Meet Girl Scout Senior Lilly, a GSCCC Board Member
Girl Scout Senior Lilly J. has been a Girl Scout for ten years and throughout that time her mom has been by her side as a Girl Scout volunteer. Her mom, Jeannie, was eager to register her daughter as a Girl Scout a decade ago. Coming from a Navy family who was deployed overseas when she was a preschooler, Lilly’s family made sure registering her as a Girl Scout was one of the first things they did upon returning to the US.
Over the years, with her mom has her cheerleader, Lilly has earned many badges and had some amazing experiences — she considers attending summer camp each year to be one of the best. Her favorite camp: Camp Skimino in Williamsburg! And thanks to the Girl Scout Cookie Program, her treks to camp have had a lot of support.
“I started attending Camp Skimino in the second grade, where I fell in love with it for the first time,” Lilly said. “Camp Skimino has always held a special place in my heart, and I look forward to going every single year. I have never felt ‘too old’ or ‘too cool’ to go to camp.”
Girl Scout Lilly at her beloved Camp Skimino in Williamsburg
Lilly (third from left) represented GSCCC at the 2024 Girl Scout Legislative Day in Richmond
Girl Scout Lilly with Senator Bill DeSteph
Lilly has been a Counselor-in-Training (CIT), both CIT 1 and CIT 2, at Camp Skimino, and as she looks ahead towards her high school graduation, she is also looking forward to becoming an official camp counselor as part of summer camp staff. She continues to grow as a Girl Scout and serves as a youth member on GSCCC’s Board of Directors. In that role, she has become a member of the Board’s Advocacy Committee and represented the council at the 2024 Girl Scout Legislative Day in Richmond where she met with several legislators and members of Governor Youngkin’s Cabinet, Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera and Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources Travis Voyles.
“I see myself as a leader, thanks to Girl Scouts and my mom who has mentored me and is one of my greatest role models,” she said. “I always strive for the best. Especially as a Catholic, I have volunteered my leadership in various ways — at food pantries, summer school programs, nursing homes, and my school. Through Girl Scouting, I’ve grown in my abilities to communicate, problem solve and make sound decisions. I’ll use these skills to work on my Gold Award, the highest award I can earn in Girl Scouts.”
Lilly attends Kempsville High School, where her main focus is on academics and leadership. She has held various positions in student government over the years, and she is a member of the National Honor Society. With her love of the outdoors fostered by camp, she has been a member of environmental clubs in past and current school settings, the most recent manifestation of which is the Surfrider Club.
When Lilly is not busy with Girl Scouts or school, you’ll find her on stage pursuing her lifelong love of dance, or working as a lifeguard at the Ocean Breeze water park or at the beach.
“Last year she saved five lives, and assisted in countless other rescues,” Jeannie said. “She is ridiculously humble about this, though, and will never admit or talk about these things publicly.”
After high school, Lilly hopes to study biology at a school such as Coastal Carolina University where she can continue to enjoy the outdoors; she plans to eventually work toward an advanced degree in human kinesiology, marine biology, psychology or medicine.
Want to serve on the Board like Lilly? GSCCC is now accepting applications from Girl Scouts who are at least 14 years of age for serving during the next membership year that starts on October 1, 2024. Fill out the Girl Board Member Application today!
