Thank you for volunteering with Girl Scouts!

Our volunteers make the Girl Scout experience possible, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Use the buttons below to quickly find the tools, resources, and guidance you need to make your role fun and rewarding.

Are you a new volunteer?

New Volunteers

Welcome to Girl Scouts!

Your Role as a Girl Scout Volunteer toggle arrow

The Girl Scout Leadership Experience is based on three keys—discover, connect, and take action—but it’s not just for your troop. As a Girl Scout volunteer, you will embark on your own leadership journey as you help Girl Scouts develop the leadership skills they’ll use to make the world a better place. Here are a few basic concepts that outline what leadership means in Girl Scouting.

Leadership is teaching your Girl Scouts:

That they can do and be anything!
That they are decision makers and should own their decisions.
How to live the Girl Scout Law by modeling it for them.

As a leader, see yourself as a coach who:

Advises, discusses, and cheers on your troop, not as a teacher with a planned lesson or activity but as a mentor and coach.
Ensures each member understands and can carry out their responsibilities within the troop.
Encourages Girl Scouts to build their skills and their ethics.
Gives more responsibilities to each Girl Scout as they grow and develop.

It is important to remember that:

You cannot know everything that your Girl Scouts might ever want to learn.
You’ll explore and learn alongside your Girl Scouts and grow your confidence in the process.
You’re not expected to know everything about Girl Scouting, but you should know where to go for information—and to ask for help when you need it.

Your Responsibilities as a Girl Scout Volunteer toggle arrow

Your responsibilities as a Girl Scout volunteer include:

Accepting the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
Understanding and coaching Girl Scouts through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.
Completing required trainings and complying with Girl Scout policies, procedures, and safety guidelines.
Sharing your knowledge, experience, and skills with a positive and flexible approach.
Working in a partnership with your Girl Scouts so that their activities are girl-led and that they learn by doing, individually and as a group. You’ll also partner with other volunteers and council staff for support and guidance.
Organizing fun, interactive, girl-led activities that address relevant issues and match their interests and needs.
Providing guidance and information regarding Girl Scout group meetings with troop families on a regular and ongoing basis through a variety of tools, including email, phone calls, newsletters, blogs, other forms of social media, and any other method you choose.
Processing and completing registration forms and other paperwork, such as permission slips.
Communicating effectively and delivering clear, organized, and vibrant presentations or information to an individual or the group.
Overseeing with honesty, integrity, and careful record-keeping the funds that your troop raises.
Maintaining a close connection to your volunteer support team as well as your council.
Facilitating an inclusive environment and positive experience for every Girl Scout.

Planning for Your First Troop Meeting toggle arrow

Depending on the ages of your Girl Scouts, you might take the lead in guiding the structure and experiences of your troop—from how and when meetings are held to how the troop communicates, from steering girl-led activities to setting financial expectations. You’ll make these decisions collaboratively with your volunteer team or co-leader, as well as with input from Girl Scouts and their parents and caregivers.

Use the questions below to guide your conversations with your troop committee volunteers or co-leader before discussing these topics with parents and caregivers.

When will we meet and for how long? How frequently should we schedule troop meetings?
Where will we meet? Your meeting space should be somewhere safe, clean, and secure that allows all members to participate. Some great meeting space ideas include schools, places of worship, libraries, and community centers. If working with teens, consider meeting at coffee shops, bookstores, or another place they enjoy.
Which components of the uniform will families need to purchase? Which uniform components will the troop provide for each member?
Will our troop be a single-grade level or facilitated as a multi-level troop with Girl Scouts of many grade levels combined into one troop? If multi-level, how will we make sure they each get an age-appropriate experience?
How will we keep troop activities and decisions girl-led? Use the Volunteer Toolkit to help you through this process by exploring options for activities and reviewing the meeting plans and resource lists.
How often are we going to communicate with troop families? Which channels will we use to keep families in the loop? Effective communication will help set expectations and clarify parent/ caregiver responsibilities.
Will our troop charge dues, use product program proceeds, and/or charge per activity? How much money will we need to cover supplies and activities? What should our financial plan look like?

