The service team is made up of volunteers who support troops and leaders and help build a strong Girl Scout program in their local area. In this packet, we hope to provide you with helpful information to guide the work of your team. Your Membership Engagement staff is the primary council liaison for service teams and can help with any questions or planning needs.
GSUSA Service Team Trainings
Want more information on strengthening your service team? Check out these great courses on GSLearn, just for service team members.
• GSUSA Service Unit Training: Developing and Growing the SU Team
• GSUSA Service Unit Training: Effective Meetings
• GSUSA Service Unit Training: Goal Setting & Planning
• GSUSA Who is the recruiter?
Service Area Team Duties
r Recruit new youth members and volunteers and form new troops by building Girl Scout awareness within your community.
The only way to keep Girl Scouts going strong throughout our council is to continue to welcome new youth members and volunteers! Our service team members know the families and organizations within their communities personally and are our best resources for finding ways to spread the word! Our service teams work with their council staff person to coordinate local recruitment efforts and implement grassroots marketing efforts in their local communities.
Example Service Area Recruitment and Awareness Building activities:
• Inviting friends and family to join
• Putting up yard signs or posters in high traffic locations
• Hosting a bring-a-friend event
• Distributing flyers in grocery bags or through local businesses
• Sharing Girl Scout membership or volunteerism information on local websites/social media pages, newsletters, and church bulletins
• Organizing a parade float or walking unit
• Staffing a Girl Scout booth or activity at school and community events, festivals, county fairs, etc.
• Creating a display at a public library
r Provide program opportunities for youth.
Service teams organize program events where local troops of all ages can gather to participate in experiences beyond their own troop. Typical examples of service area events include cookie rallies, bridging ceremonies, camporees, celebrations, service projects, or working with local partners on outings such as roller skating, swimming, or YMCA overnights.
Want to host an event with less stress? Many of our service areas came up with creative ideas for fun, easy events!
Here are some of the great examples they shared:
• Partner with a business or community organization, such as nature centers or museums. They can do the program for you!
• Ask an older Girl Scout troop to plan an event as a fundraiser for their troop. They can do the organizing!
• Host a science fair, art show, or talent show. The girls can do their own programming!
• Keep it simple. Outdoor movies, hiking trips, and outdoor game days don’t require much preparation!
• Work with school or community groups, like drama clubs or cheer groups. They will often run a program as a fundraiser.
Whatever types of programming your area offers, know that our staff is here to support you as you plan your events.
As always, many resources for planning service area programs can be found on the Service Area Resources page of our website.
General Event Planning Help
Service Area Event Planning Guide: Learn the mechanics of event planning. https://vc.gsnwgl.org/service-areas/ planning-events-for-girls/
Service Area Event Support: Need event support? Reach out to the program deptartment at program@gsnwgl.org. We are happy to help!
Service Area Event Ideas
Education & Leadership Cookie rally Science fair Career fair Service projects
Just for Fun Dances
Swimming, bowling, or skating Outdoor movies Parades
Outdoor Day camp or overnight camp Night hike Campfire sing-along Outdoor art day
Girl Scout Traditions Bridging World Thinking Day Badge days
Health & Safety
When planning service area activities, always keep health and safety top of mind and always follow Girl Scout Safety Activity Checkpoints.
r Support and Enhance the Adult Volunteer Experience
Service team members can be great mentors for new leaders, as well as provide local opportunities for training, networking, and appreciation events for volunteers!
Examples of volunteer support activities provided by service teams:
• Host local enrichment trainings for volunteers, such as outdoor education, CPR, lifeguarding, and networking/idea sharing sessions.
• Provide Girl Scout books or troop start-up supplies to new leaders.
• Create a mentoring program to match new troop leaders with experienced volunteers.
• Host a robust service area social media page, where ideas are shared, questions are answered, and local opportunities are posted.
• Plan and implement fun, interactive service area leader meetings.
