New Leader Guide:
YOUR GO-TO RESOURCE FOR STARTING YOUR TROOP
WELCOME TO GIRL SCOUTS! We are thrilled that you have decided to partner with the best leadership development organization for girls by serving as a troop leader! The safe, nurturing, girl-only environment that you will create with your troop and parent volunteers will have a lasting impact on the girls you serve. The information contained in this booklet will help you as you navigate your new role. As a troop leader you are helping girls become their best selves through a rich Girl Scout experience that allows them to discover their potential, connect with others with similar interests and engage in take action projects that reflect their potential to make a difference in their communities and the world. Girl Scouts is designed to be girl-led. With your support and guidance, girls will take the lead in determining what they want to do as a troop—what badges and journeys they want to earn, details about their camping trips, what they want to do with their hard-earned cookie money and a host of other activities and adventures. Along the way you can encourage them to take smart risks and think creatively when they are presented with challenges. When girls have the chance to make decisions they learn collaboration, team work and how to advocate for their ideas. As a leader, this is one of the most important aspects of Girl Scouts that you can cultivate. Through Girl Scouts, girls develop skills and confidence they will use throughout their lives. This is demonstrated by the fact that over 50% of women members in the House of Representatives and 80% of women tech leaders are Girl Scout alumna. Just imagine the impact your troop can have in the world now and in the future. Thank you for believing in our G.I.R.L.s (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader). Your role as a troop leader makes it possible for girls to turn “Can I?” into I WILL!” Violet M. Apple Chief Executive Officer Remember, GSCM’s troop and service unit support team is ready to help you. Reach them at membercare@gscm.org.
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YOUR STEPS TO SUCCESS! LJLJ Log in to MyGS member community. View the GSUSA Welcome Video and complete the knowledge check. Review your new leader welcome email. It contains all the information you need to complete training to become a leader. LJLJ Invite girls and parents to join your troop. Need help recruiting girls? Just let us know and we can help get girls excited to join your troop! LJLJ You’ll get notified by email any time a girl joins your troop. As additional girls join, make sure to contact parents and welcome them. LJLJ Check out the Volunteer Toolkit tutorial video and begin planning your Girl Scout year. (https://goo.gl/ejG3Kx) (pg. 4) LJLJ Plan and host a parent/caregiver meeting for your troop. Remember to set the date, time and location for troop meetings! (pg. 10) LJLJ Plan and host your first troop meeting using your VTK resources. LJLJ Open your Girl Scout bank account. (pg. 15) LJLJ Connect with your local service unit team for additional support.
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU! • GSCM team members will reach out to guide you throughout all of your steps to success. • When you first get started, we will email your troop number and ask a few quick questions to help get your troop started. • After you’ve completed your background check, you’ll receive a new leader welcome email. • You’ll also automatically begin to receive our GSCM email newsletters twice a month to make sure you stay in the loop.
CONTACT US! Girl Scouts of Central Maryland 4806 Seton Drive Baltimore, MD 21222 gscm.org 410.358.9711 membercare@gscm.org
• Emails are our primary means of communication. Please make sure to check your emails from GSCM regularly. GSCM Offices are open during normal business hours. Check gscm.org for shop hours by location. 3
THE VOLUNTEER TOOLKIT: YOUR DIGITAL TROOP ASSISTANT! The Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) gives you program content and other resources to manage your troop planning all year long—and keep it going smoothly!
You can: ⬥ Access Journey, petal, and badge troop meeting plans ⬥ See step-by-step activity guides for each troop meeting ⬥ View and edit your troop roster ⬥ Manage renewals for both girls and adults ⬥ Email parents with a single click ⬥ Share troop meeting activities with parents ⬥ Log girls’ petal/badge and Journey achievements
Go to Gsc
m.org, clic
k my gs a
⬥ Add events and your own troop activities
nd check
it out!
What volunte ers are saying:
Fully customizable, the Volunteer Toolkit is digitally responsive so you can plan and prepare practically anywhere.
“I like that th ere are mee ting plans an d schedules to follow. I a lso like being able to keep track of the patches my girls earn. T he ‘my troop’ fe ature that allows me to email all of the parents at once is great, too— I use that a lo t.”
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE VOLUNTEER TOOLKIT? Sign in at gscm.org, click My GS and Check it Out!
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EXPLORE OUR VOLUNTEER RESOURCES amazing Leaders are formed, not born To help you be the best leader you can be, we offer several trainings and resources to help you.
GS411 Gives you an overview of the various community partners and program providers that have teamed up with Girl Scouts of Central Maryland to provide quality programming across our 35 counties. You can check out GS411 here and see the latest GSCM activities and events at gscm.org/events.
