Troop Management

Leadership is more than “being in charge” or having a title; it’s recognizing that you’re 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 Volunteer

The Girl Scout Leadership Experience is based on three keys—discover, connect, and take action—but it’s not just for your troop! As a Girl Scout leader, you’ll embark on your own leadership journey as you help girls develop the vital leadership skills they’ll use to make the world a better place. Here are a few basic concepts that outline what leadership means in Girl Scouting.

Leadership is teaching girls:

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. 
Ensures each member understands and can carry out their responsibilities within the troop.  
Encourages Girl Scouts to build their skills and their ethics.  
Gives more responsibilities to the girls as they grow and develop.

It’s important to remember that:

You cannot know everything that your Girl Scouts might ever want to learn.
You’ll explore and learn alongside your girls and grow 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.

Volunteer Background Check

In addition to becoming registered adult Girl Scout members, volunteers must submit a criminal background check authorization before working with girls. All volunteer background checks expire after three (3) years. Active volunteers are required to complete an updated criminal background check every three (3) years.

Criminal Background Check Information

GSKH is committed to providing a safe and quality program for girls as they participate in Girl Scouting. In order to safeguard the girls in our care, criminal background checks will be conducted for all employees and specified volunteers. The criminal background check is a component of GSKH’s employee and volunteer placement procedure. The background check, conducted by a third-party national screening vendor, includes criminal records searches of convictions, arrests, court records, inmate records, and sex offender registries. It does not include credit checks or motor vehicle records checks.

After completing your membership, check your email (spam or junk as well) for an email from theadvocates@verifiedvolunteers.com . Click the link within the email to authorize your background check.

Once you have submitted your name, former names(s), permanent address, social security number, and date of birth through the secure online portal, the information is sent directly to the national screening vendor. Providing false information, including social security number and date of birth, may be considered justification for non-acceptance of or dismissal from a volunteer position. The social security number on the criminal history records check shall be used for no other purpose than to make the process for conducting a background search more accurate. The results of the background check will be sent to the GSKH Human Resources Manager.

Disqualification from Volunteer Participation
The decision to exclude or limit an individual’s participation as a volunteer is solely within the discretion of Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland, Inc. Convicted felons are prohibited from serving as Girl Scout leaders, co-leaders, troop committee members, or council employees. Factors to be considered regarding misdemeanor convictions include, but are not limited to, the nature and severity of the crime, and the length of time since the criminal conduct occurred. On a case by case basis, the council may permit or deny the application of a person convicted of a misdemeanor.

A registered sex offender is not allowed to be a Girl Scout staff member or leader, co-leader, troop committee member, or other volunteer as deemed appropriate. A person who has been found, as a juvenile, to have committed an offense that if committed by an adult would have been a sex offense, is not eligible for volunteer service or employment with GSKH. No one may be a Girl Scout leader, co-leader, or troop committee member if a member of their household is a registered sex offender or who has been found, as a juvenile, to have committed an offense that if committed by an adult would have been a sex offense. This applies regardless of the nature of the crime.

Background checks that find a criminal or sex offender conviction will be reviewed by the Human Resource Manager. A letter of pre-adverse action with a copy of the report and the Summary of Rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) will be sent to the individual by certified mail. The individual will be asked to respond to the council. If the individual disagrees with the results of the check, he/she has thirty (30) days to dispute the results directly to the screening vendor.

GSKH will rely upon the information contained in the criminal history report until a corrected report has been provided. After 10 days, the Human Resources Manager will send the adverse action letter to the individual by certified mail. A letter of rejection (containing no confidential information) will be sent to the GSKH administrator, supervisor of the applicant/volunteer, and the staff supervisor.

Confidentiality
GSKH will maintain the confidentiality of all criminal background information, including information regarding disqualification decisions.