• Identify exceptional volunteers within the service area and nominate them for council recognition. Awards include Volunteer of Excellence, Appreciation Pin, Honor Pin, Thanks Badge I & II. Criteria can be found in the Awards and Honors section of our website.
• Offer volunteer appreciation and social activities such as a year-end leader dinner or celebration.
r Service Area Volunteer Positions
Service teams have a variety of volunteer roles, developed to meet the needs of the local area. Because the size, geography, and needs of each service area differ, the volunteer structure of each team varies. Below, you will find a list of the most common service team roles. Some service areas have multiple volunteers in each role to help share duties.
The service area manager leads the service team, facilitates leader meetings, helps evaluate the needs of the local Girl Scout community and works with the team to help meet those needs. They also work closely with GSNWGL staff to ensure that the council and local service area are collaborating effectively.
The service area secretary sends out information about upcoming leader meetings and events, takes minutes during meetings, sends out meeting notes, and updates social media pages.
The service area treasurer manages the service area bank account, keeps records of expenses and revenue, and shares this information with members.
The school coordinator (usually one per school) is the contact person within each school. They can work with school staff to distribute flyers, helps set up recruitment events at the school, and keeps the council staff informed about upcoming school events that we could get involved in.
Event planners plan larger events for girls in the service area to attend. Examples could include community service projects, bridging ceremonies, roller skating parties, career days, bring-a-friend events, parent–child dances, summer day camps, and more.
The fall product coordinator organizes fall product orders, distribution, and recognitions within the service area and trains leaders on the program.
The service area cookie manager organizes cookie orders, distribution, and recognitions within the service area, and facilitates cookie training for leaders.
Looking for more information on service team roles? Ask your staff person for our service team slide decks. We have resources for service area managers, event planners, treasurers, and general team members.
r Service Area Funds Management
Each year, service areas receive two allocation payments from the council. Service areas can also raise funds through program events or other approved fundraisers.
Examples of service area expenditures:
• Cover the expenses of service area program events so they can be very inexpensive or free!
• Cover service area event fees, troop numbers or additional insignia for Girl Scouts with financial needs.
• Provide start-up funds, books, or supplies for new troops.
• Buy display boards or other recruitment material for use at school/community recruitments.
• Fund thank-you gifts and volunteer appreciation activities for leaders.
• Provide snacks/food for service area meetings.
• Help fund community service projects.
• Provide incentives for troops that reach special achievements, such as those that add Girl Scouts, help with events, register early, etc.
• Offer training opportunities for volunteers.
• Provide gifts for graduating 12th grade members or Gold Award recipients.
• Offer service area patch programs.
Questions to consider:
• How will your service area use funds this year?
• What needs and opportunities exist within the service area? How can you use your funds to address the needs?
r Leader Meetings
Leader meetings are an important way for our volunteers to stay informed, network, and get new ideas!
In most service areas, council staff will work with the service teams to co-host local service area meetings in August, October, January, February, and April. In other months, we will provide resources for service teams who would like to hold optional meetings focusing on leader idea sharing, training, and local business. (Please note that every service area is unique, so please talk to your staff and service team members to collaborate on your area’s specific schedule.)
These local meetings are a great way for volunteers to connect, share ideas, offer trainings and plan local initiatives and activities. Please note that the August leader meetings will be kick-off events and will include fall product training, while the January meeting will include cookie program training.
Expenses: After creating a yearly plan of work, service team members develop an annual budget to support the activities they wish to offer. Council staff can help with planning and budgeting. Just ask!
Here is an example of a typical service area budget, showing the percentage of funds they plan to spend in each category:
• Program services: 40%
This includes expenses for providing program opportunities for girls, including supplies, facility rentals and extra activity insurance.
• Volunteer development and recognition: 20%
This would include items such as leader meeting materials, training fees, appreciation gifts, year end volunteer celebrations, etc.
• Assistance to individuals: 15%
This includes support for individual Girl Scouts or troops with financial needs to attend service area events or additional insignia or troop numbers. Note: Financial assistance for memberships, basic uniforms, and council programs are funded by GSNWGL.
