Celebrating Sally: 25 Years of Girl Scout Excellence
What an achievement! The amazing Sally Egan, Badgerland's Director of Entrepreneurial Experience, is celebrating 25 years of continuous dedicated service to Girl Scouts. Sally's dynamic career began as the Program and Training Coordinator at what was then known as Riverland Council in La Crosse. Today she is renowned for her powerhouse leadership of the Badgerland Cookie Program and BFF.
Sally's journey with Girl Scouts began long before her professional career. Growing up as the youngest of seven children in small-town Arcadia, in Trempealeau County, Sally found adventure and opportunity through Girl Scouts. Her first look into the entrepreneurial world started with selling Girl Scout cookies to fund her way to summer camp, where she spent at least one week each year. Sally continued to thrive in Girl Scouts, earning her Gold Award in 1989.
For her 18th birthday, she went dog sledding as part of a Girl Scout Wider Opps (now known as Destinations) trip to Minnesota, where she learned how to mush and wrangle a team of Huskies alongside fellow Girl Scouts from across the country. During this trip, she received a keychain SWAP, a treasured memento she still keeps on her keychain today.
When she was old enough, Sally became a camp counselor, specifically the "tripping counselor," leading Girl Scouts on adventures such as visits to the Boundary Waters and backpacking through Porcupine Mountain. Reflecting on these and so many other outdoor experiences, Sally says, "Basically all of my adventures are because of Girl Scouts!"
"...all of my adventures are because of Girl Scouts!"
- Sally Egan
After her time as a camp counselor, Sally served as the Business Manager intern for the camp. She then pursued a Business Education degree and taught for a few years before pursuing a Master's Degree. While studying at Winona State, Sally launched her Girl Scout career part-time, running programming and trainings for girls and volunteers. Once she graduated with her Master's in Education, she transitioned to full-time, and the rest is Girl Scout history! She's been a membership recruiter, fundraiser, and acting CEO during the council realignment era. Her talent with logistics, data, and technology, combined with outstanding communication skills, led her to flourish as the Director of Entrepreneurial Experience. Her responsibilities span every aspect of our product sales, from ordering millions of boxes of cookies to ensuring every Girl Scout receives the awards they earned. She makes it look easy... Sally is always generous with her time and truly unflappable!
Reflecting on her career, Sally says, "I think my favorite part of being here is being able to pass down traditions, especially to my daughter. I loved going to Camp Ehawee as a kid, and now she gets to go too."
In honor of Sally Egan's leadership and commitment to Girl Scouts, a bench has been placed in her favorite spot at Camp Ehawee. Campers are encouraged to keep an eye out for "Sally's Bench," a testament to her enduring love for Girl Scouts.
Looking back through Sally's journey in Girl Scouting
