Volunteers > Training
Welcome!
The structured training options described on this page are only a small part of your ongoing learning journey. For an overview of training and resources click here. Once you learn the basics, review the information at Resource Central to expand your knowledge and take advantage of existing resources. And, continue your learning by tapping into the best resource of all -- the knowledge and experience from other volunteers in your Service Unit!
If you have any questions about the training program, please contact us at: adultlearning@girlscouts-ssc.org.
What's New? See the Spring/Summer Sessions in Green Below.
Your Training Record
The Volunteer Learning department tracks completion of required trainings and sends a report twice each year to the Service Unit Directors. It is a good idea for you to keep a parallel record to record both the required trainings and any optional trainings that you take to enhance your work as a leader/co-leader. Click here for a sample training tracking format that you might use.
Course List and Requirements Summary
(click on a course to view the details)
Basic Training -- Required Prior to Starting Your Troop
Leadership Training -- Required Within the First Year
This requirement takes effect starting in Fall 2010
Trip Training -- Required When Planning Any Overnight Trip
Troop Camp Training -- Required When Planning a Camping Trip
CPR/FA -- Required For All Overnight Trips and Activities with Risk
101 - Online Council Tour
This 15-minute online tour presents an overview of Girl Scouting and our local Silver Sage Council and is required for all volunteers. Click here to start the tour. At the end of the tour, you will be prompted to send us an email notifying that you have completed the course. Please include your name, troop number, Service Unit number, and reference course 101.
For Troop Leaders, please take a few additional minutes to take a quick tour of the basic responsibilities of a troop leader. Click here to start the short Troop Leader tour. You do not need to report to us that you have completed this short segment.
201 - Volunteer Essentials
This home-study course covers the basics of being a Troop Leader in Girl Scouting. New leaders and co-leaders will receive a copy of the Volunteer Essentials Handbook upon completion of the volunteer application process. To complete the course, read the handbook carefully, along with chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 of Safety-Wise, and complete the quiz:
202 - Mindful Leading
This 1.5 hour in-person course provides Girl Scout leaders and volunteers enrichment and new resources that will enable them to be intentional* in the way they deliver Girl Scout programs. In this course, we will explore our adult values by understanding and celebrating our strengths and encouraging the growth of our undeveloped strengths. As adults, we continue enriching our own lives by understanding our passions and values, by becoming aware of how we communicate and relate to others, and by making new friends and feeling good about ourselves. Through Mindful Leading, we become authentic, confident, and intentional in our partnership with girls to bring out each girl’s individual leadership potential. The exercises we will engage in are fun and revelatory, include much sharing and laughing, and emphasize the positive influence we have on each other.
*Intentional: being fully aware of the influence we are having on the young girls.
Spring/Summer Schedule:
- Boise -- June 26th, 12:30 to 2:00 pm, Friendship Square, 610 Reserve St.
- Twin Falls -- August 14th, time and location to be determined
We are currently organizing more sessions for the spring and summer. Please check back.
Minimum class size is 8, and maximum class size is 16, so please register in advance so that we can manage our group size for an effective session. Note: We will cancel a class if we do not reach the 8-person minimum. Contact adultlearning@girlscouts-ssc.org to register (with your name, SU number, troop number, and troop grade level).
If you would like to schedule a session for a group of volunteers in your area, contact the Mindful Leading Trainer, Pam Doucette. Pam would also like to hear your feedback about the course, so email her with any comments.
203 - Facilitating Journeys & the Girl Scout Leadership Experience
In this 3-hour in-person course we will become familiar with the what, why, and how of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, explore the new journey program resources, discuss how we can combine journeys and other activities for a great troop year, and discover how our partnership with girls is an essential ingredient in building girls of courage, confidence, and character who will make the world a better place. The course includes lots of hands-on (Learning by Doing) and teamwork (Cooperative Learning) and fun!
Minimum class size is 8, and maximum class size is 12, so please register in advance so that we can manage our group size for an effective session. Note: We will cancel a class if we do not reach the 8-person minimum. Contact adultlearning@girlscouts-ssc.org to register (with your name, SU number, troop number, and troop grade level).
Spring/Summer Schedule:
- Idaho Falls -- April 17th, 9:00 am to noon, at the Girl Scout Office
- Idaho Falls -- August 14th, 9:00 am to noon, at the Girl Scout Office
- Idaho Falls -- September 18th, 9:00 to noon, at the Girl Scout Office
- Twin Falls -- June 12th, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, location to be determined
- Twin Falls -- August 14th, time and location to be determined
- Boise -- June 26th, 9:00 am to noon, at Friendship Square, 610 Reserve. St.
- Boise -- July 17th, 9:00 am to noon, at Friendship Square, 610 Reserve St.