• Resources: 10%
This may include things such as a Zoom meeting subscription or equipment/supplies for use by troops within the service area.
• Start-up resources for new troops: 10%
This provides a one-time startup gift of money or materials for new troops. Troops are not expected to reimburse the service area.
• Administration: 5%
This includes expenses for administrative costs including photocopies, paper, postage, and meeting place rental fees.
r Service Area Allocations
Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes provides funding to each service area twice a year, based on the criteria below. Funds are deposited into the service area account via ACH deposit in late fall and spring, if all the criteria are met. *Funds are calculated using total number of Girl Scouts participating in troops or as individual members. Girl Scouts participating only via outreach programs are not added.
• Submit a 2025–2026 Service Area plan and/or calendar to their Member Engagement staff representative.
• Submit a 2025–2026 Service Area budget to their Member Engagement staff representative.
• Submit an annual Service Area finance report by May 31 of each year.
• Bank account and updated Troop/Service Area Bank Account Record/ACH Form are on file with the Council.
• Service Area Treasurer has been appointed.
Fall
Service areas will receive an allocation based on participation in inviting new girls and volunteers to join Girl Scouts:
• Service areas where troops and/or volunteers assist with open house booths and fall join events will receive .30 per Girl Scout.
• Service areas where troops and/or volunteers assist with open house booths, and both fall and spring join events will receive .40 per Girl Scout.
• Service areas where troops and/or volunteers assist with open house booths, both fall and spring join events, and hold a service area bring-a-friend event will receive .60 per Girl Scout.
Service areas will receive an allocation based on hosting quality local events for Girl Scouts that tie in with the GSNWGL Super Troop Year plan topics (see page 6).
• Service areas that hold 1 event that aligns with Super Troop Year plan topics will receive .30 per Girl Scout.
• Service areas that hold 2 events that align with Super Troop Year plan topics will receive .40 per Girl Scout.
• Service areas that hold 3 or more events that align with the Super Troop Year plan topics will receive .60 per Girl Scout.
Spring
Service areas will receive an allocation based on offering leader support and appreciation activities. (Trainings, social events, recognition, resources, mentors for new leaders, etc.—see page 10 for examples!)
• Service areas that host at least 1 leader support/appreciation activity during the year will receive .30 per Girl Scout.
• Service areas that host at least 2 leader support/appreciation activities during the year will receive .40 per Girl Scout.
• Service areas that host at least 3 leader support/appreciation activities during the year will receive .60 per Girl Scout.
Cookie Program Participation:
• Service areas that have a volunteer service area cookie manager in place will receive .30 per Girl Scout.
• Service areas that have a volunteer service area cookie manager in place and hold a service area cookie rally will receive .40 per Girl Scout.
• Service areas that have a volunteer service area cookie manager in place, hold a cookie rally, and increase the percentage of girls participating in the cookie program will receive .60 per Girl Scout.
Introducing our Super Troop Year plans, with FREE monthly patch opportunities for troops. Align your service area events and leader support with these monthly topics to help troops even more!
Free Patches? Yes, Please!
Announcing GSNWGL activity fun patches!* For 2025–2026, we’re offering our troops free fun patches EVERY MONTH for participating in these activities! Follow this monthly plan of a fun-filled combination of badges, awards, field trips or travel, just-for-fun activities or parties, family outings, and skill-building challenges. Do you want the reward of free fun patches? You deserve it! And it’s a great way to celebrate troop accomplishments with your Girl Scouts and save money for your troop! You’ll follow a quick link to request the quantity. Plus! you’ll receive a Year Planning Booklet at your Kick Off in August with activity ideas, resources, and planning pages!
September Planning and Family Kick-Off
October Field Trips and Travel
December Life Skills January Cookies and Entrepreneurship
November Service Projects
Super Troop
Service Area Planning by Month
May/June/July 2025
Leader Meetings: Most areas do not have leader meetings May–July. Instead, many hold planning meetings, just for service team members.
