Leadership is more than “being in charge” or having a title; it’s recognizing that you’re part of a team and understanding that team’s needs and interests.
Here’s how you’ll do that with your troop!
Girl Scout badges covering topics like civic engagement, healthy living, and communication skills help Girl Scouts grow in confidence as they develop the skills to lead their best life!
Whether by exercising and staying healthy, developing strong relationships with family and peers, advocating on behalf of others, protecting our environment, or exploring careers that can truly change the world for the better, girls:
Gain the skills and the inspiration to accept challenges and overcome obstacles
Develop greater confidence and a stronger sense of self
Are happier overall and display more positive values throughout life
Your Role as a Girl Scout Volunteer 
Your Responsibilities as a Girl Scout Volunteer
Planning for Your First Troop Meeting
Choosing a Meeting Place
Virtual Meetings
Girl Scout Troop Size
Knowing How Many Volunteers You Need
What begins with Girl Scouts speaking up at a troop meeting can go all the way to speaking in front of their city council for a cause they champion—and they’ll have your support to thank for that. Your volunteer role makes a powerful difference. Thank you for all you do.
Just as you’ll receive support throughout your volunteering experience, when you reach the end of the term you signed up for, you’ll talk with your support team about the positive parts of your experience as well as the challenges you faced, and you’ll discuss whether you want to return to this position or try something new. The end of your troop year, camp season, overseas trip, or series/event session is just the beginning of your next adventure with Girl Scouts!
If you’re ready for more opportunities, be sure to let your council support team know how you’d like to be a part of girls’ lives in the future—whether in the same position or in other, flexible ways. Are you ready to organize a series or event? Take a trip? Work with girls at camp? Work with a troop of girls as a yearlong volunteer? Share your skills at a council office, working behind the scenes? The possibilities are endless and can be tailored to fit your skills and interests.
If you are interested in volunteering in a troop or in another capacity, please reach out to Customer Care at: customercare@citrus-gs.org or 407-896-4475
Volunteer Appreciation
Without our passionate and dedicated volunteers, there would be no Girl Scouting. That’s why we celebrate National Volunteer Month every April! And get ready to crank up the party as we ring in National Girl Scout Leader’s Day on April 22.
Girl Scouts also celebrates National Volunteer Week, which falls during the third week of April. What can we say—we love our volunteers!
Safety in Girl Scouting
Registering Girls and Adults in Girl Scouting
Adding New Girls to Your Troop
Creating an Atmosphere of Acceptance and Inclusion
Registering Girls with Cognitive Disabilities
Getting Support for Your Troop
Troop Management Tools and Resources
Take Advantage of Learning Opportunities
Know How Much You are Appreciated
Girl Scout Participation in Activities with Other Scouting Organizations
Safety and Risk Management - Planning Troop Activities and Adventures
The emotional and physical safety and well-being of Girl Scouts is our top priority. Safety Activity Checkpoints outline the Safety Standards and Guidelines used in Girl Scouting, which apply to all Girl Scout activities.
All volunteers should review the Safety Activity Checkpoints manual when planning activities with girls in order to manage safety and risk in Girl Scout-sanctioned activities.
In Safety Activity Checkpoints, you will find:
- Girl Scouts Safety Standards and Guidelines, which apply to all Girl Scout activities, including requirements for adult supervision, permission slips, preparation, field trips and overnight trips, and other vital information.
- Activities that are not permitted by Girl Scouts of the USA and actions that girls and volunteers should not take.
- Policies surrounding chartered aircraft trips and aviation.
- First aid and overall health information.
- Transportation guidelines
- Standards for well-being and inclusivity along with ways to include Girl Scouts with disabilities and ways to ensure girls’ emotional safety.
- Individual safety activity checkpoints for specific activities—such as camping, internet use, and water sports, which provide activity-specific safety information.
The document is laid out in three primary sections, Safety Standards and Guidelines, Activities at a Glance, and individual safety activity checkpoint pages.