Your responsibilities as a Girl Scout volunteer include:

Accepting the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
Understanding and coaching the three keys to leadership that are the basis of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience: discover, connect, and take action.
Sharing your knowledge, experience, and skills with a positive and flexible approach.
Working in a partnership with Girl Scouts so that their activities are girl-led and that they learn by doing, individually and a group. You’ll also partner with other volunteers and council staff for support and guidance.
Organizing fun, interactive, girl-led activities that address relevant issues and match girls’ interests and needs.
Providing guidance and information regarding Girl Scout group meetings with girls’ families on a regular and ongoing basis through a variety of tools, including email, phone calls, newsletters, blogs, other forms of social media, and any other method you choose.
Processing and completing registration forms and other paperwork, such as permission slips.
Communicating effectively and delivering clear, organized, and vibrant presentations or information to an individual or the group.
Overseeing with honesty, integrity, and careful record-keeping the funds that girls raise.
Maintaining a close connection to your volunteer support team as well as your council.
Facilitating a safe experience for every Girl Scout.
Referring to Safety Activity Checkpoints regarding parent permissions, travel safety, money-earning, online safety, first aid requirements, and much more.

Volunteer Conduct

Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland expects that all volunteers will act in an appropriate manner at all times while participating in a Girl Scout capacity. At times it is necessary to use corrective action in order to maintain a positive, safe environment for girls and to protect the assets of girls, Girl Scout groups and the council.

Objectionable or unsatisfactory conduct will not be permitted and may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination, depending on the severity of the violation. When possible, Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland will work with the volunteer to establish actions to correct the situation. Serious violations may involve immediate suspension or release from the volunteer position.

Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland or the volunteer may initiate termination of appointment to a volunteer role. A volunteer may be released from an appointed position because of the inability or failure to complete the requirements of the position, including training and background check, failure to abide by GSUSA or GSKH policies or standards, misuse or mismanagement of Girl Scout funds, or failure to accept and foster the mission and goals of the organization. Volunteers may still be a registered member of Girl Scout of the United States of America regardless of voluntary resignation or council termination.

Planning for Your First Troop Meeting

Depending on the ages of your girls, you might take the lead in guiding the structure and experiences of your troop—from how and when meetings are held to how the troop communicates, from steering girl-led activities to setting financial expectations. You’ll make these decisions collaboratively with your volunteer team or co-leader, as well as with input from the girls and their parents and caregivers.

Use these questions to guide your conversation with your troop committee volunteers or co-leader before discussing these topics with parents and caregivers.

When will we meet and for how long? How frequently should we schedule troop meetings?
Where will we meet? Your meeting space should be somewhere safe, clean, and secure that allows all girls to participate. Some great meeting space ideas include schools, places of worship, libraries, and community centers. If working with teens, consider meeting at coffee shops, bookstores, or other places they enjoy.
Which components of the uniform will families need to purchase? Which uniform components will the troop provide for each girl?
Will our troop be a single grade level or facilitated as a multi-level troop with girls of many grade levels combined into one troop? If multi-level, how will we make sure they each get an age-appropriate experience?
How will we keep troop activities and decisions girl-led? Use the Volunteer Toolkit to help you through this process by exploring options for activities and reviewing the meeting plans and resources lists.
How often are we going to communicate to troop families? Which channels will we use to keep families in the loop? Effective communication will help set expectations and clarify parent/ caregiver responsibilities.
Will our troop charge dues, use product program proceeds, and/or charge per activity? How much money will we need to cover supplies and activities? What should our financial plan look like?

Choosing a Meeting Place
What makes a great meeting space? It depends on your troop, but here are a few considerations as you visit potential spaces:

Cost: The space should be free to use.

Size: Make sure the space is large enough for the whole group and all planned activities.

Availability: Be sure the space is available for the day and the entire length of time you want to meet.

Resources: Ask if tables and chairs come with the room and ensure that the lighting is adequate. A bonus would be a cubby of some sort where you could store supplies or a safe outdoor space for activities.

Safety: Potential spaces must be safe, secure, clean, properly ventilated, heated (or cooled, depending on your location), free from hazards, and have at least two exits that are well-marked and fully functional. Also be sure first-aid equipment is on hand.

Facilities: It goes without saying, but make sure that toilets are sanitary and accessible.

Communication-friendly: Check for cell reception in the potential space and whether Wi-Fi is available.

Allergen-free: Ensure that pet dander and other common allergens won’t bother susceptible girls during meetings.

Accessibility: Your space should accommodate girls with disabilities as well as parents with disabilities who may come to meetings.

Special Considerations for Meeting in Homes

Schools, churches. libraries and community buildings are excellent locations for troop meetings. A private location or home should be your last choice.

