In December 2014 and January 2015, Girl Scouts of Colorado featured stories from volunteer trainers about their Girl Scout experiences and why they chose to become a trainer.
The first was by Jan Philpy, a volunteer adult learning trainer in Metro Denver.
I was a Girl Scout from Brownies through Seniors, so when I “retired” from full time work to start a family, I turned to Girl Scouts to occupy my time. What fun it was to lead a troop! We camped, completed badges, and took field trips. I had a wonderful experience. This would be great preparation to work with my daughters, right? Meantime, the council was looking for trainers and I thought I would enjoy that, so off I went to take Train the Trainer. I loved training! So, I added that to leading a troop and helping with the service unit. First child arrived—a boy! Oh well, he’ll tag-along. My Girl Scout volunteering continued and I became service unit manager. Child number two arrived—another boy! Hmmm…
Soon parenting, Cub Scouts (how could I not?!) and life meant that Girl Scouting commitments had to be reduced. What stayed? Training! Even during a stint on the council board of directors when I had to give up my leader training, I continued to train board members. The end of that, a family move, and an empty nest led me to reconsider my Girl Scout involvement. What was it I really wanted to do? Training again! That’s the way it has been for a very long time. I love designing sessions, learning from my trainees, sharing ideas with them, and watching the “ah-ha” moments that occur at nearly every session. Girl Scouts was and is an important part of who I am, and I want that legacy to continue to today’s girls (although not yet, maybe a granddaughter?). So, I continue to train their leaders.
Girl Scouts of Colorado is currently seeking energetic volunteers to join the trainer ranks. Experience in education and/or adult learning is a plus but NOT required. The first step to becoming a trainer is to attend Train the Trainer. The next Train the Trainer class is:
August 8th: Arvada
Click here for details and to register