Volunteer Essentials is a guide which includes information about engaging girls, safety requirements, managing finances and more. The beginning of the manual serves as a quick-start guide that can be a great place to start as a brand new Girl Scout volunteer. The latest version of Volunteer Essentials can be found at https://goo.gl/cuLw6V.
Safety Activity Checkpoints are online lists containing everything you need to know to be prepared and keep your girls safe during a number of different kinds of activities outside of the normal Girl Scout troop meeting. These can be found at These can be found under the Safety section in Volunteer Resources https://goo.gl/J9F7o5
GSCM Volunteer Policies & Procedures is our local governing document including all of the policies and procedures to ensure that your troop is functioning within our local guidelines. By agreeing to be a Girl Scout volunteer, you’re agreeing to follow the items laid out in this resource. This document is updated on a regular basis and the most up-to-date version can always be found at here.
GSCM Member Care Our member care department is a resource to you to help answer any questions you may have or to link you to resources you may need. You can reach them at membercare@gscm.org and 410-358-9711
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THE GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE In Girl Scouts, girls follow a path to discover who they are and what they care about, connect by collaborating with other people and take action to do something to make the world a better place. This is called the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE). Girl Scouts of Central Maryland programs center around four pillars: STEM, Outdoors, Life Skills, and Entrepreneurship.
Here are the tools to deliver the GSLE: Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting is a binder full of information about being a Girl Scout and how to earn certain badges. Girls who want to earn more badges can add a Skill Building Badge Set tied to the theme of the Journey they have chosen.
Badges are earned when a girl masters a skill or shows increased knowledge in a particular subject. Badges are earned at every grade level and should be placed on the front of the sash or vest.
Patches symbolize participation as a troop or individual in a Girl Scout program or activity. Patches are worn on the back of the sash or vest.
Journeys include adult and girl books which guide girls through fun and challenging experiences grouped around a theme, and are spread over a series of sessions. Each Journey has all the important components of the GSLE sewn right in.
GOVERNING STRUCTURE Troops
Service Units Volunteers who support the work of troops within a given geographical area.
TROOP
Girl Scouts of Central Maryland Council (GSCM)
SERVICE UNIT
Independent 501(c)3 nonprofit chartered by GSUSA operating under the direction of a local board of directors and overseeing all service units and troops within a given territory.
Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) A national organization supporting the work of more than 100 councils across the U.S. for more than 100 years. Headquartered in New York City. 6
GSCM GSUSA
Volunteers are the heart of our organization!
Volunteer-supervised groups of girls who participate in the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.
VARIATIONS OF A TROOP
Troop Coordinator/Troop Mentor (this works well in a multi-level troop)
Traditional Two unrelated adults lead a troop. Other parents volunteer to help as needed.
One adult acts as the 'administrator’, responding to emails, planning the VTK calendar, etc. Other parents volunteer to lead specific grade levels, meetings, or activities based on skill or preference.
Girl-Led One adult acts as the ‘leader’ but each girl and parent rotates leading meetings, activities and events. This is a great option to promote the ‘girl-led’ experience, as girls get to teach their friends a new skill. Also a great opportunity to rotate locations, purchasing supplies and snacks to cut down on troop dues.
Team-Led All parents volunteer as troop leaders, and evenly divide responsibility by interest and/ or skill set.
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SHAPING YOUR TROOP EXPERIENCE Before you hold your first troop meeting, consider the support and resources you will need throughout the year. We recommend holding a friends & family meeting to rally additional parent volunteers.
Tips for structuring your troop: Troop Formation Troops may be assigned by grade level or leaders may choose to facilitate multi-level troops with girls of all ages combined into one troop.
Meetings Determine the frequency of your meetings and the meeting/activity schedule. Use the online Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) to help you through this process. • Most troops meet twice per month but you can choose a schedule that works best for you. • Your meeting space should be somewhere safe, clean and secure that allows all girls to participate. Some great meeting space ideas include: schools, churches, libraries, community centers.
Meeting Structure Girl Scouts is designed to be girl-led. Talk to the girls and parents about what they’d like to get out of Girl Scouts this year. • Think about how you want to lead. Do you want to run every troop meeting? Consider rotating the responsibility with the different members of your troop. Parent & girl can team up to lead one meeting each.
Cost Consider supply costs – does your troop need to charge monthly or annual dues to help off-set costs? Will you charge families per activity? It’s important to talk with parents about financial expectations up front. Assign a parent volunteer to help manage troop finances.
Communication Keep everyone in the loop. Make sure parents know when and where your activities will be and how they can help.
Support Make sure each parent/household is responsible for some area to support the troop 88
Make sure you’re having fun!
