Ask Nancy Mucklow how long she’s been a Girl Scout and she’ll say “forever!” This lifetime Girl Scout joined our sisterhood in the second grade and hasn’t looked back. She planned on having a daughter and becoming a troop leader, but life doesn’t always work out like we plan.
After she and her husband moved to Steamboat in 1989, they had two boys. Nancy remained involved in Girl Scouts as a Service Unit Manager, but soon the boys’ 4H activities required more of her attention. Even though Girl Scouts had to “take the backseat” for a few years, she remained involved and did what she could to support local girls, leaders, and other volunteers. After her youngest son graduated from high school a few years ago, she jumped full force back into Girl Scouts.
“Nancy has REALLY helped grow Girl Scouts in our Mountain Communities, particularly in her service unit,” said Cricket Hawkins, Volunteer Support Specialist for Girl Scouts of Colorado.
So, how did she do it? Nancy will tell you it was one volunteer… one troop… one girl at a time. She got to know each of them personally. What did they want to do as Girl Scouts? What did they need help with? What activities did they only dream of doing and what was getting in their way of accomplishing their goals?
Nancy did all she could to help. She worked to secure local funding, which enabled Routt County Girl Scouts to go horseback riding regardless of their ability to pay. She has also helped to organize a STEM Day, troop camping trips, and events designed for specific age groups, like Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors.
“Our older girls need to be participating in events designed just for them, so Girl Scouts is more than just a line on their resume or college application,” she said.
Nancy realizes she is able to do more than the average volunteer, but that doesn’t stop her from encouraging others to help whenever and wherever they can.
“Whatever small amount you are doing—whether it’s providing snacks at a meeting or driving girls to a field trip– it’s important. Even if you can only do one small thing, it matters and it makes a difference in the lives of girls,” Nancy said.
Nancy is also a member of the Girl Scouts Board of Directors. Her term expires later this year, so she applied for a seat on the GSCO Membership Connection Committee. In addition to her role as a Girl Scout volunteer, Nancy also sits on the board of the Routt County United Way and volunteers with the local Methodist church.