Every October the first, a new Girl Scout year begins and you may have decided to embark on a new adventure as a leader of a Girl Scout troop. Welcome to the Girl Scout family! You are in for one of the most rewarding experiences that will be filled with memories that you will fondly keep forever.

You are probably very excited to get started, but maybe a little bit nervous, too. Taking on this new role can be daunting! No worries at all. We have you covered with resources and guides to set you up for success and provide the absolute best Girl Scout experience for your girls.

First, let’s start with training. Every new leader is required to complete the Volunteer Essentials orientation training within 60 days of appointment. Here is where you will get all the basic information you need including policies and procedures, tips to plan troop activities, manage troop finances, staying safe, and more. For more information, check out our Training page on our website. You must also complete the Girl Scouting 101 Training, which can be accessed online.

Next is Volunteer Essentials. Think of Volunteer Essentials as your encyclopedia to Girl Scout volunteering: it’s here when you need it, but there’s no need to read it all today. This new digital edition of our Volunteer Essentials guide is designed to support busy troop leaders on-the-go. You can easily find what you need to get started on your Girl Scout journey and search for answers throughout the troop year. 

Lastly, is the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK). The VTK is a warehouse of information that has everything you could possibly need to plan and execute troop activities. You can find videos to show you around the VTK on the Training page of our website. The VTK houses everything you need for guidance and support including how to plan activities, how to plan a troop meeting, guides to badges and Journeys, and so much more.

Of course, we here at council are here to help you succeed as well! If there is ever anything you need or have a question about, we encourage you to reach out to us. You can give us a call at 561-427-0177 or email us at customercare@gssef.org.

Thank you for embracing this new adventure as a Girl Scout troop leader. Because of volunteers like you, countless girls have been able to reach their leadership potential and make a lasting impact locally and globally. We wish you the best of luck and are here to help you every step of the way!