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A lot of people equate leadership with “being in charge” or having a title. In reality, anyone can be a leader. It’s about recognizing that you are part of a team and understanding that team’s needs and interests. Here’s how you’ll do that with your troop!
Your Role as a Girl Scout Volunteer 
As a Girl Scout volunteer, you’ll embark on your own leadership journey while you help Girl Scouts develop the leadership skills they’ll use to make the world a better place. Below are a few basic concepts that outline what leadership means in Girl Scouting.
Leadership is teaching your Girl Scouts:
- That they can do and be anything!
- That they are decision makers and should own their decisions.
- How to live the Girl Scout Law by modeling it for them.
As a leader, see yourself as a coach who:
- Advises, discusses, and cheers on your troop, not as a teacher with a planned lesson or activity but as a mentor.
- Ensures each member understands and can carry out their responsibilities within the troop—and gives Girl Scouts more responsibilities as they grow and develop.
- Encourages Girl Scouts to build their skills and develop their ethics.
- Helps Girl Scouts feel seen and included—like they belong.
It is important to remember that:
- You cannot know everything that your Girl Scouts might ever want to learn.
- You’ll explore and learn alongside your Girl Scouts and build your confidence in the process.
- You’re not expected to know everything about Girl Scouting, but you should know where to go for information—and to ask for help when you need it.
Your Responsibilities as a Girl Scout Volunteer
Your responsibilities as a Girl Scout volunteer include:
- Embrace the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
- Guide and coach Girl Scouts through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.
- Complete required trainings and follow Girl Scout policies, procedures, and safety guidelines.
- Share your skills and knowledge with positivity and flexibility.
- Partner with your Girl Scouts to ensure activities are girl-led and hands-on.
- Plan fun, interactive activities that reflect Girl Scouts’ interests and needs.
- Communicate regularly with troop families using email, phone, social media, or other tools.
- Handle registration forms, permission slips, and other paperwork.
- Manage troop funds responsibly, with honesty and accurate record keeping.
- Stay connected with your council, including the volunteer support team.
- Nurture a positive and inclusive environment for every Girl Scout.
Troop leaders can request marketing and recruitment materials for adding new girls to their troops by contacting Customer Care at customercare@girlscouts-ssc.org or (208) 377-2011. Additional recruitment resources are also available here.
Planning for Your First Troop Meeting
Choosing a Meeting Place
Meeting places should be welcoming to all. This could mean locations that serve diverse populations, are openly inclusive, have diverse staff, and use welcoming language. What makes a great meeting space depends on your troop, but look for spaces that are available and free to use, large enough for your troop activities, and equipped with resources that meet your needs. Also, make sure your space generally accommodates (is accessible to) individuals with physical disabilities who might attend meetings, including troop members and parents/caregivers.
Consider this as a starting point for a conversation with the contact of a potential meeting space:
“I’m a Girl Scout volunteer with a group of [number of members] Girl Scouts. We’re doing lots of great things for youth and for the community, like [something your group is doing] and [something else your troop is doing]. We’re all about leadership—the kind that Girl Scouts use in their daily lives and the kind that makes our community better. We’d love to hold our meetings here because [reason why you’d like to meet there].”
Can We Meet in a Private Home?
Girl Scouts does not recommend holding troop meetings in private homes, but if you’re considering doing so, check with your council to make sure council policy allows it. In addition to meeting the space needs outlined above, note that:
You must always obtain prior approval from your council.
The private home must be the home of a registered, council-approved volunteer.
Girl Scout members may not meet in a home where a registered sex offender resides.
Some councils require membership and background checks for all adults living in the home. Contact your council for specific guidelines.
Troop members need to be able to focus without disruptions from other household members.
Animals/household pets should be kept in a place that is separate from the meeting space.
Homeowners should consider any personal insurance implications. The homeowner should ask their personal homeowner’s insurance carrier if there are any insurance concerns with troop meetings in the home. Also, volunteers should confirm with the council that troop meetings in the home are covered by the council’s liability insurance carrier.
Any weapons must be out of view and in a locked space. Medications, cleaning products, and any poisonous substances must be stored in secure spaces, out of sight, and preferably locked.
Want more support? Contact your council or service unit support team for help securing a troop meeting place. You can also check out the gsLearn course Your First Troop Meeting.
Girl Scout Troop Size
The troop size “sweet spot” is large enough to support an interactive and cooperative learning environment and small enough to encourage individual development. Though the ideal troop size is 12 Girl Scouts, we recommend that group membership falls within the below ranges—no smaller than the low end, and no larger than the high end.
