Service Unit 201 Day Camp Volunteers Recognized with Spotlight Awards
Summer camp season is coming soon! With this in mind, volunteers and parents from Service Unit 201 have shared a special shout out to last year's squad. Congratulations to these SU 201 volunteers for being recognized with the Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois' Volunteer Spotlight Award.
Penny Pejka from O'Fallon
"Penny is just the best! Her camp cooking skills, ability to resolve issues quickly and efficiently, always with a smile and her amazing flexibility make Penny stand out. She is always willing to lend two hands and doesn't just offer ideas - she follows through.
Penny was the camp cook for the SU 201 Day Camp in June 2023. This Day Camp was one of the largest in the Council with 118 Girl Scouts, and a Tag Unit, along with all the volunteers, it was quite a crowd to feed. But Penny easily served lunches and snacks to these fun-loving campers throughout the week. Penny always accommodates dietary needs and provides several options for selective eaters. In the words of the Day Camp Director Karlene Hoefener: “Penny was amazing. She stayed within budget as asked - not easy to do with such a large camp, and everyone enjoyed the meals. She always has a variety of options available, always accommodating of everyone's dietary needs. She is a member of the club and is required to stay on the grounds while camp is in session. Every day she was outside picking up trash, made sure the sprinklers were on and then off at the end of the day, providing the girls a welcome respite from the heat. She coordinated the kitchen seamlessly and also filled in for First Aid when needed. She was fantastic!”
Penny is a Lifetime and lifelong Girl Scout. She is an inspiration and a great Girl Scout example to all she encounters." - from Debbie McAuliffe
Angie Wilsing from Troy
"Angie volunteered for SU 201 June 2023 Day Camp as the First Aider. She was on hand all day, all week, not only taking care of first aid concerns but lending a hand wherever and whenever she was able. Angie also volunteered as the Day Camp photographer, using her talents to capture moments of fun and adventure." - from Debbie McAuliffe
"Angie was busy with bites, stings, scrapes and as the First Aider had a lot to handle at Day Camp this year and she did it well! Angie assisted with the kitchen duties when she could and was a much-appreciated extra set of hands. Her skills as a photographer were beneficial and resulted in great camp photos, group photos and unit photos.
Angie was an enthusiastic Day Camp volunteer whether she was getting girls to smile for the camera or comforting them and getting them to smile during first aid administration. Her efforts were much appreciated!"- from Karlene Hoefener
Lesley Coleman from Fairview Heights
"Lesley volunteered for the Brownie Unit as an assistant. She is a dedicated volunteer, always willing to lend a hand, and often the first to volunteer. Lesley volunteered for a full week at SU 201's June 2023 Day Camp, showing up on Monday with a cast/boot on her foot - nothing deters her from helping Girl Scouts have a great time!" - from Debbie McAuliffe
“Lesley was a real trooper for Day Camp this year. Even with a broken foot she provided the girls a lot of support and supplies enthusiasm for all the activities.” - from Leigh Anne Gentry
“Lesley always had a smile, and she was a pleasure to see and have at camp every day!” - from Karlene Hoefener
Debi Carle from O'Fallon
"Debi Carle volunteered as an assistant for the Junior Unit for the SU 201 June 2023 Day Camp. She is an enthusiastic and dedicated volunteer and always willing to listen to Girl Scouts and ensure they have a great time." - from Debbie McAuliffe
"Debi was a huge asset to the Junior unit team. She made such personal and meaningful connections with our campers and made each girl feel included during their week with us.” - from Vicky Birchem
"Debi always had a smile. I would see her walking with the girls to lunch and around camp and it was evident she was having a great time in the Junior Unit with the Girl Scouts!” - from Karlene Hoefener
Andree Swanson from Maryville
"Andree is a Lifetime Girl Scout volunteer and once again volunteered for the SU 201 June 2023 Day Camp. This time, she wanted to volunteer as an assistant in the Cadette Unit, having previously been part of the Day Camp directorship team and assisting in the kitchen. Andree was a great contributor to the success and enjoyment of the campers!" - from Debbie McAuliffe
“I was so impressed by Andree as soon as I arrived. Andree is laid back and fun and ready for anything. She was not intimidated by any of the challenges we faced. She continually impressed me with her compassion for all girls in the group and the ease with which she interacted with the Cadettes. She was a pleasure to work with and I feel like I grew as a camp counselor and Girl Scout leader by having the privilege of working alongside her last summer.” - from Michelle Mater
“Andree was so helpful to me on Friday morning when the bounce house water basin needed to be emptied and cleaned. She also helped me tremendously in a moment of need, stepping up when I was a bit overwhelmed, providing comfort to me during the afternoon camp activities on Friday. Andree also generously volunteered to help deliver all the camp collected donations to my house after camp on Friday afternoon, after spending a long week volunteering at camp! I was so grateful for all she did.” - from Karlene Hoefener
Danielle Schultz from O'Fallon
"Danielle was a full time, full week volunteer for the SU 201 June 2023 Day Camp. She volunteered with the Brownie Unit - a large and excited group of girls!" - from Debbie McAuliffe
