Empowering Young Leaders: The Impact of Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada
- Sierra Gregg
- Jun 4
- 8 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada (GSSN) is helping girls build confidence, leadership skills, and a sense of belonging that can last far beyond their troop years.
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“Girl Scouts builds girls of courage, confidence, and character. But it’s so much more than that. Girls discover their strengths, develop leadership skills, and learn how to step up and solve problems in their schools, friendships, and communities. Through every experience, Girl Scouts helps unlock the leader within and equips girls with the experience and skills to succeed in life.” Kimberly Trueba, CEO of Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada
More Than Cookies
For many people, the first thing that comes to mind when they hear “Girl Scouts” is cookies.
And yes, the cookies matter. Of course they do.
They are a tradition, a fundraiser, and something we all look forward to. And for many girls, selling these delicious cookies is also one of the first times they learn to set goals, talk to customers, manage money, and believe in their own ability to lead.
But for Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada, these cookies are just one part of a much larger story.
Behind every booth is a girl learning how to communicate. Behind every troop meeting is a safe place where girls are encouraged to try something new and ask any questions they need to. Here, girls build their confidence and discover that leadership is not something reserved for someone else.
“You already have it in you. We’re just nurturing it.” Carolyn Wheeler, Director of Marketing for Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada
That concept alone made Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada such a natural fit for Endowment Partners’ Monthly Nonprofit Spotlight series. The goal of our series is simple: to bring more attention to nonprofit organizations doing meaningful work in the communities they serve and to give their stories the space they deserve.
Creating Space for Girls to Lead
It was so inspiring to hear the passion in Carolyn Wheeler’s voice as she shared stories of girls given room to grow, lead, ask questions, and step into spaces where women may not have always been equally represented.
The attention to detail in our conversation spoke volumes about the care she had for the development of each and every girl in the foundation. No one is left behind. Everyone belongs and learns together as a troop.
Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada serves girls from kindergarten through high school, creating opportunities that mature alongside them at every stage. Younger Girl Scouts begin building confidence and curiosity in the Daisy and Brownie levels, laying the foundation for lifelong connections they will maintain even in adulthood. Older Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors take on deeper leadership roles, becoming mentors to the younger ones, participating in community service projects, and developing real-world skills to build on the ones they already established in childhood.
Programs That Grow With Them
At the center of this experience lie four key pillars: STEM, outdoor learning, life skills, and entrepreneurship.
Together, these opportunities help girls build practical skills while also encouraging their independence, creativity, teamwork, and fortitude, making them strong leaders in the adult world.
But that experience can look different for every girl.
For some, it means learning about financial literacy and money management. For others, it could be discovering a love for science, learning to navigate social media safely, making lifelong friends, building confidence in public speaking, or developing pitch decks and business ideas through entrepreneurship-focused programs.
Girl Scouts becomes whatever these girls need it to be. The foundation simply provides the tools and a safe space to make it possible.
In fact, Carolyn explained that Girl Scouts often invites experts and community leaders to help girls explore topics that might otherwise seem intimidating or out of reach. It reflects the idea that if you can see it, you can be it. When girls meet women leading in business, science, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, and other spaces where they may not always see themselves represented, those futures start to feel more possible.
These programs are designed to help girls understand not only how to master new skills, but how to believe they belong in spaces where that type of learning happens.
Belonging, Mentorship, and Confidence
That sense of belonging came up often in our conversation.
“You belong here.” Carolyn Wheeler
In a world where social media can make young girls feel isolated, belonging is more important than ever.
Carolyn described Girl Scouts as a safe space where girls are encouraged to be curious, ambitious, creative, and even a little “nerdy.” It is a place where girls get support as they figure out who they are, what matters to them, and how they want to make a difference in their communities.
And they are not doing it alone.
“Nobody leads alone.” Carolyn Wheeler
Carolyn highlighted how important mentorship is in the organization. Beyond the older Girl Scouts, even alumni stay connected after their troop years. Giving back to younger generations is a big part of what keeps Girl Scouts growing and evolving. Leadership here is all about working together, encouraging one another, and building community.
The Gold Award: Leadership in Action
That philosophy becomes especially evident through the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement you can be awarded in Girl Scouting.
Gold Award projects challenge the eldest Girl Scouts to identify a problem in their community and create a sustainable solution that will continue to make an impact beyond the project itself. This type of project would be daunting even to an established adult, but Carolyn was happy to share one example that made it all look easy.
