Talk to her friends, and it’s clear Girl Scout volunteer Maribeth Winters has made an impression, both on the girls she leads and on her peers.

“Maribeth is such an amazing volunteer! I couldn’t have done a fraction of the things that I have with our girls if I didn’t have her by my side,” said Ashlea Hidlay, who nominated Maribeth for a volunteer recognition award this past spring. “She does whatever she can to make sure that the girls have a great time … all while learning valuable life lessons.”

In fact, teaching life skills is one of the things Maribeth loves best about Girl Scouts. She believes the program instills good values in girls and helps girls stay curious about the world around them. “Girl Scouts helps girls explore things all around them in nature, things about themselves, and learn how to help others,” said Maribeth, who lives in Columbia County.

The mother of three daughters and one son who range in age from 26 to 11, Maribeth began volunteering with Girl Scouts when her youngest two daughters wanted to join the organization seven years ago.

As a volunteer, she has watched her daughters benefit from Girl Scouts while also helping other girls get the most out of the program. She organizes an annual pancake breakfast with Santa for her troop, chaperones field trips, and loves taking the girls camping.

“My favorite memory is when we took our girls to a campground (where) the girls learned to make a campfire, became junior rangers, prepared and cooked their own meals, and had lots of fun,” she said. “We did this two times.”

Maribeth leads her troop with co-leaders Gina Sitler, Beth Cragle, and Janine West, as well as Ashlea, who said Maribeth is the person you want on your team when planning trips and events. “She is so good at managing a lot of moving pieces,” Ashlea said. “She thinks of all the little things that need to be coordinated.”

When she’s not volunteering with Girl Scouts, Maribeth works two jobs—as a deli manager and a cook at a local school. She lives in Bloomsburg and enjoys spending time with her fiancé, Andy, as well as her children, her 1-year-old granddaughter, and the family’s two dogs and a turtle.

And even though she’s a busy woman, Maribeth works hard to make sure her daughters get the most out of Girl Scouts.

“She does her absolute best to make sure that both of her daughters attend meetings, outings, and events,” Ashlea said. “She makes whatever arrangements need to happen so that they get the best Girl Scout experience. Her older girl is a Bronze and Silver Award recipient. Her youngest is a Bronze Award recipient. They couldn’t have earned those awards without their mother’s dedication to their efforts.”

Beyond her own household, Maribeth is committed to her Girl Scout troop, treating the members like extended family.

“She tells the girls that it is OK to ask for help. They know that they can turn to her, and … she’s right there with words of encouragement and a hug,” Ashlea said. “And that’s not just for the girls. She does the same for me.”

Ashlea, who has known Maribeth for five years, said her co-leader has made a lasting impression on herself, her own daughter, and the other girls in the troop.

“Maribeth is such a positive and wonderful example of a woman for the girls,” she said. “If they turn out half as amazing as her, they’ll be alright.”

Written by Cathy Molitoris, Marketing Coordinator for Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania.