January Volunteer of the Month: Nancy Miceli
Outstanding Girl Scout leader named Volunteer of the Month
Nancy Miceli leads Troop 64322 in Merrimack
January 01, 2025
MERRIMACK, NH – What started as a way to form a Girl Scout troop for her granddaughter has blossomed into a community of involved parents and kids, thanks to the experience Nancy Miceli brings as a troop leader. Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains is proud to name Miceli its Volunteer of the Month for January.
Miceli, 66, of Merrimack, leads Troop 64322, which has 12 Daisies and Brownies in Grades 1 and 2, and meets at Reeds Ferry School. She had retired and moved to New Hampshire when her granddaughter expressed the desire to join Girl Scouts. Miceli knew what she was signing up for, having already seen her daughter through Girl Scouts in Massachusetts,
“I stepped up was because my daughter didn't want to do it alone,” she said. “My granddaughter really wanted to do Scouts. So I said, ‘OK, here we go again.’”
Miceli said it is a lot of fun and keeps her feeling younger.
Last year, all but two of her Daisies earned all their petals – the equivalent of badges for this youngest level of Girl Scouts, did service projects, took trips, and sold cookies.
“We were the youngest troop and ended up being the second highest sales in cookies,” Miceli said. “We did four cookie booths and the girls loved doing the cookie booths.”
Her very young Girl Scouts got into the spirit of sales, with even the quietest one yelling “GET YOUR COOKIES” to draw potential customers. “She was only 5, still in kindergarten, and it was such a turnaround for her to be able to come out of her shell like that!” she said.
The Girl Scouts earned the three badges associated with the Daisy cookie program, and used their proceeds to fund two field trips, one to the SEE Science Center and the other to Joppa Hill Farm. They’ve also gone on a hayride at Charmingfare Farm, marched in Merrimack’s holiday parade, collected food to donate, and now look forward to learning about maple sugaring later this year.
For the holidays, the troop made ornaments for Meals on Wheels, a service project that also involved parents and siblings. They made 96 ornaments last year. Everyone enjoyed the project so much they did it again this year, making 190 ornaments to give away, creating a new troop tradition.
They have also been working on Pictures for Smiles, a coloring project where their creations are given to a local nursing home.
“We're teaching the girls that we have to think about other people, that it's not all about us, and that this year our goal was to make people smile,” she said.
Miceli has a plastic container in which she keeps the petals, badges, and patches the Girl Scouts earn. Ever other meeting, when she gets it out to distribute the honors they’ve earned, “The girls go ballistic,” she said. “They get so excited!”
Last year was one of learning what Girl Scouts is all about for both the kids and their caregivers. This year, several adults stepped up to be co-leaders and are coalescing into a strong group of volunteers.
“This year I think we have more parents more involved because they saw how much we did with the girls and what the girls achieved last year,” she said. “So I think last year was a test for them to see if it was a worthwhile troop.”
These volunteers have been able to offer their own special skills to the troop, such as a first aid experience by a registered nurse or helping at an encampment. One dad is an engineer who is looking forward to helping them learn some STEM skills this year.
“He can’t wait to do it,” she said.
Miceli had started with Girl Scouts in Massachusetts when her daughter joined Brownies, and when her daughter graduated, Miceli decided to keep going. She became the city coordinator for the council there, recruiting new members, managing troops, and setting up townwide activities. She now helps at recruiting events here in New Hampshire and offers advice based on her years of experience to new troop leaders.
She said it’s important for anyone considering volunteering to realize they don’t have to jump in with both feet. “Put yourself out there occasionally to get your feet wet.” She said there’s plenty of help from the council and other leaders like herself.
Miceli looks forward to a big family gathering at the end of the Girl Scout year to celebrate the Girl Scouts’ achievements and bridging to the next age level.
“I just try to get as many people involved as possible, and that's why this year again we'll do the big family party,” she said, “and now they know what it's about.”
Miceli brings a wealth of life experience to her Girl Scouts, having done office work, background checks, retail, and even owning her own business, a bead store in Woburn, Mass.
Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains appreciates all that Nancy Miceli contributes to her Girl Scouts, and encourages anyone thinking of how they can make the world a better place to consider volunteering by visiting www.girlscoutsgwm.org.
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Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains serves girls throughout New Hampshire and Vermont through volunteer-run troops, events, and virtual programs. Visit www.girlscoutsgwm.org to learn more.
