For six years, Lindsay Strouphauer has been guiding her Pine Grove troop through meetings, badge work, field trips, and more. She recently submitted a few Mission Moments that impressed us with the scope of activities she accomplishes with her multi-level troop of Brownies through Cadettes. So, we asked her for advice to pass on to other leaders.

Her secret to success? A troop culture that’s adventurous, flexible, and truly girl-led. Here are seven takeaways from our conversation.

1. Let Girls Lead the Way

In Lindsay’s troop, activities are inspired by what excites the girls. That’s led them down fascinating “rabbit holes,” she says, from learning about coal mining history and Puerto Rican heritage to exploring different faiths, the Holocaust, and even the role of Girl Guides during World War II. “We take whatever they’re interested in and just run with it,” Lindsay says.

2. Think Outside the Box with Fundraising

These efforts bring in money, help the community, and show the girls the power of resourcefulness.

3. Focus on Experiences

While some troops thrive on crafting, Lindsay’s girls are more hands-on and adventurous. They’ve toured dairy farms to learn the science of milk production, gone river rafting, and visited four national parks in four days. They’ve also met with state representatives to earn government badges.

“We focus on what we call ‘experience education,’ versus sitting and doing book work,” Lindsay said. “We want the girls to learn things they don’t typically get to do in school or go places they might be able to with their own families.”

4. Build a Leadership Team That Balances Each Other

Lindsay doesn’t do it alone. She leads alongside Noel Shadler, Ashlyn Sanchez, and Sara Moyer, each bringing unique strengths. One brings a calm focus on mental health, another brings farming and outdoors know-how, while another leans into crafting.

“We balance each other really well,” Lindsay explains. “Each of us is like a leg of the table to support the girls.”.

5. Communicate Constantly with Co-Leaders

Strong co-leadership takes constant communication. The leaders stay connected through group chats and video calls, always checking in, sharing ideas, and making sure no one feels overwhelmed.

“Look for strong women who have interests in common with you,” Lindsay advises. “Find that friend you want to go on this journey with and have fun. It’s not going to be fun for the girls if they leaders aren’t having fun as well.”

6. Embrace Flexibility

With all of the activities girls are involved in, scheduling Girl Scout meetings can be tricky, Lindsay admits. Instead of forcing a rigid calendar, her troop now meets the first two Sundays of each month. “I never want the girls to have to choose between Girl Scouts and soccer, or dance, or anything else,” she says. “If it were up to the girls, we’d meet five days a week, but of course that’s not realistic. Find a schedule that works for your girls and for you.”

7. Make your Girl Scout experience uniquely yours

The most effective leaders not only embrace the girls’ interests, but they also mold the program to fit their own needs.

“I really believe Girl Scouts is open to interpretation with a lot of the badge work,” Lindsay says. “We try to line up what we’re doing with the badge requirements, and then we see where that goes. If we find the girls are really into one specific part, we’ll focus on that rather than just going down the list of ‘step one,’ ‘step two,’ and so on.”

Takeaway for Leaders:
Girl Scouts is at its best when girls are leading the way, leaders are supporting each other, and everyone is having fun. Whether you’re planning an epic national park trip, hosting a quirky fundraiser, or simply sharing laughs with your co-leaders, the journey matters just as much as the destination.

Do you have advice that has worked for you as a leader? Email cmolitoris@gshpa.org, and we’ll share your tips with other leaders!