Choosing a Meeting Place toggle arrow

Meeting places should be welcoming. This could mean locations that serve diverse populations, are openly inclusive, have diverse staff, and use welcoming language. What makes a great meeting space? It depends on your troop, but here are a few considerations as you visit potential locations:

Cost. The space should be free to use.
Size. Make sure the space is large enough for the whole group and all planned activities.
Availability. Be sure the space is available for the day and the entire length of time you want to meet.
Resources. Ask if tables and chairs come with the room and ensure that the lighting is adequate. A bonus would be a cubby of some sort where you could store supplies or a safe outdoor space for activities.
Safety. Potential spaces must be safe, secure, clean, properly ventilated, heated (or cooled, depending on your location), free from hazards, and have at least two exits that are well-marked and fully functional. Also be sure first aid equipment is on hand.
Facilities. It goes without saying, but make sure that toilets are sanitary and accessible.
Communication-Friendly. Check for cell reception in the potential space and whether Wi-Fi is available.
Allergen-Free. Ensure that pet dander and other common allergens won’t bother susceptible individuals during meetings.
Accessibility. Your space should accommodate anyone with disabilities including parents/caregivers with disabilities who may come to meetings.

Need a few talking points to get the conversation started? Try…

“I’m a Girl Scout volunteer with a group of [number of members] Girl Scouts. We’re doing lots of great things for youth and for the community, like [something your group is doing] and [something else your troop is doing]. We’re all about leadership—the kind that Girl Scouts use in their daily lives and the kind that makes our community better. We’d love to hold our meetings here because [reason why you’d like to meet there].”

Can We Meet in a Private Home?

Girl Scouts does not recommend holding troop meetings in private homes. If you are considering meeting in a private home, check with your council to make sure it is permitted based on their council policy. In addition to the above, remember to ensure these standards:

Always obtain prior approval from your council.
The private home must be the home of a registered, council-approved volunteer.
Girl Scout members may not meet in a home where a registered sex offender resides.
Some councils require membership and background checks for all adults living in the home. Contact your council for specific guidelines.
Troop members need to be able to focus without disruptions from other household members.
Animals should be kept in a place that is separate from the meeting space.
Homeowners should consider any personal insurance implications. The homeowner should ask their personal homeowner’s insurance carrier if there are any insurance concerns with troop meetings in the home. Also, volunteers should confirm with the council that troop meetings in the home are covered by the council’s liability insurance carrier.
Weapons must be out of view and in a locked space. Medication, cleaning products, or any poisonous substances must be stored in a secure space, out of sight, and preferably locked.

Stuck and need additional support? Contact the GS-NCCP help desk at helpdesk@nccoastalpines.org!

Virtual Meetings toggle arrow

If your group or troop can’t meet in person, there are many ways to bring the power of Girl Scouting home! Meeting virtually can be a fun and engaging option for your troop.

Before setting up a virtual meeting, you’ll want to:

Partner with troop families to make sure Girl Scouts are safe online.
Select a meeting platform that allows families who may not have internet access to call in.
Think about logistics. Work with your troop to set up ground rules; consider how you will incorporate in-person meeting traditions in your virtual space and how you’ll keep meetings on track.
Talk with families on how to keep activities girl-led if they will be completing them from home.

Ahead of the meeting, send out a few simple, step-by-step instructions for how to access the platform and join the meeting. And don't worry if they want to use a web or social platform you’re not as familiar with, because you’ll learn alongside them! For more tips on successful virtual meetings, check out Tips, Tools, and Ideas for Planning a Great Virtual Meeting.