In order to ensure the safety of all Girl Scouts, GSKH has a special approval process for in-home troop meetings. Meetings or events cannot take place in a home where a convicted sex offender resides. Meetings or events cannot take place in a home or facility where residents smoke indoors. For home meetings, complete the Meeting Space Agreement (under the “Forms” section). All persons over 18 living in the home must become a Girl Scout member and complete a criminal background check. A Girl Scout representative will conduct a site-visit of the home before approving the application.

A renewal of the Meeting Space Agreement MUST be completed each year that the troop leader is planning to hold a troop meeting in her/his home. This is due by October 1 each year and must be approved prior to the first meeting in the home each membership year. Additionally, a new Meeting Space Agreement is required if there is a change in site or circumstance of the adults living in the home.

Need a few talking points to get started with securing a location? Try:

“I’m a Girl Scout volunteer with a group of [number of girls] girls. We’re doing lots of great things for girls 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 girls 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].”

Stuck and need additional support? Contact your council or your service unit support team for help with a troop meeting place.

Virtual Meetings
If your group or troop can’t meet in person or hold a traditional meeting, there are so many ways to bring the power of Girl Scouting home! Meeting virtually can be a fun, engaging option for your troop.

Before setting up a virtual meeting, you’ll want to:

Consider taking a training on gsLearn that focus on virtual meetings – GSKH Holding a Virtual Troop Meeting, GSUSA Zoom for Girl Scouts, GSUSA Facilitating Virtual Troop Meetings.
Partner with troop families to make sure the girls are safe online. Consider printing, reviewing and having girls and parents sign the GSUSA Internet Safety Pledge.
Select a meeting platform that allows families who may not have internet access to call in. Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland offers a discount rate for a paid Zoom License. Please read the GSUSA Zoom License User Agreement and then fill out the Zoom License Request .
Think about logistics: work with the girls to set up ground rules; consider how you’ll incorporate in-person meeting traditions in your virtual space and how you’ll keep the meeting on track.
Talk with families on how to keep activities girl-led  if your girls will be completing them from home.

And don't worry if your girls want to use a web or social platform you’re not as familiar with, because you’ll learn alongside them! For more tips on successful virtual meetings, check out the For Troop Leaders section of Girl Scouts at Home.

Transporting Girls

How parents decide to transport girls between their homes and Girl Scout meeting places is each parent’s individual decision and responsibility.

For planned Girl Scout field trips and other activities (outside the normal meeting time and place) in which a group will be transported in private vehicles keep in mind the following:

Every driver must be an approved volunteer at least 21 years old, and have a good driving record, a valid license and a registered/insured vehicle.
Girls never drive other girls.
If a group is traveling in one vehicle, there must be at least two unrelated, approved adult volunteers in the vehicle, one of whom is female. In addition, the girl-volunteer ratios in the “Knowing How Many Volunteers You Need” section must be followed.
If a group is traveling in more than one vehicle, the entire group must consist of at least two unrelated, approved adult volunteers, one of whom is female, and the girl-volunteer ratios in the “Knowing How Many Volunteers You Need” section must be followed. Care should be taken so that a single car is not separated from the group for an extended length of time.

Private transportation includes private passenger vehicles, rental cars, privately owned or rented recreational vehicles and campers, chartered buses, chartered boats and chartered flights. Each driver of motorized private transportation must be at least 21 years old and hold a valid operator’s license appropriate to the vehicle. In addition, state laws must be followed, even if they are more stringent than the guidelines here.

Anyone who is driving a vehicle with 12 or more passengers must be a professional driver who possesses a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Note, you must check with your council to determine specific rules about renting large vehicles. Fifteen passenger vans are not recommended.

Please keep in mind the following non-negotiable points regarding private transportation:

Even though written agreements are always required when renting or chartering, you are not authorized to sign an agreement or contract—except for rental car agreements, even if there is no cost associated with the rental. Such agreements must be signed by the person designated by the council as referenced in Safety Wise: Chapter Approaching Girl Scout Activities (Section Girl Scout Insurance).

Neither Girl Scout Troops/Groups, nor individual volunteers, have the authority to sign any legally binding contract or agreement on behalf of Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland (the “council” or “GSKH”). Any contracts related to GSKH must be submitted to the CEO, or assigned Designee, for approval and signature at least one month before its effective date.

