Alexandra Nichols has very fond memories of being in Girl Scouts when she was young.
And now, the Clarendon Hills mother of two girls is organizing a Daisy Girl Scout troop that will allow for kindergarteners and first-graders to have a similar experience.
“The moment I was able to request a chapter of Girl Scouts in our area, based on the age of my oldest daughter, Blair, who will start kindergarten in the fall at Walker School, I immediately started the process,” Nichols said. “I was a Girl Scout all through elementary school and so many memories of my childhood were centered around Girl Scouts. We went on endless field trips, participated in jamborees, earned patches, went to sleep-away camp … the list goes on and on.”
Nichols said she loved everything about being in Girls Scouts, especially the patches troop members were able to earn.
“I was so passionate about it that I requested that my troop leader get me my own copy of the Badge Book, so that I could work on earning even more badges at home,” she said.
Nichols said she also was obsessed with the movie, “Troop Beverly Hills,” which was released in 1989.
“From the moment I saw this magical film, it was my dream to be a Girl Scout troop leader,” she said. “That said, I knew Troop Clarendon Hills was meant to be.”
Nichols said the new Daisy Girl Scout troop will be open to girls in kindergarten and first grade from Clarendon Hills and nearby communities. She hopes to get things going as soon as possible, and meetings will begin when the 2026-27 school year starts and take place every other Wednesday at The Community House in Hinsdale.
“A troop ideally needs 12 girls, and parent volunteers are a large part of the success of a troop,” Nichols said. But there is no maximum number of girls a troop can accommodate as long as we have the appropriate number of adult participants.”
Nichols is billing the new Daisy Troop 57078 as a place where girls can make new friends, earn colorful badges, explore nature, make crafts, help the community and discover new things.
“Every meeting will focus on different activities such as crafts, games, working toward earning patches, planning upcoming field trips, fun outdoor adventures, hands-on STEM activities,” she said. “We also will focus on activities that help the community.
“The biggest priority is to create special moments and memories for the little girls in the community, the same way my childhood troop leader did for me. I am incredibly passionate about everything girls can achieve while working together in a fun, dynamic, creative and supportive environment.”
Nichols believes involvement in Girl Scouts gives young girls the stage to build confidence by exploring a variety of unique interests, all while making new friends and building camaraderie. “It’s essential to instill in young girls that no matter how small you are, you can make a huge difference,” she said.
More information about the Daisy troop is with Nichols at [email protected].
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.