Service Team Planning Meetings: Summer is a great time to host a service team planning meeting. Set a time to work together to plan everything your area will do for the year, including events, parades, leader support activities, community involvement, set budget, etc. If you don’t have a large/active service team, invite some new active leaders, or even new people from the community who are willing to serve in a role such as event planner, etc.
Summer Events: Summer is a great time to host outdoor events. Try an outdoor movie, a glowstick night hike, a family campfire, or a swim day at a local pool!
Get involved in a local parade! Many communities have parades for Memorial Day, Flag Day, or Independence Day. Show your community pride with a walking unit or parade float. Need a banner to use? Contact the council! Need ideas? Check out our parade Pinterest board!
Community Events: Summer is a great time for community activities! What’s going on in your local community? County fairs? Library summer reading programs? Farmers’ markets? How could our local Girl Scouts get involved? Let your staff person know as well.
Find a fall product manager. Each service area needs a fall product manager to coordinate the sale at the local level. Service area fall product managers should be identified and shared with the product department by June 1.
August 2025
Leader Meetings: This month, our leader meetings will be our annual kick-off. Your service area staff person will be in attendance and help with agenda and content. Sometimes, kickoffs are held regionally with other service areas, or in a different location, so please work with your staff to create a great option.
Leader Kick-Off: Collaborate with council staff to hold a back-to-troop kick-off for your leaders! Learn about new resources, plans, and programs for the 2025–2026 year! Share ideas and celebrate the new year! The council will provide content and materials, but you can work together to customize and add activities, training, appreciation or fun! Some areas even make it an event for leaders and their daughters or families, or hold it at places like a water park, amusement park, etc.
Back-to-School Open Houses: August is the time of year when we get out to every school, and hold booths at backto-school nights, registration days, meet your teacher events, etc. We will be looking for service team members, leaders and troops to host booths and talk to families about Girl Scouting in the local area. Many service areas make their own picture boards with local info, photos, and featured events to share!
Help spread the word in the community. In August, service teams can help spread the word about Girl Scouting by placing yard signs and flyers in your community, and getting the word out on local websites, signs, etc.
September 2025
Leader Meetings: There are no council-facilitated leader meetings planned for September, so we will not be providing the typical council business agenda and notes, and staff members do not typically attend. However, many service teams like to hold their own meetings. During September, the council will provide a meeting resource on Investiture and welcoming new volunteers. Other ideas might include planning service area events, idea sharing, holding a mini training, bringing in a speaker or holding a social event.
Family Involvement: Have a service area event for families and you can help troops kick off the year AND earn free patches for their troop. Ideas include a family campfire, family outdoor movie, family hike, family picnic, family bowling night, etc.! There are lots of easy options! Other ways you can support this theme would be having leaders share ideas for ways they have involved families in their troop activities.
Host a service area join event! September is the time for recruiting new Girl Scouts. Some service areas have community Girl Scout join nights, where troops host stations or activities, and are there to meet and welcome new girls who want to join. Our staff can help provide ideas and supplies!
Welcome new leaders! In September, new troops form and new leaders come on board. How can your service team welcome them? Have the SAM reach out to all new leaders with a call, card, or token gift. Match them with a mentor! See if they would like someone to help with their first troop meeting, or if an older girl troop can have
activities for the girls while they have a parent meeting. Some service areas provide new troops with resources, such as $25 in start-up funds, or a kit with supplies.
October 2025
Leader Meetings: There will be a council-facilitated leader meeting this month, so your staff person should be attending and providing an agenda and notes with council business. Please work with them to plan your meeting. Field Trips and Travel: Consider helping troops earn this patch by holding a service area field trip or travel activity. This can be a great benefit to troops because sometimes a larger group can get better deals or have opportunities a small group could not access. For example, a larger group may be able to charter a bus, get hotel discounts, share in the cost of a camp rental, rent out a movie theater, pool, bowling alley or roller rink, or get discounted large group tickets and passes to theater performances, ice shows, amusement parks, etc.