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YOUR PARENT/CAREGIVER MEETING Hold a Parent/Caregiver Meeting as your chance to: • Get to know your Girl Scouts and their families • Ask for support and help at troop meetings and outings • Set clear expectations for the troop including troop dues, meeting/activity schedule, financial obligations, uniforms, etc. • Brainstorm all of the exciting things your troop wants to do this year
Meeting Preparation Checklist � Arrange for a meeting time and place such as your local school, church or library. � Use your troop roster in MyGS (log in found in the top right corner of gscm.org) to invite all parents and girls. � Print out copies of the Health History Forms or email a PDF to all parents in the troop. http://www.gscm.org/en/for-volunteers/online-support-for-volunteers.html Look under the Permission & Health History for Health History Record for each girl and adult who is registered with the troop. (Completed copies of this form stay on file with you as the troop leader.) � Arrange for another adult to do a craft or activity with the girls while you talk with the parents. � Practice what you want to say and the information you want to share. � Remember – this will be their first experience with Girl Scouts. Make sure you have fun!
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SAMPLE PARENT/CAREGIVER MEETING AGENDA
Welcome troop leader and assistant troop le
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NOW YOU ARE READY TO MEET WHAT A TROOP MEETING LOOKS LIKE IN THE VOLUNTEER TOOLKIT (VTK). Organizing your meeting is easy with the new Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) – your one-stop resource to planning your entire year as a troop leader (Gscm.org/vtk). This simple guide below will give you the framework for how a typical meeting runs. The VTK will help you fill in the holes with specific activities and timelines.
Most important – your meetings should be fun!
1 Start Up – Plan activities for girls as they arrive at the meeting so they have something to do until the meeting begins. It could be as simple as coloring pages, journaling or talking with each other (5 minutes).
2 Opening – Girls decide and lead their meeting opening – most begin with the Girl Scout Promise and Law, a simple flag ceremony, song, game, story or other activity. (5-10 minutes).
3 Business – This is the time to let girls plan their upcoming meetings or
decide what council events they want to attend as a troop, collect dues and make announcements (5-10 minutes).
4 Activities – Support your troop as they complete their pre-selected
activities to work towards badges and journeys. This portion of the meeting should be heavily girl-led with the troop leader aiding on the side. (30-45 minutes).
5 Clean Up – Girl Scouts should always leave a place cleaner than they found it! (5 minutes).
6 Closing – Just like the opening, each troop can decide how to close –
with a song, a game, or a story (5-10 minutes). As caregivers arrive, provide any important updates or reminders about upcoming meetings and activities.
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HOW TO DRESS FOR SUCCESS Uniforms connect me to Girl Scout traditions displaying my accomplishments and creating memories to last a lifetime
DAISIES K & 1ST
The only required insignia is the membership pin
BROWNIES 2ND & 3RD
I may choose to purchase a vest or sash to display my badges and patches
JUNIORS 4TH & 5TH
My troop will discuss which uniform elements we want to purchase so we all look the same
My troop leader may collect money from parents to purchase uniforms
Or, they may ask parents to purchase our own items from the GSCM shop
CADETTES 6TH - 8TH
SENIORS 9TH & 10TH
AMBASSADORS 11TH & 12TH
JULIETTE'S CLOSET Girl Scouts of Central Maryland’s store for all things Girl Scouts! Shop Juliette's Closet for camping supplies, Girl Scout jewelry, Girl Scout Bronze, Gold and Silver Award memorabilia and more! Juliette’s Closet at Seton Drive 4806 Seton Drive Baltimore, MD 21215 410-358-9711, ext. 202
Clementine's Corner at Camp Ilchester 5042 Ilchester Road Ellicott City, MD 21043 410-455-0542
Check gscm.org/store for hours.
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When Girl Scouts participate in the Cookie Program, their troops earn proceeds from each package sold. Troops decide how their cookie funds are spent, from funding a troop camping trip to funding their Bronze Award. The Cookie Program also gives Girl Scouts the opportunity to earn badges. Participation in the Cookie Program is optional, but highly encouraged. Troop leaders receive information about getting started in the Cookie Program in late summer. In preparation for the program, which runs MidSeptember to early December. Troops are welcome to join at anytime during the cookie sale. We encourage you to ask for parent help early! Helping can be as simple as picking up cookies for the troop, managing the online software system, or hosting a cookie rally. Ask another volunteer to take the lead for your troop by being the Troop Cookie Manager (TCM). The TCM is an extremely valuable member of your troop leadership team, taking ownership of this important program while you continue normal troop operations.
