Adventures Beyond the Troop Meeting

At Girl Scouts, she can discover more—including more about herself and the world around her. One of the best ways to inspire discovery and explore new leadership opportunities is to get Girl Scouts out into the world! Trying new activities or participating in shared interests is a great way to bond as a troop and encourages girls to grow and support each other. Girl-led activities are at the heart of our program, and we want to help troop leaders prepare for any kind of adventure your Girl Scouts can dream up!

Where should you

start? Submit a Troop Activity Interest Form for any adventure beyond the regular troop meeting.

Follow this check list for easy troop travel approval.

Early Stages of Planning • Submit Troop Activity

Interest Form. • Submit Money-Earning

Activity Application (if raising funds for your trip). • Submit preapproval for

Cookie Program Credit

Reimbursement (if applicable; service unit trips only). • Read the “Troop Travel”

Section of Safety Activity

Checkpoints with your troop. • Verify each attendee is registered and all adults are background checked. (This is the most frequent reason application approvals are delayed).

• Submit completed Troop Travel Application with supporting documents to info@girlscoutsmoheartland.org. Supporting documents needed include: • o Driver’s licenses and proof of insurance for all drivers. • o Activity Insurance Enrollment Form—this is extra insurance for your trip. • o Trip itinerary—including names and addresses of each place you will be staying on the trip. • o Sleeping arrangements for the trip—include all people on the trip. • o Any proof of insurance or certification needed for activities (ex: ziplining, dolphin tours, • horseback riding). • o Any proof of insurance or additional requirements for housing or vehicle rentals including • extra insurance or proof of safety equipment. • o Proof of First Aid/CPR Certification or other trainings. • o Driving report • Submit Girl Scout Cookie Credit: Reimbursement for Service Unit Events and Day Camps form.

4–6 Weeks Before Local, Regional, or National Trip

After the Troop Adventure

• Send any fun photos or stories to info@girlscoutsmoheartland.org. We love to see what you’re up to and you just might inspire another girl to take on the world! International Trips have different guidelines and should be submitted on a different timeline. Reach out to us for more information.

Travel Tips for Volunteers

• Before fundraising for trips, reach out to us via the Troop Activity Interest Form! We’ll help verify basic trip and activity information so that we can work together to determine if funds can be used for the trip in the way your troop would like to use them! • Check Safety Activity Checkpoints for all recreational activities, housing, and transportation as you plan! Rentals of all types have extra requirements like insurance and approval that must be met before they can be used on the trip. Check with your

Volunteer Support team member if you’re not sure about something! • Tell us about tagalongs up front. The rule is, if you plan to include non–Girl Scouts on your trip, such as siblings, they should also follow the same travel progression rules as members, shown on pages 16-17. For example, an eight-year-old sibling of a Senior should not participate in an international trip. Additionally, a Brownie sibling of a Cadette should not participate in a national trip. And remember, you will have to purchase supplemental insurance for nonmembers.

Travel Progression

Progression allows girls to learn the skills they need to become competent travelers - including how to plan and organize trips! Travel fun can be endless when girls take the lead.

Troops going on Local Field Trips, Days Trips, and Simple Overnights can submit the Troop Activity Interest form to check on Safety Activity Checkpoint compliance for their activity. For Simple Overnights and beyond, troops are required to submit a Troop Travel Application.

Ready for adventure? Check out the upcoming trip to Belize on pages 18-19!

Local Field Trips

Get your travel feet wet. Walk to a nearby garden, take a short ride to the firehouse, or other local spots.

Girl-led tip:

Girls should choose the location.

For Daises and up. Make a day of it!

Girl-led tip:

Girls should pick the location, activity (perhaps working toward a badge), and decide where to go for lunch.

For Daises and up after a local field trip experience. Start with one night, maybe at a camp or museum. Next, plan a weekend trip in a nearby city or state park.

Girl-led tip:

Girls should plan the activity, meals, games, and pack their own bags.

For Daises and up after a day trip experience.

Day Trips Overnights

Regional Trips National Trips International Trips Independent Travel

Spend three to four nights away somewhere a few hours from home.

Girl-led tip:

Girls should plan all the key details, such as activities, the budget, route, and lodging.

Remember— extended trip insurance is required.

For Juniors and up after an overnight. Travel the country! Trips often last a week or more. Think beyond a typical vacation location and consider historical sites, museums, or national parks!

Girl-led tip:

Girls should lead the entire planning process. Don’t forget about Take Action projects!

Remember— extended trip insurance is required.

For Cadettes and up, after a regional trip expierence. Travel the world! These life-changing trips usually take one to three years to prepare. Consider visiting a WAGGGS World Centre!

Girl-led tip:

Download the Global Travel Toolkit, found on gsTravel. The girls should plan their entire trip (learning about new languages, cultures, passports, and visas, etc.).

Remember— extended trip insurance is required.

For Cadettes and up after a national trip. Cadette through Ambassador Girl Scouts with travel experience can travel nationally or internationally by themselves through councilsponsored opportunities or GSUSA’s destinations.

To learn more, check with us or visit the Girl Scout Destinations website.

For Cadettes and up after an international trip.

Girl Scouts to Belize: A Wildlife Adventure

Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland is continuing our partnership with EF Tours to provide Girl Scouts with the opportunity of a lifetime! Join us as we discover a tropical paradise with miles of shimmering blue Caribbean coastline and lush jungle canopies. Belize is bursting with diverse wildlife and a sense of adventure. See native jungle animals up close on multiple nature hikes, whiz through the treetops on a zip-line, and snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean. Ancient ruins, cave tubing, and a riverboat cruise ensure this will be an adventure that Girl Scouts will never forget. When? June 21–28, 2023 Who? Girl and adult members of Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland. Girls must be at least 11 years old at the time of travel. The tour group will include a full-time Tour Director from EF Tours and Chaperones. Chaperones will consist of Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland staff and adult travelers. All adult travelers will have the opportunity to apply to be a chaperone. Additional information on the chaperone selection process will sent via email to travelers at a later date. How Much? The current price for this trip is $3,545 for girls, and $3,995 for adults. Price will increase as the departure date gets closer—so sign up now! You can find the most up-to-date price on the trip website. A $95 deposit is required at time of enrollment. Payments can be made on a schedule and in multiple forms. • Credit/debit card payments can be made online by the EF Tour traveler portal. • Cookie Program Credit or Fall Fund payments can be made by sending us an email at info@ girlscoutsmoheartland.org with the traveler’s name, card number, and amount to apply to her trip. This form of payment cannot be used for the $95 deposit. • Travelers can apply for financial assistance.

Here’s what your experience includes: Full-time Tour Director

Sightseeing: 1 sightseeing tour led by an expert, licensed local guide Activity level: Active; moderate walking (at least 2 hours daily), and may include high-altitude hiking, swimming, rafting, or more strenuous activities in high heat and humidity Entrances: Lamanai Ruins; Old Sugar Mill; guided jungle hike; cave tubing; canopy tour; Xunantunich Ruins; Chaa Creek Natural History Center; Belize Zoo; snorkeling Experiential learning: Visit a local exchange All of the details are covered: Round-trip flights on major carriers; comfortable motorcoach; boat; 6 overnight stays in hotels with private bathrooms (7 with extension); 3 meals daily (Days 2-6); dinner on arrival day; breakfast on departure day (Breakfast on Day 7 and 8, lunch and dinner on Day 7 with extension)

For more information on the trip agenda, difficulty level, how to enroll and more—visit EF tours’ website or scan the QR code below.