- Girl Scout Daisies: 5–12 members
- Girl Scout Brownies: 10–20 members
- Girl Scout Juniors 10–25 members
- Girl Scout Cadettes: 5–25 members
- Girl Scout Seniors: 5–30 members
- Girl Scout Ambassadors: 5–30 members
A Girl Scout troop/group must have a minimum of five Girl Scout youth and two approved adult volunteers. Be sure to double-check the volunteer-to-youth ratio table to make sure you have the right number of adults present for group meetings, events, travel, and camping.
Adults and youth registering in groups of fewer than five Girl Scout youth and two approved adult volunteers who are not related to each other or in a relationship, at least one of whom is female, will be registered as individual Girl Scouts to accurately reflect their status and program experience. Individual members are always welcome to participate in Girl Scout activities and events.
Knowing How Many Volunteers You Need
Girl Scout groups gathering in person or virtually must follow these guidelines:
- At least two unrelated, registered, background-checked adults must be present and actively supervising. Youth leaders cannot take their place.
- At least one of the adults must be female.
- The two required adults must not be related or live in the same household.
Adult supervision rules apply to all Girl Scout activities, including meetings, trip/travel, camps, events, and activities. There are no exceptions. Report any deviation from this policy to your council.
Note: Invited or additional participating adults can be related, but they cannot replace the two unrelated leaders.
Determine the minimum number of adult chaperones needed:
- Adult-to-youth ratios vary based on participants’ ages and the type of activity.
- Group meetings require fewer adults; refer to the “Group Meetings” column in the table below.
- Outings, activities, camping, and travel require more supervision. Refer to the “Events, Travel, and Camping” column in the table.
Count all children (Girl Scouts or not) in supervision ratios unless they’re under the constant care of their own parent/guardian who is not acting as a chaperone.
|
Girl Scout Volunteer-to-Youth Ratios |
Group Meetings |
Events, Travel, & Camping |
||
|
Two |
One |
Two |
One |
|
|
Girl Scout Daises (Grades K–1) |
12 |
1–6 |
6 |
1–4 |
|
Girl Scout Brownies (Grades 2–3) |
20 |
1–8 |
12 |
1–6 |
|
Girl Scout Juniors (Grades 4–5) |
25 |
1–10 |
16 |
1–8 |
|
Girl Scout Cadettes (Grades 6–8) |
25 |
1–12 |
20 |
1–10 |
|
Girl Scout Seniors (Grades 9–10) |
30 |
1–15 |
24 |
1–12 |
|
Girl Scout Ambassadors (Grades 11–12) |
30 |
1–15 |
24 |
1–12 |
Click image to enlarge.
An embedded, screen-reader-friendly version of this table is available when this page is viewed on a desktop.
Girl Scouts of Silver Sage Adult Recognition
Please reference Adult Awards & Recognitions for all local, council, and national award descriptions and criteria.
For additional information or questions regarding recognitions and appreciation, please contact customercare@girlscouts-ssc.org.
Safety in Girl Scouting
The emotional and physical safety and well-being of Girl Scouts is our top priority. Safety Activity Checkpoints outlines the Safety Standards and Guidelines used in Girl Scouting, which apply to all Girl Scout activities. All volunteers should review the Safety Activity Checkpoints manual when planning activities in order to manage safety and risk in Girl Scout-sanctioned activities.
The emotional and physical safety and well-being of Girl Scouts is our top priority. Safety Activity Checkpoints outlines the Safety Standards and Guidelines used in Girl Scouting, which apply to all Girl Scout activities. Volunteers should refer to Safety Activity Checkpoints when planning Girl Scout-sanctioned activities.
In Safety Activity Checkpoints, you will find:
- Safety standards and requirements for adult supervision, transportation, permission slips, preparation for troop activities, and field trips and overnight trips.
- Individual safety checkpoints for specific activities—such as camping, internet use, and water sports—that provide activity-specific information.
- Specifics on activities not permitted by Girl Scouts of the USA and actions that Girl Scouts and volunteers should not take.
- Policies on chartered aircraft trips and aviation.
- First aid and overall health information.
- Standards for well-being and inclusivity, and ways to include Girl Scouts with disabilities and to support everyone’s emotional safety.
