When people think Girl Scouts, they think little girls selling their beloved cookies. Sure these girls aren’t going to stop selling cookies and they’re sure not going to stop scouting just because they’re in high school. Plenty of Pascack Hills’ female students are involved in Girl Scouts. Now sophomores, Troop 210 from Woodcliff Lake is going strong. Their fearless leader Nancy “Miss Nancy” Michaels happily agreed to an interview about about Girl Scouts and the enjoyment it brings.

Girl Scouts is an activity that teaches many things. The girls become more comfortable and confident because they’re “in an all-girls setting.” They communicate as a troop and bond like sisters. “A girl’s leadership skills will grow even more when she’s among other girls.” The troop is like a team in which everyone has a role. “Girl Scouts also teaches respect – for your leaders, the girls in your troop, your community and yourself.” One of the most important concepts of Girl Scouts is to build strong values in the girls.

Many girls join Girl Scouts when they are five years old. From then on they work together to perform acts of kindness and contribute service to their town. They are young and don’t always realize the impact they have on the community. “When the girls are older they really contribute their thoughts and ideas on how to run a meeting or event.” The leadership shown allows them to achieve greatly. One of many accomplishments of Troop 210 was “earning the Bronze Award by building the library at the Tice Senior Center, which is still being used today.”

These girls live by a code. “A Girl Scout will do her best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, responsible for what they say and do, respect yourself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.” The Girl Scout Law is instilled in every girl that earns her way through community service and leadership opportunities. The badges and awards match the pride exhibited by the girls.

Miss Nancy’s ultimate goal for Troop 210 “would be to watch the girls go on to earn they’re Gold Award.” This is the highest honor for a girl scout and can be placed on college resumes. Of course, to receive the Gold Award you need to already have a Silver Award, which Troop 210 has recently completed through raising Girl Scout Awareness. They held a Masquerade Ball for Woodcliff Lake Girl Scouts of all ages, as well as wrote and published the ‘Girl Scout Gossip’, a fun and informative newsletter for girls, parents, and leaders.

The best part of Girl Scouts is debatable, but Miss Nancy’s personal favorite over the years has been “watching the girls grow from wide-eyed kindergarteners to mature and confident young woman in high school.” If you were to ask one of the girls, she would probably have an answer along the lines of doing amazing things with great friends at her side.

These girls have been a family for over 10 years and “have memories that will last a lifetime.” They learned lots of silly songs, blasted off one too many Alka-Seltzer rockets, fixed sit-upons, had a couple pudding eating contests, visited a dude ranch, saw a concert or two, played detective, watched some movies, sewed some pillows, performed a song and dance, played live Clue, had a cook-off, and ate a lot of cookies.

Miss Nancy will always remember, “The friendships I’ve made with my co-leader, the family members, and the girls. To hear someone call you ‘Miss Nancy’ from the time they’re five years old until they’re fifteen [and sixteen] is truly endearing.” Girl Scouts creates bonds unlike any other. It is certainly a worthwhile and fulfilling experience that benefits the girls and the community.