"Danielle has a very creative spirit. She encouraged the girls to think outside the box.” - from Leigh Anne Gentry
"Danielle was a first-time volunteer, and we are so grateful and thankful she was there! The Brownie unit was huge! So many excited Girl Scout campers and having Danielle assisting the Brownie Unit Leader, Leigh Anne, was wonderful. I am so thankful for Danielle!” - from Karlene Hoefener
Gretchen Critchley from O'Fallon
"Gretchen volunteered to assist the Junior Unit at the SU 201 June 2023 Day Camp. Her infectious enthusiasm endears Gretchen to Girl Scouts of all ages. Always willing to lend an extra set of hands or her assistance, sharing her Girl Scout knowledge, and providing guidance to girls are just a few of the outstanding qualities Gretchen provides!" - from Debbie McAuliffe
“Gretchen went out of her way to be the best co-leader I could ask for and always willing to take on tasks to take things off my plate. She helped set up and clean up each day and even recruited her scouts to help, who weren't even in our unit. She is a rockstar leader and I could not have done day camp without her!” - from Vicky Birchem
“Gretchen was always smiling! She would share comments with me daily on how much fun she was having and she was such a positive role model for the girls and other volunteers.” - from Karlene Hoefener
Kimberly Link from O'Fallon
"Kim volunteered to assist in the kitchen for the SU 201 June 2023 Day camp - lunch is always an integral element to the success of camp so great help is a must! the campers were many and the days were full, but Kim continued to prep, serve and clean and every turn." - from Debbie McAuliffe
"Kim was a tremendous help in the kitchen preparing lunch and snacks each day for over 100 people. She was also a champion on the clean-up crew. Though her mobility was limited she never shied away from a job, no matter how much effort it required.” - from Penny Pejka
"Kim was a much-needed volunteer in the kitchen! We had so many campers at Day Camp, her extra set of hands in preparing and serving food were tremendously helpful!” - from Karlene Hoefener
Laura Lebryk from Shiloh
"Laura had a limited amount of time she was able to volunteer for the SU 201 June 2023 Day Camp but she said 'put me anywhere.' Her availability and willingness to help wherever needed was a huge factor at Day Camp. Laura has a wonderful ability to connect with Girl Scouts of all ages.
Initially Laura was to be a float for Monday and the fishing instructor on Tuesday, the days she was able to volunteer, however, right away Monday morning she was added to the Daisy Unit when there was an unanticipated shortage of adults. She was phenomenal, just immediately pitching in and helping this large group of excited girls! On Tuesday, Laura single handedly shared her love for the outdoors by instructing and encouraging girls to fish in the pond. Many of them for the very first time. She spent her downtime, which was rare with such a large camp, untangling lines and resetting bobbers. She never stopped, all day." - from Debbie McAuliffe
“Laura is a second year volunteer and we appreciated her coming back so very much! She was a tremendous help on Monday, stepping in to assist with the Daisy Unit when urgently needed. Tuesday Laura did an absolutely amazing job handling so many large units of campers in one day of fishing! We were awed!”- from Karlene Hoefener
Jamie Mitchell from O'Fallon
"Jamie is a Daisy Troop leader and volunteered quite early on to be the Daisy Unit Leader for SU 201 2023 Day Camp. She worked very well with multiple adult volunteers during the week. She was organized, extremely flexible and so very patient and kind. The Daisy Unit had 23 girls who thoroughly enjoyed their week with Jamie leading them and guiding them. The girls completed three badges and created memories with new friend that will last for years!
Jamie was everything a Girl Scout Day Camp volunteer could be. She encouraged all the girls to live the Girl Scout Law every day at camp. Something they can carry forward every day in their own lives."- from Debbie McAuliffe
"This was Jamie’s first-time volunteering at Day Camp & she always was engaging the children being inclusive at all times. On Thursday evening when I had to call her late in the evening about an incident that had occurred in the Daisy Unit (a girl was diagnosed with Covid 19), I asked her who the girls buddy was for the week.
Jamie replied that every day she had the girls rotate buddies to meet new friends & be a sister to every Girl Scout. I had to laugh because we all say it & try to get new volunteers to do it but, they normally do not. Jamie had the girls name down by Tuesday afternoon which shocked me, all other units were still relying on nametags. Jamie got all of the badge work done with the girls & had extra games and activities that kept the girls happy and entertained the entire week. Jamie was extremely flexible during the week when things had to be adjusted to the schedule. She always had a smile on her face, and always thanking us for our prep work & supplies.” - from Karlene Hoefener
"I thought it was a really awesome week! My daughter asked me if she could just keep going to Girl Scout camp, all summer long, instead of going back to her school's summer day camp, because she was having so much fun!" - from Mary Ashley Stanton
“I just wanted to thank you for such a wonderful camp week.Both Emma (Daisy Unit) and Sofia (Junior Unit) would come home every day and have such great things to say about their day and they didn't want it to end! They loved it!” - from Holly Sliment
