We know you invest heart, soul, expertise, and TIME being a volunteer. Let’s make that time easier, simpler and more rewarding.
This year, you will discover more opportunities to connect and learn through timely trainings and exciting events.
Earn this charm when you participate in BFF!
BFF is Badgerland’s Fall Fundraiser for Girl Scouts. Items sold include nuts, sweets, magazines, and more. Girls earn individual rewards including Badgerland Bucks. Troops earn funds to pay for activities and earn Troop Rewards.
troop chooses their own day trip reward!
La Crosse Children’s Museum | Madison Children’s Museum
Milwaukee Art Museum | Wilderness Resort Attraction, Wisconsin Dells
•Sales are online and in-person with order cards
•Sellers and parents plan to attend the BFF Family Forum
•Troop Leaders will attend training
•Girls get info packets from troop leaders
•Deliver orders to customers in November
•Rewards will be available in January
BFF Troop Training - Volunteers
September 17 | 6-7:30pm on Zoom OR
September 20 | 10-11:30am on Zoom
BFF Family Forums
September 24 | 6-7:30pm on Zoom OR
September 27 | 10-11:30am on Zoom
BFF Volunteer Leads
Come to the forum AND access all the “other” training inyour-own time at gsLearn.
(More info about gsLearn on page 35)
The upcoming Cookie Program is being planned in collaboration with an expert group of volunteers including Product Program Leads, Troop Leaders, Parents, and Top Sellers. We’re also folding in the feedback from the survey you took at the end of last year’s sale. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.
•No change in Cookie pricing - $5 per box ($6 for gluten-free).
•Gluten-free must be pre-ordered by October 14.
•March sale dates are back; this was an overwhelming YES on survey results.
•Raspberry Rally cookies are not coming back. There will be no new cookie in 2024.
•More frequent and simplified communications. We’ll keep you up-to-date in fewer words!
•Training, training, training. You want it. We’re bringing it. It will be interactive and volunteer-driven.
•New Troop Training (Jan. 13 & 14)
•Technology Training (Jan. 20 & 27)
•Family Forum: the Program (Jan 28 & 31)
•Family Forum: the Technology (Feb. 25 & 28)
Meet the axolotl, our new cookie mascot! This salamander is native to Mexico and named after the Aztec god of fire and lightning. Oh, and it’s pronounced: axe-oh-lot-el!
Earn this charm when you participate in Cookies!
Saturday, September 16
10am - 4pm
Camp Ehawee Reg. Deadline: Sept. 12
Saturday, September 23 10am - 4pm
Madison Leadership Center Reg. Deadline: Sept. 19
Get ready for a full day of workshops and networking with other leaders! You will connect with Badgerland staff to learn about programs, progression, check-out resources, and how to access Badgerland properties for your troop’s usage. Connect with volunteers from around Badgerland to exchange ideas and find your people. Program partners from your area will be on-site sharing more opportunities for badge-earning and just plain FUN activities.
NEW LEADERS: Special session just for you! Learn the basics of Girl Scouts and how to lead a successful troop.
10am Welcome & Icebreakers
11am Workshop: Keeping Things Girl-Led
12pm Yummy Lunch (you’ll love it)
1pm Workshop: Pillar Progression
2pm New Leader Workshop
3pm Ask Badgerland Panel
Available all day: Program Expo & Checkout Resources Exhibition
Can’t commit to the full day? Plan-It for the morning or afternoon; make this work for you.
You’ll have fun, be well fed, learn a lot, and get tons of new ideas from volunteers just like you.
There’s nothing like the childlike wonder of experiencing summer camp. We’re getting back to our roots with this adults only weekend at Camp Brandenburg. This is your chance to act like a kid, be silly, and have FUN! A jam packed night full of games, crafts, and more. Test your skills learning outdoor cooking, attend the natural plant ID and use workshop, and on Sunday morning, wrap up the weekend with a relaxing yoga class.
