Use this checklist to help you smoothly navigate the first few months of being a troop leader.
All Girl Scout troops are unique so if you need to adjust some of the steps to better fit your needs, please feel free to do so.
Weeks 1-2
Complete Application Process
- Complete Girl Scout registration form and pay the membership
dues.
- Background check/references conducted
- Receive confirmation of your appointment as a Girl Scout volunteer.
Complete Girl Scout Learning Opportunities
- Step 1 - Face-to-face orientation
- Step 2- Complete the five new leader onboarding training videos on gsLearn.
Thoroughly review the Girl Scouts of Manitou Council website and the volunteer tool kit
- Be sure you know how to access and use the Volunteer Toolkit.
- Questions about the Volunteer Toolkit? Contact the Director of Program Quality.
- Visit our Volunteer Resources page to familiarize yourself with all the resources available.
Prepare for your first troop meeting
- Connect with your Coleader.
- Secure a meeting place.
- Decide your general troop schedule; meeting frequency. 2-3 meetings a month is usual.
Note: New Daisy and Brownie Troop Leaders will need to request their Girl Scout Experience Boxes during this time frame to begin receiving these monthly supply boxes filled with step-by-step instructions, ready-to-go supplies, and thoughtful script suggestions. Please contact your Membership Development and Support Director to request your Girl Scout Experience Boxes.
Weeks 2-4
Hold First Troop Meeting/Parent Meeting
- Share Girl Scout and troop information with the families.
- Develop a communication plan to share information with parents. One of your online trainings is about planning this meeting.
- Form a troop committee
- Adult leadership teams distribute the work among several adults making troop organization easier and more enjoyable for all.
- Be direct and specific when asking for assistance.
- Examples: troop cookie sale manager, snacks, chaperone, drivers, help with a skill-building badge, extra helper for troop meetings.
Assure All Members of Your Troop are Registered as Members
- Submit all adult and girl registration forms to the Girl Scout
Center
- New troop members may join and register at any time throughout the year.
- Girls and adults may register online once troop is registered.
Set Troop Goals with the Girls
- Your very first GSUSA onboarding video is about planning your
first meeting with the girls, discovering:
- what do the girls want to accomplish?
- what would you like to accomplish as a volunteer?
Plan Meetings
- Plan schedule for the year in your volunteer tool kit with the input from the girls, your troop committee, and parents; be sure to schedule at least 2-3 troop meetings per month.
- You can contact parents through the toolkit and also tell parents what the girls are doing in the troop.
- Badges, Girl Scout journeys, cookie sale, community service, field trips, guest presenters
Weeks 4-6
Visit Petals to Patches Shop
- Girl Scout Center in Sheboygan or online .
- Books, uniforms, badges, and more
Ask Questions - Get Answers
- You will be contacted at 30, 60, 90 and 120 days by a member of your local service team or by a membership development and support manager to see how you are doing. These may be by email or phone.
- No need to wait. You can contact your local service team members, your Membership Development and Support Manager or any member of the council staff at any time with questions.
Attend Troop Leader Meetings
- There are three meetings per year:
- August, usually local and face to face
- October/November, usually virtual
- January/February, usually virtual
- You will receive specific meeting notifications via email.
- Please ensure at least one adult from the troop attends every troop leader meeting to receive important information, learn about area events and resources, and network with other volunteers.
Prepare for the Cookie Sale
- Troop cookie sale manager recruited, registered, completed training.
- Prepare girls for selling by earning a Cookie Sale Badge with your troop in the fall and going over materials with them. There is a cookie sale badge for each year of Girl Scouting.
- Hold a cookie meeting with parents to complete permission forms, learn about the troop's cookie sale goals and parents' role in the cookie sale.
- Keep detailed finance records for the annual troop summary.
- Establish a troop bank account.
Weeks 7 and Beyond
- Continue holding Troop Meetings.
- Keep in contact with parents through the volunteer toolkit and also tell parents what the girls are doing in the troop.
- Plan for camping, troop getaways, service take action projects, court of awards or bridging. Survey the girls for ideas for next year.
- Keep in contact with area manager, troop organizer, membership development manager — we are all here to help.
- Have fun!
