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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: Copper Ridge
Troop 7121
Years as a troop leader: 9
What inspired you to become a troop leader?
My daughter. She wanted to be a Girl Scout so badly when she brought a flyer home in kindergarten. We couldn’t find a troop to join so we started our own. I knew Girl Scouts was an amazing organization for building strong women, and I really wanted my daughter to have a great experience.
What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
My troop is extremely involved in our Service Unit. We run fall product and cookie rallies, encampments, and help with recruiting events. We also focus on High Awards and love to travel together!
Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
I can’t pick just one moment, but watching the girls grow and become the amazing young women they are is the BEST! Most of the girls in my troop have been with me since kindergarten or first grade so we have grown together through Girl Scouting.
What do you wish someone had told you as a new troop leader?
I wish someone had encouraged me to ask more questions. I would advise a new leader to learn who their Service Team members are and look to them for guidance when they feel lost. Don’t take everything too seriously 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, we do! Not only is it our main source of income for meeting supplies, community service projects, travel, etc. but it has taught the girls so much about running a business. Beginning in fifth grade, my daughter was able to run her sales pretty much on her own inventory, counting money/making change, running credit cards for sales, booth decor, customer service, business ethics. It was the years of me helping her prior to that where she picked up the knowledge of how to do things and started wanting to do it on her own. Now in her ninth cookie season, she runs her own sale independently.
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Service Unit: Pima
Troop 2649
Years as a troop leader: 12
Graduated May 2024
What inspired you to become a troop leader?
When my daughter was in first grade, she moved to a new school, and the existing Daisy troop didn’t have room for her to join so I was told that I would have to start a new troop. My daughter loved her Kindergarten Daisy experience, so I didn’t give it a second thought to continue in Girl Scouts. I was very lucky that my mom was also a Girl Scout leader, so I already had the best example!
What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
Our troop started off focused on fun and friendship. Even though most of the girls didn’t consider themselves to be outdoorsy, during their Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador years they came to really love weekend getaways at neighborhood encampments. If you ask any of them today, they will probably mention the field trip to a Cat Cafe as one of their favorite field trips.
Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
Watching the girls develop their confidence over the years was amazing: their tentative, shy voices at their first cookie booths evolving to their ability to run the booths as their own business while I sat in the back. The amazing growth they demonstrated between the first few years that they participated in our Neighborhood Day Camp as Program Aids to running the room by themselves as Camp Counselors. The Girl Scout experience is unparalleled for those shyer girls, giving them the opportunity and space to share their voices.
What do you wish someone had told you as a new troop leader?
Take advantage of Neighborhood Service Unit activities, and don’t let your own lack of comfort get in the way of starting the Outdoor Progression. It became my troop’s favorite tradition, and I wish I started it sooner.
Does your troop sell cookies? If yes, please tell us in your own words, why it is important to participate in the Cookie Program?
The Girl Scout Cookie Program is an excellent goal-oriented method to fund Girl Scout adventures. My favorite part of the cookie program is the confidence it builds in our girls as they learn more about the real world. I remind all my families that the cookie program funds our beautiful camps – we are so lucky to provide outdoor experiences in these amazing places.
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Service Unit: Copper Ridge
Troop 3047 (Brownies – Cadettes)
Years as a troop leader: 4
What inspired you to become a troop leader?
My daughter’s love for Girl Scouts led me to become a troop leader during COVID’s uncertainty. Overcoming initial hesitation, I am happy to provide a safe space for girls to meet and discover their potential, cultivate leadership and confidence through enjoyable learning. Not having been a Girl Scout myself, I cherish giving my daughter the empowering experiences I missed. This role allows me to bond with my daughter and her friends, while making a positive change and community impact.
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
Troop 3047 likes making a positive change in our community! We’ve donated to Home Fur Good dog shelter, assembled and donated homeless care bags, and volunteered at the Back-to-School clothing drive and Feed My Starving Children several times. This holiday, we’re excited to team up with our service neighborhood to assemble and donate comfort bags for children in child services. Our Girl Scouts have consistently made a difference through Goodwill drives, shaping a brighter future!
Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
Countless moments stand out! Our first troop spring encampment was a memorable one, marking the girls’ first weekend getaway from home, where they blossomed with independence, camaraderie, and outdoor joy, embodying the spirit of Girl Scouts.