The Buddy System
Use the buddy system anytime your troop leaves your meeting site or attends a field trip. Divide your troop into teams of at least two members, with each Girl Scout responsible for always staying with their buddy/buddies, warning them of danger, giving them immediate assistance if it’s safe to do so, and seeking help if needed. Girl Scouts are encouraged to stay near their buddy/buddies or join with another team, so that if someone is injured, one person cares for the injured party while others seek help.
Registering Girls and Adults in Girl Scouting
Every participant (youth and adult) must register to become a member of Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA). GSUSA membership dues are valid for the Girl Scout membership year, which runs annually from October 1 through September 30. Membership dues cannot be transferred to another member and are not refundable.
Preregistration for the upcoming membership year occurs in the spring. Early registration allows for uninterrupted receipt of forms and materials from the council, helps troops and councils plan ahead, and gets members excited about all the great things they’ll do as Girl Scouts in the year to come. Note that a Girl Scout’s grade level is determined by the current membership year beginning October 1.
Lifetime membership is available to anyone who accepts the principles and beliefs of the Girl Scout Promise and Law, pays the one-time lifetime membership fee, and is at least 18 years old (or a high school graduate or equivalent). Volunteers with ten or more years of service can become lifetime members at the discounted young alum rate.
Adding New Girl Scouts to Your Troop
Growing your troop is a great way to share the power of the Girl Scout experience! There are many ways to get the word out, like hanging posters in local schools, using social media to reach families in your community, and including your troop in your council’s opportunity catalog or troop catalog.
For help registering your troop, contact your council’s customer care team.
Creating a Space Where Every Girl Feels She Belongs
Girl Scouts is a place for every girl. We welcome girls of all backgrounds and abilities and aim to create a supportive, friendly environment where everyone can grow, connect, and shine. Each Girl Scout—no matter her life circumstances or personal story—is a valued and important part of the group. Troops reflect the richness of their communities and offer opportunities for every member to feel a sense of belonging.
We believe that helping everyone feel included is less about following rules and more about leading with empathy, curiosity, and care. Belonging means offering each girl the same chances to participate, grow, and be celebrated for who she is. It’s about being a friend to every Girl Scout.
- Welcome every Girl Scout and focus on building community. Show care by learning each person’s name with correct pronunciation, caregivers included! Use a warm and friendly tone, and consistently greet each community member when they arrive. Say goodbye to each person by name as well.
- Emphasize cooperation instead of competition.
- Provide a confidential, socially comfortable environment. Occasionally ask those who participate in Girl Scout programs if anything is worrying or bothering them. Be a trusted adult they can come to with their needs and emotions without judgment.
- Model respect and curiosity. Take time to learn about the people in your troop—their traditions, languages, and family structures—without putting anyone on the spot. Make space for anyone who wants to share more about themselves, and weave that sharing naturally into your time together.
- Create an environment where everyone feels comfortable being themselves. Be mindful of language and tone, and treat each individual with dignity. Focus on building a troop culture that values kindness, personal comfort, and mutual respect.
- Actively reach out to members and families who are traditionally excluded or underrepresented.
- Learn how to support each person in a way that helps them feel confident and capable. Every individual has unique strengths and ways of learning or participating. Ask parents or caregivers, “What can I do to help your child feel comfortable, engaged, and successful in our group?”
- Foster a sense of belonging to this community as a respected and valued peer.
- Honor the intrinsic value of each person’s life.
If you have questions about accommodating an individual member, please reach out to your council.
Girl Scouts of Silver Sage - Customer Care - customercare@girlscouts-ssc.org or (208) 377-2011.
Focus on Being Accessible to All
A key part of creating a welcoming environment is the idea that everyone has access to be able to participate. As you think about where, when, and how often to meet with your group, consider the needs, resources, safety, and beliefs of all members and potential members. Include the special needs of any members who have disabilities or whose parents or caregivers have disabilities. But please do not rely on visual cues to inform you of a disability; approximately 20 percent of the U.S. population has a disability—that’s one in five people of every socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, and religion. Disabilities include physical, sensory, and cognitive conditions.
If you want to find out what an individual with a disability needs to make their Girl Scout experience successful, simply ask them or their parent or caregiver. If you are open, honest, and receptive, they’ll likely respond in kind, creating an atmosphere that enriches everyone.
It’s important for all Girl Scouts to be rewarded based on their best efforts—not on the completion of a task. Give everyone the opportunity to do their best and they will! Sometimes that means changing a few rules or approaching an activity in a more creative way. Here are some examples of ways to modify activities so that everyone can participate:
- Invite a member to complete an activity after they have observed others doing it.
