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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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By Girl Scout Cadette and IGM Scarlett Schilling
When people think of the word robotic, it’s normal to think of robots like the ones we see in movies, but the art of robot engineering is so much more than a smart device that can clean a room or serve breakfast in the morning. Currently, robotic engineering has developed so far to the point where we can explore the ocean. As a current member of the Girl Scout –Arizona Cactus-Pine underwater robotics team, I have clear insight into what we do and how we function.
Through our underwater robotics program, Girl Scouts are offered unique opportunities to explore new careers or learn more about an already existing passion or hobby. For example, a girl who loves engineering may participate in the program to expand her passion and learn how to apply it to real-world experiences. This is why I joined the underwater robotics program.
I love creating new things and telling others about the process of my new creations. The program has shown me that anything is possible and if I run into struggles, it has taught me to push through and shine brighter than ever.
During our underwater robotics program meetings, we set a new goal every meeting. If we are currently building our robot, we set goals to help us make progress until the building is complete. Once we finish building our robot, we test it in the pool for buoyancy to see if it sinks or floats. We also test to see if the remote connected to the robot works. If everything passes the test, then we set up an obstacle course so the team can drive the robot through hoops and rings. Depending on how the robot responds, we come together to modify the robot and make any changes to improve its function.
As we spend more time on robot modifications, the underwater robotics competition draws closer and closer. You heard right, competitions for underwater robots. At the competition, if a robot does well underwater, then the team can move forward to nationals. Some things the judges look for are the weight of the robot, and a robotic notebook that explains the process of our engineered robot.
Being part of a girl-led robotics team is important to me because it shows that women can do anything they set their minds to, and it’s a powerful way to impact the community and inspire other girls who are also interested in robotics or the STEM field.
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Service Unit: Hayden’s Ferry
Troop 3725 (Cadettes)
Years as a troop leader: 7
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
Together we have done food and clothing drives, birthday bags for children in foster care, contributed to the school garden, built a little library, provided Thanksgiving meals for families in need and planted trees to help increase our city’s shade canopy. Next year, we will start our Silver Award projects and I look forward to seeing these young leaders make even more of an impact in their community!
Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
We have broken our troop up into patrols and each patrol has meetings where they plan a badge activity or anything they want to accomplish for two meetings. We sit down and they choose all the activities, and plan who does what and what supplies are needed. I am always blown away by what they come up with! They are full of creative ideas and they are so capable – it makes my heart happy that we can provide this opportunity for them to shine!
What do you wish someone had told you as a new troop leader?
Being a Girl Scout leader is fun, exciting and sometimes it can be hard, but it is the most worthwhile activity I am honored to do. I always remind myself that it’s for the girls because we are modeling and teaching them how to be good citizens and leaders. I also wish someone had told me that I didn’t need to have all the leadership skills when I first started. I was that shy quiet person that would never raise their hand to volunteer but that has changed! I am learning alongside the girls about how to be a leader.
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 sell cookies! Selling cookies makes it possible to do all of the amazing things I have mentioned for the girls and our community and teaches girls valuable skills that they will use for the rest of their life. From the people skills they can use while interviewing for a job to money management skills they can use to budget. The girls also learn to not be afraid of being told ‘no’ because they will eventually get a ‘yes’ if they keep asking!
What is the most inspiring moment you have experienced as a troop leader?
To me, it’s inspiring to watch my troop become the older girls. Seeing them lead activities and seeing the Daisies and Brownies look up to them is an amazing experience.
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Service Unit: Fountain Hills
Troop 6445 (Juniors)
Years as a troop leader: 6
What inspired you to become a troop leader?
Funny enough, I always wanted to be a troop leader even before I had children, but the timing wasn’t right. As a Brownie, I went to several Girl Scout overnight camps and had many fond memories of Girl Scouting. When my daughter was in Kindergarten, I signed her up with a troop, but the leader returned to school to get an advanced degree and asked me if I would cover a few meetings. After she saw me with the kids, she asked me to be a full-time leader.
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
Our troop has completed many service projects over the years. Last year, we sanded and repainted some playground equipment at our local school. We’ve also have participated in the Christmas Angel program, volunteered at the local food bank, and have done waterway and trash cleanups at local rivers and roads. Every year, our town organizes Make a Difference Day where everyone comes together to do landscaping cleanup for residents that need help, which is another opportunity for our troop to serve the community.
Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
During the Thanksgiving season, I thought it would be a good idea to pair our Girl Scouts with local retirement home residents as pen pals. They wrote letters back and forth to each other, and right before Christmas, we organized a party where the girls got to meet their pen pals. At first, I was a little nervous that the girls would act differently because they had never met, but instead it was like a reunion. They hugged, exchanged gifts, and played games. I was so proud of the girls!
What advice would you give other troop leaders?