Check with your council to make sure you are following accepted practices when using private transportation. This ensures that both you and the council are protected by liability insurance in the event of an accident.
If a troop/group is planning to contract with others for chartered transportation for Girl Scout travel, the council must ensure the owner/operator is properly licensed, registered, and insured for liability, and that the vehicle is well-maintained. Council staff will communicate with the travel leader/advisor and the charter transportation company to obtain required documentation for chartered transportation. Whenever possible, choose public transportation (trains, commercial airlines, bus lines, and ship lines), which are preferable to chartered forms of travel.
If the council has given permission to use a rented car, read all rental agreements to be sure you comply with their terms and avoid surprises. For example, in many cases the minimum age of drivers is 25, and the maximum age is often under 70. In addition, make sure the car is adequately insured and you know who is responsible for damage to, or the loss of, the vehicle. Finally, ensure you have a good paper trail that shows the vehicle rental is Girl Scout–related.
Obtain parent/guardian permission for any use of transportation outside of the meeting place. See the GSKH Activity Permission Form.

Checklist for Drivers

When driving a car, RV or camper, take the following precautions and ask all other drivers to do the same:

Ensure all drivers are adults at least 21 years old.
Girls should not be transporting other girls.
Never transport girls in flatbed or panel trucks, in the bed of a pickup, or in a camper-trailer.
Keep directions and a road map in the car, along with a first-aid kit and a flashlight.
Check your lights, signals, tires, windshield wipers, horns and fluid levels before each trip, and recheck them periodically on long trips.
Keep all necessary papers up to date including, but not limited to: your driver’s license; vehicle registration; any state or local inspections; and insurance coverage.
Wear your seat belt at all times, and insist that all passengers do the same. Girls under 12 must ride in the back seats. State laws regarding child safety seats must be followed.
Follow all the established rules of the road in your state, including the speed limit. Some additional guidelines include: keeping a two-car-length distance between you and the car ahead of you; not talking or texting on a cell phone or other personal electronic device while driving; not using ear buds or headphones while driving; and turning your lights on when your windshield wipers are on.
Plan rest stops every few hours and avoid driving for extended periods at night. If traveling with others, prearrange stopping places along the way. When planning longer trips, arrange for relief drivers.
Do NOT drive when you are tired or taking medication that makes you drowsy.

Check with your council for any other specific guidelines or requirements they have.

Girl Scout Troop Size
The troop size “sweet spot” is large enough to provide an interactive and cooperative learning environment and small enough to encourage individual development. Though the ideal troop size is 12 girls, we recommend that groups be no fewer and no more than:

Girl Scout Daisies: 5–12 girls
Girl Scout Brownies: 10–20 girls
Girl Scout Juniors 10–25 girls
Girl Scout Cadettes: 5–25 girls
Girl Scout Seniors: 5–30 girls
Girl Scout Ambassadors: 5–30 girls

A Girl Scout troop/group must have at minimum of five girls and two approved, unrelated adult volunteers, at least one of whom is female. (Double-check the volunteer-to-girl ratio chart to make sure [ML1] you’ve got the right amount of coverage for your troop!) In rare instances, troops with fewer than five girls can be allowed as long as we are serving 20% of the available girl population for that demographic. If we are unable to meet the minimum requirements, we will register girls as Individual Girl Scouts to more accurately reflect their status and program experience. Individual girls are always welcome to participate in Girl Scout activities and events.

Registering Girls and Adults in Girl Scouting
Every participant (girl or adult) in Girl Scouting must register and become a member of Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA). GSUSA membership dues are valid for one year. Membership dues cannot be transferred to another member and are not refundable.

Preregistration for the upcoming membership year occurs in the spring. Girls are encouraged to register early to avoid the fall rush. Early registration allows for uninterrupted receipt of forms and materials from the council, helps girls and councils plan ahead, and gets girls excited about all the great stuff they want to do as Girl Scouts next year. Girl Scout 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 Girls to Your Troop
Growing your troop is a great way to share the power of the Girl Scout experience and there are many ways to get the word out , like hanging posters at your girls’ schools, using social media to reach families in your community, or including your troop in your council’s Opportunity Catalog or Troop Catalog.

For marketing and recruitment materials for adding more girls to your troop, send an email to info@gskh.org . This is also the email you will use to get details about how to list your troop in a troop [ML1] opportunity catalog.

There are courses offered on gsLearn that guide troop volunteers through the process of registering a girl or renewing girls into your troop. In addition, there are also trainings on recruitment tactics. Please see GSUSA Managing My Troops from My Account and GSUSA Effective Recruitment Tactics.