$75 Camp Brandenburg, Dane County
Summer Campowerment
July 12 - 14 @ Camp Ehawee
Bella Vida means ‘good life’. The start of a new year is the ideal time for Badgerland to shower you with sweetness at this exclusive event for our Co-Leaders, Product Program Leads, and Service Unit Volunteers. You work hard to help others, so this weekend is all about you! Our theme is “Rooted in Wellness,” so you’ll enjoy well-deserved pampering and take time to focus on YOU. Here are some of the things you might expect when you come experience the good life at Bella Vida: yoga and mindfulness classes, massages, sushi and cocktail workshops, spa experiences, classic throw-back crafts, and a catered dinner complete with swag bags, an inspirational and empowering keynote speaker, and door prizes. Plenty of other surprises to come - you’ll just have to show up to be delighted in real time! Here’s what we know for sure: you’ll go home refreshed and ready to take on the next challenge after this adults-only day.
Dear you, You so deserve this.
MAXIMIZE
Badgerland’s two product programs to earn dollars to fund your troop activities.
Attend these trainings with your troop BFF/ Cookie leads and treasurers.
Badgerland Fall Fundraiser
October 2-26
BFF details on page 6
Learn how your troop can earn 25% (or more) in troop profits to get your GS year started off quickly. Training will include information on products being sold, in-person and online, rewards/proceeds and how to manage the sale in the M2 system.
Sept. 17 6-7:30pm Virtual
Sept. 20 10-11:30 am Virtual
Encourage all your troop families to attend this council-led info session. You will already have shared key info including dates and rewards but this is where families will get a deeper look into the “how” and “why” your girl should participate. (Hint: it’s a “Program” and girls learn skills while earning troop dollars).
Sept. 24 6-7:30pm Virtual
Sept. 27 10-11:30 am Virtual
Cookie Volunteer Trainings
Girl Scout Cookie Program
March 2 - April 7
Cookie details on page 7
Cookies New Troop Training
For new and newish troops to learn the program. Learn why the cookie program is important, not only as a money earning activity for the troop, but as an entrepreneurial experience for your Girl Scouts; what you should cover in your parent/girl info meeting, and options for the best way for your troop to participate.
Jan. 13 9:30-11:30 am Virtual
Jan. 14 6-8pm Virtual
Cookies Tech Training
Smart Cookies is the place for you to manage your troop’s cookie program, however, girls will be using the NEW DC24 Cloud platform to manage theirs. Learn more about managing the ins and outs of ABC Smart Cookies and how you will work with Digital Cookie at the Troop Level.
Jan. 20 1-3pm Virtual
Jan. 27 10-Noon In-person (lunch provided)
VOLUNTEERS! Encourage all your troop families to attend both forums designed just for the families.
Cookies Family Forum - The Program
More than a sale, this is her first chance at running her own business. Learn how it works and the program benefits including troop fundraising, rewards for her, and the intro to philanthropy.
Jan. 28 6-7:30pm Virtual
Jan. 31 6-7:30pm Virtual
Cookies Family Forum - The Tech
Learn our NEW Digital Cookie platform where she will manage, market, and track her cookie sales.
Feb. 25 6-7:30pm Virtual
Feb. 28 6-7:30pm Virtual
Red Cross First Aid, CPR and AED Training
The first aid training and certification process takes just a few hours to complete, but can help you deliver the care that someone needs while waiting for medical professionals to arrive. When you successfully complete this course, you’ll receive a two-year certification as well as access to refreshers that can help you maintain your skills throughout your certification period.
Mental Health First Aid
Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. The training teaches about recovery and resiliency – the belief that individuals experiencing these challenges can and do get better, and use their strengths to stay well. In the Mental Health First Aid course, you will learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help.
*Your choice to attend both trainings that weekend or just one. Spend the night, our treat, for convenience if you plan to come to both sessions.
** The trainings are conveniently scheduled around weekend headliner events for girls/adults.
SAVE THE DATE
May 19, 2024
Small Craft Water Safety & Archery
You’ll gain confidence along with new skills when you come learn and connect with other volunteers at our trainings.
New Leader Onboarding Series
Learn the basics
Volunteer Toolkit
Planning Your Year
Communicating with Families
Troop Finances
Leader Enrichments (some of the topics)
Travel Highest Awards
Managing Conflict
gsLearn
Trainings delivered at the SU level!
