d e t r a t S g n i t t Ge
Guide
Troop Volunteer Orientation Guide www.girlscoutsmoheartland.org • 877-312-4764
GettingStartedGuide Our council serves just over 11,000 girls and 4,000 adults across 68 counties in southern and central Missouri, southeast Kansas, and northeast Oklahoma.
The Getting Started Guide is a publication of the Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland.
The Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland is the premier leadership development experience for girls in southern and central Missouri, southeast Kansas, and northeast Oklahoma, helping them to discover their own sense of self, connect with others in an increasingly diverse world, and take action to make the world a better place.
The Girl Scout Mission
GSMH Locations
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
877-312-4764 Cape Girardeau Area Service Center
2136 William Street, Suite 178 Cape Girardeau, MO 63703
The Girl Scout Promise
Dexter Area Service Center
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.
Jefferson City Area Service Center
1420 Girl Scout Way Dexter, MO 63841
230 Metro Drive Jefferson City, MO 65109
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.
2
Joplin Area Service Center
1202 S. Range Line Road, Suite 8 Joplin, MO 64801
Springfield Area Administrative Service Center 210 S. Ingram Mill Road Springfield, MO 65802
Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland @gsmoheartland blog.girlscouts moheartland.org
Getting Started Guide Thank you for serving as a Girl Scout volunteer. The Getting Started Guide will provide you with the necessary information needed for your troop to be successful in its first year. Ready to get started?
contents 5 Getting Started Checklist A checklist for getting started as a volunteer.
16 Volunteer ToolKit An introduction to the Volunteer ToolKit.
6 Girl Scout Leadership The foundation of the Girl Scout Experience.
22 Communicating with Parents Suggestions on how to communicate with parents.
8 Outdoor Progression Every girl deserves to experience the outdoors.
24 Finance Responsibilities Learning to manage troop funds.
10 Outcomes 5 ways Girl Scouts builds Girl Leaders.
26 Girl Scout Cookie Program Learning the ins and outs of the Cookie Program.
14 Role as a Volunteer Understanding your role as a Girl Scout Volunteer.
28 Safety Guidelines Well-being of all girls is always the top priority. 3
You have taken on an amazing opportunity to see girls learn and grow together. This year will be filled with inspiring moments as you watch girls try new things, meet goals, and challenge themselves to step outside their comfort zones. All of our girls depend on volunteers to mentor and guide them, we want to make sure that you have the resources and support you need. We hope this guide, along with your Volunteer 411, and the Volunteer ToolKit (VTK) will help you feel better prepared for your new role as a troop volunteer!
Your Volunteer Support Network: Who are we? You will have a GSMH Troop Support Specialist who is assigned to your geographic area. They are here to support you in your journey as a Girl Scout leader, answer questions, and help you get training to be the best leader you can be. They will even call you from time to time to see how things are going. Don’t be afraid to contact them with your questions! There is also an entire network of GSMH Staff who can answer your questions. Don’t know who you need to talk to? That’s okay! Just call 877-312-4767 or email us at info@girlscoutsmoheartland.org and we will get you the help you need. As a troop leader, you belong to a Service Unit. A Service Unit is a community of troops and volunteers organized in a geographic area to support each other and provide Girl Scouting in their local community. Most service units have monthly meetings where you can network with other volunteers and learn what opportunities are available for your girls. Many service units also have Facebook pages to keep everyone connected. A Volunteer Support Coordinator is the lead administrative volunteer in a service unit. She is the person who runs the service unit meetings and communicates with leaders at the local level.
Service Unit #: Troop #: Service Unit Meeting Day: Time: Location:
4
Service Unit Volunteer Support Coordinator Name: Contact:
Getting Started Checklist Step 1
Become a Registered and Approved Adult Volunteer
Step 2
Complete Basic Troop Leader Training New Leader Orientation Grade Level Home Study Troop Finance Training Additional trainings are available as you progress as a leader.
Step 3
Connect with Your Volunteer Support Network
Step 4
Get Organized
Step 5
Have Your First Troop Meeting
Connect with the Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland volunteer community Attend your local Service Unit Meeting
Meet with your co-leaders Set up and learn how to use the Volunteer Toolkit Use the Volunteer Toolkit to make a year plan Have your first parent meeting Open a troop bank account
Keep girls safe during Girl Scout activities Explore Girl Scout Volunteer Resources on the website Make it girl-led by partnering with girls to plan program, in an age appropriate manner.
Step 6
Have Fun!
How can I get training? There are many ways to receive training: • Online • Home Study • In person • Training events • Give us a call! 5
In Girl Scouts, girls unleash their inner G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker and Leader)! How will they do this? Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience — a collection of engaging, challenging, and fun activities like earning badges, going on awesome field trips, exploring STEM activities, selling cookies, adventuring outdoors, and completing community service projects.
Badges Since the earliest days of Girl Scouting, girls have earned badges. Each badge teaches girls skills around a specific topic like civic engagement or animal habitats. Some badges are progressive and build on skills learned at a younger age, like first aid or camping. You can find badge requirements digitally in the Volunteer Toolkit, in the Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting, or in separate Badge Activity sets.
Journeys Girl Scout Journeys are a core piece of Girl Scout programming and a prerequisite for girls earning their highest awards (Bronze, Silver, and Gold). Journeys are a series of meetings (usually 6-12 sessions) where girls learn about a specific topic, as well as learn about themselves and making a difference in their community. Girls earn various awards or badges throughout the Journey. Each program level has three to six Journeys to choose from. They involve topics like the environment, international connections, engineering, and the outdoors.
Some troops choose to focus on one Journey over a whole Girl Scout year, and badges the next year, while others alternate throughout the year. There is flexibility to meet the interest of the girls in your troop! 6
So what do Girl Scouts actually do? Girls will choose exciting, hands on activities that interest them the most – and together they will take action to change the world. Girls gain important skills in our four program pillars: • Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) • Outdoors • Life Skills • Entrepreneurship As a leader, you and your girls can customize the experience that fits them best.
Program Level & Grades
Daisy
K-1
Brownie
2-3
What are they up to in Girl Scouts?
What are they like?
• Learning the Girl Scout Promise and Law • Earn petals and Journeys
• Lots of energy! • Beginning to understand basic number concepts. • Just learning to write and spell.
• Earning badges and Journeys • Attending overnight camps
• Are social and enjoy working in groups. • Want to help and can handle individual responsibilities of a task. • Love to act in plays, create music, and dance. • Want to make decisions and express
Junior
4-5
• Earning badges and Journeys opinions. • Earning the Bronze Award • Are aware of expectations and sensitive to the judgements of • Starting to be viewed as role models for younger Girl Scouts others.