What advice would you give other troop leaders?
Do the best that you can to positively influence your already engaged and active Girl Scout families. Focus on your journey, unhindered by others’ choices. Tap into abundant resources, ask questions, and connect with Service Unit Leaders for guidance. Attend Service Unit Leaders meetings to connect with experienced troop leaders, gaining valuable insights and knowledge from others.
What would you like others to know about volunteer opportunities with the Girl Scouts?
If you are interested and willing to commit and dedicate the time needed, you are good for it. Being a Girl Scout troop leader volunteer brings unparalleled fulfillment! It is about forging connections, growing your family and uplifting girls. You will require dedication, passion, patience and love, but the returns are immense! Seeing girls flourish, learn and overcome fears is exhilarating! The brightest moments occur when their eyes gleam with excitement and smiles beam with accomplishment!
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Service Unit: Coyote Plains
Troop 6455 (Juniors and Cadettes)
Years as a troop leader: 5
What inspired you to become a troop leader?
My co-leader, Sarah, inspired me to take on a leadership role with her contagious passion for Girl Scouts! She demonstrated that transitioning to a leader role from a volunteer role was very rewarding and I never looked back. I was also inspired to become a leader to see first-hand the growth, development, and all-around enjoyment that the girls in the troop have when trying something new or seeing something click for the first time.What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
Our troop does all sorts of activities! We have traditional meetings and participate in neighborhood events while also hosting troop only events (such as horseback riding, escape rooms, museum visits, and more), but I would have to say our favorite is camping with our neighborhood. Although camping has evolved over the years from having the entire troop together to just a few members since our older girls are now counselors, the opportunity for everyone to be present, engage, have fun, bond, and grow together is truly amazing and remains a highlight of the year.What do you wish someone had told you as a new troop leader?
You don’t have to recreate the wheel. Reach out to your Service Unit and fellow leaders in the community. We are a sisterhood, and we all want each leader and girl to have an amazing experience. Most of us are willing to share our plans, resources and experiences with you. You are not alone. I was fortunate to have an amazing co-leader and an awesome neighborhood of additional leaders to tap into and ask questions. It might be hard at first to reach out (especially if you are an introvert like me), but it is totally worth it in the end.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, our troop sells cookies. We do this every year to help girls learn life skills, goal setting, money management, communication skills, confidence development, etc. The skills the girls learn by selling cookies truly does help them in the long run with other areas such as math and public speaking. Additionally, the proceeds the girls earn by putting in the hard work allows the troop to self-fund activities, camping, memberships, high award projects, and more.What are your troop’s cookie selling tips and tricks?
The biggest tip and trick I would say for our troop would be to engage your parents and girls early. Before you send in your initial cookie order, have a parent meeting and get the buy-in or agreement on the number of cookies your troop is willing to sell. We sit down with our parents each year and review the number of cookie packages they want before we submit an initial order. This allows us, as leaders, some peace of mind that our girls and families are willing to also put in the time and effort to sell the cookies and the troop or leaders will not be stuck with a ton at the end. Doing this also promotes transparency with the girls and parents. Fortunately, our troop has been selling for several years, giving us a good understanding of how many of each type of cookie typically sells, allowing us to guide parents. However, if you are newer, consult your service unit cookie rep, and they can assist you in figuring this out. -
Service Unit: Yavapai Sky
Troop 1653 (Daisies – Cadettes)
Years as a troop leader: 6
What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
My favorite thing to do with my troop is our annual progression from sleepovers to summer camp, and beyond. We start with a late-night event at a house (dinner, play, pajamas, movie) where we have the girls prepare for bedtime, then get picked up and go home. Then we do a short lock-in for full overnight experience. That’s followed by a local encampment, then family camp, then a cookie reward trip (Great Wolf Lodge last year). At that point, most Girl Scouts are ready to try summer camp! My troop members frequently bring up these events as their favorite part of Girl Scouts, too.Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
There’s two types of moments that always seem to pop into my head – the hard ones come first, but the ones that shine more are the successes. I love watching the transformation of a shy, young Daisy at her first cookie booth. At first she’s reserved, more interested in watching than participating, but by the end of her shift, she’s confidently asking customers about cookies, telling them about her favorite, and sharing plans for troop proceeds.What advice would you give other troop leaders?
