From Girl Member to Camp Staff to Troop Leader
See how one girl has turned her Girl Scout experience into a lifelong mission.
Kendra Davis began in Girl Scouting as a Girl Scout Daisy when she was in kindergarten
and has only kept moving up from there. As soon as she was old enough, she started attending summer camp at Camp Seven Springs. She fell in love with it and became a regular. After 11 years, she decided to go from camper to CIT and after that applied to be on staff at Camp Ginger Cascades, where she worked for four summers. She is currently a student at
Appalachian State University, majoring in nutrition and foods with a concentration in dietetics. She continues to be active with camp by
serving
as a weekend
facilitator
at Camp Ginger Cascades and Keyauwee Program Center, and this year, took on the fun challenge of being a Girl Scout leader to eight Girl Scout Daisies in Boone.
What was your favorite thing about Girl Scout camp as a girl? What made you want to work at camp later on?
My favorite thing about camp as a girl was the freedom for us to grow our personalities and imaginations without limits. We could be whoever we wanted to be without peer pressure, limits or worries. Being a camper allowed me to do things I never thought I would be able to do like climbing a rock wall, shooting archery, backpacking and scuba diving.
As staff, we always refer to the "camp magic." It's hard to explain to people who have never gotten to experience camp, but there's an overwhelming sense of acceptance and positivity and camp songs and girl laughter echoing through the trees. It's almost addictive
. I applied to be a staff member because I wanted to continue that camp magic I experienced for 13 years. It's the same reason I went back every year and continue to work for weekend programs.
What inspired you to lead a Girl Scout troop of your own?
There is something wonderful about being able inspire the next generation of female leaders. I get to do that at camp three months of the year and I realized last fall, I was ready to lead a troop of my own and continue doing it for the remaining nine months. I knew I had a great support system of women to help me be successful. The most of which is my mother and former troop leader. She always answers my calls and offers sound advice when my assistant leader and I have no clue what to do.
What is your favorite thing about being a troop leader? What are the top things 
your want your troop to learn?
My favorite thing about being a leader is getting to see my Daisies' excitement about anything and everything. They love learning and I love getting to pass along my knowledge to them. I want my girls to learn that the sky is the limit for them as long as they believe in themselves. I would also love for my girls to gain an appreciation for nature, and luckily, the community of Boone provides us great learning opportunities.
Why is Girl Scouting important for today's girls?
Girl Scouting allows for the young women of today to have access to the knowledge of things like STEM, politics and first aid, while allowing them to get dirt under their nails by learning knots, building shelters and campfire cooking. There is nothing better to me than women supporting women and that is what Girl Scouts is all about- the leaders of today helping the leaders of tomorrow grow.
Thank you, Kendra, for your support of the Girl Scout program and for being a shining light for so many of our girls! We appreciate your dedication!
Today is the last day to nominate someone for our 2019 Women of Distinction events happening in May and June. Do you know someone in your community, workplace or church who exemplifies the Girl Scout Promise and Law? Nominees do not have to be current Girl Scouts, but must either live in our 40-county area or be a Girl Scout alum from GSCP2P or a legacy council. Nominations forms can be found