• Are social and enjoy doing things in groups.
Cadette
6-8
Senior
9-10
Ambassador
11-12
• Earning badges and Journeys • Earning the Silver Award • Earning the Leadership in Action Award • Becoming a Program Aide
• Spending more time with peer groups than family and concerned about friends and relationships their own age. • Can be very self-conscious. • Navigating their increased independence.
• Beginning to clarify their own values and considering other view • Earning badges and Journeys points. • Earing the Gold Award • Strong problem-solving and critical • Becoming a CIT (Counselor-in- thinking skills. Training • Feel they have lots of responsibilities and pressures.
• Earning badges and Journeys • Can see complexity of situations • Earning the Gold Award and controversial issues. • Becoming a Program Aide or • Enjoy expressing their individuality. CIT (Counselor-in-Training • • Becoming a VIT (Volunteer-in- Feel that there are more responsibilities and pressures. Training) 7
Fresh air. We all need it sometimes, but it’s especially important when we’re young. That’s why outdoor experiences have been a huge part of Girl Scouts since Juliette Gordon Low took girls outside to hike, play basketball, and get active more than a century ago. She knew that experiencing the glory of nature—the mountains, the lakes, the oceans, the forests all around us—instills something special in girls. Today, research confirms what we’ve always known at Girl Scouts. Outdoor experiences are more than fun—they’re a guaranteed way to help girls thrive. Help us turn the tide. Take our pledge to connect more girls to outdoor experiences that will transform their world as they grow.
Every girl deserves to experience the outdoors.
Move Out Meet Out Look Out Share past experiences in the outdoors. Talk about favorite outdoor places and why they’re special. Wonder what else can be seen in the outdoors.
8
Step outside to look, listen, feel, and smell. Share what was observed. Learn more about what was discovered.
Plan and take a short walk outside. Discuss being prepared for the weather. Use activities to explore nature. Plan and carry out an indoor sleep over.
CIPLES:
RACE PRIN LEAVE NO T
Outdoor Progression Progression allows girls to learn the skills they need to become competent in the outdoors, including how to plan and organize outdoor activities. Acknowledge a girl’s mastery of an outdoor skill and invite her to challenge herself further by taking that next step up and out! Outdoor fun can be endless when girls lead.
Sleep Out
Cook Out Plan and cook a simple meal outdoors.
Explore Out Plan and take a short and easy hike. Discuss what to take in a day pack. Dress for the weather. Plan a healthy snack or lunch. Learn how to stay safe in the outdoors.
Make a list of gear and food supplies needed. Learn and practice skills needed to cook a meal. Review outdoor cooking safety. Practice hand and dish sanitation. Create a Kaper Chart for the cookout.
Plan and carry out an overnight in a cabin/ backyard. Discuss what to pack for the sleep out. Learn to use and care for camping gear. Learn and practice new outdoor skills. Plan a menu with a new cooking skill.
Leave What You Find
Camp Out Plan and take a 1- to 2-night camping trip. Girls take more responsibility for planning. Learn and practice a new outdoor skill. Learn a new outdoor cooking skill. Plan a food budget, then buy and pack food. Practice campsite set up. Plan an agenda that includes fun activities.
Discuss campsite organization. Plan time for fun activities.
Explore/protect the surrounding environment.
Plan and take an outdoor trip for several days. Learn and practice a new outdoor skill. Learn a new outdoor cooking skill. Develop first-aid skills and use safety check points. Budget, schedule, and make arrangements. Participate in an environmental service project. Teach and inspire others about the outdoors. Imagine new experiences to be had outdoors. Practice all Leave No Trace principles.
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
Respect Wildlife Plan Ahead & Prepare
Adventure Out
Minimize Campfire Impacts
Dispose of Waste Properly 99
Girl Scouts’ mission is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Since 1912, girls have explored new fields of knowledge, learned valuable skills, and developed strong core values through Girl Scouts. Girl Scouts is a 21st Century expierence for girls and remains the best leadership development organization designed to help them learn to be leaders in today’s world. At Girl Scouts, guided by supportive adults and peers, girls develop their
leadership potential through age appropriate activities that enable them to discover their values, skills, and the world around them; connect with others in a multicultural environment; and take action to make a difference in their world. These activities are designed to be a girl led, cooperative, and hands-on process that create high-quality experiences conducive to learning.
When girls participate in Girl Scouts, they benefit in five important ways:
Strong Sense of Self Girls have confidence in themselves and their abilities, and form positive identities.
Positive Values Girls act ethically, honestly, and responsibly, and show concern for others.
Challenge Seeking Girls take appropriate risks, try things even if they might fail, and learn from mistakes.
Healthy Relationships Girls develop and maintain healthy relationships by communicating their feelings directly and resolving conflicts constructively.
Community Problem Solving Girls desire to contribute to the world in purposeful and meaningful ways, learn how to identify problems in the community, and create “action plans” to solve them. 10
Why do these five outcomes matter? When girls exhibit these attitudes and skills, they become responsible, productive, caring, and engaged citizens. But don’t take our word for it! Studies show that the development of attitudes, behaviors, and skills like confidence, conflict resolution, and problem solving are critical to well-being and rival academic and technical skills in their capacity to predict long-term positive life outcomes.
Youth who develop these five outcomes... Are happier, healthier, and less likely to engage in problem behaviors or be victimized. Youth who develop competencies such as perseverance, positive self-esteem, and sociability have lower rates of obesity, depression, and aggression, and show greater life satisfaction and well-being than those who do not develop such attributes/skills. Achieve more academically and feel more engaged in school. Youth who participate in programs that promote the attributes and skills linked with our five outcomes show stronger academic performance and school engagement compared to those who do not. When students are more self-aware and confident about their learning capabilities, they try harder and persist in the face of challenges. Become strong job applicants. While employers want new hires to have technical knowledge related to a given job, those skills are not nearly as important as good teamwork, decision-making, and communication skills. Yet many employers around the world report that job candidates lack these attributes. Become successful, well-adjusted adults. Kindergartners who learn how to share, cooperate with others, and be helpful are more likely to have a college degree and a job 20 years later than youth who lack these social skills. They are also less likely to have substance-abuse problems and run-ins with the law.
11
Girl Scouts wear uniforms as a way to show we all belong. The official Girl Scout uniform is a white shirt, khaki pants or skirt, and a Girl Scout sash, vest, or tunic. Girls are not required to wear a Girl Scout uniform and are considered to be “in uniform” as long as they are wearing their Girl Scout pin. However, girls love showing off the badges and patches they have earned on a sash, vest, or tunic! Girl Scouts wear the full official uniform at special occasions such as ceremonies or participating in a parade or community event. Our Girl Scout retail stores carry all of the uniform pieces, badges, patches, and pins, as well as t-shirts, polos, sweatshirts, and jackets for girls and adults.
