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Mother’s Day Volunteer Spotlight: Krista Ocilka
This Mother’s Day, we want to celebrate the dedication of volunteers like Krista Ocilka who embodies the spirit of mentorship and sisterhood. As a co-leader for Girl Scout Daisy Troop 729, Krista strengthens bonds with her daughter, Girl Scout Daisy Nora, while cultivating a positive community for all the growing Daisies in her troop. Professionally, Krista is a billing and disputes analyst for CMA CGM, a global shipping supplier based in Norfolk, Virginia. On March 15, 2025, Krista and the CMA CGM team were on site for a Day of Caring, where volunteers from the organization supported projects around Camp Apasus, a cause dear to this Girl Scout volunteer. Krista got involved as a troop leader just last year when her daughter began the program as a Pre-K Daisy. Now, she leads a thriving troop of 13 Girl Scout Daisies eager to earn their petals.
Krista shared, “As an only child, I wanted to give her [Nora] the chance to experience the unique bond of sisterhood. I was excited about the opportunity to not only support her, but also help other girls grow into strong, confident individuals and future leaders. With the world changing so rapidly and the increasing pressures children, especially girls, face today, I felt that Girl Scouts would be the perfect environment to instill positivity, self-confidence, and empowerment in her and the other girls in her troop.”
Motivated by her personal experiences, Krista recognizes the transformative potential of mentorship and friendship. Her goal is to provide a safe and supportive space where her troop — Daisies and adults — can grow together.
“A typical meeting is always filled with excitement as the girls reunite. Since they attend different schools, they are always very ecstatic to come together and catch up. Unless we have a time-sensitive activity, such as working on Salvation Army stockings or preparing for our camp day, the girls focus on earning their badges. I truly believe in fostering the sisterhood mentality of Girl Scouts, and through my full-time job, I was able to connect our troop with a sister troop in Texas that is based out of a shelter. This allowed our girls to learn empathy, help develop the outlook of supporting others even if we don’t know them personally, and how we can help others who might not have the same things available to them that we do.”
Krista is proactive when it comes to instilling empathy and social responsibility within her Daisies. She believes in the values of the Girl Scout program and the limitless opportunities it offers Girl Scouts to learn from their experiences.
“I incorporate the Girl Scout Promise and Law into my leadership by leading by example. When my co-leader is heading up the meetings, I am right there with the girls on the floor showing them that we are respectful and kind by listening and paying attention. My best advice for new leaders is to always keep the focus on the girls. Girl Scouts isn’t a competition about earning the most patches or accomplishing the most in a year. It's about creating an environment where the girls feel confident, strong, and included as they grow into young women who will go on to change the world.”
