There are so many resources for starting a Girl Scout troop. We even have a Troop Leader 101 page here on our site just for that purpose. However, what seems to be missing is the WHY you should start your own Girl Scout troop. I remember going to an informational meeting at our elementary school when my daughter was in kindergarten. Never did I think I wanted to be a leader. But I wanted my daughter to be part of something bigger. Something meaningful. Something that she could be proud of. As I sat there and listened to all the possibilities, not once did it cross my mind that I could ever lead a troop.
Fast forward seven years and here I am. A troop leader. I ended up starting my own troop because no one else at our school would. And that seems to be typical. Many people start a troop with the mindset that someone else will eventually take it over. That rarely happens. And for me, I’m glad it didn’t. Otherwise, I would have missed out on so many amazing things taking place in our troop. I would have missed out on being part of something bigger. The same things I wanted for my daughters.
So why should you start your own Girl Scout troop? Because it’s one of the biggest gifts you can give. But also one of the biggest you can receive. I never thought as an adult I would be so excited to be in Girl Scouts. Sure there are moments when it’s a lot of work. But when you get to work with girls from different backgrounds, view life from different perspectives, and see them grow into young women? It’s not often you get to be part of something like this. It’s a journey that I’m so glad I’m on.
We are now in the stage of Girl Scouts with my older daughter where I am more of a mentor than a leader. These girls are planning and executing their own meetings. They’re setting goals. They’re eager to explore the world, give back, and mentor other younger girls. They get to do all of these things because I reluctantly raised my hand that day while sitting by myself in that elementary school cafeteria informational meeting. I was hoping, desperately, that someone else would raise their hand and volunteer to start that troop. It didn’t happen, so I raised my hand. I now have had the honor to be a troop leader for eight years.
I always told people I am not a born leader. That I am not a teacher. I am not prepared for this role. But the role prepared me. Today, I am not only a proud mom of two Girl Scouts, but I am also a proud troop leader. Now their story has become my story.
Start your troop. You don’t have to be a teacher or a leader. You just need some patience, compassion, and girls who want to make the world a better place. You’ll look back on this and realize it was the best thing you ever did.