Uniform Tips: • Sashes are worn from the right shoulder to the left hip. • The Daisy, Brownie, or Girl Scout pin is worn on the left chest, over the heart. Insignia tabs may be purchased to put pins on—it is also worn on the left side. • Badges and awards that girls earn are worn on the front of their vest or sash. • Unofficial patches, such as cookie, camp, or other fun patches go on the back. These patches usually commemorate an activity the girls participated in and serve as a visual representation of their Girl Scout year. • If they run out of space on the front of their uniform, girls may place badges and awards on the back. • GSMH wants all girls to be able to have a sash, vest, or tunic. Families with a financial need can apply for assistance to help. Financial assistance forms can be found on our website. • The official uniform for adults is navy business clothing and/or khaki pants. There is an official volunteer polo available. Adults do not earn badges or awards. Many adults do like to collect the unofficial patches and put them on a tote bag or blanket. 12
Starter KitsBegins Now! Your Girl Scout Adventure Two ways to get started: Scout Adventure Begins Now! HerYour Girl Girl Scout Adventure Begins Now! ways to get started: Basic Starter Kitget – we build it for you. TwoTwo ways to started:
Kit contains everything a great Girl Basic Startera girl Kitneeds – weforbuild ityear forinyou. Basic We’ve Starter Kit —the weguess build it for you. The Scouts. eliminated work and included Kit contains everything a girl needs for a great year in Girl Kit contains everything a girlAmerican needs forFlag a great year in Girl Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting, Patch, Insignia Scouts. We’ve eliminated the guess work and included The Scouts. We’ve eliminated guess work included the Tab, World Trefoil Pin and the Membership Pin.and Just select your Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting, American Flag Patch, Insignia Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting, Flag Journey Patch, Insignia Official Uniform Item (tunic, American sash, or vest), Book, Tab, Tab, World Trefoil Pin and Membership Pin. Just select your World Numerals, Trefoil Pin, Council and Membership Pin. Sheand will selecton her Troop ID(tunic, Set, FREE your Official Uniform Item sash,BAG or vest), you’re Journey Book, official uniform item (tunic, sash, or vest), Journey Book, Troop way! Troop Numerals, Council ID Set, FREE BAG and you’re on your
Numerals, way! Council ID Set, FREE BAG, and she’s on her way!
Essentials Starter KitKit — –build it yourself. Essentials Starter build it yourself. The essentials kits is for a Girl Scout of any grade level who
Essentials Starter Kit – build it yourself.
wants to selectkit what they need for of theany year. Simply The essentials is for a Girl Scout grade levelchoose who The essentials kit is for a Girl of any grade level who items from a listwhat of Official Essentials, the total reaches wants to select they need forScout the when year. Simply choose wants to select what need forfor theayear. Simply choose $50 forfrom oneagrade kit,they you qualify FREE BAG. the items list oflevel Official Essentials*, when your totalLet items from a list of Official Essentials*, when totalBAG. adventures reaches $50begin! for one grade level kit you qualify foryour a FREE $50 for one grade level kit you qualify for a FREE BAG. Let thereaches adventures begin!
BR
T
K IH T PU
CH
T
WI
WI
H
CH
ASE
E FREGREE A F B AG
ASE
Let the adventures begin!
KIT P U
R
Bag designs may vary.
…Every deserves her own …Every girlgirl deserves her own kitkit
* * Every girl deserves her own kit!
GSUSA/GSMGSUSA/GSM 2/12/20182/12/2018
OVER FOR KIT INFORMATION OVER FOR LIST OFLIST KIT OF INFORMATION
13
As a Girl Scout volunteer, you’ll serve as a partner and role model to girls. Before you get started as a troop leader, it is important to understand what you will be responsible for and what is expected of you. These responsibilities will help guide your experience. Responsibilities as a Girl Scout Volunteer
Who is a Volunteer?
• Accept the Girl Scout Promise and Law. • Share your knowledge, experience, and skills with a positive and flexible approach. • Work in partnership with your girls so their activities are girl-led, allow them to learn by doing, and allow for cooperative (group) learning. You will also partner with other volunteers for support and guidance. • Organize fun, interactive, girl-led activities that address relevant issues and match your girls’ interests and needs. • Be prepared for each meeting and event. • Provide a safe experience for every girl—physically and emotionally. • Provide information regarding Girl Scout meetings and activities with girls’ parents or guardians on a regular and on-going basis. • Oversee with honesty, integrity, and careful record keeping the funds that your girls raise. • Resolve conflicts directly and honestly. Avoid using indirect communication like social media, texting, or gossip to deal with conflict. • Maintain a close connection to your volunteer support team, made up of your Troop Support Specialist and service unit volunteers. • Role-model the right behavior. The volunteer code of conduct includes never using illegal drugs. And, in the presence of girls: • Don’t use alcohol, tobacco products, or foul language, • Don’t carry firearms or ammunition, and • Always wear your seat belt, follow posted rules, and respect authority.
Every adult who helps the troop regularly and: • Has regular contact with girls and may intentionally or unintentionally be left alone with girls, or • Will transport girls other than their own, or • Will handle troop funds (including supervising Girl Scout Cookie Booths) Every Volunteer needs to: • Maintain active Girl Scout membership • Complete a GSMH volunteer application and pass a background check at least every 3 years.
14
Your investment of time and energy as a Girl Scout leader will be paid back tenfold. This opportunity affords you a chance to play a critical role in the lives of girls. Have no doubt you will have a lasting impact on the girls in your troop and they will make a lasting impact on the world.
Decisions, Decisions It is the adults leading the troops’ responsibility to make certain decisions on the behalf of the troop. Meetings: When, where, and how long will troop meetings be? While others in the troop can weigh in on these topics, it is the adult volunteer troop leaders that are ultimately in control of these decisions. This will be one of the first decisions you will make. Meeting dates, times, and locations should remain consistent throughout the year. Troop Dues: National annual membership dues are $25—paid through GSMH to GSUSA. Troops may need the financial support of girls’ families in order to get started. After your first year, we hope you’ll be self-sustaining by participating in the money-earning programs we offer the Fall Product and Cookie Product Program. A typical fee is $20 per year. Keep in mind that Girl Scouting should be affordable for all families. Work with your families to determine the best fit for everyone. If your troop is attending a field trip or council event that is not in your troop budget, it is okay to ask parents to contribute to or pay for the entire registration fee.
