April 22nd is Leader Appreciation Day. This is the day to thank your daughter’s leader for all her hard work. Here are some ideas to get you going, and remember it is the thought that counts not how much you spend:

* Say “thank you”
* Nominate her for an Outstanding Leader award
* Plan a surprise party
* Send her flowers (Daisies are, of course, appropriate)
* Create a collage of the troop
* Take her out to lunch
* Send a thank you note or postcard
* Offer to help her with a troop activity by sharing a special talent or skill
* Offer to chaperone
* Have the troop plant a tree or a garden in her honor
* Give her an afternoon off by scheduling a play date with her daughter and yours
* Pamper her with a spa certificate
* Create a troop scrapbook
* Make a list of all the things you've seen her do for the troop and end it with a "thank you"
* Give her something personalized with the troop's number
* Buy her something from your Council Shop
* If she collects patches, buy her a special one or two
* Buy her something to put her patches on, such as a bag, a shirt, a cap, or a blanket

Eons ago, I received a homemade stuffed hot air balloon with each girl's name etched on a segment of the fabric. It hung in my bedroom when I was in high school (yes, I had a Brownie troop in high school) and now hangs in my home. It was special for me because it demonstrated that they knew me and my interests. Those girls also gave me a collage of photos of themselves decked out on their uniforms and the parents and troop members attended my Court of Awards when I received my Gold Award.

Last year, among other items, I received some drawings from two of my girls, which was wonderful. It was an expression of who they were and represented an investment of their time and personality in conception and execution.

Leaders are essential to the Girl Scout movement. They are the unpaid and often unsung heroes of Girl Scouting. Please be sure your leader knows how much you appreciate her donations of time and talent. You couldn't do it without her!