1. Safety Standards are general guidelines that address a variety of topics to assist in how to participate in all activities successfully and safely from troop meetings through camping. These guidelines are not specific, but provide the required guidance that volunteers need for their troops.
2. Activities at a Glance table provides a quick look at the safety standards for that activity with a focus on two critical points to keep in mind when considering and planning activities for you troop:
o age-appropriate activities and participation by grade level, and
o whether prior approval from GSC is required before girls participate in a specific activity.
3. Individual Safety Activity Checkpoints pages provide activity-specific safety measures and guidance on the individual activities that troops and girls may choose to participate in.
Whenever planning any kind of activity, from a simple nature hike to an overnight trip, the safety of the girls and adults attending the activity should always be your priority. To ensure this is the case there are guidelines in place to make this happen.
Please follow these steps when planning your activities:
- Review the most current version of Safety Activity Checkpoints that can be found on our website, which is the Girl Scout guidelines for all activities. Take time to evaluate the activities that the troop has planned, to ensure it meets the requirements such as grade level, vendor approval, specific training, etc.
- Review the Troop Activity Request (TAR) to see if the activity your troop would like to participate in is on the form, then submit the completed form to your Community Safety Coordinator for approval within the approved timeframe.
- GSC may also have additional resources and approval processes. Please review the Girl Scouts of Citrus Approved Vendor/Partner List for the most up to date High Risk activities and programs that the girls can participate in.
- To request a new high adventure vendor, complete the Vendor Request Form for review. Be sure to follow all the basic safety guidelines, like the buddy system and first aid requirements, in addition to the specific guidelines for travel.
- Please review the activity chart below for the basic steps to help you prepare for an activity.
For Troop Travel or extended Camping Trips review the Troop Travel Packet and submit to Customer Care at customercare@citrus-gs.org for approval within the approved timeframe.
Always remember the following:
- For all activities outside of your regular meeting place, including any overnight, community partner events and/or Council sponsored events, you must always have with you a designated Troop First Aider that has a current certification. They must also be listed on your roster for the event.
- For any camping trips, you must always have with you a designated Troop Camper with a current certification for the level of camping you are participating in. They must also be listed on your roster for the event.
- Reminder: Each position must be held by a separate person
- For all overnight activities, events and/or trips all participants must have a current GSUSA membership with a favorable background check. (Non-members are not permitted at any overnight Girl Scout event, trip or activity unless specifically designated by the Council).
- For any event that allows Tagalongs, you must always purchase additional insurance for them to attend. Please keep in mind that most events require the participants to be registered members.
- Please Note: For all overnight events, everyone must have a current GSUSA membership and a favorable background check. (Unless it is stated otherwise for Council only events).
Community and/or Large Events
For events that are hosted by the Service Community or individual troops that are open to multiple troops or communities (including their own), must complete a Community/Large Group Activity Request Form (CAR) and submit it to their Community Safety Coordinator 1 month prior to the date of the event.
Reminders:
- All troops attending these types of events must still submit a TAR to their Community Safety Coordinator a minimum of 2 weeks prior to the event.
- If the event is open to non-members, additional insurance must be purchased. See insurance for more information.
For additional questions regarding how to plan and prepare for activities safely, contact the Community Safety Coordinator in your community and they will be able to guide you.
You can also send your questions to Customer Care at: customercare@citrus-gs.org
Girl Scout Insurance
To purchase additional insurance submit the appropriate form found on the Girl Scouts of Citrus website to Customer Care at: customercare@citrus-gs.org with your approved paperwork and payment information.
© Copyright 2009–2022 Girl Scouts of the United States of America. All rights reserved. All information and material contained in Girl Scouts’ Volunteer Essentials guide (“Material”) is provided by Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA) and is intended to be educational material solely to be used by Girl Scout volunteers and council staff. Reproduction, distribution, compiling, or creating derivative works of any portion of the Material or any use other than noncommercial uses as permitted by copyright law is prohibited, unless explicit, prior authorization by GSUSA in writing was granted. GSUSA reserves its exclusive right in its sole discretion to alter, limit, or discontinue the Material at any time without notice.