Ensure Troop Organization • Whenever possible, schedule meetings and events at least one month in advance and communicate changes as quickly as possible to all families. • Make sure you, or another adult volunteer, arrive 15-30 minutes early and plan to stay about 15 minutes late. Communicate your expectations of timeliness to the girls and families in your troop. • Keep records of the badge work and awards earned by the girls, as well as the meetings, events, and field trips attended by each one.
“Most girls learn from watching the ways women communicate and resolve conflict. Avoid indirect communication like texting or gossip to resolve your conflicts. Instead, model direct and honest communication with your peers and the girls.” — girlscouts.org/banbossy
Send an adult member of your troop, or plan to attend, your local service unit meeting each month in order to receive important updates, reminders, and trainings. Ensure the safety of the girls within the troop by following the Safety Activity Checkpoints. More information on troop safety can be found on pages 28-29. 15
The Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) is a digital tool that makes it easier for leaders to plan meetings and manage their troop. The VTK takes the place of the adult leader guide for Journeys and includes requirements for all of the badges for troops in kindergarten— fifth grade and partial content for troops in sixth through twelfth grade—all in one place. What’s even better is you can access it from your computer, smart phone, or tablet. This brief introduction to the VTK introduces some of the most useful features. What you will find in the Voluteer Toolkit Five tabs of Information
1
My Troop
Manage troop members, track attendance, track awards and badges earned by each girl, and email with parents/caregivers. • Click on a girl’s name to see detailed information, like her address, phone number and birthday. • See a list of awards, badges, and attendance in each girl’s record. • Click on email contacts to email all the families in your troop.
2
Year Plan
Daisy, Brownie, and Junior leaders have access to full year plans including multiple Journey years, a badge year, and a “create your own” year plan. There are even plans customized for multi-grade level troops. Year plans for Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors are in development and will be available in the future.
3
Meeting Plan
This tab gives you a plan for each individual meeting based on the Journey or badge year plan you selected. In each meeting you will see: • Overview – a quick summary of the meeting you are viewing • Activity Plan – details of each meetings activities • Material lists – everything you need for that meeting • Meeting aids – includes worksheets, songs, and other types of reference materials you will need for activities • Note: Daisy meetings are planned for 60 minutes and all others are planned for 90 minutes. 16
4
Resources
This tab provides easy access to Safety Activity Checkpoints and other helpful resources for your meetings. Use this tab to search the VTK for meeting aids. Search by typing in the name of the resource you are looking for, such as “kaper chart” and you can add it to any meeting in your year plan.
5
Finances
Finally, an easy way to track and share financial information! Add information throughout the year, to help you easily complete your endof-year troop financial report. You can even submit it to the council right from the finance tab!
Parent View • Parents can view the year plan and the meeting plans in the VTK. • Parents cannot make changes.
Volunteer Toolkit Frequently Asked Questions 1. How do I access the VTK? Once you are an approved troop volunteer and have an active membership, visit our website and click on the My GS tab. You will enter your login credentials there to gain access. The VTK integrates with our council website, allowing you to seamlessly go back and forth between the two.
2. Will there be training on the VTK? VTK is designed to be intuitive and requires no formal training; however, video tutorials are available on the GSUSA Youtube channel and on our website.
5. If I don’t have internet access at my meeting place, how will I access the VTK? You can easily download the materials to your device or print them to take to your meeting! The VTK can be accessed on tablets or smart phones. You can save the material on these devices, or access them when using your mobile or Wifi network.
6. Who has access to the VTK? Leaders and co-leaders have editorial access to the VTK. Parents can also access the VTK to see what troop is up to.
3. Why has Girl Scouts decided 7. What about volunteers who to go digital? To save you time! don’t have internet access at home? The VTK is designed to help you manage your troops by planning meetings (in partnership with the girls), communicating with parents, and finding support resources—all in one place.
Libraries are a great resource for those who don’t have access to the internet at home. You can print meeting plans or download them to a personal USB drive to take with you.
4. Why should I login to the VTK as soon as possible? It will make planning your meetings and engaging parents much easier!
8. Will there be updates to the VTK? Each July GSUSA makes any needed updates to the VTK. The VTK will be down for a couple of days each summer while this takes place. After the updates, you will need to be registered for the upcoming membership year to access the VTK.
9. Can I customize the Year Plan? Yes! You can: move a meeting, add a meeting, combine meetings, cancel a meeting, add a custom activity, add a council activity, and change the date for the meetings.
10. Can I set the date and location for troop meetings? Yes. You can set the dates and location for meetings by going to “Specify Dates and Locations.” Then, enter the date for the first meeting—it must be in the future. The system defaults to 15 meetings biweekly. You can unselect the holiday weeks if your troop will not be meeting. Then, go to the “Locations” tab to add locations for your meetings. You can enter multiple locations, if needed. Make sure to select which meeting dates apply to specific locations.
Want to Learn More?
Visit Girl Scouts of the USA’s YouTube channel and search for the Volunteer Toolkit Videos. 17
The Girl Scout Journeys are guidebooks to leadership development opportunities. Journeys are designed to be customizable, flexible, and tailored to a group’s interest. Customize your Journey with field trips, talking with experts, and special activites to make the Journey as personal, intriguing, and educational as possible. That’s a girl-led, girl-centered leadership experience!
Think Like a Citizen Scientist In this outdoor STEM Journey, girls learn the scientific method by undertaking a citizen science project that involves making observations, collecting data, and working with scientists to receive feedback on research and findings. Girls also complete a Take Action project.
It’s Your World-Change It! This Journey encourages girls of all ages to make the world a better place and make new friends along the way. Whether it’s planting a garden, painting a mural, or launching a letter-writing campaign, Girl Scouts at every level experience unique leadership and advocacy challenges and discover what it means to be a leader who makes a difference in the world.
Think Like a Programmer In this computer science journey, girls participate in interactive, computationalthinking activities to learn how programmers solve problems. Girls also complete a Take Action project.
It’s Your Story-Tell It! This Journey explores developing a strong sense of self, discovering the benefits of a balanced diet and physical activity, navigating healthy relationships, identifying ways to enhance self-expression, and promoting well-being and confidence in others.
Think Like an Engineer In this engineering journey, girls learn how to think like a designer by participating in hands-on design challenges and completing a Take Action project.
Outdoor Journey Anchored by the Troop Camping Badge, this new Journey will deepen girls’ outdoor skills through badges that lead to a Take Action project and inspire girls to take an interest in environmental stewardship. 18
It’s Your Planet-Love It! Girls learn about environmental topics such as clean water and air, noise pollution, global warming, soil contamination, and agricultural processes. Each Journey is packed with environmental information and offers ways to improve life for everyone on the planet.