Girl Scout Troop Size toggle arrow

The troop size “sweet spot” is large enough to provide an interactive and cooperative learning environment and small enough to encourage individual development. Though the ideal troop size is 12 girls, we recommend that groups be no fewer and no larger than:

Girl Scout Daisies: 5–12 girls
Girl Scout Brownies: 10–20 girls
Girl Scout Juniors 10–25 girls
Girl Scout Cadettes: 5–25 girls
Girl Scout Seniors: 5–30 girls
Girl Scout Ambassadors: 5–30 girls

A Girl Scout troop/group must have a minimum of five Girl Scout youth and two approved adult volunteers. Be sure to double-check the volunteer-to-youth ratio table to make sure you have the right number of adults present for group meetings, events, travel, and camping. Adults and youth registering in groups of fewer than five Girl Scout youth and two approved adult volunteers who are not related to each other or in a relationship, at least one of whom is female, will be registered as individual Girl Scouts to accurately reflect their status and program experience. Individual members are always welcome to participate in Girl Scout activities and events.

Knowing How Many Volunteers You Need toggle arrow

From troop meetings to camping weekends and cookie booths, adult volunteers must always be present to ensure Girl Scouts have fun and stay safe, no matter their grade level. If you are not sure about the number of adults you will need for your activity, the chart below breaks down the minimum number of volunteers needed to supervise a specific number of Girl Scouts; your council may also establish maximums due to size or cost restrictions, so be sure to check with them as you plan your activity.

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Girl Scout Volunteer-to-Youth Ratios	Group Meetings		Events, Travel, & Camping
Girl Scout Volunteer-to-Youth Ratios	Two unrelated volunteers (at least one of whom is female) for up to this number of youth:	One additional volunteer to each additional:	Two unrelated volunteers (at least one of whom is female) for up to this number of youths:	One additional volunteer to each additional:
Girl Scout Daises (Grades K–1)	12	1–6	6	1–4
Girl Scout Brownies (Grades 2–3)	20	1–8	12	1–6
Girl Scout Juniors (Grades 4–5)	25	1–10	16	1–8
Girl Scout Cadettes (Grades 6–8)	25	1–12	20	1–10
Girl Scout Seniors (Grades 9–10)	30	1–15	24	1–12
Girl Scout Ambassadors (Grades 11–12)	30	1–15	24	1–12

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Safety in Girl Scouting toggle arrow

The emotional and physical safety and well-being of Girl Scouts is our top priority. Safety Activity Checkpoints outlines 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 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 Girl Scouts and volunteers should not take.
Policies surrounding chartered aircraft trips and aviation.
First aid and overall health information.
Standards for well-being and inclusivity along with ways to include Girl Scouts with disabilities and ways to ensure everyone’s emotional safety.
Individual safety activity checkpoints for specific activities—such as camping, internet use, and water sports that provide activity-specific safety information.

Safety Activity Checkpoints is laid out in three primary sections, Introduction: Safety Standards and Guidelines, Activities at a Glance, and Individual Safety Activity Checkpoint pages.

Introduction: Safety Standards and Guidelines provides the standard safety guidelines for Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA) and council approved activities.
Girl Scouts’ Activities at a Glance table provides a quick review of 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:
- Age-appropriate activities and participation by grade level, and
- Whether prior approval from your council is required before anyone participates in a specific activity.
- The Activities at a Glance section is a great quick reference but ensure you refer to the individual checkpoint as you plan your activity.
Individual Safety Activity Checkpoint pages provide activity-specific safety measures and guidance on individual activities.

The Buddy System

Use the buddy system, in which the troop is divided into teams of at least two. Each Girl Scout is responsible for staying with their buddy at all times, warning their buddy of danger, giving their buddy immediate assistance if safe to do so, and seeking help if needed. They are encouraged to stay near the group or buddy with another team so if someone is injured, one person cares for the injured while others seek help.

Registering Girls and Adults in Girl Scouting toggle arrow

Every participant (youth and adult) in Girl Scouting must register and become a member of Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA). GSUSA membership dues are valid for one year. Membership dues cannot be transferred to another member and are not refundable.

