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How to Become a Leader
How Do I Become a Leader?
Welcome to a world that invites girls to challenge themselves, discover who they are and what they truly can become! While the girls are on their journey, YOU, the Girl Scout troop/group leader can:
• Develop your potential
• Learn new job skills
• Put your special talents to use, and most of all…
• Be a positive influence in the lives of girls
The following steps outline how to become a troop/group leader:
- The volunteer application process
- All adults assuming a leadership role must complete a Volunteer Application (click here to download) or you may obtain these forms by calling the membership department at 716-837-6400.
- After your application and references are reviewed, you can begin the process of becoming a Girl Scout volunteer.
- Register as a Girl Scout with the service unit in which you will be working. There is a $10 annual membership fee.
- Orientation and basic materials
- Contact your service unit or service center representative to schedule your one-hour orientation
- Presently, your service unit will provide you with one copy of the following at no cost to you:
- Leader guide for appropriate program level*
- Activity/Badge handbook for appropriate program level*
- Safety-Wise*
- Blue Book of Basic Documents*
- Leader’s Digest*
- *These books belong to the Girl Scout troop. If a Girl Scout leader decides not to continue with the troop after receiving the books, she/he must return the books either to the new leader taking over the troop or to the local service unit manager.
- Training
- Troop/group leaders are required to first complete Getting Started training. This four-hour training is conducted by trained Girl Scout volunteers and staff at the Girl Scout Service Center and throughout the Girl Scout community. If you are unable to attend one of these trainings, it is also available in home study format. (You can contact your service unit or service center representative to order your copy.) You can now be officially appointed as a troop/group leader and may now conduct troop/group meetings!
- Getting Started is a prerequisite for Program Level Training, which provides information for leaders working with girls at all levels – Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, and Senior. This three-hour training should be completed within three (3) months of your leadership appointment, but it is required to be completed within the first six (6) months of your appointment! This training ensures that you will be prepared to deliver fun, enriching, and safe Girl Scout program to the girls in your troop/group. To meet the needs of volunteers, this training is offered at a variety of locations, and it is also available as a home study. Adults unable to attend Program Level Training in a classroom setting can take the Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, or Senior home study course.
- Forming the troop
- A minimum of three girls and two adults are required to form a troop/group, however, the sky is the limit! Offering an “open” troop/group provides all girls with the opportunity to benefit from the uniqueness of Girl Scouting. Volunteers from your service unit (geographic area where your troop is located) and/or your membership manager will assist you with recruiting girls and adults, adhering to the proper girl-to-adult ratio standards, and officially registering your troop/group. Girl Scout membership registration is required of all girls and adults participating in the program. The annual membership dues are $10, and financial assistance is available upon request.
- Getting started and getting help
- Securing an appropriate troop/group meeting site is the next item on your agenda. Schools, faith-based organizations, community centers, park buildings, and meeting rooms of hospitals, government buildings, private businesses, local banks, and public libraries are some of the many meeting sites used by a troop/group. Consider the girls’ needs, the availability of the meeting site, and the leadership team’s personal time schedules when arranging for a meeting day and time. Consult with your service unit volunteers and/or your membership manager if assistance is needed.
- Prior to meeting with the girls, the leadership team hosts a Parents’ Meeting. Introduce yourself and announce your ideas for the troop/group program. Also, ask parents to assist the troop/group by forming a Troop/Group committee. Committed parents and guardians are a welcome addition and can take care of the many details that enable a troop/group to operate smoothly. Parents can use the Family Guide as a reference to questions about their daughter’s Girl Scout experience
- Having a great time
- Girl Scout fellowship is part of the fun for adults as well as girls. Enjoy new friendships with other local troop/group leaders by attending your monthly service unit meetings. In addition, the meetings are convenient avenues for you to learn new skills, stay abreast of Council happenings, problem solve, share ideas, and grow as a Girl Scout volunteer.
- Troop/group meetings, field trips, service projects, badge work, camping trips, product sales, career exploration, learning, discovering, laughing, sharing and much more! That’s what Girl Scouts is all about. So go ahead and have a great time interacting with the girls and being a super Girl Scout Leader.
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