More Badges! In addition to the badges earned within the Journeys, girls can earn additional skill building badges. Specifically designed for each grade level, these badge sets are outlined on the VTK and available for purchase in our retail stores.
Many volunteers find it helpful to think of meetings as having six parts, as outlined below, but feel free to structure the meeting in a way that makes sense for you and the girls.
1
As Girls Arrive. Start-up activities are planned so when girls arrive they have something to do until the meeting begins.
2
Opening. The opening focuses the meeting and allows girls to get started. Each troop decides how to open its own meeting—most begin with the Girl Scout Promise and Law, and then add a simple flag ceremony, song, game, story, or other ceremony designed by the girls.
3
Business. Troop business may include taking attendance, collecting troop dues, making announcements, and planning an upcoming event or trip. This is a good time for girls to take turns leading, especially as they grow up!
4
Activities. Activities will depend on what the girls want to do! This might include working on a badge or Journey, playing a game, or making a craft! Snacks are an option to include in your meetings.
5
Clean-Up. Clean-up is a great opportunity for girls to leave a place cleaner than they found it! Girls can also practice leadership skills by, deciding who does what. Pro Tip: Consider creating a Kaper Chart for clean up!
6
Closing. The closing lets the girls know that the troop meeting is ending. Many girls choose to close with the friendship circle.
Inclusivity Girl Scouts embrace girls of all abilities, backgrounds, and heritage with a positive philosophy of inclusion that benefits everyone. Each girl—without regard to socioeconomic status, race, color, physical, or cognitive ability, ethnicity, or religion—is an equal and valued member of the group. You are accepting and inclusive when you: • Welcome every girl and focus on building community. • Emphasize cooperation instead of competition. • Provide a safe and socially comfortable environment for girls. • Honor the intrinsic value of each person’s life. • Teach respect for, understanding of, and dignity toward all girls and their families. • Foster a sense of belonging to community as a respected and valued peer.
My Notes:
19
With Your Co-Leaders
Arrange the Day and Time for Troop Meetings
• Discuss how you will work together
• When and how often the troop meets is up to you, your co-volunteers, parents, and girls to decide.
• Plan your parent meeting
• Choose the day and time that works best with your schedules.
• Plan your first few meetings with girls
• Decide how often you will meet. Once per week, twice a month, once a month? Is after-school best?
• Schedule future meetings
Work as a Leadership Team Discuss how you will work together. Deciding this in advance will make it much easier to manage your work together and help build your relationship. Decide how your leadership team will: • Share responsibilities • Manage group and individual behaviors • Rotate leadership • Manage if someone is unexpectedly unable to help with a meeting • Meet to plan troop activities • Communicate on a regular basis
20
Arrange for a Meeting Place Where to meet can be a bit trickier. A meeting place needs to provide a safe, clean, and secure environment that allows for the participation of all girls. You might consider using meeting rooms at schools, libraries, houses of worship, community buildings, childcare facilities, and local businesses. For teens, you can also rotate meetings at coffee shops, bookstores, and other places girls enjoy spending time. Here are a few points to keep in mind as you consider meeting locations: • Cost: The space should be free to use if possible or economically feasible so that it can be built into the troop budget. • Size: Make sure the space is large enough to accommodate 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: Determine what types of furnishings (e.g. table, chairs) come with the room and ensure that the lighting is adequate. A bonus would be a cubby of some sort, where you can store supplies. • Safety: Ensure that the space is safe, secure, clean, properly ventilated, appropriately heated or cooled, free from hazards, and has at least two functional exits that are well-marked. Be sure first-aid equipment is on hand. • Facilities: Sanitary and accessible toilets are critical. • Communication-friendly: Be sure your cell phone works in the meeting space or that a telephone is available for emergencies. • Allergen-free: Ensure that pet dander and other common allergens won’t bother susceptible girls during meetings. • Accessibility: Be sure the space can accommodate girls with disabilities, as well as parents with disabilities who may come to meetings.
A parent meeting is a great way to start your troop year. Getting parents involved and keeping them informed from the beginning significantly improves the troop experience for everyone. Before You Begin Talk with your Co-Leader - Make Key Decisions Gather Supplies Invite the Parents (if you don’t have enough girls interested, your recruitment specialist can help you promote your troop)
Beginning the Meeting • Welcome - Name tags - Introduce volunteers - Parent and girl introductions - Distribute Family Guides • Information about Girl Scouts - Mission Statement - Recite the Promise & Law - Benefits of Girl Scouting - Girl-Led programming • Troop Leader Responsibilities - Your responsibilities/role as the leader - Your hopes and goals for the troop • Parent/Guardian Responsibilities - Share your expectations - Benefits of involved parents - How parents can help
Our Troop Information • Troop Meetings - Dates, times, locations - Plan for cancelled troop meetings • Troop Finances - National Membership fees - Troop dues - Who pays for what - Financial assistance • Getting Started - Books and uniforms - GSMH service centers and retail store locations • Communication with Parents - Phone calls, emails, texts, VTK Ending the Meeting • Collect contact information from all parents. • Share your contact information. • Announce next meeting time and place. After the Meeting Following up after the first parent meeting is key. • Submit any registration forms, financial assistance forms, and payments to the council as soon as possible. • Keep a list of all of the girls and parents for your records. • Once all registrations are entered you will have access to your troop list and girl information in the troop tab of the VTK. • Follow up with parents unable to attend the meeting.
Registration Information • Have parents register their daughters (and themselves) at www.girlscoutsmoheartland.org. Selecting the “Join now” button on their smart phone, tablet, or laptops. • If you have parents who need to apply for financial assistance, or pay with cash or check, have them enter their information online and then exit at the “pay” screen. You can then have the parents fill out the financial assistance request form or pay you with cash or a check. Be sure to give a receipt to any parent paying you directly and add one receipt with the girl’s name to the payment.
Parent Meeting Goals The goals of your first parent meeting should be to: • give information, • generate enthusiasm, and • build a support network!
21
Beyond keeping them informed about what is happening with the troop, parents can be one of your greatest resources. Parent involvement will not only enrich the girls’ experience, it will help you fulfill your role as a leader by allowing you to focus on your time with the girls. The suggestions below will give you a good start on how to communicate with parents in your troop. Have a parent meeting. Before you have your first meeting with the girls, invite the parents to a meeting. This allows them to meet you and your co-leaders, meet the other girls, and begin a relationship with other parents. A sample agenda is on page 21.