Preregistration for the upcoming membership year occurs in the spring. Early registration allows for uninterrupted receipt of forms and materials from the council, helps troops and councils plan ahead, and gets everyone excited about all the great things they want to do as Girl Scouts next year. A Girl Scout’s grade level is determined by the current membership year beginning October 1.

Lifetime membership is available to anyone who accepts the principles and beliefs of the Girl Scout Promise and Law, pays the one-time lifetime membership fee, and is at least 18 years old (or a high school graduate or equivalent). Volunteers with ten or more years of service can become lifetime members at the discounted young alum rate.

Adding New Girl Scouts to Your Troop

Growing your troop is a great way to share the power of the Girl Scout experience and there are many ways to get the word out, like hanging posters in local schools, using social media to reach families in your community, or including your troop in your council’s Opportunity Catalog or Troop Catalog. Want to use Girl Scouts branding? You can use our Volunteer Branding Guide to use templates and a guide to make everything scream "Girl Scouts"!

Creating an Atmosphere of Acceptance and Inclusion toggle arrow

Girl Scouts is for every girl, and that’s why we embrace Girl Scouts of all abilities and backgrounds with a specific and positive philosophy of inclusion that benefits everyone. Each Girl Scout—regardless of socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, physical or cognitive ability, sexual orientation, primary language, or religion—is an equal and valued member of the group, and groups reflect the diversity of the community.

We believe inclusion is an approach and an attitude, rather than a set of guidelines. Inclusion is about belonging, everyone being offered the same opportunities with respect, dignity, and celebration of their unique strengths. It’s about being a sister to every Girl Scout. You’re accepting and inclusive when you:

Welcome every Girl Scout and focus on building community. Show care by learning each person’s name with correct pronunciation, caregivers included! Use a warm and friendly tone, and consistently greet each community member when they arrive. Say goodbye to each person by name as well.
Emphasize cooperation instead of competition.
Provide a confidential, socially comfortable environment. Occasionally ask those who participate in Girl Scout programs if anything is worrying or bothering them. Be a trusted adult they can come to with their needs and emotions without judgment. Allow, but don’t require, participants to say the Pledge of Allegiance or the Girl Scout Promise and Law at meetings.
Teach respect for, understanding of, and dignity toward all members and their families. Learn about the cultures and identities in your Girl Scout community and understand and respect cultural differences. Be sure not to put anyone on the spot or ask them to educate you. Welcome personal sharing about people’s cultural traditions, languages they speak and diverse family structures. Make this kind of sharing a consistent, reliable part of your time together.
Embrace diverse gender expression by inviting each community member to share their gender pronouns aloud or on name tags. Be sure to explain that no one has to share if they don’t want to. Make this conversation matter-of-fact and use a positive tone.
Actively reach out to members and families who are traditionally excluded or underrepresented.
Learn the most valuable ways to support individual children and adults with disabilities, learning differences and/or or neurodiversity. Ask parents, “What can I do to support your child to learn/participate/feel successful in our group?
Foster a sense of belonging to this community as a respected and valued peer.
Honor the intrinsic value of each person’s life.

If you have questions about accommodating an individual member, please reach out to your council.

Focus on Being Accessible to All

A key part of creating an inclusive environment is the idea that everyone has access to be able to participate. As you think about where, when, and how often to meet with your group, consider the needs, resources, safety, and beliefs of all members and potential members. Include the special needs of any members who have disabilities or whose parents or caregivers have disabilities. But please do not rely on visual cues to inform you of a disability; approximately 20 percent of the U.S. population has a disability—that’s one in five people of every socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, and religion. Disabilities include physical, sensory, and cognitive conditions.

If you want to find out what an individual with a disability needs to make their Girl Scout experience successful, simply ask them or their parent or caregiver. If you are open, honest, and receptive, they’ll likely respond in kind, creating an atmosphere that enriches everyone.

