Showing leadership
When the first troop leader of Clinton Township Troop 77616 stepped down, Stephanie Lafaive stepped up so her daughter and her young friends could have the same amazing experiences she’d had as a Girl Scout.
“My daughter loves Girl Scouts so much, along with all of her friends. I didn’t want her to miss out on all the awesome memories I had growing up a Girl Scout because there was no troop leader,” she says.
“I wanted her to have all the long-lasting friends, unity, and memories,” she says. “I wanted to be the one to make a difference in her and her friends’ lives growing up.”
And make a difference she did. Stephanie and her troop go camping, enjoy arts and crafts, and learn life lessons together.
Stephanie is serious about pushing her troop to go beyond their comfort levels and try new things. It’s one way to keep learning and growing for all of them, herself included.
“Helping shape their minds, and teaching them so many new and exciting things, is an incredible gift,” Stephanie believes. “When you put the effort in, the rewards are huge.”
Making memories
Stephanie’s biggest reward is seeing them smile and hearing them giggle while they are learning and creating, like when they made troop tie-dye shirts.
“There is just something about their little laughs that warms my heart,” she says. The troops still wear their shirts to school and meetings.
Reach Out
Just as she tells her troop it’s okay to fail as long as you keep trying, Stephanie believes that is true for volunteers, too.
“Try your best and learn from what worked and what didn’t. If you need to change the plan for what works best for your troop then do it,” she says.
What helped Stephanie was using social media to connect with other troop leaders. “There are so many amazing leaders out there that will help and give you great ideas,” she says
Goal Forward
One thing Stephanie strives to incorporate into her troop is the concept of inclusiveness.
“I never want anyone to ever feel like they don’t belong because of shape, learning, money, or anything else. We pride ourselves on always including everyone in everything we do.”
As a troop leader, Stephanie hopes to provide her girls with takeaways to guide them through life.
“I want my girls to realize they have the ability to help each other and others they may not know; that it’s okay to be independent and to have a different opinion than others, and that it’s okay to become leaders and use our voice when others can’t,” she says.
“Basically, my goal is for the girls to use the Girl Scout Law every day throughout their life.”
– Stephanie Lafaive
“Just have fun! If it’s not fun for you, it won’t be fun for the girls either. They can feel your energy!”