I would remind troop leaders that their role is making a difference in the life of a child. These are memories that will be with the kids forever. I would advise them to tap into the Girl Scout families’ strengths to support the troop. Some parents may be great at crafts, outdoor activities, camping or have another skillset that can support the troop’s growth. If there’s parents that drop-off their girls, you may be helping that family more than you know. Instead of thinking critically of those families, be joyful that their Girl Scout is getting the support she needs and is experiencing activities they may not be able to do without the troop.
What would you like others to know about volunteer opportunities with the Girl Scouts?
I would like others to know that there is a place for everyone. Even if you are not a troop leader or don’t have children, if you have the desire to give back through Girl Scouts you belong here. Make the phone call, send the email and the rest will figure itself out. It will be the most rewarding gift for yourself and those you volunteer with.
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Service Unit: Juniper Ridge
Troop 7347 (Juniors)
Years as a troop leader: 21
What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
My troop loves hiking and going on overnight trips where the girls earn badges and learn to do things independently and collaboratively. They enjoy horseback rides, participating in ceremonies, and traveling to Disneyland and The Great Wolf Lodge together, but their favorite activity is overnight camping, singing by the campfire and learning new skills.
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
The girls do a lot of projects to serve their community! They’ve made fleece blankets to donate to Child Protective Services (CPS) in Payson and donated boxes of cookies to the local fire department and the Veterans in their hometown of Payson. As part of one of their Journeys, they went to their school to learn how to replace styrofoam plates with plastic ones. It was an “aha” moment to see the girls find the root cause, develop a plan for change, and take steps to make their ideas work.
What advice would you give other troop leaders?
I would advise other troop leaders to enjoy their time with the troop and have fun. Don’t get overwhelmed with training, planning, and organization. Involve co-leaders and parents as much as possible, and don’t try to do it all yourself.
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, the girls love cookie season! The values of the program develop more with the age level of the girls. They learn social skills, teamwork, coordinating the boxes that need to be refilled at the table, customer service skills and the big one: dealing with money and counting change back to the customer. They decide a goal or trip they want to go on and decide how many boxes of cookies they need to sell to achieve this.
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Service Unit: Desert Sunset
Troop 6250 (Daisies – Cadettes)
Years as a troop leader: 4
What inspired you to become a troop leader?
I went to my daughter’s school one day and there was someone recruiting for Girl Scouts and my daughter really wanted to join, so we participated in the summer program for new Girl Scout Daisies, and we had so much fun doing it together. After experiencing this, I would have to say my daughter is the one who inspired me to become a troop leader.
What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
We do a lot of arts and crafts projects, and we always try to make outings work for everyone. I think that what they love most are fun meetings where they get to play games and have a good time together.
What do you wish someone had told you as a new troop leader?
I wish someone had told me that I would not only get a troop but gain a family.
Does your troop sell cookies? If yes, please tell us in your own words, why it is important to participate in the Cookie Program?
Our troop does sell Girl Scout Cookies! I think it’s important to participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program because it teaches girls essential life skills. For example, the cookie program is sometimes the first time that girls are exposed to sales and money management, so they really learn how to add prices, give the right change, and work hard for what they want.
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Service Unit: Hayden’s Ferry
Troop 2069 (Brownies – Cadettes)
Years as a troop leader: 4
What inspired you to become a troop leader?
I attribute a lot of my leadership skills, sales skills, resilience, my love for the outdoors and my desire to make the world a better place to the foundations that I gained from Girl Scouts when I was a brownie. I wanted my daughter to experience what it’s like to make memories with her Girl Scout Sisters, while gaining valuable lifelong skills. I’m thankful I got to experience Girl Scouts as a child, and I am so glad I get to pay it forward now as a leader who encourages and empowers girls.
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
The girls really have a heart for helping children and have used some of their cookie money to donate items like diapers, bottles, blankets, toys, feminine products, toiletries and of course, Girl Scout cookies to local non-profits such as Maggie’s Place, Sunshine Acres Children’s Home, Aris Foundation, Child Crisis Arizona, and the Ronald McDonald House. This year, our Juniors look forward to earning their Bronze Award!
What would you like others to know about volunteer opportunities with the Girl Scouts?
I wasn’t aware that there are so many volunteer opportunities in Girl Scouts including the local neighborhood service team! After getting my bearings as a troop leader I was able to help the Hayden’s Ferry service team which has many volunteer positions to choose from including adult recognition coordinator, neighborhood finance specialist, neighborhood event coordinator and more. I’m also thankful I learned about the Authentic Leadership Community (ALC) which is a group of volunteers that get together to empower other women to become leaders. I recommend checking out ALC at their next meeting!
What are your troop’s cookie selling tips and tricks?
Our troop creates QR codes for each girl’s website and buy packs of little scratcher rainbow cards that we use to write custom thank you cards to customers who buy four cookie packages. We also created our own log sheet for all transactions from the cookie cupboard/cookie house to parents. This makes it so easy to log into eBudde instead of having to flip through the receipt book. Anytime a parent receives cookies they sign both the receipt book and the log. When the cookie manager enters the information into eBudde, they initial each line item to show that it’s been entered. This really helped eliminate any discrepancies and just made life easier!