It’s important for all Girl Scouts to be rewarded based on their best efforts—not on the completion of a task. Give everyone the opportunity to do their best and they will! Sometimes that means changing a few rules or approaching an activity in a more creative way. Here are some examples of ways to modify activities so that everyone can participate:

Invite a member to complete an activity after they have observed others doing it.
If an activity is focused on using one sense that a Girl Scout does not have access to (like sight for a Girl Scout who is blind), find ways for them to participate using other senses. Can they touch the object or participate by hearing only?
If an activity requires running, an individual who is unable to run could be asked to walk or do another physical movement.

Language Related to Disability

Focus on a person’s abilities—on what they can do rather than on what they cannot. In that spirit, use people-first language that puts the person before the disability.

When interacting with an individual (or parent/caregiver) with a disability, consider these tips:

When talking to an individual with a disability, speak directly to them, not through a family member or friend.
It’s okay to offer assistance to an individual with a disability but wait until your offer is accepted before you begin to help. Listen closely to any instructions the person may have.
Leaning on a person’s wheelchair is invading their space and can be considered rude.
When speaking to an individual who is deaf and using an interpreter, speak to them, not to the interpreter.
When speaking for more than a few minutes to an individual who uses a wheelchair, place yourself at their eye level.
When greeting an individual with a visual disability, always identify yourself and others. You might say, “Hi, it’s Sheryl. Tara is on my right, and Chris is on my left.”

To learn more about delivering inclusive programming to your troop, take our GSUSA Delivering Inclusive Training course in gsLearn. Sign in to gsLearn through MyGS. Login, go to My Account, and click gsLearn.

Registering Members with Cognitive Disabilities

Girl Scouts with cognitive disabilities can be registered as closely as possible to their chronological ages. They wear the uniform of that grade level. Make any adaptations for them for ongoing activities of the grade level to which the group belongs. Girl Scouts with cognitive disorders may choose to retain their youth membership through their 21st year, and then move into an adult membership category.

Getting Support for Your Troop toggle arrow

Just as your Girl Scouts rally around each other for support, you will also have a dedicated Girl Scout support team, consisting of council staff and passionate volunteers like you. Your support team, which may be called a service unit at your council, is ready to offer local learning opportunities and advice as well as answer your questions about the Girl Scout program, working with youth, product sales, and much more.

Before you hold your first troop meeting, consider the support and people resources you’ll need to cultivate an energizing troop experience. Parents, friends, family, and other members of the community have their own unique strengths and can provide time, experience, and ideas to a troop, so get them involved from the very beginning as part of your volunteer troop team. This team is made up of troop leaders (like you) and troop committee volunteers.

Your troop committee volunteers are the extra set of eyes, ears, and hands that help the troop safely explore the world around them. Depending on your troop’s needs, they can play a more active role—for instance, someone can step up as a dedicated troop treasurer—or simply provide occasional help when you need to keep a meeting activity on track.

If a parent or caregiver isn’t sure if they can commit to a committee or co-leader role, encourage them to try volunteering in a smaller capacity that matches their skill set. Just like your young Girl Scouts, once troop parents and caregivers discover they can succeed in their volunteer role, they’ll feel empowered to volunteer again.

Troop Management Tools and Resources toggle arrow

From toolkits and guides to regular contact with experienced individuals, you’ll have all the support you need to be a Girl Scout volunteer. You can get such must-have tools as the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) and gsLearn to keep your troop going strong on MyGS—always accessible via the icon on the upper right corner of our website. Click the login button and then my account button and you’ll find the gsLearn and VTK buttons via the left menu bar. They are accessible on any desktop, tablet, or mobile device, and it will be populated with any trainings you should view. Here’s a list of some important resources you’ll want to check out.

The Volunteer Toolkit

The Volunteer Toolkit is a customizable planning tool where you can find suggested meeting plans for most badges, access activity guides and badge requirements, track your Girl Scouts’ achievements, and so much more. With inspiring ideas so you can engage your troop in a mix of activities all year long, it’s the digital planning assistant that will help you power a fun-filled—and organized—Girl Scout year. Be sure to look for helpful icons to identify activity focus areas like the evergreen icon which tells you the activity can be taken outside or the globe icon which lets you know you can bring a global perspective to the activity.

