Training facilitator adds fun to volunteer experience
July 09, 2025
Keely Kole has an innate ability to connect with other Girl Scout volunteers. It's a trait that many admire about her. Her secret sauce is that she always brings a sense of levity wherever she goes.
A Girl Scout volunteer for more than 10 years, Keely is a facilitator for the council's outdoor and troop leader training programs. She values teaching adults outdoor skills that they can then pass on to their troops. Moreover, she likes to ensure that volunteers have fun while they learn.
A volunteer recalled how Keely kept volunteers engaged and laughing at a recent Fall Volunteer Conference at Camp Misty Meadows. She tried to catch chickens so the birds could walk over sheets of paper to create "chicken art" for a Paint with Chickens activity.
"It turns out that chickens aren't particularly fond of creating art, and the plan didn't unfold as intended," the volunteer said. "Not every plan goes perfectly, but Keely helped remind us that things don't have to be perfect to have fun with your troop. It's all about memories and experiences!
Over the years, Keely has served as a troop cookie manager and troop leader for Troop 130003. Her two daughters, Riley and Lily, and her husband, Dale, were active members of the troop for many years. She also has a son, Liam.
She moved on to other roles with broader reach. She served on the camp committee for the Golden Coast Community and in various council-level volunteer positions. She was a member of several committees, including the East Texas Programs and Partnerships Task Force and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Task Force. She also served as the council teller at the council's Annual Meeting.
In addition to her current roles, Keely is the co-chair of the participant committee, a subcommittee of the Fall Volunteer Conference Committee. She strives to ensure all participants have an enjoyable experience and maximum engagement in the activities throughout the event weekend.
The Fall Volunteer Conference is a weekend event held each year at Camp Arnold. Adult volunteers come together for fun at camp without their troops and learn activities to do with their girls. Keely encourages leaders throughout the council to join her on the Camp Arnold Safari at the Fall Volunteer Conference 2025.
Keely has received the Appreciation Pin for her service to the council.
