In honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month, Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania is honoring the people who keep our community thriving, this month and every month.
Ellen Mosher is a longtime volunteer out of the Northern Star service unit in McKean County, and she has spent decades going above and beyond for her Girl Scout sisters. A troop leader and service unit manager, she is someone who is leaving a lasting impact on her community through her time as a volunteer.
Ellen has been a Girl Scout for several decades—so long, in fact, that the girls she leads now are daughters and granddaughters of women she once led. Ellen’s impact has spanned generations of women and continues to this day. Because of her long tenure as a volunteer, Ellen has met many new volunteers over the years, and she never strays away from sharing her experiences. She is always ready to lend a hand to a new leader, making sure they are comfortable starting out and have all the resources they need. Whether it’s a new troop leader or a shy Girl Scout, Ellen is always there with her guidance and experience. She is a stable presence, keeping the community afloat around her.
Through her leadership, Ellen is committed to upholding the Girl Scout values and traditions thoroughly. Whether that is making meetings and outings run smoothly or teaching girls how to be sisters to all, she is dedicated to keeping a few things about Girl Scouts consistent. Over the course of the last few decades, a lot has changed. However, Ellen has been able to roll with the punches and adapt while still upholding those same values, making every girl feel special for the things that make her unique and supported in their journey.
She is always there as a go-to First Aid volunteer at camp, and she is passionate about the outdoors, an interest that is close to her heart. She serves as the Leave No Trace She serves as the Leave No Trace representative for her service unit, taking care to instill a sense of pride in loving the outdoors in the girls she works with. With her help, girls in her area are growing in their awareness of the world around them and the ways they can take care of it.
Ellen also received the Pearl Award for her dedication at the recent Annual Meeting, an achievement very fitting for all that she has done. Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania is lucky to have someone like her supporting girls, volunteers, and community members alike.
“Ellen’s impact goes far beyond titles—she is a constant source of support, knowledge, and heart. Her willingness to give her time, her leadership, and her care has shaped countless experiences and created a stronger, more connected community for everyone.”
GSWPA 