With the Volunteer Toolkit, Girl Scouts and leaders can explore meeting topics and program activities together and follow the fun as they plan their Girl Scout year. Using the Volunteer Toolkit:

Troop Leaders can:

Plan the troop’s calendar year and meeting schedule.
Email parents/caregivers with one click.
View the troop roster, renew Girl Scout memberships, and update Girl Scout contact information.
View meeting plans for Journeys and badges, including suggested tracks for multi-level groups (K–5 and 6–12).
Customize meeting agendas to fit your troop.
Explore individual meeting plans that show a breakdown of every step, including a list of materials needed, editable time allotments for each activity within a meeting, and printable meeting aids.
Record attendance at meetings and their troop’s badge and Journey achievements.
Add council or custom events to the troop’s calendar.
Submit troop finance reports (depending on the council’s process).
Easily locate both national and local council resources, such as Safety Activity Checkpoints.

Parents and Caregivers can:

View the troop’s meeting schedule and individual meeting plans to stay up to date on the badges and Journeys the troop is working on.
Renew their memberships and update their contact information.
View their Girl Scout’s attendance and achievements.
See upcoming events the troop is planning or attending.
Easily locate both national and local council resources.
View the troop’s finance report (depending on the council’s process).

Get started by logging into MyGS.

gsLearn

gsLearn is our online training platform that gives you easy access to online and in-person learning opportunities as well as the ability to track all your accomplishments! Learn at your own pace, access additional resources, and repeat info when you need it!

Accessing gsLearn

To take advantage of the learning opportunities and other programmatic training offered to Troop Leaders, you’ll need to access our online learning management tool, gsLearn. To access gsLearn, log in to MyGS. You will find gsLearn in the options on the left-hand navigation (or drop-down navigation on mobile) once you’ve logged into MyGS.

Tools and Resources

Girl Scout Handbooks. These grade level-specific handbooks will break it down for your Girl Scouts. Adventures include earning badges and awards, running your own cookie business and learning about the traditions that have brought Girl Scouts together for over a century.

Shop Handbooks.

Safety Activity Checkpoints. Safety is paramount in Girl Scouting, and Safety Activity Checkpoints contains everything you need to know to help keep everyone safe during a variety of exciting activities outside of their regular Girl Scout troop meetings.

Tips for Troop Leaders. When you’re looking for real-world advice from fellow troop leaders who've been there, this volunteer-to-volunteer resource on the Girl Scouts of the USA website has what you need for a successful troop year.

Troop Year Plans. Our age-appropriate troop year plans are the best tool for first year troop leaders to get started with Girl Scouts without getting overwhelmed, or to help any troop leader with planning out a well-balanced Girl Scout year. The entire year is mapped out—just follow along to help your Girl Scouts complete badge activities, improve their communities, and explore the world around them. Access Troop Year Plans online here!

Girl Scout Volunteers in Your Community. Remember that Girl Scout support team we mentioned? You’ll find them in your service unit! Troops are organized geographically into service units or communities. You’ll find a local network of fellow leaders and administrative volunteers ready to offer tips and advice to help you succeed in your volunteer role.

Take Advantage of Learning Opportunities

We know that when you have the knowledge and skills you need to manage your Girl Scouts, both you and your troop will thrive. We offer national onboarding training for new Troop Leaders in addition to local training courses provided by your council.

New Leader Onboarding Courses:

GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: What Girl Scouts Do
In this course, you will learn about what girl scouts do and how they do it at each grade level so you can plan your troop's year. This course is presented through the lens of an experienced troop leader whose troop completed all grade levels of the Girl Scout program. You will have the opportunity to explore the troop's interactive journal and learn about the things they did on their Girl Scout journey. Please note, you are only required to explore the grade levels you will be leading, although you are welcome to explore more if you'd like.

GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: Your First Troop Meeting
This course provides new troop leaders with the structure and tools to plan a successful first troop meeting—and beyond—with their Girl Scout troop.

GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: The Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE)
The framework we use to grow future leaders, also known as the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, is what sets Girl Scouts apart from other organizations. In this course, you will learn how to facilitate the Girl Scout Leadership Experience with your troop in an age-appropriate way. Throughout the course, you will learn about lots of real-world examples so you can apply the framework as your troop ages through the Girl Scout program.

GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: Family Engagement: The Key To Success
Engaging families in their Girl Scout’s experience benefits troop leaders, Girl Scouts, and families too. This course illuminates the value of family engagement and provides practical strategies for how to enlist family support. It also equips you with an agenda to plan a parent/caregiver meeting to set the tone for family engagement for the year.

GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: The Girl Scout Cookie Program
In this course, you will learn the basics of the Girl Scout Cookie program. You’ll discover how and why Girl Scouts sell cookies, who the bakers are that make the cookies, and how to utilize your cookie proceeds with your troop. A review of all the exciting program options you can explore with your troop as you build their entrepreneurial skills is also included. Cookie selling safety and important ways to bring families and caregivers along in your troop’s cookie business adventure are also part of the course.

These courses are available online via gsLearn as referenced above. Your council may offer additional local onboarding training for new Troop Leaders, as well as other ongoing training opportunities. Contact your council to ask about additional training opportunities that will help you grow your skills and confidence.

Other Program Courses Available

Delivering Inclusive Program
In this course, you will practice using inclusive and equitable language to support the identities of all Girl Scouts and foster a cohesive troop environment.

Courses are also offered on specific badges including Daisy petals, Math In Nature, and Mental Wellness.

Co-Leader Resources

Access more resources for co-leaders.

Are you a co-leader?

Here are some of our most popular resources for co-leaders!

Workshops, Webinars, and Enrichments

Whether you are interested in learning more about what Girl Scouts is all about, how to give your girls the best experience possible, or how to use your troop banking resources wisely - our fun workshops, engaging webinar series, and exciting enrichment opportunities will set you up for success!

367 Co-Leader Connection Series toggle arrow

The Co-Leader Connection series is a monthly webinar geared toward providing co-leaders with information and resources to ensure a successful volunteer and girl experience. It is that extra support that we find our volunteers sometimes need. Though the information provided would be especially beneficial to new co-leaders, all co-leaders can benefit! Each month will feature a different topic based on expressed volunteer needs and interest. This series is also a great opportunity to connect and network with other co-leaders within our 41 county footprint. Register on gsLearn today!

Skill Splash toggle arrow

Join us for this year’s Skill Splash on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at Camp Mary Atkinson. This year’s event is all about learning new skills! Spend the day exploring hands on workshops, earning certifications, building connections, and forming new friendships. We’re expecting this to be the best Skill Splash yet. Click the link below to explore our exciting workshop options and visit Activities to register for Skill Splash. Many workshops have limited space, so be sure to sign up early! View the available sessions here!

Administrative Team Conference (ATC) toggle arrow

Our next Administrative Team Conference will occur on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at The University of Mount Olive in Mount Olive, NC. Registration will open in the spring in My GS/My Events. If you have questions regarding this event, please contact Carolyn Pridgen at cpridgen@nccoastalpines.org.

Girl Scout Experience Box

We’re excited to participate in a national program, providing new Daisy Girl Scout (K-1) troop leaders with an amazing resource.

LEARN MORE

Service Unit Teams!

Find out more about Service Unit Teams, and view trainings, resources, descriptions, and more!

Resources for Service Unit Teams

You belong to a network of hundreds of adults who share an important commitment: supporting and guiding Girl Scout volunteers on the local level. Now you can prepare yourself to be a more successful administrative/service unit team member. Whether you've just joined your area team or are a Girl Scout volunteer veteran, we offer lots of great online resources to fill your toolbox and make this the best year ever! With easy and convenient online access to role specific materials, guides, manuals, and more, you will have plenty of support and resources at your fingertips!
Rallyhood is a private, secure platform that helps our mission-driven members communicate, collaborate, and share all in one place. Visit Rallyhood to join the volunteer group in accordance with your position to stay up to date!
Visit this page to view Service Unit Team trainings, descriptions, resources, and more!

