Camp, travel, cooking, and baking are just a few of Kathy Leight’s favorite things about Girl Scouts.
Steadfast and dynamic Leight, a resident of Smithfield Township in Monroe County, has been involved with Girl Scouts for 40 years.
Leight has a childhood love of summer camp as well as passing down Girl Scouts traditions. She also aims to guide youngsters in preparation for their future in tangible, substantial ways. Girl Scouts is a chance to shine and a place for the girls – as well as Leight – to try new things.
“The kids keep coming, and I keep coming back,” Leight said of her tenure.
Leight serves in East Stroudsburg as a volunteer, troop leader, and Service Unit manager.
Her girls span grades 6 to 12 and are active in Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors.
It’s an age group that is involved in many activities – from sports to art and music – Leight said keeping Girl Scout activities and meeting attendance flexible means there is always a place in Girl Scouts for them to connect and participate.
“A lot of our kids are involved in a lot of things, and they come and go as they can,” she explained, “We meet every week, and we are there every week.”
Part of her leadership mission is to support the girls in becoming well-rounded adults. Whether through travel and meeting new people or camping and cooking, Leight said creating opportunities is important.
In her troop, leaders teach basic cooking skills like how to make eggs and grilled cheese sandwiches.
“A lot of kids don’t cook anymore at home, and we do cooking with them,” she said.
They honor past Girl Scout traditions by recreating an original Girl Scout Cookie recipe – from scratch.
“They know how to roll out dough, and they get to eat what they make,” she said.
She said being a Girl Scouts leader helps women connect with their own daughters, as well as give back to their communities.
“As you get older (with the girls) you are making memories, especially if you start when they are Daisies and Brownies – you get to see them develop and change,” Leight explained.
Members of the East Stroudsburg Service Unit enjoy an annual spring leader/daughter meal, usually dinner or a brunch. “It’s a celebration of the year, and it’s an event for all the leaders and their daughters in our Service Unit” to come together, she said.
Leight leads trips to Girl Scout World Centers in London and Switzerland. Whether meeting peers from the next community or from different parts of the globe, the girls have a chance to enlarge their worldview through travel.
“A big thing for kids in our area is to go on an international trip. I think in this day and age it’s important to have an immersive travel experience,” she said.
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