GSACPC Co-Chief Executive Officer Mary Mitchell, left, with Girl Scout leader Grace Ricca-Runge after Ricca received the GSACPC Impact Award Nov. 9 in Phoenix.
KINGMAN – A Girl Scout leader of more than 30 years received a prestigious award for her work with the community.
Grace Ricca-Runge, 68, and a lifelong resident of Kingman, was the recipient of the Girl Scouts of America Girl Scouts Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) Impact Award in Phoenix Nov. 9 recognizing her volunteerism, leadership and enthusiasm for Girl Scouts.
Ricca has been leading Troop 1090 for 33 years. She’s also a co-service team manager, neighborhood treasurer and has been managing the Camp Stephens Girl Scout camp in the Hualapai Mountains since 1997.
She joined as a Girl Scout Brownie at age six at St. Mary’s Catholic School, rose to a Girl Scout, staying there through the eighth grade in the 1960s. Her leader was Marion Watson (the mother of former Mohave County Supervisor Gary Watson) up until sixth grade. She’s been involved in some capacity since then.
“I had a great time and was always with my friends and had great leaders,” Ricca said. “When I had my children, I went to the county fair and ran into a friend who was a troop leader. I tried to get my daughters in, but they didn’t have room because of a leader shortage. I was asked to be a leader and did that instead.”
Ricca was nominated by Natasha Neal, GSACPC Senior Director of Operations and endorsed by GSACPC Co-Chief Executive Officers Mary Mitchell and Christina Spicer and Extended Area Team Manager Kim Bartels.
Her nomination letter, summarized, read:
“Grace has given significant, long-serving and outstanding services to Girl Scouts and the community through other organizations outside the Scouts. She should serve as a role model for compassion and service and strive to make the world a better place while living by the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
“She’s exemplified unwavering commitment and leadership at Camp Stephens which has been a destination for scouts around the state and most frequently, the Colorado River Cities (Bullhead City, Lake Havasu and Parker). Ricca has collaborated with local organizations, fostering partnerships that extend the reach of Girl Scouts to promote community collaboration and involvement.
“As a result, she inspires the girls, volunteers, staff and community partners as she takes the time to listen, mentor and uplift those around her, serving as a role model for girls, volunteers and GSACPC staff. Her dedication and passion deserve to be celebrated as she continues to inspire others and carry the flame of excellence forward.”
Ricca learned of the Impact Award nomination in September.
“I didn’t know anything about it,” she said. “I was very surprised and very emotional. I never knew this would happen.”
Over the years, Ricca, mother of four adult children, including three daughters, has managed more than 100 events and trips and has overseen the growth and development of about 300 girls and young women.
Many of her scouts are now grown and have families, some of whom are scouts and scout leaders themselves.
Nicole Cofer-Butler, a 2007 Kingman High School graduate, joined Girl Scouts at the age of seven. After being in a troop that didn’t do much and disbanded, she was placed into Ricca’s Troop 1090 and continued many more years of scouting. Her 13-year-old daughter, Aubrey, is also part of Ricca and Cofer’s troop.
“28 years later and a lifetime member, I’m still part of Troop 1090 as Grace’s co-leader,” Butler said.
Ricca has influenced Cofer in many ways.
“Grace is not a sit back and watch kind of leader,” she said. “She’s involved wholeheartedly. She’s taught me so many things and has been a huge influence throughout my scouting years and personal life.”
Cofer credits Ricca with many down-to-earth life lessons and experiences.
“She’s taught me so much from learning the basics of sewing to attending my graduation, wedding and baby shower,” she said.
One of Ricca’s proudest accomplishments was fixing Camp Stephens.
When she took over the site in 1997, the few small cabins were trashed.
“Nobody had been up there for 15 years,” Ricca said. “It was awful.”
Along with a community effort, she’s brought the camp back to life. It’s now used regularly, averaging about 25 visits a year, mostly on the weekends.
“I got lucky with family, the troops, parents, friends, family, the neighbors and just people from town coming up to clean it,” she said. “Even local businesses like True Value and Home Depot pitched in.”
Ricca and the community have made the camp a safe, clean and habitable place for children and parents around the county and state to get outside and play.
“I believe in my heart that Camp Stephens is the best Girl Scout camp and the best kept up camp in Arizona,” Ricca said. “The Girl Scout CEO’s could not believe what great shape it was in for how old it is.”
Ricca is leaving a legacy.
She has 13 Troop 1090 lifetime members – women who have stayed with her for 13 years or more. She currently has the most lifetime members in Arizona.
“When they graduate high school, their Girl Scout cookie money pays for their lifetime membership in Scouts,” Ricca said.
Ricca said she’s having a hard time finding leaders, which makes it harder to recruit girls. She’s not giving up and is always finding a way to keep the community involved.
“I’d like to thank all the girls, the troop leaders, all the people who have helped keep Camp Stephens up and running,” she said. “Especially my husband Larry, and all the husbands who have helped out. We couldn’t do this without them.”
To get a child involved or to become a leader, contact Ricca at 928-279-2389.