- If an activity is focused on using one sense that a Girl Scout does not have access to (like sight for a Girl Scout who is blind), find ways for them to participate using other senses. Can they touch the object or participate by hearing only?
- If an activity requires running, an individual who is unable to run could be asked to walk or do another physical movement.
Language Related to Disability
Focus on a person’s abilities—on what they can do rather than on what they cannot. In that spirit, use people-first language that puts the person before the disability.
|
Say: |
Instead of: |
|
They have a learning disability. |
They are learning disabled. |
|
They have a developmental delay. |
They are mentally retarded; they are slow. |
|
They use a wheelchair. |
They are wheelchair bound. |
When interacting with an individual (or parent/caregiver) with a disability, consider these tips:
- When talking to an individual with a disability, speak directly to them, not through a family member or friend.
- It’s okay to offer assistance to an individual with a disability but wait until your offer is accepted before you begin to help. Listen closely to any instructions the person may have.
- Leaning on a person’s wheelchair is invading their space and can be considered rude.
- When speaking to an individual who is deaf and using an interpreter, speak to them, not to the interpreter.
- When speaking for more than a few minutes to an individual who uses a wheelchair, place yourself at their eye level.
- When greeting an individual with a visual disability, always identify yourself and others. You might say, “Hi, it’s Sheryl. Tara is on my right, and Chris is on my left.”
Registering Members with Cognitive Disabilities
Girl Scouts with cognitive disabilities can be registered as closely as possible to their chronological ages. They wear the uniform of that grade level. Make any adaptations for them for ongoing activities of the grade level to which the group belongs. Girl Scouts with cognitive disorders may choose to retain their youth membership through their 21st year, and then move into an adult membership category.
Getting Support for Your Troop
Just as your Girl Scouts rally around each other for support, you will also have a dedicated Girl Scout support team, consisting of council staff and passionate volunteers like you. Your support team, which may be called a service unit at your council, is ready to offer local learning opportunities and advice as well as answer your questions about the Girl Scout program, working with youth, product sales, and much more.
Before you hold your first troop meeting, consider the support and people resources you’ll need to cultivate an energizing troop experience. Parents, friends, family, and other members of the community have their own unique strengths and can provide time, experience, and ideas to a troop, so get them involved from the very beginning as part of your volunteer troop team. This team is made up of troop leaders (like you) and troop committee volunteers.
Your troop committee volunteers are the extra set of eyes, ears, and hands that help the troop safely explore the world around them. Depending on your troop’s needs, they can play a more active role—for instance, someone can step up as a dedicated troop treasurer—or simply provide occasional help when you need to keep a meeting activity on track.
If a parent or caregiver isn’t sure if they can commit to a committee or co-leader role, encourage them to try volunteering in a smaller capacity that matches their skill set. Just like your young Girl Scouts, once troop parents and caregivers discover they can succeed in their volunteer role, they’ll feel empowered to volunteer again.
Troop Management Tools and Resources
From toolkits and guides to regular contact with experienced individuals, you’ll have all the support you need to be a Girl Scout volunteer.
You’ll find tools to keep your troop going strong on MyGS, which you can always access via the icon on the upper right corner of our website. Click/tap the “login” button, then “my account”—you’ll see the gsLearn and VTK buttons on the left menu bar, accessible on any desktop, tablet, or mobile device. The menu bar will be populated with any trainings you should view.
Here are some important resources you’ll want to be sure to check out.
The Volunteer Toolkit
The Volunteer Toolkit is a customizable planning tool where you can find suggested meeting plans for most badges, access activity guides, track your Girl Scouts’ achievements, and so much more. Featuring inspiring ideas for engaging your troop in a mix of activities all year long, it’s the digital planning assistant that will help you power a fun-filled—and organized—Girl Scout year.
With the Volunteer Toolkit, Girl Scouts, parents/caregivers and leaders can explore meeting topics and program activities together and follow the fun as they plan their Girl Scout year.
Troop leaders can:
Plan the troop’s calendar year and meeting schedule.
Email parents/caregivers with one click.
View the troop roster, renew Girl Scout memberships, and update Girl Scout contact information.
View meeting plans for badges, including suggested tracks for multi-level groups (K–5 and 6–12).
Customize meeting agendas to fit the troop.
Explore individual meeting plans that show a breakdown of every step, including a list of materials needed, editable time allotments for each activity within a meeting, and printable meeting aids.
