Volunteer Spotlight-August
August 26, 2024
Congratulations to Sarah Collins who has been awarded GSNI’s Volunteer Spotlight for August 2024!
Beth Metzler, GSNI’s Program Manager - Project Manager and Volunteer Led Camps, nominated Sarah for this award stating, “Sarah has been a positive force in the planning and implementation of Barrington Service Unit’s Volunteer Led Twilight Camp. She has chaired the Camp Planning Committee and has served in the lead role of Camp Director while the week-long camp takes place. The overall atmosphere at camp is fun, positive, and adventurous! The youth attending the camp are busy enjoying activities, while the volunteers are organized, able to relax, and enjoy camp, as well.”
Sarah has been involved with Troop 2330 as one of their leaders for six years. She has spent five years as one of Barrington Service Unit’s Girl Scout Organizers. She has also been Barrington Service Unit’s Twilight Camp Director for four years, as well as chairing their Camp Planning Committee. Sarah was recognized by GSNI in 2022 as a recipient of GSUSA’s Appreciation Pin Award for helping to bring volunteer led camp back post-pandemic.
“My favorite Girl Scout memory is every single day at twilight camp,” Sarah shared. “All of the Girl Scouts are so happy and excited to have fun with the activities we offer, and they make their own fun. It’s just delightful for all to see! It makes the months of planning absolutely worth it!”
When asked how volunteering has brought meaning to her, Sarah replied, “I love being a part of Girl Scouts for so many reasons. It amazes me to see how much the girls in my troop have changed over the years as they are growing up. I love seeing that same change with Girl Scouts who come to camp year after year. They are so excited to be there and to do everything. It’s equally rewarding to see new faces who are trying camp for the first time or who have just joined Girl Scouts. The women I volunteer with at camp are amazing in their own ways, and I couldn’t be more grateful to know them. Each year we have new adults who join us and many who come back each year. It’s a very special week each summer, and I’m so happy to be a part of our twilight camp, a very long tradition in Barrington.”
Sarah and her Camp Planning Committee integrate The Three Processes (girl-led/learning by doing/cooperative learning) into their twilight camp in various ways.
Sarah explained, “Camp has changed and evolved over the years based on what we see the Girl Scouts enjoying, what we hear from the older Girl Scouts in terms of how they want camp to be, what sorts of activities and food they enjoyed as campers, and this gives us new ideas and thoughts for planning. Camp is all about allowing the Girl Scouts to try new activities, working together on a game or STEM project, or celebrating each other’s creativity or wins. It really ends up being a very positive week. We try to provide them with a variety of new activities and some we know they expect and embrace when girls make their own fun.”
Sarah added, “During training, we tell the Camp Aides that we expect mistakes, we expect them to learn, and that we don’t expect perfection. We encourage the girls to try even if it isn’t their thing, even if normally they might be embarrassed or scared to try. It’s really cool to see the campers rise to the challenge over the week and sometimes have fun rolling with the punches when it comes to the unexpected. Our Camp Aides are so enthusiastic about getting their chance to lead, and I am constantly amazed by these girls!”
“Over the years we have really seen so many Girl Scouts (including my girl) make new friends at camp,” Sarah commented. “Most of the Barrington schools are represented at our twilight camp, and it’s neat to see the friendships grow over the course of the week and over the years. Campers form new friendships with others they might not have met otherwise. I volunteer with Girl Scouts for all the reasons I shared above and more!”
Thank you, Sarah, for being a dedicated volunteer and for sharing your Girl Scout camp experience with others!
GSNI wants to thank Patty Donahue and Image Awards Engraving and Creative Keepsakes in Geneva, Illinois, for providing the beautiful tile trivet awards for our Volunteer Spotlight Program.
