2025 GSEM Adult Recognition Handbook

Volunteer of Excellence Award

Award Description: The Volunteer of Excellence Award recognizes a volunteer who contributed outstanding service partnering directly with girls to implement the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, or who contributed outstanding service in support of the council’s mission delivery goals to girl and adult members.

Submission Example:

I am a troop leader and assistant director for summer overnight camp at Camp Dragonfly. At the start of overnight camp, my primary lakefront staff person was called away because of an emergency and was unavailable for the rest of the summer. This left me the daunting task of either finding an immediate replacement or canceling canoeing activities all summer. When I posted on Facebook that I needed assistance covering this camp activity, Tracy Tagalong, a semi-retired Council Trainer still certified in Small Craft Safety, volunteered to run canoeing at the lake for the last couple days of the current camp session so that the campers already there wouldn’t be disappointed. Even though I was prepared to not offer canoeing for the next few camp sessions while I searched for a more permanent replacement, Tracy wanted to make sure the campers received a full Girl Scout camp experience, so she continued to volunteer at the lakefront every day, all day, for another two weeks until I was able to find a replacement. She taught the campers how to work together in a canoe so that they could safely explore the lake and develop their confidence. In doing so, Tracy taught them lessons beyond just paddling a canoe, which is what the Girl Scout Leadership Experience is all about.

Her dedication to our organization and desire to provide Girl Scouts an unforgettable hands-on experience at camp is why Tracy Tagalong is truly a Volunteer of Excellence!

Adult Recognition Handbook 20