Nancy began her journey in Girl Scouting in the 70s, when she took up the mantle of troop leader when her daughter’s troop disbanded. And as Nancy recalls, they were a “wild’ group! Clearly, that didn’t stop her from devoting her life to enriching, and in many cases improving, the lives of girls.Nancy keeps in touch with around half of her former Girl Scout troop members, which is incredibly impressive, as many of them came from poverty and transient lifestyles. She’s always been dedicated to seeing her girls get into college, and encourages them to earn their Gold Award.
In fact, for as long as Nancy can remember, every annual camping trip she had with her troop, she asks her girls to sit in a circle and share what they admire about each other. But two years ago, for the first time ever, one of her girls told Nancy what they admire about her! And what did she say?
“What I admire most about you is you’re dedicated to seeing me get to college.”
It was an amazing and rewarding moment for Nancy.
So with so many years of experience, what are her tips for being a great troop leader?
- Meet often. That’s when the relationship builds. (And encourage parents to join, too!)
- Be a continuous presence in their lives – kids need consistency, especially if they aren’t getting it at home or at school.
- Empower the girls to make their own rules for the troop, and to hold each other accountable to them. It builds listening and respect.
- Keep it simple, and make it visual. All girls learn in different ways, so sometimes having visual aids when you normally wouldn’t can help more than you might think.
- Don’t be absent during snack time! That’s when your girls let their guard down and let their personalities shine! You will learn a lot listening to their conversations.
- And don’t forget to stress the importance of the Girl Scout Law and Promise!
“Our Girl Scout Law connects with becoming somebody,” Nancy says. “If you look at the law, the promise, it’s all of life’s skills. If you can live the Law, you can live a good life.”
Even after a series of health issues, Nancy is still dedicated to her troop. She is overcoming her illness and is back at it with her troop!
“Girl Scouts has been a great thing for me. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I can’t die yet. I still have eight years with my current troop!”
Nancy’s legacy will always be a part of Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, and we are eternally grateful for everything she’s done for girls in our state. You are a superstar volunteer!