Establish a method of communication. Girls should not be relied upon to share important information with their parents. As a leader, you’ll want to communicate on a regular basis with the girls’ parents/guardians. You can use various methods of communication to do this, including phone calls, newsletters, Facebook, or email. Keep in touch with parents. It may not be realistic to contact all parents on a weekly basis—however, make a point to connect with them. A simple conversation can go a long way. If you are proud of a girl’s accomplishment, tell her parents. Communicate both successes and concerns. Encourage parents to use the VTK to see what the troop is up to! Have parents sign up to help. A great time to ask for assistance is at your parent meeting. Parents and family of the girls are your best resource. Ask them to provide an extra set of hands at meetings, drivers for field trips, or help with a project.
Greet the parents. As parents drop off their daughters for the meeting, greet them and communicate with them about the meeting and any upcoming activities. This also allows the parents to speak with you about their daughter.
10
THANK YOU
22
Have parents come to the last 10 minutes of the troop meeting. Invite parents to join your closing ceremony; parents can participate in retiring flags, friendship circles, songs, and more. Inform the parents what the girls have learned that day, and when and where the next meeting will be held. Recognize parents. Everyone likes to feel appreciated. Send a note to thank parents for their help, mention their assistance in your troop’s newsletter, or share with them how you have seen their daughter change and grow because of their involvement.
Responsibilities of Parents/Guardians Engaging each parent or guardian will help you work toward ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of girls. Clearly communicate to parents and guardians that they are expected to: • provide permission for their daughters to participate in Girl Scouting, as well as additional consent for activities that take place outside of scheduled meetings, involve overnight travel, involve the use of special equipment, and/or cover sensitive issues. • make provisions for their daughters to get to and from meeting places or other designated sites in a safe and timely manner and inform you if someone other than the parent or guardian will drop them off or pick them up. • provide their daughters with appropriate clothing and equipment for activities. • follow Girl Scout safety guidelines and encourage their children to do the same. • assist you in planning and carrying out program activities as safely as possible. • participate in parent/guardian meetings. • be aware of appropriate behavior expected of their daughters, as determined by the council and you. • assist volunteers if their daughters have special needs or abilities and their help is asked for.
Responsibilities of Girls Girls who learn about and practice safe and healthy behaviors are likely to establish lifelong habits of safety consciousness. For that reason, each Girl Scout is expected to: • assist you and other volunteers in safety planning. • listen to and follow your instructions and suggestions. • learn and practice safety skills. • learn to “think safety” at all times and to be prepared. • identify and evaluate an unsafe situation. • know how, when, and where to get help when needed.
More information on safety expectations is on pages 28-29.
23
Coaching girls as they earn and manage money to pursue their goals is an integral part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Troops and girls should be learning to budget in a responsible and sustainable way. That means each troop should be working to minimize extra costs to themselves and to families. It is a good idea to be transparent with families about troop funds and their usage throughout the year. We strongly encourage troop leaders to: • Provide receipts for parents whenever money is exchanged. • Provide parents with regular financial updates or notification of how and when troop funds are spent. • Allow parents to audit the troop checkbook and/or the annual Troop Financial Report. • Keep receipts for all purchases. • Limit ATM/cash withdrawals for troop expenses, and keep receipts to document cash purchases for the troop.
How is money earned? Girl Scout troops are designed to be self-sustaining through participation in the Fall Product and Cookie Programs. In addition to raising funds for the troop they provide opportunities for girls to gain business and financial literacy skills that are appropriate to their grade-level. Understanding troop finances helps girls to understand they must do their part to help the troop earn money and accomplish their goals.
What can troop money be used for? Troop income should be used to serve all girls and the troop at large. Troop funds are shared by all members of the troop equally and cannot be given directly to, earmarked for, or designated to specific girls in dollar or percentage amounts.
Troop Money can be used for:
Financial Assistance Financial assistance application forms are available on our website. A separate application must be submitted for each applicant; troop applications are not accepted. Financial assistance is reserved for those who demonstrate need; it is not a substitute for troop funds or proceeds. Financial assistance is available for the following. • Girls: national membership dues; handbooks; uniform pieces; GSMH program events, trips, and camp; Girl Scout Destinations. • Adults: national membership dues; Journey handbooks; GSMH program events and trips; volunteer trainings.
• Program supplies for troop meetings • Badges, patches, or pins the girls have earned • Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting or Journey books for the girls • The cost of field trips or attendance at council events • Sashes or vests when girls bridge to the next Girl Scout level • Membership dues for the girls to reregister for Girl Scouting Troop members and families may vote to use proceeds for volunteers’ membership dues, training fees, event chaperone fees, or handbooks. However, troop funds may never be used for a volunteers’ personal expenses such as fuel and apparel. 24
What?
Who?
Each troop needs to set up a bank account using its 5-digit troop/ group number. If you’re taking over an existing group, you may inherit an account. With a new group, you’ll want to open a new account.
Individuals responsible for handling troop/group funds shall be registered members of Girl Scouting and be approved volunteers.
Where?
Location is a large factor in choosing a bank. We also suggest finding a bank that offers fee-free accounts to nonprofits.
When?
Each troop should establish its bank account as soon as possible, and prior to participation in a council product program.
All troop/group accounts shall have the signatures of three approved volunteer members. These volunteers must be registered and cannot be related. Limitations on handling money may be in place for individuals whose background check reveals theft, fraud, forgery, or other crimes.
Online?
Tracking your finances online is permitted. However, online account to account transfers are not permitted.
Tips for Managing Troop Funds • Deposit money received in the troop bank account promptly. • Use debit cards during activities or trips. • Keep all receipts and deposit slips.
How?
To Open a New Account Paperwork needed 1. Corporate Banking Resolution 2. Federal Tax Exempt Letter 3. Troop/Group Bank Account Information Form Bank accounts should be opened with the federal Tax ID number of 44-0594943, not a personal social security number. The bank account information and check imprint must be: Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland, Inc. Girl Scout Troop Volunteer’s Address (optional on check imprint) The troop leader’s home address should be used when opening the account, not the council address. After the account has been opened, a GSMH Troop/Group Bank Account Information Form (not a bank-issued signature card) with bank account information should be returned to your Troop Support Specialist.
• Do not co-mingle troop funds with personal funds. • All persons handling troop money or accounts must be registered, complete a Volunteer Application, and authorize a background check. • We suggest making two people responsible for group funds and keeping a real time account of expenditures. One person could write the checks and the other could be responsible for balancing the checkbook. This will give you a checks and balance system.
Troop Financial Report At the end of the Girl Scout year, you will need to submit a Troop Financial Report which includes information about your troop’s income and expenses as well as bank statements. This report protects the interest of your troop and you as a volunteer.
