Getting Started

Chapter Overview

• Identify areas you might be able to host your troop meeting

• Discover ways to connect with troop volunteers and communicate between parents/caregivers

Getting Started with Your Co-Leader

• Engage adults in troop committee positions

Here are some key things to keep in mind when planning the year with your co-leader.

• Meet up to chat and get to know each other. Share individual strengths, hobbies, education, skills, interests, and work schedules.

• Make sure both troop leaders have completed their Troop Start-up Training on gsLearn.

• Review the Volunteer Toolkit together- make sure you both have access and decide who will edit or update which parts.

• Divide tasks evenly between both troop leaders. Make sure tasks are specific. Working together is better.

– How will you initially communicate with families? Email, text, social media group, etc.

– Who will handle the troop finances/troop bank account?

– How will you work with your own Girl Scout?

– Who will handle paperwork? (Registrations, medical forms, permission slips, etc.)

– Who will lead meetings?

• Determine if your troop will collect dues. Have a discussion with families about dues at the parent/ caregiver meeting.

• Figure out logistics of what support you need from parents/caregiver. Delegating these tasks up front will help keep troop leaders from getting overwhelmed.

Can someone share a special skill?

– Other support to think about: managing Product Program, purchasing supplies, snack, setting up outings, etc.

Setting Troop Expectations with volunteers

• Decide on the day, time, frequency, and meeting location for troop meetings.

• Create a tentative year calendar of meetings and scheduled activities, taking into consideration events the service unit has already planned. Pencil in as much information as possible, including service unit and council events. Use this calendar at your parent/caregiver meeting to discuss with families what they would like to do during the year.

• Schedule your parent/caregiver meeting.

• Discuss expectations for group and individual behavior management so it is consistent and positive behavior reinforcement is utilized. It is often helpful if leaders swap responsibility for each other’s daughter while at Girl Scouts.

• Establish troop rules with the girls at their first troop meeting.

• Learn and agree how to handle conflict appropriately and consistently, while modeling the Girl Scout Promise and Law.

• All families face some time-constraints, keep communication open and work together to problem solve.

• Remember, Girl Scouts is flexible, you don't have to stick to a rigid schedule.

• Identify your troops leadership roles (i.e... who will be a coordinator and how will you communicate-See dividing responsibilities).