Creating an Atmosphere of Acceptance and Inclusion

Girl Scouts is for every girl, and that’s why we embrace girls of all abilities and backgrounds with a specific and positive philosophy of inclusion that benefits everyone. Each Girl Scout—regardless of her socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, physical or cognitive ability, sexual orientation, primary language, political belief, or religion—is an equal and valued member of the group, and groups reflect the diversity of the community.

We believe inclusion is an approach and an attitude, rather than a set of guidelines. Inclusion is about belonging—about all girls being offered the same opportunities with respect, dignity, and celebration of their unique strengths. It’s about being a sister to every Girl Scout! You’re accepting and inclusive when you:

Welcome everyone and focus on building community.
Emphasize cooperation instead of competition.
Provide a safe and socially comfortable environment
Teach respect for, understanding of, and dignity toward all Girl Scouts and their families.
Actively reach out to Girl Scouts and their families who are traditionally excluded or marginalized.
Foster a sense of belonging and community as a respected and valued peer.
Honor the intrinsic value of each person’s life.

If you have questions about accommodating an individual girl, please reach out to your council.

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, don’t 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.

If you want to find out what a girl with a disability needs to make her Girl Scout experience successful, simply ask them or their parent or caregiver. If you are open and honest, they’ll likely respond in kind, creating an atmosphere that enriches everyone.

It’s important for all girls to be rewarded based on their best efforts—not on the completion of a task. Give any Girl Scout the opportunity to do her best and she 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:

Invite a girl to complete an activity after she has observed others doing it.
If you are visiting a museum to view sculpture, find out if a Girl Scout who is with visual impairment might be given permission to touch the pieces.
If an activity requires running, a Girl Scout who is unable to run could be asked to walk or do another physical movement.

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 . . .
She has a learning disability.	She is learning disabled.
She has a developmental delay.	She is mentally retarded; she is slow.
She uses a wheelchair.	She is wheelchair-bound.

When interacting with a girl (or parent/caregiver) with a disability, consider these tips:

When talking to a Girl Scout with a disability, speak directly to her, not through a family member or friend.
It’s okay to offer assistance to a Girl Scout 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 someone’s wheelchair is invading their space and is considered annoying and rude.
When speaking to a Girl Scout who is hearing impaired and using an interpreter, speak to the person themselves, not to the interpreter.
When speaking for more than a few minutes to someone who uses a wheelchair, place yourself at eye level.
When greeting someone 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 Girls with Cognitive Disabilities
Girls 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 the Girl Scout to ongoing activities of the grade level to which the group belongs. Young women with cognitive disorders may choose to retain their girl membership through their twenty-first 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’ll also have a dedicated Girl Scout support team, consisting of council staff and passionate volunteers just 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 girls, product sales, and so much more.

Before you hold your first troop meeting with girls, 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 an occasional helping hand when you need to keep a meeting’s 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 people, you’ll have all the support you need to be a Girl Scout volunteer. Here’s a list of some important resources you’ll want to check out.

The Volunteer Toolkit

The Volunteer Toolkit is a customizable digital planning tool for troop leaders and co-leaders to easily manage their troop year-round and deliver easy, fun troop meetings. Accessible via desktop and mobile devices, the Volunteer Toolkit saves you time and energy so that you can focus on having fun with your Girl Scouts.

With the Volunteer Toolkit, girls and leaders can explore meeting topics and program activities together and follow the fun as they plan their Girl Scout year. Through the Volunteer Toolkit, troop leaders can:

Plan the troop’s calendar year and meeting schedule.
Email parents/caregivers with one click.
View the troop roster, renew girls’ membership, and update girls' contact information.
View meeting plans for Journeys and badges, including suggested tracks for multi-level groups (K–5 and 6–12).
Customize meeting agendas to fit your unique 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 attendance at meetings and their troop’s badge and Journey achievements.
Add council or custom events to the troop’s calendar.
Submit troop’s finance reports (depending on the council’s process).
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 and Journeys they are working on.
Renew their memberships and update their 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, such as the Family Hub.
View the troop’s finance report (depending on the council’s process).

Get started by visiting: mygs.girlscouts.org

Safety Activity Checkpoints
Safety is paramount in Girl Scouting, and this resource—Safety Activity Checkpoints—contains everything you need to know to help keep your girls safe during a variety of exciting activities outside of their 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, this volunteer-to-volunteer resource on the Girl Scouts of the USA website has what you need for a successful troop year.

