Service Unit: Sunny Peaks
Troop 3895
Years as a troop leader: 4
What inspired you to become a troop leader?
I wasn’t a Girl Scout growing up. My younger sister became a Brownie when I was already too old to join, and for years I didn’t think much about Girl Scouts. Then about seven years ago, a mentor of mine (someone deeply involved at both the national and council level) shared how meaningful Girl Scouts had been in her life and even introduced me to one of the Co-CEOs. Both experiences became seeds that stayed with me. Then, when my oldest daughter was about four years old, I called the number on the website just to learn more. Less than 24 hours later, a staff member called me back and told me there were over a dozen girls in our area waiting for a troop. I didn’t feel ready – not at all. Neither of my daughters were even old enough to join yet! But I knew that I believed in developing girls into confident leaders. My background in organizational development, my education at a women’s college, and my professional focus on culture and belonging gave me confidence that I could build something meaningful. I called for my daughters — but I created a troop for other girls. And I stayed for the community that formed around us.
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
Service is foundational for us. We’ve volunteered at Feed My Starving Children, upcycled donated fabric into pet toys for the Arizona Humane Society, painted a plant bench being donated to a local school and donated cookies as well as supported community events. These girls are not just earning patches; they see themselves as contributors. What makes it even more meaningful is that our original girls are all first-generation Girl Scouts; the first in their families, including mine, to wear a Girl Scout vest. We aren’t continuing a familiar tradition, we’re starting one.
What advice would you give to other troop leaders?
You do not have to feel ready to begin. When I started, I had zero Girl Scout experience. What I had was a belief in girls and a willingness to build systems that support them. Start small, be transparent, involve families and share the financials. But most importantly, ask girls what they want to learn and let them lead.
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, and we take it seriously. Our troop’s typical per-girl average is 550 boxes, well above the national average. We frame cookies as entrepreneurship.
Cookies make camp possible.
Cookies make STEM programming possible.
Cookies make encampment and future international travel possible.
Just last year alone, our troop will have invested over $700 per girl into experiences, activities, certifications, supplies, and community events. That doesn’t include the countless volunteer hours, car rides, planning time, and coordination behind the scenes. The Girl Scout experience? Priceless.
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