I would advise other troop leaders to connect with their Service Unit and attend the council’s troop leader circle meetings on Zoom. Whatever challenge you’re facing, someone else has already overcome it. Connect with the leaders around you so you’re not trying to figure things out on your own.What do you wish someone had told you as a new troop leader?
I wish someone had told me that I don’t have to do anything more than I have the time, patience, and energy for. Know your limits and lean on other leaders and volunteers for support.What is the most inspiring moment you have experienced as a troop leader?
I love the small moments where somebody understands something that they didn’t before. It’s everything from teaching another leader how to use eBudde, or a small adjustment during an archery lesson, or supporting older Girl Scouts while they prepare to teach younger Girl Scouts for the first time. I have a thousand tiny moments that energize me for what’s next! -
Service Unit: Sinagua
Troop 928 (Ambassadors)
Years as a troop leader: 15
What inspired you to become a troop leader?
One of the reasons I became a leader was to spend time with my girls and their friends teaching them to work as a team and give back to the community.What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
Together, we’ve helped Kids Against Hunger by packaging food, provided support for Relay for Life and donated to families in need during the holidays. Recently, we have been gathering lap blankets for our local hospice and nursing homes. So far, we have donated over 50 blankets.What advice would you give other troop leaders?
My advice to other troop leaders would be to work collaboratively with other troops when planning events so all girls can benefit from them. Additionally, I would advise them to show kindness and support to all Girl Scouts no matter their age.What would you like others to know about volunteer opportunities with the Girl Scouts?
I would like others to know that there are lots of volunteer opportunities with Girl Scouts, being a leader is just one of them! There are many roles that need to be filled in every neighborhood, and it takes a lot of use to fill those spots.What are your troop’s cookie selling tips and tricks?
I encouraged my girls to use the online features to help with selling cookies over the years, but cookie booths are also a great to teach our girls leadership skills, product management and financing. -
Service Unit: Yavapai Sky
Troop 4491 (Daisies – Juniors)
Years as a troop leader: 2
What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
We are a very active troop! We do badge work during our weekly meetings and typically give the girls the opportunity to earn about 25 badges and a journey over the course of the year. We also participate in council activities like the Goodwill Donation Drive and Get Outdoors Challenge. Our troop likes to participate in parades, encampment, outdoor skills day, and other Service Unit activities. Using cookie money, we have done outings at the zoo, children’s museum, and Build-A-Bear. Our troop’s favorite thing to do is learn new things!What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
We have collected clothes for Goodwill, made toys for a dog rescue center, collected tabs for the Ronald McDonald House, picked up trash around the Civic Center, and helped wash dishes at a local outreach event.Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
Since we have younger girls, I love seeing their self-confidence develop over time! The moment when a girl steps up and is willing to do something that is usually out of her comfort zone is always a cherished moment for me.What is the most inspiring moment you have experienced as a troop leader?
Build your troop leadership team and don’t be afraid to ask for volunteers! I have a very supportive and helpful team of leaders and volunteers in my troop. Whenever someone new joins, I ask that at least one of the family members also join as a volunteer. That way, they get the background check and everything out of the way before the event they might want to volunteer for. I make sure that they know they are not required to volunteer, but it makes it easier if they do decide to help at some point. I also try to include parents and siblings as much as possible in our troop outings. Girl Scouts is a family affair!What would you like others to know about volunteer opportunities with the Girl Scouts?
I would like others to know that there are tons of opportunities! If you want to do more volunteer work, just ask around and someone will find a role for you. I have been involved in our Service Unit team this year and have fun planning and running activities and events for the Service Unit. -
Service Unit: Coyote Plains
Troop 5790 (Brownies and Juniors)
Years as a troop leader: 3
What inspired you to become a troop leader?
I am inspired by my daughter and wanting to help all girls become independent leaders. I have always loved the outdoors and as a female senior leader myself I have found that having a strong foundation, morales and independence has really made a difference, inspiring me to ensure all girls can experience this. They are our future leaders, and I believe they will increase the current low percentage of women in senior executive leadership roles.
What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
Our troop meets on the first and third Thursday of the month and have really enjoyed encampment this year as well as making swaps. They were also very focused on cookie sales this year and did very well. They also loved visiting a fire station and our end of year celebration!
What do you wish someone had told you as a new troop leader?