You know how where you live determines your school district? It’s the same in Girl Scouts; where you live determines your Service Unit (frequently called SU). All volunteers, troops and girls are assigned to a specific SU based on location.
SUs hold community events for all their SU troops and Girl Scouts to come together. Frequently, SUs host annual camp retreats, bridging ceremonies and awards celebrations. SUs assist with recruiting new families to join Girl Scouts.
Service Units are where you make Volunteer-to-Volunteer connections while getting help and ideas! SUs hold regular ‘leader meetings’ for all the volunteers within the Service Unit. These gatherings give you a chance to get to know other volunteers, exchange ideas, plan events and have an opportunity to be involved in your community. The connections made here can be the foundational support you need to run a troop, hold a cookie sale, motivate your troop families to help you, and all the other things you may be needing guidance for.
Onalaska Daisy Troop Leader Mary Teclaw-Ciano got involved with her SU this past year. She’s a Superstar!
BEST PART OF YOUR SU? Meeting new people. I have a passion for networking, making connections and using those connections to bring opportunities to girl members to try new things and to create memories!
WHAT’S YOUR SERVICE UNIT UP TO? We are excited to plan fun activities and outings for the girls this upcoming school year and I can’t wait for these days and events to get here!
HOW DOES IT WORK HAVING MULTIPLE VOLUNTEERS COLLABORATING? The SU draws upon each member’s strength to create a “Super Team” to do what each member is already doing! Being great, being connected, and being YOU!
Being a SU volunteer doesn’t mean another plate spinning. It means that the plates that are already spinning are just spinning bigger and wider!
Badgerland Girl Scouts need your help.
One thing we know about this amazing organization is that the magic happens locally, at home in your community. Since the beginning of Girl Scouts in 1912, experiences are delivered locally: by the troop volunteers and by the community (SU) volunteers. Badgerland is home to 23 counties and within all those zip codes, there are 31 Service Units. Some are flourishing with volunteer meet-ups and girl activities. Some, however, are just getting started. So that’s the opportunity before us - to build and grow your Service Unit to make it easier, simpler, and more rewarding to be a Girl Scout... a volunteer, a parent, and a girl member. That’s our challenge to you: Come to your SU leader meetings. You will help make Girl Scouting better and better for you and your girls.
Zoom Accounts
Service Units have access to their own Badgerland Zoom account to make it convenient for meetings and planning. SUs can choose to let individual troops have access to the account for their needs, too. Want yours? Let us know!
Parade Kits
•Find your county to help identify your Service Unit.
•Some counties, mainly Dane, have multiple SUs.
• If you do not know your SU number, contact us and we will help: info@gsbadgerland.org or call 800.236.2710.
Lots of SUs organize troop outings to community parades and other events. We’re happy to supply you with your own parade kit of Girl Scout bling. Want a kit? Let us know!
These are YOUR spaces!
Troops & Service Units welcome.
✔ Camp Brandenburg
✔ Camp Ehawee
✔ 3 Girl Scout Centers
Badgerland properties are for Girl Scouts! That means they are for you. If you are looking for a first-time overnighter, consider booking at a Leadership Center in Madison, Janesville, or La Crosse. Each is equipped with a kitchen, restrooms, large group play and activity spaces, and you’ll find places to bunk down for the night when it’s time for lights out. If you’re up for more adventure and the outdoors, by all means, look at scheduling troop or SU time at either Camp Ehawee in La Crosse County or Camp Brandenburg in Dane County. Both are equipped with all you need for a successful camp adventure. At all the locations, you’ll have options to reserve just what you need for your outing while sharing common spaces with other troops including kitchens, restrooms and such. The result will be lots more Girl Scouts able to enjoy the properties at the same time.
•Weekends and weekdays are available to reserve September through May
•See availability, spaces, and prices then make your reservation in Checkfront
•Go to gsbadgerland.org then click Checkfront on the top of the page
It’s NEW at the Madison Leadership Center and it’s exclusive to the older girls for a special space just for them. Troops grades 6 and older can reserve the Lounge, ideal for sleepovers and meet-ups. Comfy, cozy, and a place to chill. Come see it next time you’re in Madison. Sleeps up to 9 Girl Scouts!