- Boise -- August 14th, 9:00 am to noon, at Friendship Square, 610 Reserve St.
- Boise -- September 18th, 9:00 am to noon, at Friendship Square, 610 Reserve St.
Some session details are still being finalized and more sessions are planned. Please check back.
401 - Planning Overnight Trips with Girls
This home-study course reviews the essentials of planning and safety relating to trips with girls, and is required for leaders planning any overnight trips with girls, including camping. This course is recommended for leaders who have not studied this material for over a year and are planning an overnight trip. It is also recommended for leaders who take frequent day trips.
To complete the course, please study the following materials and take the quiz (Word version) or quiz (PDF version):
- Review the basics in Safety-Wise chapters 1 through 4, and chapter 6
- Read Safety-Wise Chapter 5
- Read the Safety & Risk Management section of Volunteer Essentials
402 - Outdoor Education Basics
This home-study course includes an introduction to Outdoor Education, progression in the outdoors, readiness assessment, planning outdoor activities, clothing and equipment planning, menu planning and food safety, simple outdoor cooking, minimal impact camping, tent basics, site selection, and safety. This course is a pre-requisite for courses 403. It is a home-study with a quiz that relies heavily on Safety-Wise and Outdoor Education in Girl Scouting. Start by printing the Course Handout.
Course Handout
Course Quiz (Word version) -- use this version if you wish to copy the file to your computer, type your answers directly into the document, and return to us via email.
Course Quiz (PDF version) -- use this version if you wish to print, complete, and mail in the quiz.
403 - Troop Camp Skills
This is a 3-hour in-person course required by at least one adult within each troop prior to taking an overnight troop camping trip. We strongly encourage first-time campers to bring a second adult to the course who will be participating with you on your camping trip and in your trip planning. We are now opening the course to a limited number of girls so that you can involve your girls in teaching the rest of your troop and make your camping trip planning as girl-led as possible. Each troop leader can bring up to two girls with them to the course. This course is the hands-on partner to course 402 and requires that the primary adult has completed the 402 home-study course. Cost is $2 per person, to be paid when you arrive.
Spring/Summer Schedule:
- Nampa -- April 10th, time and location to be determined
- Boise -- May 8th, Friendship Square, 610 Reserve St.
- Boise -- May 15th, Friendship Square, 610 Reserve St.
- Boise -- June 12th, Friendship Square, 610 Reserve St.
- Twin Falls -- April 10th, time and location to be determined
- Idaho Falls -- May 22nd, 681 Katie Court, Ammon, ID
- Idaho Falls -- June 26th, 681 Katie Court, Ammon, ID
406 - Outdoor Cooking
This optional, 4-hour course is for experienced campers and older girls who are ready to add specialty outdoor cooking to their camping experience. This course covers outdoor cooking methods such as Dutch oven cooking, box oven cooking, stick, foil, and other methods for open flame or charcoal. Cost is $5 per person, to be paid when you arrive.
Spring/Summer Schedule:
- Idaho Falls -- June 12th, 681 Katie Court, Ammon, ID
- Boise -- June 19th, Friendship Square, 610 Reserve St.
- Boise -- July 10th, Friendship Square, 610 Reserve St.
- Boise -- July 31st, Friendship Square, 610 Reserve St.
- Boise -- August 7th, Friendship Square, 610 Reserve St.
- Boise -- August 21st, Friendship Square, 610 Reserve St.
501 - First Aid/CPR
An adult with First Aid/CPR certification is required for overnight trips, including camping, and/or for any activity that is physically demanding or has the potential for injury. If you are Red Cross certified, the CPR portion of the certification is good for one year, and the First Aid portion of the certification is good for three years. If you are American Heart Association certified, both the CPR and First Aid certifications are good for two years.
The certification can be held by any registered adult who will be attending the activity in question -- it does not need to be the Troop Leader or Co-Leader. Our council trainers offer occasional classes, but there are many opportunities in the community for First Aid/CPR Certification (Fire Department, Wellness Centers, Independent Trainers, etc.).
Treasure Valley Course Options
Red Cross of Idaho at www.redcrossidaho.com
Eastern Idaho Course Options
Eastern Idaho Technical College -- Contact: Tonya Nunes, tonya.nunes@my.eitc.edu, 208-524-3000 x 3345
Pocatello Course Options
ISU Wellness Center -- Contact: Lisa Salazar at 282-2117
Twin Falls Course Options
Keyes to CPR -- Contact: www.keyestocpr.com, 404-9872 or 404-2992
St. Luke's Magic Valley Education Department -- Contact: 737-2007
(800) 846-0079 | Boise (208) 377-2011 | Twin Falls (208) 733-9623 | Pocatello (208) 234-9076
Idaho Falls (208) 524-4649