Other Things to Consider: In October, additional new leaders will be coming to their first leader meeting, so please think of ways to welcome and mentor. (See September tips.) Think about ways the service area can get involved in fall community events, like trunk or treats. Start planning your winter events, cookie rallies, and holiday parades.
November 2025
Leader Meetings: There are no council-facilitated leader meetings planned for November, so we will not be providing the typical council business agenda and notes, and staff members do not typically attend. However, many service teams like to hold their own meetings. For November, the council will provide an optional meeting resource on badge earning. Other ideas might include planning service area events, idea sharing, holding a mini training, bringing in a speaker, or holding a social event.
Service Projects: Organize a service area community service project and you can help troops give back to our communities AND earn free patches for their troop. Examples include food, clothing, toy, or hygiene drives; yard or park clean-up; organizing troop visits to an assisted living facility to run games, sing, make crafts, etc.; make tie blankets for a local hospital or nursing home.
Plan your cookie rally! Most cookie rallies are held in January, but plans should be made and the event should be posted by November so people are able to attend! The council will provide an event guide with ideas and activities.
December 2025
Leader Meetings: There are no council-facilitated leader meetings planned for December, so we will not be providing the typical council business agenda and notes, and staff members do not typically attend. However, many service teams like to hold their own meetings. For December, the council will provide an optional meeting resource on resource sharing and gsLearn training opportunities. Many service areas make their December meeting a winter social event, such as a Leader potluck, craft night, etc.
Life Skills: Have a service area event focusing on life skills, and you can help troops gain lasting knowledge AND earn free patches for their troop. Examples include a badge-earning workshop, career exploration day, first aid class, cooking class, babysitting clinic, etc. An older troop may wish to lead it as a fundraiser!
January 2026
Leader Meetings: We will have council-facilitated leader meetings focusing mainly on cookie training this month. Cookies and Entrepreneurship: The best way to support troops in earning this patch is by holding a fun, exciting cookie rally! Check out our rally guide for ideas and support. Other ways you can support this theme include having leaders share ideas on how they make the cookie program a true learning experience.
February 2026
Leader Meetings: There will be a council-facilitated leader meeting this month, so your staff person should be attending and providing an agenda and notes with council business. Please work with them to plan your meeting together.
STEM: Organize a service area STEM event and you can help girls participate in fun, hands-on science, tech, engineering, and math activities AND earn free patches for their troop. Example ideas include hosting a service area science fair, where Girl Scouts can show projects and lead activities; organize a trip to a planetarium or science museum; have a STEM career day, with speakers like veterinarians, scientists, IT specialists, physicians, naturalists, etc.; lead a fun hands-on science experiment day; host a badge-earning workshop for math in nature, coding, or
space science badges. You can find several STEM-themed service area event plans here: https://vc.gsnwgl.org/ service-areas/planning-events-for-girls/.
World Thinking Day: Celebrate World Thinking Day on Feb. 22 with cultural literacy events or a Thinking Day badge-earning workshop.
Plan for Girl Scout Week. Girl Scout Week will be held March 8–14. What can your service area do? Send in press releases about local troop accomplishments, host a public event, set up a display in your local library—the options are endless! Your council staff will provide some helpful resources.
March 2026
Leader Meetings: For March, the council will provide an optional meeting resource on Bridging training. Other ideas might include planning service area events, idea sharing, etc.
Celebrate Girl Scout Week. Spread the word about Girl Scouts 114th birthday in your community, and help Girl Scouts and troops find ways to celebrate sisterhood.
Girl Scout Traditions: Organize a service area Girl Scout Traditions event, and you can help troops give back to our communities AND earn free patches for their troop. Examples include holding a Girl Scout birthday party on March 12th and teaching activities the first Girl Scouts may have done; hosting a S.W.A.P.S. workshop, where girls can make and trade a variety of S.W.A.P.S.