Taking Over the Account for an Existing Troop If you are taking over an existing troop, you will need to change the signatures that were associated with that account. To do so, contact your Troop Support Specialist and they will walk you through all the necessary steps to make the change. Don’t forget to turn in the Troop/Group Bank Account Information Form. 25
Will she help the local animal shelter across town or plant a community garden for friends and neighbors? Cross the country to see the Grand Canyon, or cross an ocean for the travel experience of a lifetime? Go to summer camp, or earn one of Girl Scouting’s highest awards? It’s up to her and her troop—they own their adventure! That’s the thing. When girls participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, they get more than life-changing experiences and adventure. They also develop essential life skills— goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics— all while soaring in confidence and practicing leadership the Girl Scout way to lift one another up and change the world, together.
5 Skills
“Our cookies are on a mission: to help girls learn five skills that are essential to leadership, to success, and to life.” 26 26
Goal Setting
Decision Making
“I know I can do it!”
“I make smarter decisions.”
“We’re all about trying new things and having fun. Selling cookies is about both. My friends and I work together to set our team goal for the season; maybe we’ll donate to our local animal hospital or go on an adventure. Sure, selling the cookies is great. But what we do with the money we earn is even greater.”
“When I sell cookies with my Girl Scout forever friends, we make our own decisions, like how many boxes we want to sell. We all have to agree on what we’ll do with the money, which means talking it out and being okay not getting our way sometimes. And we have to figure out how to solve problems, like what to do when one of the girls is sick and can’t help out. Our decisions matter.”
First Steps 1917 First known cookie sale by Girl Scouts 1922 Cookie recipe and business plan shared 1925 Girl Scout recipe for s’mores first published
Going Nationwide 1935 Girl Scout Cookie name appears on cookie boxes 1936 Commercial bakers help meet growing demand 1937 Cookie sales go coast to coast
Money Management
Taking Action 1944 Calendars stand in for cookies due to wartime shortages 1952 Girl Scout Cookies help foster racial integration 1961 Cookie earnings fund outdoor activities
New Horizons Into the Future 1970 Cookies help power first Earth Day experiences 1992 Girl Scout Cookies go to outer space 1994 Low-fat and sugar-free cookies join the lineup
People Skills
“I make change happen!”
“I get a lifetime supply of confidence in every box.”
“It’s cool that I get to make change when someone buys cookies. I’m really careful about it. I count it out twice, so I know it’s totally right. And I know each box sold gets us one step closer to our goal.”
“I’ve met so many new people at our cookie booth. And I’ve gotten really good at chatting with them about how we are doing more than just selling Girl Scout Cookies. We’re earning money to achieve our cookieseason goals and do great things.”
2001 Girls send “Gift of Caring” to troops overseas 2013 First National Girl Scout Cookie Day engages girls and consumers 2014 Cookie sales go online with Digital Cookie™
Business Ethics “Selling cookies is more than just business.” “The other day at the cookie booth I made my friend’s mom laugh really hard and she totally forgot her change. I made sure she got it back. She was so impressed she bought another box of cookies. Now I’m even closer to reaching my goal for robotics camp.”
27 27
In Girl Scouting, the emotional and physical safety and well-being of girls is always a top priority. Every adult in Girl Scouting is responsible for the safety of girls, and we all demonstrate that by agreeing to follow these guidelines at all times. Here’s what you need to know. GSMH recommends at least one First aid/CPR certified adult is on site for every meeting. GSMH requires at least one First aid/CPR certified adult to be present for travel, field trips, events, and overnights. We provide opportunities for adults to become First aid/CPR certified. If you or a parent in your troop are already certified, you can provide the council with a copy of their certification.
1
Be prepared. Create and maintain an emergency action plan for troop meetings and outing. Your plans should be shared with all girls and parents and include the following: • Where will you meet in the instance of a fire? (For example, the building across the street or in the farthest corner of the parking lot.) • The location your group will move to in the event of inclement weather such as a tornado. • You should have an emergency phone number for each family in your troop. You will want to share a number where you can be reached during the meeting for emergency purposes as well.
2
Keep girls safe during money-earning activities. Girl Scout product programs are an integral part of the financial independence model, during which you are responsible for the safety of girls, money, and products. When representing Girl Scouts, girls cannot participate in additional money-earning activities that represent partisan politics or that are not Girl Scout-approved product programs and efforts.
3
Create an emotionally safe space. Adults are responsible for making Girl Scouts a place where girls are safe emotionally and physically. Protect the emotional safety of girls by encouraging behaviors like respecting a diversity of opinions; resolving conflicts constructively; and avoiding physical and verbal bullying, clique behavior, and discrimination.
6
Get permission. When an activity takes place that is outside the normal time and place, advise each parent/guardian of the details of the activity and obtain permission for girls to participate.
7
Ensure safe overnight outings. Men may not sleep in the same space as girls and women. During family or parent-daughter overnights, Instructions for staying safe while participating in activities are detailed one family unit may sleep in the in the Safety Activity Checkpoints, on our website. Read the checkpoints, same sleeping quarters in program follow them, and share them with other volunteers, parents, and girls areas. When parents are staffing before engaging in activities with girls. events, daughters should remain in quarters with other girls rather than in staff areas. Ensure that no girl is treated differently. Girl Scouts welcomes all members. When scheduling, planning, and carrying out activities, A GSMH crisis contact card carefully consider the needs of all girls involved, including school with council phone numbers is schedules, family needs, financial constraints, religious holidays, and the provided to leaders. Keep this with accessibility of appropriate transportation and meeting places. you at all troop meetings, trips and events.
4 5
28
8
Understanding How Many Volunteers You Need Girl Scout adult-to-girl ratios show the minimum number of adults needed to supervise a specific number of girls at each Girl Scout grade level. These ratios ensure the safety of girls and adults at Girl Scout activities. For example, if one adult has to respond to an emergency, a second adult is always on hand for the remaining girls. The adults counted in these safety ratios must be approved* volunteers who are unrelated to each other (i.e., not siblings, spouses, parents, significant others, etc.) and are at least 18 years old. At least one adult at all activities must be an approved* female volunteer. Use this handy chart to identify how many adults you need for the number of girls participating in your troop or activity!
Group Meetings
Daisies Brownies Juniors Cadettes Seniors Ambassadors
Events, Travel, & Camping
Two unrelated adults (at least one of whom is female) for this number of girls:
Plus one additional adult for each additional number of this many girls:
Two unrelated adults (at least one of whom is female) for this number of girls:
Plus one additional adult for each additional number of this many girls:
12 20 25 25 30 30
6 8 10 12 15 15
6 12 16 20 24 24
4 6 8 10 12 12
Council Program Events
Driving Safety
All troops attending council events must meet required adult-togirl ratios and have at least one approved female volunteer in attendance. Adult chaperones should not exceed the number of girls registered per troop unless the event is designated as a family event.
