Important seasonal information and updates in one spot.
The Volunteer 411 is a quarterly publication produced by the Girl Scouts of Manitou Council for advisors to help bring the Leadership Experience to girls. The topics range from activity ideas, special events, guidelines, and other important things to know. Girl Scouts of Manitou Council strives to include timely topics that matter but the resource can be a helpful reference long after the edition was produced.
Troop leaders: View the recording of the February 2026 troop leader meetings. You'll need this passcode: Q8F09&?F
Previous Issues:
February 2026 Issue:
Summer Camp 
Spring Camp Events
Girl Scout Week
Throughout the year, girls and adults celebrate some very special days in Girl Scouting. Girl Scout Week is celebrated each March, starting with Girl Scout Sunday and ending with Girl Scout Sabbath on a Saturday, and it always includes the Girl Scout Birthday, March 12, which commemorates the day in 1912 when Juliette Gordon Low officially registered the organization's first 18 girl members in Savannah, Georgia. Girl Scouts is celebrating 114 years this March!
Girl Scout Sunday and Girl Scout Sabbath give girls an opportunity to attend their place of worship to be recognized as a Girl Scout. If a place of worship is a sponsor, girls may perform a service, such as greeting, ushering, or doing a flag ceremony.
Celebrate Girl Scout Week every day with a special theme to help you celebrate, learn, explore, grow, and have fun!
- Sunday, March 8: Girl Scout Sunday & Spirit Sunday - do something kind in the spirit of Girl Scouts.
- Monday, March 9: Affirmation Monday - share a positive message with a friend.
- Tuesday, March 10: Troop Tuesday - appreciate your awesome troop besties.
- Wednesday, March 11: Wisdom Wednesday - share a Girl Scout pro tip or life hack.
- Thursday, March 12: Girl Scout Birthday - post a photo in your Girl Scout gear and tag Girl Scouts!
- Friday, March 13: Flash Forward Friday - make your plans for a brighter future!
- Saturday, March 14: Girl Scout Sabbath & Service Saturday - serve your community as a sisterhood.
More ideas and inspiration will be sent as we get closer to Girl Scout Week!
Day at the Capitol
It's a day to celebrate being a Girl Scout along with hundreds of your sister Girl Scouts from all around Wisconsin! Earn your Democracy badge by meeting with local legislators, experts, and organizations. You'll learn all about how our government works, your rights and responsibilities, and how your voice can make a difference. You'll also get the chance to explore Wisconsin's government and rich history inside the awe-inspiring (and huge) Capitol Building. We'll rally and make some noise - you'll leave feeling empowered and inspired!
Saturday, March 14
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
State Capitol in Madison
At this exciting event, girls will:
- Meet with local legislators, experts, and organizations to learn about civic engagement.
- Explore the beautiful Wisconsin State Capitol and learn about state history and government.
- Earn their level's Democracy badge through a passport-style program full of hands-on and interactive activities.
Girl Scouts will participate in a passport-style program to earn their Democracy badges.
- 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.: Stations throughout the State Capitol
- 1:00-1:30 p.m.: Influential Women in Democracy speakers
- 1:30-2:00 p.m.: Girl Scout Rally around the Capitol Square!
Girls will earn & receive the Democracy badge for their Girl Scout level, as well as receive a special Girl Scout Day at the Capitol patch.
The cost is $25 per Girl Scout and $5 per adult.
- Snacks/food are not allowed inside the Capitol based on regulations from the WI Dept. of Administration.
- Bring a packed lunch for the lawn or plan to eat at one of the nearby restaurants.
- This event is not a drop-ff event; adults are required to meet safety ratios and to enjoy the program.
- Dress appropriately for the weather as we will be marching around the Capitol Square to show our love for Girl Scouts! Wear comfortable shoes and your Girl Scout uniforms.
Annual Finance Report on the Volunteer Toolkit
Each year, we ask troop leaders to submit one report to us documenting their troop's finances for the year. It provides invaluable information in the unlikely, yet not unheard of, event that we are questioned about your troop's finances by a parent of a girl in your troop. In addition, the report also asks questions about activities your troop did, the growth of your Girl Scouts in goal-setting, planning, and independence, what you enjoyed about being a volunteer, and what additional help you need or would have appreciated. This information allows us to improve volunteer support based on your feedback and tell Girl Scout supporters about how you are building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.
You may begin entering information in the finance report at any time (it is already available). We ask that this be completed and submitted by June 5. We will send you reminders. You can go into the Volunteer Toolkit to work on the report multiple times, but don't hit submit until you are completely done.
