There was no doubt that Stephan was going to be involved in her daughter’s Girl Scout troop. It was just a question of how.

After wearing different hats for Oxford Troop 76944, including Service Unit Communication Liaison and Service Unit Manager, Stephan has found her groove as a troop leader.

“Like many others, I wanted my daughter to have a great Girl Scout experience,” she said. “Little did I know that Girl Scouts would mean just as much to me as it has meant for my girls of the troop.”

Keeping Busy

Stephan’s goal is to keep her troop active, let them have new experiences, and to accomplish things they didn’t think they could.

“As my husband and family will tell you, I can always find room in the calendar for more adventures and trips,” said the former Girl Scout.

With her troop getting older, Stephan wants to make sure she is connecting with the girls over things they are interested in.

“(At) this age, the girls have competing priorities – so meeting the girls where they are at and with what they want to do, to keep them engaged, is important,” she said.

Why she Volunteers

Early on with the troop, Stephan had a tender moment with an upset Daisy, and it helped her realize why she was volunteering with Girl Scouts.

“It was not just for my daughter anymore,” she said. “It was to be there for someone else’s daughter, to be a cheerleader when they need it most.”

She also reminds volunteers that the beauty of Girl Scouts is not everyone’s journey is the same. “No two troops are the same, and it doesn’t have to be!” she said. “Find what works for you, your co-leader and your girls.”

Nominate a Volunteer

If you know someone who should be the focus of a Volunteer Spotlight post, visit www.gssem.org/spotlight to access the Volunteer Spotlight Nomination Form.

Hang in there! Find your path and follow it!

-Stephan S., 76944 Troop Leader