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It’s important for volunteer Melanie Hansen to instill in girls the idea that they are part of a larger community and that it is their responsibility to help make the world a better place. “By living the Girl Scout Law throughout their lives, they can make a difference,” she says.

Melanie became a volunteer with Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania because she enjoyed being a Girl Scout when she was younger and wanted to share that same experience with her daughter, and eventually, her granddaughter. She said, “that joy I found while participating in Girl Scouts has never left me. The bonding and memories with my daughter and granddaughter are priceless.” 

It’s difficult for Melanie to choose just one Girl Scout memory as her favorite, but she says her favorite times include camping, singing around the campfire, scavenger hunt hiking, and the funniest – picking camp names! Her favorite service project was collecting pennies for the replacement of the Abraham Lincoln statue in Wilkinsburg.

Melanie says one of her favorite aspects about volunteering is watching the progression of girls over the years, especially Brownies, who are so excited about becoming a Girl Scout and earning badges. “When you create an environment of inclusion, encouragement to try a new skill or learn something new, and championing each girl, you start to see their newfound confidence and leadership skills begin to emerge.”

Her advice for new volunteers is to plan ahead and leave extra room in your planning schedule. She says creating a two-year plan in the summer prevents repeating badges as new girls enter a troop. Melanie tries to hold a learning meeting followed by a fun event. Above all, her best piece of advice is this: “Mostly, have fun!”

Happy National Volunteer Month!

Check out this video message from the staff at Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania.

Looking for more ways to celebrate our volunteers?
👉 Volunteer Appreciation Resources

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When Lillian Marquez and her daughter saw information about Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania posted at their local library, they both decided to join. Now, nine years later, Lillian is thankful for the decision they made and for the opportunities they have both experienced through Girl Scouts. She enjoys seeing girls explore their potential while learning alongside them herself. 

Lillian has worn many hats when it comes to volunteering with Girl Scouts. She has held positions such as troop leader, day camp leader, day camp director, service unit delegate, troop MagNut and cookie manager, and travel troop leader. It is evident that Lillian enjoys being a leader because when she’s not volunteering, she is a family coach and mentor for students at a cyber school. 

One of Lillian’s favorite aspects of volunteering is being able to give girls the experience of setting goals and achieving those goals through determination and perseverance. Her troop reached their goals of funding troop trips to destinations such as Great Wolf Lodge and Niagara Falls. She hopes they’ve learned that if they put their minds to something, they can achieve it.  

To allow a troop to function smoothly and continue to grow, Lillian’s piece of advice to new volunteers would be to not be afraid of asking for help and delegating tasks. She says, “open communication, asking for help, and delegating the job responsibilities will all help develop a rapport for the continued success of the troop in the future.” 

Lillian says that Girl Scouts is a very rewarding experience, and she plans to continue volunteering even after her daughter graduates.  

Happy National Volunteer Month!

Check out this video message from the staff at Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania.

Looking for more ways to celebrate our volunteers?
👉 Volunteer Appreciation Resources

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When Amy Dobbins became aware that her local area needed a leader, she volunteered to lead a troop of girls, many who were her daughter’s friends. She recalled a similar experience she had when she was a Girl Scout. “I wanted them to build the skills of leadership and service that I learned in Girl Scouts with my mother years ago,” she said. Amy was a Girl Scout in what was then known as the Talus Rock Council, and even earned her Girl Scout Gold Award.

Amy has been a Girl Scout leader for 13 years, holding roles such as day camp volunteer, service unit manager, service unit finance manager, and service team member. In addition to her volunteer roles, Amy is also a U.S. history teacher.

Some of Amy’s favorite Girl Scout memories include a rafting trip, a Gettysburg battlefield tour, and tours of the White House and Capitol Building in Washington, DC. She said that watching the girls plan for the trips was the best part. She loves seeing them experience new things they may not have had the chance to experience if it were not for Girl Scouts.

Amy says that her favorite thing about volunteering is watching the progression of girls as they grow from one age level to the next. “Girl Scout leadership is a labor of love guiding the girls to experience what they want, and it is very rewarding to see the girls grow and become their unique selves,” she says.

For Amy, the biggest challenge she has faced as a volunteer has been the shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Transitioning to virtual meetings presented its challenges, but it was nothing she could not handle.

If Amy could give a piece of advice to new volunteers, it would be this: “There is no cookie-cutter troop. The troop is what the girls want to make of it. Each troop is unique, and the troop experiences should guide girls into becoming leaders and developing leadership skills through the badges, journeys, and the troop experiences.”

Happy National Volunteer Month!

Check out this video message from the staff at Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania.

Looking for more ways to celebrate our volunteers?
👉 Volunteer Appreciation Resources