Volunteer Training
NEW! Behavior Training for Troop Leaders
This training was created for troop leaders of all levels and experiences. It offers a direct, actionable path to bringing predictability and peace to your troop meetings. The course focuses on strategies that you can implement with your troop.
What you'll gain:
- Learn how to co-create a truly functional Troop Agreement that girls actually follow.
- Master Calm, Consistent, and Constructive responses to navigate any situation with confidence.
- Get step-by-step procedures for everything from minor disruptions to serious safety concerns.
- Learn exactly how and when to involve parents or seek Council assistance.
Move away from policing behavior and toward a self-sustaining troop environment. This training equips you with the tools to handle the "what-ifs" so you can focus on building leaders.
This course is available on gsLearn. It is titled "493: Creating a Calm Troop: A Consistent Approach to Positive Behavior." Please contact Director of Program Quality, Hope Spies, at hope@gsmanitou.org if you have trouble finding the course or would like the course added directly to your dashboard.
First Aid/CPR/AED Training
We are offering blended learning (in-person & online) First Aid/CPR/AED classes at the Girl Scout Center in Sheboygan. This American Heart Association course contains step-by-step, hands-on training that allows participants to respond effectively in emergency and life-threatening situations. There will be an online portion you must complete before attending one of the in-person skills training sessions. Once registered, you will receive an email with the requirements. Upon completion, you will receive a two-year certification through the American Heart Association. If you can't attend any of these classes or have questions, please contact Program Specialist, Abby Weber, at abby@gsmanitou.org.
- Saturday, February 7
- Saturday, March 14
- Saturday, April 18
- Saturday, May 9
- Saturday, June 13
- Saturday, July 18
- Saturday, August 8
All classes are 8:00 a.m. to noon. The cost is $60 person and includes all required materials, including an adult/child & infant CPR Mask in a soft case.
Outdoor Adventures Training
Outdoor Adventures Training is an online course available on gsLearn. If you have questions about accessing the course or the content, please contact Hope at hope@gsmanitou.org.
This training is required for at least one registered adult volunteer of a troop before bringing a troop camping in tents or cooking over a fire. You will learn about safety, building fires, outdoor cooking, and all things Girl Scouting in the outdoors. By the end of the course, you will have an excellent start on planning and preparing your very first outdoor adventure with your troop. This is for volunteers of all troop levels.
If a troop leader would like a tour of camp or would prefer an in-person training session, please contact Hope at hope@gsmanitou.org.
Volunteer Appreciation Event
You are appreciated S'MORE than you know!
Please SAVE THE DATE for Saturday, April 18th for a day of appreciation, relaxation, education, networking, and inspiration at Camp Evelyn. More specific details will be released soon!
Bridging, Court of Awards, and Shop
Shop
Our council shop, Petals to Patches, is fully-stocked with all the badges your troop might have earned this year, special patches for activities like World Thinking Day and the 2026 Cookie Program, and more. If your troop is bridging to a new Girl Scout level this spring or summer, we've got you covered with Bridging Kits and all the new uniform pieces you'll need.
Plus, we have lots of other fun apparel, gifts, accessories, and more!
Stop in Monday - Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to shop. You can also shop online from the comfort of your house and have it shipped directly to you! All orders SHIP FOR FREE from our Petals to Patches store!
Staffing Update
Zoie Urness is our new Troop Systems Monitor. Please contact Zoie at zoie@gsmanitou.org for all things you have previously worked with Marina on. Marina Ritter is no longer with us at Girl Scouts of Manitou Council. We wish her all the best in her future!
Kaitlyn Traeger will be the new Retail Manager. She starts on February 12th. We are very excited to welcome Kaitlyn and hope you give her a warm welcome when you stop in or call.
Bridging & Court of Awards
Springtime is coming, which means bridging and Court of Awards season is almost here. Bridging is a ceremony that troops will often hold to celebrate girls moving to a new level of Girl Scouts. Many troops will often hold a ceremony at a park with a pedestrian bridge or in their meeting space with a pretend bridge. Girls can cross the bridge to their new Girl Scout level.
Court of Awards ceremonies showcase all the incredible achievements of the girls in the troop that year. Troop leaders can present girls with all their earned badges and awards, if not given out throughout the year. Girls can share what they learned, their favorite memory, and more, to their families in attendance.
This is the perfect way to end the school year, or start the next school year. It is fun to invite families and make a little celebratory party out of it! You can get creative. See below for some inspiration!
Upcoming Events for Girls
