Volunteer of the Month: Elliott Gustavson
April is Volunteer Appreciation month, but EVERY month is an opportunity to celebrate and show gratitude to our amazing Girl Scout volunteers! Join us each month as we highlight the outstanding volunteers who help guide, mentor, and inspire local Girl Scouts to unleash their limitless potential, shatter expectations, and be the change-makers our world needs.
August 2025 Volunteer of the Month: Elliott Gustavson
This month, we’re thrilled to celebrate Elliott Gustavson, Day Camp Director with Cedar and Sound, as our Volunteer of the Month! From troop leader to service unit manager to camp director, he’s worn many hats—but the thread that ties it all together is his belief that Girl Scouts is all about relationships, teamwork, and creating opportunities for youth to thrive. An Eagle Scout himself, Elliott has brought his love of Scouting full circle, making an important impact on girls*, fellow volunteers, and his community along the way.
How long have you been a Girl Scout volunteer?
Twelve years.
What types of volunteer roles have you filled as a Girl Scout volunteer?
Troop leader, lead delegate, service unit manager, Twilight Camp co-director, troop product manager.
What is your favorite part about being a Girl Scout volunteer?
I enjoy working with my teams. I think Girl Scouts is fundamentally an organization about relationships. Each of my roles have allowed me to work with different teams of adults and youth, helping me to make friends with a diverse group of individuals.
Is there anything surprising or less known about being a Girl Scout volunteer that you want to share with others?
For me, Girl Scouting is all about building friendships and opening opportunities. When I can create opportunities for Girl Scouts to grow and challenge themselves in new and different ways, I feel like I accomplishing the main goals of Girl Scouting.
What does Girl Scouting mean to you and why?
Girl Scouting is an opportunity to grow. To develop with a group of people who know you and grow with you. A Girl Scout encounters obstacles and adversity and learns how to overcome them with the help of their peers and the guidance of the adult volunteers in their lives.
What would you say to someone who is considering becoming a Girl Scout volunteer?
Start small, these young women need your leadership, even if you feel that you aren't ready. Become comfortable in situations where the answer is "I will find out". The Scouts don't need an expert, they need someone they trust to help them find the answer together.
What has been one of your most memorable moments as a Girl Scout volunteer?
I look back at the times I have laughed with other volunteers and the memories created while facilitating opportunities for our youth. I have the best memories where I have been able to connect with my peers while also providing a unique experience that makes Girl Scouts excited and helps them grow.
If you had to describe what it means to be a Girl Scout volunteer in one word, what word would you choose?
Rewarding.
Is there anything else about being a Girl Scout volunteer or Girl Scouting in general that you'd like to share with us?
I slowly progressed through my roles, stepping up to volunteer as I felt comfortable and as was needed. I appreciate that there is a lot to know and it can't all be known at the beginning. Progression is the key word regarding the Girl Scout's introduction to important skills, the same applies to volunteers. A volunteer can't be expected to know everything all at the beginning, it takes time and experience to learn the nuances that are important and make every situation unique.
Do you know an amazing Girl Scout volunteer who deserves to be recognized as a Volunteer of the Month? We want to hear about them! You can nominate a volunteer by sending an email to stories@girlscoutsww.org with the volunteer's name and a few details about why they should be highlighted. Please include "Volunteer of the Month" in the subject line of your email.
*Girl Scouts of Western Washington uses the term girls inclusively to speak to everyone who identifies with the Girl Scout experience, which includes cisgender girls, gender-expansive youth, transgender youth, non-binary youth, gender nonconforming youth, genderqueer youth, and any girl-identifying human.
