Troop 4801 Shares 13 Years of Growth and Memories
Heather Connett formed Troop 4801 in 2011, bringing together a group of kindergartners as Daisies. Thirteen years later, five of those Girl Scouts remained together in their Girl Scout troop. Since their very first Daisy meeting, Troop 4801 shared more than a decade of experiences and growth.
Today, each Girl Scout has their own unique personality, but Girl Scouts is the thread that unites them, Heather says. Over the years, they’ve created countless memories through their troop activities.
“My philosophy as a troop leader is to get girls exposure or experiences they might not normally get in the course of growing up,” Heather says.
That has included many camping trips, both at day camp and with overnight excursions to Girl Scout properties including Camp Silver Brook. Heather also led the girls on trips further afield, including a ziplining excursion in Door County and a five-night trip to Savannah, Georgia, the birthplace of Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low. The Girl Scouts even went on college visits together.
“They’re all widely different, but they support each other as Girl Scouts,” Heather says.
Between badge workshops, cooking classes, travel opportunities, and campouts, troop leader Heather has had a front-row seat as each girl developed her self-confidence and unique leadership style through Girl Scouting.
Today, one of the alums of Troop 4801 is part of a 13-person national Sandy Hook Board. Two Girl Scouts earned their Girl Scout Gold Awards, the highest achievement in Girl Scouting, and other troop members earned their Girl Scout Silver and Bronze Awards. Four of the five troop members are now attending college, and one is taking a gap year.
“All are focused and have goals for themselves,” Heather says. “It’s been a joy to watch.”
The benefits of Girl Scouting extend far beyond Troop 4801 and southeast Wisconsin. A national study from the Girl Scout Research Institute found that Girl Scout alumnae are more likely than other women to exhibit leadership attributes, attain higher levels of education, and contribute to causes they support.
As a troop leader, Heather has been a constant in the girls’ lives. Since 2011, she has seen each one go from a Daisy or Brownie to graduating high school. The role has been rewarding, she says.
“I was a Girl Scout through high school myself, so I wanted to make sure my daughter had those experiences as well. I wanted to share that with her,” she says. “Being a troop leader is what you make of it. It’s a lot of work, but it’s also heartwarming.”
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