A shining star

AMHERST, NH – When a Girl Scout volunteer shines in so many ways, it’s only fitting that she be recognized. Recently named a Volunteer of Excellence, Tabatha Moriarity, 42, of Amherst, is being honored in July as Volunteer of the Month by Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains, the council serving members across New Hampshire and Vermont. She leads Girl Scout Troop 60162 in Amherst, which has nine registered Cadettes in sixth grade.

Moriarity’s co-leader Robyn Westbrook, nominated her for her dedication, compassion, and tireless volunteer spirit.

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“Tabatha's compassion for helping her community has a positive impact on the girls in our troop,” she said. “She thoughtfully plans meetings to encourage teamwork and leadership while making learning fun and inclusive for every (Girl) Scout. Growing up is full of challenges to navigate, and Tabatha is committed to helping the girls grow as individuals. She encourages them to step outside their comfort zones, try new things, and build the confidence they need to succeed.”

Westbrook noted that Moriarity’s dedication extends beyond her own troop to the entire community of troop leaders in her area.

“Recognizing a need for additional support among troop leaders, she took the initiative to locate and coordinate a certified trainer to provide guidance on understanding and managing challenging behaviors that often accompany girls entering their teen years. This session will equip fellow leaders with practical tools and strategies to better support their (Girl) Scouts. In addition to leading regular troop meetings and troop leader meetings, she spends countless hours behind the scenes coordinating our area's troop events, such as Thinking Day and Bridging. These events bring our Girl Scouts together to celebrate their achievements and helps create meaningful experiences.”

Moriarity said it’s worth it to her to volunteer and also be able to spend quality time with her daughters in Girl Scouts.

“I just love Girl Scouts so much,” she said, “and it means the world to so many girls, and to be able to share it with everybody and let them know what good Girl Scouts is bringing into the world makes me feel good.”

Troop 60162 has enjoyed camping, participating in the Girl Scout Cookie program, going on field trips and earning a wide variety of badges. They have already earned the Girl Scout Bronze Award for their Revolutionary War heroes project, which documents those connected to that war in Amherst’s cemeteries. The Town of Amherst has recognized them for their work. They planned to participate in the town’s July 2 fireworks display with a table where they will be handing out copies of the book they put together on the historic heroes and possibly to cemetery tours for the town’s Heritage Commission.

While Moriarity always wanted to be a Girl Scout as a child, that never worked out. Today, as an adult member, she says she’s living the experience through her two daughters. “I'm doing the patches and the badges and all the things right along with them, so it is kind of like being able to relive a little piece of my childhood that I had missed out on.”

Like many who get involved with Girl Scouts, she started by filling for another volunteer who left. As a substitute teacher in elementary school, she already had experience leading larger groups of children and just “kept going with it.”

She’s happy to have the extra time with her children and loved watching how her Girl Scouts get from their activities.

“I feel pretty special to be able to say that you had a hand in helping them become the awesome women that they will one day be,” she said.

One girl in her troop joined in second grade and was very shy. She held the girl’s hand to get her through a World Thinking Day activity and also needed to hold a teacher’s hand in third grade for a stage performance. “She was scared to death,” Moriarity said, but two years ago, this girl’s mother called to say her daughter is now brave enough to want to sell cookies door-to-door and even wanted to join the middle school cheer team.

“Which was something (her) mom had never thought she would ever do,” Moriarity said, “so to watch her build these little competence pieces along the way, she is my ‘This is what Girl Scouts can do for you story,’ because she was this shy little kid who never left mom and dad's side, high anxiety, to a girl who's on the cheer team, who's ringing doorbells and selling cookies.”

Looking forward, Moriarity said her Girl Scouts are planning a trip to New York City, starting a writing club at their middle school, building a garden at school, and are working on a babysitting kit girls can use.

She encourages anyone who’s considering volunteering to do it. “Time is something we all can find a little bit extra of here and there to make a difference in the lives of girls.”

Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains is proud to call Tabatha Moriarity its Volunteer of the Month. Find out more about Girl Scouts at www.girlscoutsgwm.org.

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We are Girl Scouts of the USA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building girls of courage, confidence, and character.

Girl Scouts discover who they are, tap into the power inside them, and build the confidence to let it shine. Through programs from coast to coast and overseas, girls of all backgrounds and abilities come as they are to explore their passions, meet new challenges, and develop hands-on skills. They find their strengths in science labs and on hiking trails, at cookie booths and in front of city councils. Backed by millions of alums and a network of dedicated adult volunteers and mentors, Girl Scouts drive change to make the world a better place. Along the way, they uncover the tools they need to lead with joy, on their own terms. Join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate.

Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains serves girls throughout New Hampshire and Vermont through volunteer-run troops, events, and virtual programs. Visit www.girlscoutsgwm.org to learn more.