A conversation with Girl Scout great Stacy Methvin

A positive experience as a Girl Scout in elementary school paired with a strong commitment to girl leadership led to many rewarding volunteer experiences and meaningful giving for former Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council (GSSJC) president and chair of the board Stacy Methvin.

“Volunteering has been more rewarding for me than my impact on the Girl Scouts,” says Methvin. “Besides just feeling good to see girls excel and have so much fun, smiling from ear to ear, it’s a great way to fulfill your life.”

When asked what she believes to be the most important skill that Girl Scouting teaches girls Methvin, who is retired from a successful career at Shell, says, “Hands down, confidence. Girls - and women - often struggle with it but in Girl Scouts they get to build that confidence as they’re earning badges, going to camp, talking in front of a big group or standing in front of strangers as they sell cookies, as well as learning to deal with disappointment.”

Another benefit, according to Methvin, is that while they build confidence girls are encouraged to explore career paths where females are traditionally under represented like STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). “Life took me into the energy industry where there weren’t many women. To get more women into the industry we must reach them when they’re younger, in elementary or middle school. Girl Scouting is a great way to do that and learn more about what’s going on with today’s girls so we can support them.”

Methvin, who admits she doesn’t give her volunteer hours easily and is picky about the organizations and projects she chooses, sees Girl Scouts as a great opportunity to develop girls in ways they aren’t always developed in school. “Special qualities and intellect are distributed equally, but opportunities to develop them are not,” says Methvin. “Girl Scouts reaches out across the socioeconomic spectrum and offers that opportunity to girls who are ready for it, regardless of a families’ ability to pay.”

The ability to make a difference and pay it forward is also what motivated Methvin to remain involved in Girl Scouting beyond her years as council president and board chair. Methvin has been involved with various projects and initiatives since she finished her term as council president. Her most recent role was as chair of the Ten Year Property Strategy Committee, which is responsible for developing the council’s investment plan for the camps. This strategy led to Methvin Chairing the Master Plan development for the council’s integrated camp property in Conroe, Texas, often referred to as Treelake. It was this work that led to recent developments at Camp Agnes Arnold, including the new Hamill Welcome Center, and a recently unveiled Adventure Park which was made possible thanks to the generosity of Methvin and her husband Dee.

The Adventure Park features two 300-foot ziplines with a challenge course comprised of 29 adventurous elements including a swinging bridge, horse ride, catwalk, loop crossing, barrel bridge, DNA bridge, skyak, tube crawl, taco net and more. Complete with two thrilling levels, the challenge course welcomed girls back to in-person resident camp this summer and has already provided girls with lifelong memories and feelings of accomplishment as they overcame fears, reached new heights and cheered on team members to help them finish the course.

Methvin is excited about being able to offer girls in San Jacinto Council the opportunity to experience a challenge course of this caliber because it will help get girls outdoors.

“When I look back on when I grew most in my life, it was always through outdoor experiences. When I think about where I was shaping my personality and gaining confidence but really just having a great time, it was in the great outdoors. These adventures were so important to my success and my life, that I want to entice girls to get outdoors as well,” says Methvin. "I want to make sure troop leaders and families know about it! A lot of times, people don’t think they can come to Girl Scout camp and get something unique, but they can- sailing, horseback riding, and now this Adventure Park! I want people to see Girl Scouts as relevant and something special, not a thing of the past.”

Stacy and Dee take the inaugural zip line from the new Adventure Park at Camp Agnes Arnold. Stacy and Dee Methvin