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New Troop at Bachman Lake Together Celebrates Hispanic Culture

Forming a troop from the beginning.

Denisse Gutierrez is a second-year volunteer leader of multi-level Troop 8611 in Dallas.

Two years ago, Denisse and other mothers from Bachman Lake Together decided they wanted their girls to get involved with Girl Scouts. They connected with Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas (GSNETX) to begin taking the troop leader training and trying to recruit other leaders and find families interested in participating.

Denisse notes, “I think a lot of Hispanic families don’t know about Girl Scouts. They think that it’s something different, that it’s not for them, so [initially] it was a little bit complicated to find families who wanted to participate and enroll their daughters in your troop.”

As a troop leader, Denisse has risen to the challenge on several fronts, including serving as Troop Cookie Manager (TCM). TCMs manage their troop’s sales during cookie season, and that particular volunteer spot is so detailed and involved that many troops prefer to someone other than the troop leader to manage it, just to keep from getting overwhelmed—if another volunteer is available.

In Denisse’s case, she had help from GSNETX’s New Troops with Mentors program, which provided her with a contact person to help her through the process of being a new troop leader—while leading it at the same time, a process that can sometimes feel like building an airplane in mid-air.

“We were very lucky to have [troop mentor] Jessica,” she said. When confusion happened with the cookie process, “I would text Jessica and she’d be like, ‘Don’t worry. Everything’s going to work out fine.’ It was crazy, but she was very helpful."

Nurturing and equipping all ages.

Denisse has three daughters in the program, an 11-year-old Cadette, a 10-year-old Junior, and a 6-year-old who will be beginning her first official year as a Daisy after tagging along with her older sisters before she was old enough herself.

The oldest member of the troop is 16-year-old sophomore, Sophia. Sophia says she’d wanted to be a Girl Scout since she was a little girl, but it wasn’t until the summer before her freshman year that the opportunity presented itself in Denisse’s troop.

“I got to meet a lot of new people, and there’s a lot of people in my troop that I really love and always look forward to seeing them in meetings,” she says.

Sometimes joining the program as an older Girl Scout can feel intimidating if a troop has already been established for a while and the girls in it are already familiar friends. As the oldest girl in the troop, Sophia says she’s slipped into a place of belonging in the new troop that feels comfortable and natural.

“It was a little awkward at first because I’m like an older sister, but as time went on, it’s fun having their company,” she says.

Creating a welcoming space for everyone.

The troop creates their own activities in addition to attending some council-led events. One of the troops own events involved a visit from a Mexican artist friend one of the girl’s mothers. She gave a presentation to the girls on how art can come from things found all around. The visit culminated with the girls making their own art from sticks and rocks.

Denisse has learned that girls get a lot out of simply doing things together. “Work with what you have and make it fun for the girls, because they don’t really care if you go to a national park or go to a [your local] park and take a hike there,” she offers as encouragement other new leaders as she had been. “They’re going to have fun if you’re invested and do activities that are fun for them.”

The troop also attended the council’s Dia de los Muertos celebration last fall.

“It’s good to do and to involve the families,” says Denisse,” because we normally don’t see our culture represented, so when they do an event and there’s really research done, and you really ask people from that culture what they do and how it’s not just a date but why it’s important to them, [it’s a good thing].”

She adds that one of the benefits of Girl Scouts being inclusive is that it shows families that what’s important to them culturally is important to them is important to Girl Scouts as well. “Everybody can be a Girl Scout,” she says. “It’s not just for rich families or a specific race, or place, or neighborhood in the community.”

For her part, Sophia agrees that girls of all ages are welcome in the program and when asked what she’d say to girls who, like her, may be joining as an older Girl Scouts, she encourages them to take the leap.

“Don’t be afraid. You can [think], ‘Oh, there’s already a group and I’m going to feel left out.’ But sometimes you find out similarities with them and start a conversation,” she asserts. “Never be afraid like they’re going to judge you, because we’re all Girl Scouts, and at the end of the day, we’re there. You’ll get to know each other better.”

Impacting girls today and tomorrow.

Dedicated volunteers like Denisse are making a lasting impact on girls in their troops beyond today’s troop meetings and cookie sales.

Sophia says that through the program, “I learned to speak up more, so each time I’m [the only person new in a space] and I don’t know anyone, I do speak up. I’ve learned how to be more social.”

She believes Girl Scouts has taught her leadership skills that will continue to benefit her in her adult life.

“I want to be an early childhood teacher,” she says. “Being with those [younger] girls teaches me to be understanding and how sometimes I have to be at their level.”

Denisse’s troop is a shining example of the power of Girl Scouts to shape confident, capable leaders of tomorrow. Her dedication and an inclusive environment for all girls in the troop gives them a special space to grow, learn, and thrive. From developing essential leadership skills to embracing cultural diversity and building lasting friendships, Girl Scouts prepare girls of all ages for a future where they can confidently navigate challenges, speak up for themselves, and make a positive impact on the world around them.

September 11, 2024