5 SKILLS GAINED THROUGH GIRL SCOUT COOKIE PROGRAM
THE GIRL SCOUT COOKIE PROGRAM
GOAL SETTING how to develop a business plan
DECISION MAKING think critically and solve problems
MONEY MANAGEMENT directly handle customer money
BUSINESS ETHICS develop positive values like honesty and integrity
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PEOPLE SKILLS engage with members of the community and develop confidence
GREAT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TROOP FINANCES Bank Account All troops should establish a bank account with three unrelated, registered and background checked adults. Troops can request a letter to open their troop account through the voulnteer toolkit. More Information on bank accounts will be provided in training.
Troop Dues Many troops decide to collect troop dues as a way to help provide start-up funding for troop activities and supplies. These could range from $1-$2 per meeting, to $30-$40 for the entire school year paid all at one time. It’s completely up to each troop to decide what works best for them.
Money-earning Activities The Cookie Program is the primary money-earning activity for a troop. If a troop participates in the Cookie Program, they may also opt to participate in a limited number of additional fundraising activities https://goo.gl/TWNbEW). Troops must fill out a money earning form for all money earning activities that they plan to do.
Financial Reporting and Receipts To stay organized, troop leadership should use receipts to help track any incoming funds, outgoing expenses, and cookie activities. Parents may ask to review troop finances at any time. At the end of the year (May-June), troops submit an annual finance report.
Tax Exemption As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, volunteers can utilize our tax exempt form when purchasing supplies and materials. You will recieve copies of tax exemption cards during your leader trainings.
Financial Assistance Financial difficulties shouldn’t stand in the way of a Girl Scout’s participation. Any member needing financial assistance for membership can request it. Financial assistance for membership fees can be selected while registering on-line for Girl Scouts. Other financial assistance is available for programs, and summer camp and financial assistance can be requested online at https://goo.gl/EJm5Ym (select financial assistance form).
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GIRL SCOUTS OF CENTRAL MARYLAND CALENDAR
JULY
• Send girls to camp! ✫ TROOP TIP: Plan a fun troop activity such as swimming at the local pool, traveling somewhere new, having an afternoon at the park to get girls together over the summer.
AUGUST • Encourage other girls and adults to join Girl Scouts • Prepare for back to school and start forming your troop • Update your troop info in the opportunity catalog survey. Found here under troop https://goo.gl/eHvHq3 • Plan your bridging, investiture, and rededication ceremonies
OCTOBER
• October 1 is the first day of the GS Membership year • Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low’s Birthday is October 31
✫ TROOP TIP: Recruit girls and adults to join your troop this month.
NOVEMBER
• GSCM offices & shops will be closed for Thanksgiving • Review progress towards cookie sale goals • Troop tip: Plan for a mid-year parents meeting.
✫ TROOP TIP: Connect with parents who might be interested in volunteering with the troop this year. It’s a great time to see who can help with the Troop Cookie Manager or Treasury role.
SEPTEMBER
• Back to Girl Scouts: Engage existing troop members to renew by September 30 • Start your troop meetings for the year • Participate in Girl Scout uniform day, you'll earn a free patch ✫ TROOP TIP: Get together as a troop with a fun activity to kickoff the school year like flying kites in the park or a family picnic.
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DECEMBER
• End of Girl Scout Cookie Sale • GSCM offices & shops will be closed for holidays • Evaluate your training needs • Share finances with parents/caretakers ✫ TROOP TIP: Look for community engagement opportunities, including participating in local parades and service projects this month.
JANUARY
• Participate in me2magazine sale
APRIL
• Early Bird Renewal begins • GS Volunteer Appreciation Day is April 22 • Plan your bridging and rededication ceremonies
✫ TROOP TIP: Talk to your troop about who might be interested in resident and day camp this summer.
FEBRUARY
• Adult Recognition nominations are due • World Thinking Day
✫ TROOP TIP: Consider getting outdoors with your troop this month to work on badge work perfectly aligned to interact with nature.
MAY
• Plan for big event for next fall, such as a camping trip • Gold Award Ceremony ✫ TROOP TIP: Hold an end of year party to celebrate the troop’s accomplishments and make plans for summer/fall.
MARCH
• The Girl Scouts’ Birthday is March 12 • Celebrate Girl Scout week
✫ TROOP TIP: Look for community engagement opportunities, including participating in local parades and service projects this month.
JUNE
• Early Bird Renewal ends • Camps begin • Submit troop finance • Share finances with parents/caretakers • troop finances are due to GSCM ✫ TROOP TIP: Relax and enjoy your summer!
For a complete listing of council events, programs and activities, please visit
gscm.org/events *Activities and patches subject to change
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The Girl Scout Promise On my honor, I will try: To serve God and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law.
The Girl Scout Law I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.
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