March Planning: March is a good time to plan your April leader appreciation events! Survey the leaders and find out what people want to do, or make any necessary reservations.
April 2026
Leader Meetings: There will be a council-facilitated leader meeting this month, so your staff person should be attending and providing an agenda and notes with council business.
Leader Appreciation: In April, most areas do something special to celebrate leaders for volunteer appreciation month. Examples include a potluck, restaurant meal, painting party, game night, leader daughter or family event, dessert party, etc. Please work with your staff person to plan your meeting together.
Outdoor Activities and Overnight Camping: Consider helping troops earn this patch by holding a service area outdoor activity or campout in April. This can be a great benefit to troops because sometimes a larger group can share in property rental costs and provide volunteers with needed skills or certifications all leaders may not have. Examples include a night hike, an outdoor scavenger hunt, an event at a nature center (Note: Many have staff who will provide programming for a small fee!), a trip to a wildlife sanctuary, an archery, slingshot, or other outdoor skills class, a campfire cooking workshop, and more. Consider booking a Facilitated Outdoor Experience or Adventures on the Go to do the planning and facilitation for you, or reserve one of our awesome properties for your event. You can find a great resource for planning an outdoor art service area event here: https://vc.gsnwgl.org/ service-areas/planning-events-for-girls/.
May 2026
Leader Meetings: There are no council-facilitated leader meetings planned for May so we will not be providing the typical council business agenda and notes, and staff members do not typically attend. However, many service teams like to hold their own meetings. For May, the council will provide an optional meeting resource on summer activity ideas.
Celebrations: Consider helping troops earn this patch by holding a service area celebration in May. Examples include hosting a bridging ceremony, a year-end picnic or party, an awards ceremony, a ceremonies workshop, or a special art or projects show where troops can invite families and show off all their projects from the year.
Product Program: Fall product managers should be identified and shared with the product dept. by June 1.
June/July 2026
Leader Meetings: Most areas do not have leader meetings May–July. Instead, many hold planning meetings just for service team members.
Outdoors and Summer Camp: Consider helping troops earn this patch by holding a service area outdoor event or camp during the summer months. Examples include hosting a nature event, night hike, or even a service area day camp. The council has many great resources available, including Facilitated Outdoor Experiences, Adventures on the Go, and more. Just reach out!
Recruit new Girl Scouts and adult volunteers, and get new troops started within your service area.
Examples:
• Host a service area Bring-a-Friend event.
• Have older troops hold a Daisy Party at their school.
• Organize a plan for troops to help at school open houses and events.
• Offer an incentive for leaders who refer new leaders or Girl Scouts who refer new members.
• Host a service area-sponsored community-wide troop for Girl Scouts who can’t find a troop.
• Service area troop plans, runs, and supervises a meeting.
• Organize a pen pal program—Girl Scouts get to send cards to interested friends.
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Provide program opportunities for Girl Scouts.
Examples:
• Fall product and cookie program rallies
• World Thinking Day event
• STEM events
• Family events
• Service area bridging events
• Partnerships with local businesses and clubs
• Outdoor and/or day camp events or troop camp events
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Support Adult Volunteers
Examples:
• Provide books for new troops.
• Host an age level idea-sharing and networking day.
• Match new leaders with mentors.
• Hold a year-end dinner for volunteers.
• Offer first aid, outdoor, or other local training for volunteers.
• Hold a year-planning workshop.
• Match an older Girl Scout troop to plan and run the first meeting for a brand new troop.
• Have a nomination meeting to nominate adults for volunteer awards.
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Building Community Awareness
Examples:
• Place signs and posters throughout the community.
• Participate in parades and local events.
• Create displays at libraries, schools, and public spaces.
• Participate in local festivals or events like Trunk or Treat.
• Participate in Girl Scout Week and Girl Scout Sunday opportunities.
• Work with businesses and organizations to place fliers in shopping bags.
• Do a local service project or event that gets local PR; be sure to submit articles to local newspapers, newsletters, and websites about Girl Scout activities and accomplishments.
