Help for Girl Scouts Leaders

Information for Leaders

Leaders - Involve your parents!
Each leader is encouraged to hold a parents’ meeting at the beginning of the troop year. At this meeting, the leaders recruit assistance from parents for the help that they need. Also, other local volunteers and the staff at the Promise Center are wonderful resources.

What are Service Unit meetings?
Leaders get ideas from other leaders, updates on planned service unit activities that their troop/girls can attend, support and information from council staff, enrichment workshops, and so much more – leaders get an opportunity to become part of a group. You are NOT alone in your challenges! So get involved – for more information, contact your Membership Specialist.

Please check Safety-Wise -
Safety-Wise is for all adult volunteers in Girl Scouting, especially those working directly with girls. It’s full of information to enhance your development as a leader, quick tips for working with girls, and lots of advice on creating a safe, fun environment. Use Safety-Wise in conjunction with your Leader’s Guide.

Involve girls in planning -
With girl/adult planning, girls feel involved and have opportunities to become responsible and self-reliant. Girls need to make choices and plans to mature and develop their competence and self-esteem. Girls who are actively involved develop leadership skills, and are more likely to enjoy their Girl Scout activities – staying involved in Girl Scouting longer!

Fathers can volunteer too!
Yes, how wonderful for girls to see men and women working together and having fun. Each volunteer offers girls a different perspective on an experience.

How should the troop budget their monies?
Troops should keep enough money in their bank accounts to cover the activities the girls have planned for the year. Funds should come from reasonable dues ($0.50 to $2.00 per meeting), council-sponsored product sales such as cookies/QSP, an additional money earning project if needed, and support from families. Do not let payment of dues or fees for activities present a hardship or discourage a girl from belonging to the troop.

How are the cookie sale monies used?
The cookie sale is usually the troop’s largest source of revenue. The income from product sales, or any money-earning activity, does not become the property of individual members – girls or adults. Planning and participating in financial activities will give girls the opportunity to learn many skills, such as budgeting, goal setting, customer service, and good business practices, as well as PR and presentation skills.