Girl Scout Brownie stands near cookie booth

Volunteer Cookie Resources

Help your Girl Scout cookie entrepreneurs shine with these volunteer resources.

LEARN MORE

Online Trainings & Tools for Volunteers

🌟 My GS

My GS is your Girl Scout home base. From here, you can manage everything for your family and troop. Log in using the “My GS” button in the upper right-hand corner to:

Manage your membership (and memberships for your household/troop).
Find exciting in-person and virtual events.
Update your contact information and preferences.
Access essential tools like the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) and gsLearn.

📘 Volunteer Toolkit (VTK)

The Volunteer Toolkit is your official, easy-to-use planning tool for fun and engaging troop meetings. Accessible on any device, the VTK includes program content, award requirements, and resources.

With the VTK, troop leaders can:

Plan the troop’s calendar year.
View troop rosters and email families in one click.
Explore badges, Journeys, and awards for all program levels (with pre-set options for K–5 and 6–12 troops).
Access meeting plans (with agendas, supply lists, and editable time allotments).
Record attendance, badge progress, and Journey achievements.
Add custom or council events to the troop’s calendar.
Enter troop finances (as required by your council).
Find national and local resources (like Safety Activity Checkpoints).

📌 Ready to get started?

Check out VTK trainings in gsLearn before your first troop year plan!

🎓 gsLearn

gsLearn is Girl Scouts’ official online, on-demand training platform. Confident leaders are prepared leaders, and gsLearn provides everything you need to feel supported in your role.

Available to all members—not just volunteers!
Access trainings anytime by logging in through My GS.

🎥 Helpful Tutorials (Video Series)

Setting up Your Year Plan - Welcome to the Explore Tab! This video introduces how volunteers use the pre-built or select your own year plan options from the Explore Tab.
Setting Meeting Dates, Times and Locations - Second in the series, this video shows how to set reoccurring meeting dates, times and locations using the Manage Calendar link.
Customizing Your Year Plan - Third in the series, this video goes over the year plan tab and all of its features. How to change dates, add activities and other tools available.
Meeting Plan Overview - Fourth video in the series, this one focuses on the Meeting Plan Tab and everything it has to offer. It shows the tools available and how to customize the agenda with activity options. Volunteer Toolkit Highlights

For Troop Volunteers

Plan and customize the troop year (with pre-populated options for Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors).
Explore multilevel and outdoor activity options, including new “Get Outside” activities.
Record attendance, renew memberships, and track achievements.
Submit the Annual Troop Finance Report online.
Communicate with families in one click by emailing agendas and plans.

For Parents & Guardians

Guardians now have VTK access, too! They can:

See upcoming troop meetings and activities.
Track which badges their Girl Scout is working on.

Girl Scouts crowd around a computer to work on a project

Rent Resource Kits

We have some pretty cool resources available to support our Girl Scout volunteers as they guide girls through their leadership journey.

LEARN MORE

Need additional assistance?

You can reach the Help Desk by calling 1-800-284-4475 or emailing helpdesk@nccoastalpines.org.

Council Finder

Volunteer Resources

Thank you for volunteering with Girl Scouts!

Are you a new volunteer?

The Volunteer Toolkit

gsLearn

Tools and Resources

Take Advantage of Learning Opportunities

New Leader Onboarding Courses:

Other Program Courses Available

Are you a co-leader?

Resources for Service Unit Teams

Online Trainings & Tools for Volunteers

🌟 My GS

📘 Volunteer Toolkit (VTK)

📌 Ready to get started?

🎓 gsLearn

🎥 Helpful Tutorials (Video Series)

For Troop Volunteers

For Parents & Guardians

Need additional assistance?