•Reserve the Girl Lounge via Checkfront (visit gsbadgerland.org then click Checkfront on the top)
How about a troop overnighter at the beautiful Madison Leadership Center? You can do that!
gsLearn is home to Badgerland Council and Girl Scouts of the USA trainings you can take at your own pace and on your own schedule. Here is where new leaders will learn the basics of Girl Scouting along with our in-person and virtual support sessions. Experienced leaders can dive deeper and learn even more. You will also find trainings on topics related to troop finances and the BFF and Cookie programs.
Not sure where to start? Check out our Leader’s Progression Chart! This chart will guide you from the basic courses for our newest leaders through the more advanced information available for older troops who are getting ready to travel, go on more intense trips, or looking to stay involved as their Girl Scout graduates!
Here’s how to access gsLearn! Go to: www.mygs.girlscouts.org > Sign into MyGS with user name (your email address) and password > Click gsLearn on your dashboard on the left > Explore! Search the Content Library
Sampling of Supplies
• Tents & Backpacks
• Pudgie Pie Irons & Marshmallow Sticks
• Snow Shoes
• Flags & Parade Banners
• Paper-Making Kits
• Parachutes
• Knot-Tying Boards & Ropes
Badge in a Box Kits
• All you need to earn a badge
• Each kit packed with specific supplies
• Handy leader guides to make it easy
• Daisy Kits for each Petal to be earned
• Entrepreneur Series Kits available
• Outdoor Kits
• STEM Kits: Circuit Boards, Robots, etc.
• Scan the QR code or
•gsbadgerland.checkfront.com/reserve/
•Visit gsbadgerland.org and click the Activities tab
•Find events on the calendar, event list or search bar
•Click on the event title to start registration*
•Payment is due upon registration
*Register for some Partner events directly with the partner. Those links are provided and easy to follow.
A confirmation will be emailed within 24 hours. You will also receive an email the week before your event.
Occasionally events are canceled due to weather, safety concerns or low registration. Maintain accurate contact information in MyGS so staff can quickly notify you. These events will be rescheduled or refunded.
Refunds, minus a $10 cancellation fee per event transaction, are given for cancellations made by the registration deadline, or in the event of serious illness or death in the family. Full refunds are issued after the deadline only if the program is canceled.
Girl Scouts teaches girls financial literacy from the Cookie Program and Badgerland Fall Fundraiser. She can earn Badgerland Bucks to pay for her own experiences including camp. There are two ways to pay with Badgerland Bucks:
1)Call Customer Care at 800.236.2710 to complete a registration over the phone using Badgerland Bucks.
2)Register and pay online with a credit card, then complete and submit the Badgerland Bucks Reimbursement Form at gsbadgerland.org. (Hover over Members > look for Forms).
NOTE: Badgerland Bucks from the 2023 BFF Program will be available mid-December.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Financial Assistance for events is available to qualifying families for Badgerland-sponsored programs. Find the form and qualifying information at gsbadgerland.org.
WE ARE READY TO HELP YOU REGISTER
Contact us for assistance with registration: 800.236.2710.
Here’s where you buy your GS merch—troop stuff, uniform stuff, and FUN Girl Scout stuff. It’s a great shopping experience and you’ll get to chat with knowledgeable, friendly and helpful staff to get your Girl Scout questions answered.
Sashays are open during Council Headliner events.
Pre-order and pick up orders at your convenience in Madison. We’ll give you a code and you can pop by to get your order whenever it fits your schedule.
While you’re visiting ask to see some of our program check-out resources (page 35)!
NEW
Sashay-to-Go! We’ve loaded your GS essentials in easy-to-carry bins so Service Units can take the shop to community events. See the togo options on the Sashay page of our website and order there.
MADISON & LA CROSSE
Tuesdays and Thursdays Noon-6
First Saturday of each month 9-2 (Oct-May)
JANESVILLE
Wednesdays Noon-6
All year round let’s recognize the Girl Scout volunteers who make it all happen.
They deserve the spotlight. Submit nominations anytime. Visit the website and search for Volunteer Nominations; it’s quick and easy and all you need to do is share their name and a short statement about what makes them super special. Do it!
APRIL 20 ON MY HONOR
Honoring Girl Scout Volunteers