Girl Scout Volunteers in Your Community
Remember that Girl Scout support team we mentioned? You’ll find them in your service unit! Troops are organized geographically into service units or communities. You’ll find a local network of fellow leaders and administrative volunteers ready to offer tips and advice to help you succeed in your volunteer role.

Customer Care Contacts
Questions? Need help resolving an issue? We’ve got you! Reach out anytime either by clicking on the “Contact Us” form at our council site or by email info@gskh.org. During business hours you can reach a customer service specialist by calling 1-888-686-6468.

Newsletters/Communications

You can find our council newsletters and publications at https://www.kansasgirlscouts.org/en/media/media.html. This page contains our activity guides, press releases, council news and more.

In addition, you’ll find several social media outlets and group pages listed below. Be sure to link to council and service unit social media pages through the main council Facebook page.

Taking Advantage of Learning Opportunities

We know that when you have the knowledge and skills you need to manage your girls, both you and your troop will thrive. Contact your council to ask about ongoing learning opportunities that will help you grow your skills and confidence.

Volunteer learning at Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland is available online, in person and as hybrid courses. Visit our Training page for a listing of all our learning opportunities.

Knowing How Much You’re Appreciated

What begins with Girl Scouts speaking up at a troop meeting can go all the way to speaking in front of their city council for a cause they champion—and they’ll have your support to thank for that. Your volunteer role makes a powerful difference. Thank you for all you do.

Just as you’ll receive support throughout your volunteering experience, when you reach the end of the term you signed up for, you’ll talk with your support team about the positive parts of your experience as well as the challenges you faced, and you’ll discuss whether you want to return to this position or try something new. The end of your troop year, camp season, overseas trip, or series/event session is just the beginning of your next adventure with Girl Scouts!

If you’re ready for more opportunities, be sure to let your council support team know how you’d like to be a part of girls’ lives in the future—whether in the same position or in other, flexible ways. Are you ready to organize a series or event? Take a trip? Work with girls at camp? Work with a troop of girls as a yearlong volunteer? Share your skills at a council office, working behind the scenes? The possibilities are endless and can be tailored to fit your skills and interests.

Without our passionate and dedicated volunteers, there would be no Girl Scouting. That’s why we celebrate National Volunteer Month every April! And get ready to crank up the party as we ring in National Girl Scout Leader’s Day on April 22.

Girl Scouts also celebrates National Volunteer Week, which falls during the third week of April. What can we say—we love our volunteers!

In order to recognize the extraordinary women and men who volunteer across the council for their service, GSKH offers a number of volunteer awards at the local, council, and national levels. Please see more information on our Volunteer Recognition page.

Girl Scout Participation in Activities with Other Scouting Organizations

The decision by Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to open the Boy Scout program to girls has fundamentally altered the nature of the relationship between BSA and Girl Scouts nationally and locally. Local relationships between BSA and Girl Scout councils that have led to partnerships and joint activities in the past may now create certain risks or challenges for Girl Scouts. For this reason, councils are encouraged to avoid joint recruiting and/or joint participation in community events or activities.

Marketplace Confusion
To protect the integrity of the Girl Scout brand and reinforce our programming as unique, girl-only, and best in class, we must ensure that we take care that the activities in which girls participate are exclusive to the Girl Scout program, are safe and girl-led, and are conducted under the appropriate supervision of Girl Scouts.

Protecting Use of Girl Scout Materials
Girl Scout materials are intended for the exclusive use of Girl Scouts and are protected as the intellectual property of Girl Scouts of the USA. Materials include but are not limited to: Girl Scout logo, tag lines, and/or program and badge requirements.

© Copyright 2009–2021 Girl Scouts of the United States of America.  All rights reserved. All information and material contained in Girl Scouts’ Volunteer Essentials guide (“Material”) is provided by Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA) and is intended to be educational material solely to be used by Girl Scout volunteers and council staff. Reproduction, distribution, compiling, or creating derivative works of any portion of the Material or any use other than noncommercial uses as permitted by copyright law is prohibited, unless explicit, prior authorization by GSUSA in writing was granted. GSUSA reserves its exclusive right in its sole discretion to alter, limit, or discontinue the Material at any time without notice.