings twice a month, we participate in two of our city’s parades, which is something they look forward to. We visit community organizations for tours relating to the badge they’re working on and participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program. The girl’s favorite thing to do is really just spend time together. They attend different schools, so they get excited to see each other every time they have a meeting, and the friendship circle is probably their favorite part.
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
We have not done any service projects yet, as we are getting into our third year. We are planning our first one now, and the girls are in the process of selecting the community they want to support.
Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
A volunteer moment that stands out to me is learning at the beginning of a meeting that my (at the time) five-year-old had most of the Girl Scout Promise and Law memorized. She did not like to practice and could not read. I had no idea she knew as much as she did. She was proud to recite it at the Council Shop to earn her promise pin and law patch.
What advice would you give other troop leaders?
The advice I would give new troop leaders is don’t feel like you’re in this alone. Attend your neighborhood leader/volunteer meetings and ask other leaders for support with ideas, situations or even tips. I don’t think I could have made it past my first year if it were not for the other leaders in my Service Team. They have been extremely supportive of answering any and all of my questions and making me feel welcomed. For the seasoned leaders, be open and willing to share your invaluable knowledge and experiences with new leaders. It can make all the difference in their experience.
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