In Aubree D.’s Gold Award project, “The Food You Deserve,” she addressed food insecurity through education and practical life-skills support for individuals and families facing limited food resources.
Inspired by her own childhood experiences, she raised awareness about the challenges of accessing nutritious meals and provided guidance on grocery shopping, healthy meal planning, and budgeting for food. This project will continue to empower community members with the knowledge and confidence needed to make informed, sustainable choices about nutrition for years to come.
And that is just one example of many. Other Gold Award projects have focused on sustainability, food access, art, and community support, each showing how young women can turn personal passion into practical action.
These projects are not simply school assignments or volunteer hours. They are opportunities for girls to identify real needs, build plans, manage projects, and create meaningful change in their communities. While many girls learn these lessons in college, Girl Scouts learn how to make a lasting impact from childhood. That makes a big difference.
On July 12, Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada will recognize 10 Gold Award recipients at the Highest Awards celebration. Carolyn spoke about these girls with real pride, not just for what they achieved, but for the confidence and leadership they gained.
“This is something that’s always inside. You can inspire others.” Carolyn Wheeler
Upcoming Ways to Support
That lasting impact is also reflected in the ways the community can support Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada throughout the year.
Cookies & Cocktails
Date: June 25 Tickets: $55 per person Location: Flyover Las Vegas
Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada is hosting its first-ever Cookies & Cocktails event on June 25. The evening will feature craft cocktails, immersive entertainment, and Girl Scout Cookies, in partnership with Flyover and its expert mixologists.
Guests can enjoy cookie-and-cocktail pairings, access to Flyover’s immersive ride experience, and a night supporting the next generation of young female entrepreneurs and leaders. Tickets are $55 per person, with all proceeds benefiting Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada.
It is a fun entry point into a much bigger mission, and that is part of what makes Girl Scouts so special.
Dessert Before Dinner
Date: September 19, 2026 Location: Wynn Las Vegas
That mission continues through Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada’s signature fundraising gala, Dessert Before Dinner, which returns on September 19, 2026, at Wynn Las Vegas.
The annual gala brings together a diverse mix of community leaders, supporters, chefs, families, and, of course, Girl Scouts for an evening centered on discovery, leadership, and opportunity. The event begins with a chef competition where culinary artists create desserts inspired by Girl Scout Cookies, followed by an immersive dinner reception honoring leaders who have made a meaningful impact throughout Southern Nevada.
This year’s honorees include Don Snyder, Jhone Ebert, Cassie Stratford, Janet Uthman, Melissa Warren, and Emily Prazer. Each honoree will be paired with a Girl Scout “mini me” for a day, creating an opportunity for girls to connect directly with leaders whose work has shaped the community around them.
More than a celebration, Dessert Before Dinner helps make the Girl Scout experience possible for more girls across Southern Nevada. Every sponsorship, auction donation, ticket purchase, ad placement, and community partnership helps fund the programs, mentorship, and safe spaces where girls can build confidence, discover their strengths, and grow as people.
More Than Cookies, Always
The organization understands how to meet people where they are, whether at a cookie booth, a troop meeting, a volunteer course, a Gold Award ceremony, a gala, or a community event. Every moment contributes to a larger effort to help girls grow into leaders with courage, confidence, and character.
And while cookies may be the most recognizable part of Girl Scouts to the outside world, Carolyn made it clear that the organization’s impact stretches far beyond cookie season.
“We’re more than cookies.” Carolyn Wheeler
And that statement could not be more accurate.
Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada is helping girls imagine bigger futures for themselves and giving them the tools to pursue them. Through programs rooted in confidence, collaboration, problem-solving, and real-world skill-building, girls learn how to speak up, support one another, and step into spaces where women have not always been equally represented.
They are not only preparing for future careers or leadership roles. They are learning to take on challenges, big and small, with the confidence that they belong there.
Why This Work Matters
For Endowment Partners, organizations like Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada show how long-term community investment can create real, lasting impact. A girl may only be part of a troop for a season, but the confidence, skills, and sense of belonging she gains can stay with her for years. When girls are given the space to grow into leaders, the entire community benefits.
Support Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada
If you are looking for a way to support Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada, consider purchasing tickets to Dessert Before Dinner or attending Cookies & Cocktails. You can also volunteer, offer workshops, become a leader yourself, or simply share their mission with someone who might want to get involved.
Because when girls are given the space, tools, and encouragement to lead, the impact does not stop with them.
They carry that confidence forward. Into their classrooms. Their careers. Their families. Their communities.
And, eventually, into the spaces they will help shape for the girls who come after them.
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