Elizabeth Davis gives her time and skills to troop and mentors others leaders
JOHNSON, VT – It didn’t take long before Elizabeth Davis saw all the benefits to having both her daughter and herself involved in Girl Scouts. Just a few years in, Davis has proven herself to be a valued member of Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains, which has named her Volunteer of the Month for October.
Davis, 32, of Johnson, is the leader of multi-level Girl Scout Troop 30765, which is again meeting in person at the United Church of Johnson, and is a volunteer support coordinator for her service unit in the council, helping other troop leaders be successful.
“She hasn’t been a volunteer for long, but she does an amazing job!” said her co-leader Shanna Bertrand. “She always goes above and beyond. Her daughter aged out of our younger girl troop and she continues to be a volunteer. She always volunteers to plan meetings and stop for supplies. Last year, she arranged porch pickups many, many times and would also meet parents at a time that worked for them. She hand-delivered supplies to parents that didn’t have reliable transportation. She really stepped up during cookie season last year. I think she was at every booth.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has made almost everything more difficult over the past year and a half, but that didn’t stop Davis and her Girl Scouts from meeting virtually and selling cookies. Her daughter, a first-year Cadette in sixth grade, exceeded her goal by double, selling over 1,000 packages last year.
“We did our first drive-through cookie booth,” said Davis, “which was a huge success!”
While her Girl Scouts gained business skills with the Girl Scout Cookie program, they also had the opportunity to experience much more, earning badges, getting outdoors, doing science experiments, and trying new things.
“Maybe two or three years ago, we brought them to Camp Farnsworth,” she said, “It was new to just get out and go primitively camping, getting out in nature, learning new things. A lot of them hadn’t tried kayaking before, or tried archery before.”
Davis got involved as an adult volunteer so she and her daughter would have something to do together. It wasn’t long before she went from parent helper to leading a troop and helping other leaders.
“We have a great team!” she said. “Shanna and Sasha (Yadzik) are phenomenal people.”
Volunteering has proven to be a fulfilling experience for her.
“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity,” she said. “It’s bigger than what I first envisioned. It’s so rewarding, so fulfilling. I’ve made new friendships for myself as well.”
She said it’s interesting to see the camaraderie between girls in the troop, watching as cliques melt away and the girls work together. She’s also seen the growth in her daughter, becoming a stronger, more independent, and confident person.
Davis handles all these responsibilities along with a full-time job as a patient access manager at Lamoille Health Partners, and being a wife and mother to two daughters, a stepdaughter, and a stepson.
Girl Scout of the Green and White Mountains, the council serving girls across Vermont and New Hampshire, is proud to call Elizabeth Davis its Volunteer of the Month for October, and thanks her for her service to girls and adult volunteers.
Both girls and adults are encouraged to join Girl Scouts. See more at www.girlscoutsgwm.org.
About Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains: Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains is recognized throughout New Hampshire and Vermont as a leading expert on girls. Our Girl Scout Leadership Experience is a one-of-a-kind leadership development program for girls, with proven results. It is based on time-tested methods and research-backed programming that helps girls take the lead—in their own lives and in the world. Through our exciting and challenging programs, Girl Scouts not only participate but also take the lead in a range of activities—from kayaking, archery, and camping, to coding, robotics, financial literacy training, and beyond! Serving more than 10,000 girls throughout New Hampshire and Vermont, girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together. Visit www.girlscoutsgwm.org.