I wish there was more training on the resources Girl Scouts has. Maybe a live session where a few seasoned leaders show us their best practices for planning meetings, finance and family dynamics. There is nothing like having the support of another leader helping you navigate your first year as a troop leader.
What are your troop’s cookie selling tips and tricks?
We encourage staying organized! Even though it took time and learning, we now use Sign Up Genius for booths, and are trying to get moms to use cookie manager apps so we can help all girls sell out. We got there about halfway this year with use of the app. My co-leader is great at this – she knows the inventory status and gets booths assigned for those who need it.
What is the most inspiring moment you have experienced as a troop leader?
My daughter came to me the other day and said two things. First, she said, “Mommy, if I ever have to cut out an activity, please don’t cut Girl Scouts”, followed with “I can’t wait to lead my own troop someday.”
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Service Unit: Cactus Patch
Troop 2237 (Multilevel)
Years as a troop leader: 4
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
Our troop works with many organizations, but my favorite is working with the local organization of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). Together, we go to the cemetery, clean up the gravestones and place poppies or flags on them as we salute the service member and say their name. This ceremony gives us great pride; because as we say their name, it reminds us that they are not forgotten.
Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
Our troop is made up of parents/guardians and leaders who are former and current military service members and law enforcement officers. My husband and I are both Army veterans and part of local Veteran’s associations which helps our troop stay active in helping the veteran community. A moment that stands out to me was a class we took on flag etiquette and retirement. We were able to fold the flags, be part of the ceremony and retire the flags into the fire pit. This not only gave me a sense of pride, but I could also see the pride in my girls as they were saluting the flag and the country.
What do you wish someone had told you as a new troop leader?
As a new troop leader, I wish someone would have told me I wasn’t alone. I joined my Service Unit and became involved. This is where I found my people, the women who have been leaders for many years and want to share their knowledge. I would recommend that other leaders call on their troop parents for support as they will surprise you and go above and beyond. Take trainings, and it will all pay off! Even the rope tying class helped me when our cookie tent was about to fly away.
Does your troop sell cookies? If yes, please tell us in your own words, why it is important to participate in the Cookie Program?
It is important to participate in the cookie program for many reasons, but our main reason for participating is for fun. From the day we start talking about goals and strategies our girls get excited. When we pick up cookies and have them in my garage they come and gawk at them. I have a multilevel troop and see the progression of the girls, especially my daughters that have gone from Daisies to Cadettes. They display confidence when they have conversations about cookies and helping the community with the money they earn. They are also very proud to tell people how many cookies they sold and how many booths they worked.
What are your troop’s cookie selling tips and tricks?
Out troop’s cookie selling tip is: don’t stress. I would suggest getting plenty of help and using your Kaper chart to give all the girls a task. It works out so much better when all the girls know what they are doing.
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Service Unit: Hayden’s Ferry
Troop 801 (Multi-level)
Years as a troop leader: 20
What inspired you to become a troop leader?
The opportunity to spend time with my daughter and her friends was what first inspired me to become a troop leader, until she graduated from high school. I now serve as a leader for Troop 801 in Guadalupe alongside my daughter. Our co-leaders are wonderful and are very involved. Serving as a troop leader is a rewarding and worthwhile experience because I have witnessed many girls step into their leadership abilities, while also gaining friends and Girl Scout Sisters that have made my experience as a Girl Scout troop leader even more fulfilling.
What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
Troop 801 participates in several community parades, neighborhood events, and volunteer activities. Our troop is very engaged in the Guadalupe community, and we always look forward to welcoming more girls and families to Girl Scouts.
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
Troop 801 volunteers in the Guadalupe community garden, learn about the garden space and plant flowers that community members can enjoy. Our troop also painted a little library that will include free books for the Guadalupe community.
What would you like others to know about volunteer opportunities with the Girl Scouts?
I would like others to know that Girl Scouts offers multiple opportunities to volunteer. If you are interested in volunteering, there are ways for everyone to utilize their strengths and support girls as they develop leadership skills.
What is the most inspiring moment you have experienced as a troop leader?
This year, many of our girls experienced their first cookie season! It was wonderful watching them gain confidence as the season continued. During one of our cookie booths, one of our Girl Scout Daisies told her Girl Scout Brownie sister that they should be business partners and started planning out their future. It was inspiring to hear what they envisioned for themselves after feeling empowered at the cookie booth.
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