Any adult who drives a vehicle with girls other than their own daughter(s) during a council event must be an approved* volunteer, at least 21 years of age, and a registered member. If a driver is male, there must be an approved female volunteer also traveling with the group.
Safety Activity Checkpoints
First Aiders
Most activities outside of regular troop meetings have additional safety guidelines. Please refer to the Safety Activity Checkpoints on our website before conducting each activity.
A first aider is recommended for every troop, and is required for many Girl Scout activities. Safety Activity Checkpoints will indicate if a first aider is required. Some medical professionals automatically qualify as first aiders. GSMH offers CPR and First Aid trainings in various areas throughout the year.
*An approved volunteer is an adult who has completed a volunteer application and background check, received notice of appointment from GSMH, and is a currently-registered Girl Scout member. All volunteers must complete an updated background check at least every three years.
Specialized Program Facilitators GSMH hires certified program facilitators for adventure and specialized activities including: horse-riding, swimming, high ropes, low ropes, archery, and small craft water activities. If your troop or service unit plans to engage in any of these activities at a GSMH program center, please contact GSMH so that we can connect you with an appropriate council facilitator. A request form and fee information are available on our website.
Troop Meetings All troops must have at least two approved* volunteers at meetings, with at least one being female. 29
Who is a mandatory reporter? All Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland volunteers are mandated reporters.
What should I report?
What are mandatory reporters required to do? “All mandatory reporters shall, upon finding reasonable cause, directly and immediately report suspected child abuse or neglect.”
Abuse:
“Any physical injury, sexual abuse, or emotional abuse inflicted on a child other than by accidental means by those responsible for the child’s care, custody, and control.” • “Discipline including spanking, administered in a reasonable manner, shall not be construed to be abuse.” • “Abuse is not limited to abuse inflicted by a person responsible for the child’s care, custody, and control.”
Neglect:
“Failure to provide, by those responsible for the care, custody, and control of the child, the proper or necessary support, education as required by law, nutrition or medical, surgical, or any other care necessary for the child’s well-being.”
As much of the following information as you can. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Child’s Name Name of parents/guardians Current family address Phone number Child’s age/date of birth Child’s gender Child’s race Name(s) of other children in the home 9. Brief description of allegation 10. Name of alleged perpetrator 11. Alleged perpetrator’s age/ date of birth
*All definitions taken from state statutes listed below.
30
What if I don’t report?
How do I make a report?
Violation of the Mandatory Reporting Statute (Kansas: KSA §38-2223, Missouri: §210.165, and Oklahoma: 43A O.S. § 10-104[A])* is a misdemeanor in each state and is punishable by: • Up to (1) one year in the County Jail; and • Up to a $1,000 fine.
Gather your thoughts and as much information as you can without overwhelming or leading the child to disclose more than she/he is naturally willing to tell you. Call the appropriate 24-hour hotline. Kansas Department for Children and Families Hotline
1-800-922-5330
*Missouri Department of Social Services Hotline
Oklahoma Department of Human Services Hotline
1-800-392-3738
1-800-522-3511
*If calling from a phone number originating outside the state of Missouri about a child currently in Missouri, use 1-573-751-3448.
Ambassador
Girl Scout Sign
Quiet Sign
A Girl Scout in grades 11 or 12.
The official Girl Scout greeting. The right hand is raised shoulder high with the three middle fingers extended and the thumb crossing over the palm to hold down the little finger.
Girl Scout signal for silence in a group situation. The person in charge raises her/his right hand and Girl Scouts fall silent as they also raise their right hand.
Girl Scout Week
A time for current members to reconnect with the Girl Scout mission and their commitment to the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
Badges Earning badges is a great way for a girl to explore her interest and learn new skills—and to remember every adventure and show the world what she’s accomplished. Badges are worn on the front of the sash or vest.
Bridging Girls graduate from one grade level to another (Daisy to Brownie, Brownie to Junior, etc.) in a bridging ceremony.
Brownie A Girl Scout in grades 2 or 3.
Buddy System Girl Scouts always use this safety practice of pairing up. This system is often useful on field trips and outings.
Cadette
A Girl Scout in grades 6 through 8.
Court of Awards A ceremony to present badges and earned recognitions; typically held at the end of the school year.
Daisy
Annual celebration during the week of March 12 (the Girl Scout Birthday) to celebrate the beginning of Girl Scouts in the USA.
The Girls Guide to Girl Scouting A guidebook for each program level full of information about being a Girl Scout and how to earn legacy badges.
Investiture A special ceremony in which a new member accepts the Girl Scout Promise and Law and receives the membership pin.
Journeys Program options for each grade level, made up of 6-12 sessions in which girls progressively learn about a specific topic, as well as learning about themselves and making a difference in their community.
A Girl Scout in grades K or 1. Also the nickname of Juliette Gordon Low.
Junior
Friendship Circle
Kaper Chart
Girl Scouts stand in a circle holding hands, right arm over left arm, which stands for the unbroken chain of friendship of Girl Scouts around the word.
Friendship Squeeze Within a friendship circle, one person gently squeezes the hand of the next person and the squeeze is silently passed around the circle.
Founder’s Day Celebrated each year on October 31, in honor of Juliette Gordon Low’s birthday.
Girl-Led The idea that girls of every grade-level take an active role in determining what, where, when, why, and how they’ll structure activities.
A Girl Scout in grades 4 or 5.
Rededication Ceremony
Safety Activity Checkpoints Safety documents which outline policies and guidelines for specific activities. Examples include swimming, hiking, horseback riding, hayrides, and theme parks.
Senior A Girl Scout in grades 9 or 10.
Service Unit Geographic unit of troops within a region led by experienced volunteers who support leaders and troops.
Slogan The Girl Scout slogan is “Do a good turn daily.”
Take Action Project A project that is done with the community, addresses the root cause of a community issue, and has long-term impact.
A chart that divides the chores within the troop/group. The chart typically rotates or can easily be changed so that everyone experiences each job and has the opportunity for leadership.
Trefoil
Motto
Troop Catalog
The Girl Scout motto is “Be prepared.”
MYGS Found on our homepage, it allows you to access your member profile (for registration) and the Volunteer Toolkit.
Patches/Fun Patch Unofficial recognitions for participation in a troop/group or council-wide event that are worn on the back of the sash or vest.
The international symbol of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting. The trefoil represents the three parts of the Girl Scout promise. Online list of troops across the council, that displays information about troop openings, so more girls can find a troop to join.
Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) A digital resource that lets you update your troop’s information, plan your entire year, and communicate with families.
31