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Service Unit: Cactus Bloom
Troop 558 (Daisies – Seniors)
Years as a troop leader: 10
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
Together, we’ve helped with several community events, such as the Grand Canyon University and Phoenix Skate Club. We have led neighborhood encampments, helped out with cookie delivery, and attended camp clean up-service weekends. We’ve also volunteered at Relay for Life and Feed My Starving Children. We always encourage the girls to work towards the Presidential Volunteer Service Award.
What advice would you give other troop leaders?
I would tell other troop leaders that it is okay to say no and set boundaries. As a volunteer, it’s okay to ask parents to lead a meeting with their daughter. The Girl Scout will not only be proud that she and her parent led the meeting but they will also learn all that goes into troop meetings – inspiring them to volunteer their time to support the troop. I recommend organizing speakers who want to share their work and passion with the girls. Lastly, use the council’s Activities Calendar. Here, you can find great opportunities to keep things exciting and the only work required for you as a leader is registration!
What do you wish someone had told you as a new troop leader?
As a new troop leader, you should interview the parents just as they should interview you. Be clear on the expectations of the troop. For example, if you are not an outdoor troop and they want their Girl Scout to participate in outdoor activities, your troop may not be the best fit. Finding a troop is just like finding a good school or good sports team for your daughter. There are many troops but the right one will keep her and the whole
family happy, helping her stay in Girl Scouts longer.
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, cookies fund all our Girl Scout adventures! We are teaching our girls how to work and be independent. When they go somewhere cool, we remind them that they earned it with their hard work. The girls feel proud of their accomplishments and then start thinking about their next goals. We also teach them how to save and set goals, so they learn the value of saving for something long term.
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Service Unit: South Phoenix
Troop 2713 (Brownies – Seniors)
Years as a troop leader: 6
What inspired you to become a troop leader?
My daughter who is now a 15-year-old freshman in high school wanted to join Girl Scouts when she was in first grade, and to accompany her, I also took my youngest daughter (now an 11-year-old fifth grader) to meetings with us! Troop leaders allowed her to “help” in activities and if there were extra patches they’d give them to her, so before she became a Daisy, she already had patches on her vest. Unfortunately, when the time came for her to be a Daisy, the troop did not have a troop leader for that level. Instead of transferring them to another troop, I volunteered to lead until a new troop leader was found. I’ve been her leader since then and now she is bridging to Cadettes!
What kind of activities do you do with your troop? What is their favorite thing to do?
We try to concentrate on badge work, but want to volunteer more this year and get back to earning high awards. The girls love celebrating holidays with parties or creative activities that tie into their Girl Scouting experience. Like other troops, they enjoy taking trips as a troop, whether it’s to Disney World or Northern Arizona for a relaxing weekend in a cabin. Most of our girls have been together since they were Daisies and Brownies so many friendships have formed that extend outside of Girl Scout activities or meetings.
What kind of service projects have you done with your troop?
As a way to give back to the community, the girls have volunteered with the United Way Day of Service event and have participated in Goodwill donation events. During fall, some of the girls traveled with Service Unit members to one of the camps to clean and spruce it up. Recently, a few girls volunteered their time on a Saturday morning before Easter to pick up trash at Cesar Chavez Park.
What advice would you give other troop leaders?
I would advise troop leaders to communicate and talk to one another because there will always be times where they feel overwhelmed or lost but when they reach out, they realize there’s always someone else who’s been in a similar situation or is currently going through a similar experience. It’s also important to celebrate and recognize each other’s efforts.
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Service Unit: Mesa
Troop 2516 (Multilevel)
Years as a troop leader: 25
What inspired you to become a troop leader?
When I started with my job for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Girl Scouts was assigned to me. I began as a co-leader and soon became a leader for our Daisy troop. Through the training I’ve completed, the badges I’ve helped the girls earn and the community service projects I’ve been a part of have helped develop my leadership.
Tell us about a volunteer moment that stands out to you.
One of the volunteer moments that stands out to me the most is taking two of our Girl Scouts to a photoshoot at Parsons Leadership Center. The girls were really excited to participate and meet other Girl Scouts from surrounding tribes.
Does your troop sell cookies? If yes, please tell us in your own words, why it is important to participate in the Cookie Program?
Our troop does sell cookies! Selling Girl Scout Cookies is a hands-on program that teaches girls public speaking, financial and marketing skills and at the same time, helps them save money to fund trips, go to camp, etc.
What is the most inspiring moment you have experienced as a troop leader?
The most inspiring moment I’ve experienced as a troop leader is seeing multiple generations cycle throughout the past 25 years. I’ve seen Girl Scout alumni return and enroll their daughters back in the programs and experiences they once enjoyed so much!
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