Meet GSTOP Volunteer, Arely 'Bella' Cruz
April 06, 2023
Meet Arely ‘Bella’ Cruz, Troop Leader for Troop 5443 of Amarillo Dreamcatchers. We asked her to tell us, in her own words, about volunteering with Girl Scouts.
If you are interested in becoming a Girl Scout volunteer, join today.
Q: Describe what you are as Girl Scout Volunteer.
I think of myself as the Girl Scout’s cabinet of wonders. My job as a troop leader is to create opportunities for girls to learn and practice awesome, fun, surreptitiously useful new skills. I make it fun, safe, and welcoming for them, so that they can try lots of new things, and I give them the freedom to run with it. I do try to focus on basic life skills, camping/survival skills, and their personal preferences, but we often also try things just for the fun of it, and no other reason at all. Young girls absorb anything and everything, so it is our job to make sure their environment is full of wonders for them to soak up.
Q: What inspired you to volunteer for Girl Scouts?
The simplest answer is that I started scouting because I wanted to spend quality time with my own kiddo. Initially, Girl Scouts was something for us to do together that we both enjoyed. All the little ones in my troop are amazing, though. And it is hard not to fall in love with the Girl Scout way, which challenges us to find tangible ways to put into practice the values that we believe in, but that are all frankly very hard to uphold. I’ve continued to be a Girl Scout leader because I am convinced that my girls’ interactions with each other and the community are actively shaping their world.
Q: What is your favorite part about volunteering?
I have two favorite parts about being a Troop Leader. I love crafting with my Girl Scouts, and I love tent camping with them as well. Crafting brings out their personalities and their originality. Camping does the same, especially when we are problem solving. And both are lots of fun, of course.
Q: What is your favorite Girl Scout memory?
A grandparent once told me their child had “bloomed” because of Girl Scouts. She told me her girl had started talking more, expressing herself more, and had prepared and made a presentation all on her own. I loved the analogy used, because it was true to the fact that the girl had it in her all along. She was always meant to be that useful, medicinal, beautiful bloom. But it was also a reminder that a little timely watering and a little careful fertilizing can go a long way. So now that memory is stuck with me forever.
Q: What would you say to someone who is thinking about volunteering for Girl Scouts?
I would say that Girl Scouts is not perfect, just like us. You can be you and be perfect for Girl Scouts. In fact, Girl Scouts needs you precisely because we probably do not have someone like you. You can be there for young girls who are like you, or for girls who need someone different from them who is accepting of them. That can be a powerful thing, too. Please join us. We would love to have you.