Record meeting attendance and the troop’s badge achievements.
Add council and other events to the troop’s calendar.
Easily locate both national and local council resources, such as Safety Activity Checkpoints.
Parents and caregivers can:
View the troop’s meeting schedule and individual meeting plans to stay up to date on the badges the troop is working on.
Renew their memberships and update contact information.
View their Girl Scout’s attendance and achievements.
See upcoming events the troop is planning or attending.
Easily locate both national and local council resources.
gsLearn
gsLearn is our online training platform that gives you easy access to online and in-person learning opportunities as well as the ability to track all your accomplishments! Learn at your own pace, access additional resources, and repeat trainings as needed!
To access gsLearn, first log in to MyGS. You’ll find the platform in the options on the left-hand navigation bar.
More Tools and Resources
Girl Scout handbooks. These grade level-specific handbooks break it down for your Girl Scouts. Adventures include earning badges and awards, running a cookie business, and learning about the traditions that have brought Girl Scouts together for over a century.
Safety Activity Checkpoints. Safety is paramount in Girl Scouting, and Safety Activity Checkpoints contains everything you need to know to help keep everyone safe during various activities done outside of regular Girl Scout troop meetings.
Tips for Troop Leaders. When you’re looking for real-world advice from fellow troop leaders who’ve been there/done that, this volunteer-to-volunteer resource has what you need for a successful troop year.
Troop year plans. Our grade-level-specific troop year plans are the best tool for first-year troop leaders getting started with Girl Scouts, or to help any troop leader in planning out a well-balanced Girl Scout year. The entire year is mapped out—just follow along to help your Girl Scouts complete badge activities, improve their communities, and explore the world around them.
Girl Scout volunteers in your community. Remember that Girl Scout support team we mentioned? You’ll find it in your service unit! Troops are organized geographically into service units or communities, which are local networks of fellow leaders and administrative volunteers ready to offer tips and advice to help you succeed in your volunteer role.
Even More Learning Opportunities
We know that when you have the knowledge and skills you need to manage your Girl Scouts, both you and your troop thrive. We offer national onboarding training for new troop leaders, to combine with local training courses provided by your council.
What Girl Scouts Do. This course introduces what Girl Scouts do at each grade level and how they do it, helping you plan your troop’s year. Take the course.
Your First Troop Meeting. This course provides new troop leaders with the structure and tools to plan a successful first troop meeting—and beyond—with their Girl Scout troop. Take the course.
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE). This course teaches you how to implement the Girl Scout Leadership Experience—the framework that sets Girl Scouts apart—in an age-appropriate way for your troop. Take the course.
Family Engagement: The Key to Success. This course highlights the value of family engagement and provides practical strategies for how to enlist family support. Take the course.
The Girl Scout Cookie Program. This course reviews the basics of the Girl Scout Cookie Program, including why Girl Scouts sell cookies, who the cookie bakers are, how to use your cookie proceeds safely with your troop and with support from parents/caregivers. Take the course.
Troop Safety. This course equips you with the fundamentals to keep your troop safe in meetings and on field trips. You’ll also learn about a go-to guide that helps your troop stay safe no matter where your adventures take you! Take the course.
Funding the Fun. Explore the basics of managing your troop’s funds, including how troops fund meetings and activities, and manage and report their finances to their councils. Take the course.
These courses are available online via gsLearn as referenced above. Your council may offer local onboarding training for new troop leaders, as well as other ongoing training opportunities. Contact your council to ask about additional training opportunities that will help you grow your skills and confidence.
Other Program Courses
Leading Multi-Level Troops. Multi-level troops provide unique opportunities for Girl Scouts and their families. This course provides tips, tools, and strategies for leading a multi-level troop through an exceptional Girl Scout experience. Take the course.
Field Trips and Travel. This course guides you in planning a Girl Scout trip. It also covers the concept of Girl Scout travel progression. Take the course.
Sexual and Child Abuse Prevention. Child abuse and neglect are difficult subjects to think about, yet the prevention of abuse is a topic Girl Scouts takes very seriously. This training prepares supervising adults of Girl Scout youth to recognize, respond to, and report concerns of child abuse and neglect. Take the course.
Delivering Inclusive Program. In this course, you’ll practice using inclusive language to support Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and identities and foster a cohesive troop environment. Take the course.
Courses are also offered about specific badges, including Math in Nature and Mental Wellness, as well as Daisy petals.
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