A Sunnyside man is volunteering his time to serve as a role model to his daughter's Girl Scout Troop. NY1's Clodagh McGowan filed the following report.

James Knapp's time spent in the Marine Corps is proving to be the perfect foundation to lead his daughter’s Girl Scout Troop.

"It instills something in these girls, to be proud of. Not to take it lightly, they’re learning and they want to learn," said Knapp, the leader of Girl Scout Troop #4732.

Knapp became the troop’s leader two years ago.  He also helped start a new Brownie Troop at St. Stanislaus Kostka School in Maspeth.

His goal has been to serve as a role model, not only to his daughter, but to the other girls in the troop as well.

"Some of the role models I see these days aren't something I'm too thrilled with. So, yeah, a dad being a troop leader or a co-troop leader is a fabulous thing," said Knapp.

Knapp takes pride in how much the girls volunteer and the effort they put into getting each of their badges.

"You have to earn the badges; you don't just give it you because you deserve it or miss you out. If you miss out, you can make it up later on but you have to earn these badges," said Knapp.

Knapp's daughter Shayla says she enjoys sharing the time with her friends and her dad.

"The best part about my dad coming and being a Girl Scout troop leader is that I get to spend time with him but that other girls get to see how great he is, not just me," said Shayla Knapp.

​His character is something other members of his troop appreciate. 

"He is really good at teaching us all about Girl Scouts," said Rebecca Ortuno, a Girl Scout Brownie.

"I think that it's great because once more people see that there's a man as a leader, maybe hopefully more people will want to join," said Erin Studley, a Girl Scout Cadet.

Knapp hopes other fathers will take his lead.

"Just to experience what the Girl Scouts is about, something I can learn. It's actually even in some ways made me a better dad," Knapp said.

He says he wouldn't trade the time he spends with the young ladies in his troop for anything in the world.