Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan is proud to have two Mackinac Island Honor Guard Troops that serve on Mackinac Island each summer: Troop 609 and Troop 7901. In this episode, join us as we hear from the adult leadership of both troops about what the program is and why it is such an incredible, girl-led opportunity for girls.

For more information about the Mackinac Island Honor Guard Troops in Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan, or to view the applications, please visit the Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan website.

Ricarah Riddle is a Girl Scout Alumna and Gold Award Girl Scout who has truly made an impact in her community to make the world a better place using her passions for social justice, youth development, sustainability, and holistic healing arts.

Listen today to hear:

Ricarah’s journey to success and how Girl Scouts impacted that

How music and art have been healing for her

The documentary she created for her Gold Award

You’ll learn about all of this and so much more – tune in today!

Renee Svetic is a life-long Girl Scout who truly bleeds green and white.  She is a Junior Leader from Freeland, who also volunteers with her Area.

Listen into Renee’s episode to get a glimpse into:

The very special experience that is Mackinaw Island Honor Guard

Taking girls to camp and dealing with girls who have different personalities

Why it’s important to let girls experience new things and take risks in a safe environment

Tune in for this and so much more!

Mandy Orlando is a first year Brownie Troop Leader from Watervliet, Michigan.  Join us in this episode as she shares why Girl Scouting is such an important part of her life.

Listen today to hear:

How Girl Scouts has become an irreplaceable part of her family life

Her perspective on the important work of Girl Scouting

How she works to instill the Girl Scout Promise and Law while having fun with her girls.

Tune in to hear all of this and so much more!

Colleen Dawson, President of the Women’s Council of Realtors in Southwestern Michigan, is a Girl Scout alumna, former Troop Leader, and current Girl Scout Cookie Bake-Off Benefit Committee Member. During her time as a Girl Scout leader, she was amazed by the adventures and new experiences she had with her troop. Colleen shares so much wisdom in this episode as she shares about her experience with Girl Scouts.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How becoming a troop leader helped her bond with her step-daughter

The memories with her troop that she still laughs about today

The special friendship she developed with her co-leader which she carries with her after her co-leader’s passing

How Girl Scouts taught her that she is capable of doing anything.

Tune in today to hear all of this and more!

What does it take to work second shift full-time while caring for your family and leading your daughter’s Girl Scout troop? Christina Medina will tell you that it can be challenging, but that the challenge is beyond worth it.  Christina is  the troop leader for her daughter Isabel’s Cadette Troop in our Lansing region. This episode is a special one that was recorded over two sessions; the first part at their troop meeting in November, and the second part with Christina and Isabel over winter break.

Tune into this episode to hear from both Christina and her girls about:

How the troop saved her life on a trip to Mackinac Island

The troop’s passion for animals and giving back to the community

Why these Cadettes love Girl Scouts

How a troop can be “girl-led”

Listen to hear all this and more!

Chris Holbert is a volunteer who has been involved in Girl Scouts for ten years.  Starting off her Girl Scout experience in Arizona at the age of 35, Chris eventually moved to Michigan and continued on as a leader for her daughter’s troop.

Listen in to hear about Chris’s experiences and learn:

What “girl-led” looks like for a Brownie compared to a Senior

How camping with a troop becomes an opportunity to relax

What it’s like to volunteer when you weren’t a Girl Scout growing up

Listen today to hear all of this, and so much more!

Mikayla Flores, of Adrian, MI, is a second grade Brownie who sold over 2200 boxes of Girl Scout cookies as a Daisy.  She has big goals again this year, and the determination and tenacity to achieve that and so much more.

Listen to this episode with Mikayla and her mom, Chelsea, to learn:

Mikayla’s sales pitch and why it works

Why Mikayla loves selling Girl Scout Cookies (hint: their yumminess is only part of it!)

What it has been like for Chelsea to watch Mikayla grow in Girl Scouting

You don’t want to miss this episode!

The 2019 Michigan Girl Scout Sing-Along was held on April 27, 2019 on the front lawn of the Capital Building in Lansing, Michigan.  Girl Scouts from across the state attended, gathering together to sing Girl Scout songs and enjoy time together.

The event included an intermission with several activities, including SWAPS, crafting, the retail shop, and a booth commemorating Girls in Information & Communication Technology Day, which is also in April.  At this booth, girls had the opportunity to use our podcast equipment and discuss all the ways in which technology is part of their lives.

Tune in to hear some snippets from girls of all ages, on why they love Girl Scouts and how fun the Sing-Along was!

Nancy and Heather Miller are a mother-daughter, lifetime Girl Scout duo from Freeland, Michigan. Nancy, having been a Girl Scout for 41 years, served as Heather’s Troop Leader, and both Millers live by the motto, “Once a Girl Scout, always a Girl Scout.”

In this episode, Nancy and Heather share:

How a family passion turned into a bluebird sanctuary and Girl Scout Gold Award Project

The life-changing travel opportunities provided to them by their involvement in Girl Scouts

The benefits of intergenerational Girl Scouting from both the mother’s and daughter’s perspective

Why Girl Scouting provides somewhere for girls to be themselves and feel like they belong

Listen to these stories and feel the strength of a mother/daughter bond bolstered by Girl Scouting!