Sacramento – Friday was national Girl Scout Leader’s Day, a day to celebrate Girl Scout leaders who build girls of courage, confidence and character. Girl Scouts Heart of Central California profiled tributes to two of its long-time leaders.

Tracy Caldwell, Troop Leader in Rancho Cordova, became a Girl Scout as an adult in 1992 and has been a troop leader for two generations of girls. Once her children were adults she became a troop leader for her granddaughter and now has 20 girls in her troop; an average troop has 10 girls.

“I serve every girl who wants to be a Girl Scout,” Caldwell said. For the past 10 years, Caldwell has also volunteered as a Girl Scout First Aid Trainer. She plans to stay involved with Girl Scouts “forever.” She said “being involved in Girl Scouts is the most important thing I do.”

Caldwell said: “Everything my daughters do today comes back to Girl Scouts. They have confidence around their peers, they can get up and speak in front of 150 people and it’s just normal operating procedure, these are the things Girl Scouts has taught them and the reason why I stay involved.”

Donella Patalon, Girl Scout troop leader in Brownsville, has been a Girl Scout leader for 20 years and a trainer for 16. She started a troop when her daughter was a Brownie. Her daughter is now 26 and Patalon is still leading a troop of older Girl Scouts.

Patalon has been known to drive for hours to help at an event, train a group of troop leaders or mentor a girl on her Girl Scout Gold Award project. She said she will stay involved in Girl Scouts, “for as long as I can in one capacity or another.”

She said: “I want to give girls encouragement and advice and see girls take initiative and help other people. That’s why I do it.”

Patalon said: “I’ve seen the long term benefit it has for girls and leaders. It’s all about the commitment, leadership and passion.” Her background is in outdoor education, which she believes is a key component of being a Girl Scout.

“Outdoor education is more than just camping,” Patalon said. “It’s about environmental education, working together, budgeting and so much more. Experiencing nature gives girls a softer look on life and they realize the great outdoors is not that scary.”

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