April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month, and Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains appreciates its more than 5,000 adult volunteers more than ever as we enter this month under stay-at-home orders in New Hampshire and Vermont due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Every April, the council serving the two states celebrates the powerful, life-changing contributions our volunteers make to Girl Scouts all year long. No matter what the world throws at us, they are the ones who keep the Girl Scout spirit strong. When an adult steps up to take the lead as a volunteer, girls discover that they too can take on leadership roles and change the world. These volunteers are mentoring girls to become young women of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

Recently, our volunteers have had to make enormous adjustments to keep Girl Scouts safe, healthy, and engaged with their troops. These dedicated Girl Scout leaders made the quick pivot to finding ways to keep their girls active online and at home. Miriam Wilcox of Candia, New Hampshire, create a web page to allow Girl Scouts to participate in a virtual museum tour, earn the Cybersecurity badge, and make a bunny craft. She invited other volunteers in her service unit to call upon her for her skills in online activities. Alison Duback’s troop in the Burlington area of Vermont quickly learned how to us Zoom and enjoyed a virtual troop meeting. Many other troop leaders are quickly adjusting to a new way of life and helping their Girl Scouts to attend virtual troop meetings offered by the council, figuring out how to fund their activities despite an interrupted cookie season, and rescheduling and coming up with new plans for their troops – often while trying to work from home and help their own children who are learning from home.

Throughout the past year, volunteers have helped the council in so many ways. Jacie Crump of Nashua, New Hampshire, has shared her outdoor skills with her troop, and her support as a Volunteer Service Coordinator means being available to the 20 Girl Scout troops and 72 leaders in the Nashua area, along with nine outreach troops, the total serving 338 girls.  Jacquie Maisonet of Rutland, Vermont, brings a wealth of experience as a second-generation Girl Scout leader to her troop. Pamela Gude of West Bolton, Vermont, is a Master Naturalist who shares her love and knowledge of nature with Girl Scouts year-round. Susan Henderson of West Lebanon, New Hampshire, mentors 24 Girl Scout troops in the Upper Valley in both New Hampshire and Vermont, and has given more than 25 years of service to Girl Scouts in a variety of roles. All of them were among the people named Volunteer of the Month for the 2019-2020 Girl Scout membership year, and are just a few examples of the giving nature of volunteers throughout the council.

Girl Scout Leaders Day is also coming up, celebrated April 22 each year. Girl Scouts everywhere are encouraged to note the day and show their troop leader a little extra love and appreciation for all they do.

Asked on Facebook to tag their Girl Scout troop leaders, the following comments were posted:

Nancy Dickinson – I just wanted to do a shout out to all the leaders in our Dover NH community. They are amazing ladies one and all, whether they are in their first year of leading their girls or have been doing it for some years.

Breanne Lee – Megan Cuddy (Troop 22827) is the Best Co-Leader around! She’s so invested in what we do, cares so deeply about GS and makes me a better leader.  Wouldn’t trade her for anything!

Deborah Andersen Faucher – Swift Water Paddlers coaching team is the best!

April Hinton – Stacie Labore, Meredith Simon Campbell, You are wonderful smart women who have made such a positive impact on my daughter! Thank you!

Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains recognizes many of its volunteers during its annual Farnsworth Weekend retreat at Camp Farnsworth in Thetford, Vermont. Many other recognitions take place at smaller local ceremonies. The council is beyond grateful to everyone who makes it possible for so many girls to learn new skills and be a part of the largest leadership development program for girls in the world.

Visit  www.girlscoutsgwm.org.

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