Hey, Girl Scout Volunteer.
We're so excited you're here! Our goal is to make your experience as fun and seamless as possible. Here are some key steps for you to check off as you get your troop started. You are already on your way to marking things off your list... look at you go!
✔ Register as a Girl Scout member.
✔ Complete your volunteer background check (renewed every 3 years).
- Connect with Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa (GSGI) staff. A member of our staff called a Volunteer Experience Manager (VEM) will reach out to new troop co-leaders with information on getting started. They will connect with you via email and phone and offer a new leader onboarding experience to set you up for success.
- Connect with your troop co-leader.
- Decide where, when, and how often you want to meet. Submit your troop meeting information with the Troop Catalog Update Form - did your meeting time, location, or both change? No worries, submit the form again and we can update that for you!
- Having trouble finding a meeting location? Schools, churches, and community buildings are excellent locations for troop meetings. If you decide a private location or home is a better option, submit an In-Home Meeting Application.
- Open your bank account. Review setup instructions and then submit the Troop or Service Unit Bank Account Request Form.
- Meet or recruit your troop volunteer(s).
- Troops must have 2 co-leaders who must be unrelated, and one must be female. All troop volunteers must become registered Girl Scout volunteers and complete a background check. Additional roles include: Troop Support Volunteers (driver, chaperone, occasional help), Troop Product Manager (for Fall Product and/or Cookies), Troop First Aid/CPR, and any additional roles you may determine is needed.
- Want help or tips to recruit volunteers for your troop? Email us at info@gsiowa.org and we would be happy to help!
- Start planning.
- Plan and host your first Troop and Parent Meeting.
- Have parents/guardians sign permission forms. The Product Program & Troop Activities Year-Round Permission Form must be signed annually by all parents/guardians and kept with the troop leader(s).
- Review the Code of Conduct.
- The Troop Management section of Volunteer Essentials has excellent tips and resources including Troop Year Plans.
- Get to know your resources:
- Volunteer Essentials: A section of our website designed to support volunteers with easy to access information.
- Your VEM will help you request a kit with supplies to help you get started. Feel free to use as-is or get creative!
- Check out our Leader Guidebook.
- Safety first! Check out ways to create a safe space, including our Safety Activity Checkpoints document and Emergency Procedures.
- MyGS - where you can access many of your troop leader tools and troop details including how many girls are in your troop and a list of troop volunteers.
- The Hub - Our Girl Scout events calendar where you can find and sign up for upcoming GSGI events, field trip experiences (you schedule with our program partners), camp sessions, community service opportunities, and more.
- The Bridge : GSGI’s Product Program Central! Tools to help volunteers with the Fall Product Program and Girl Scout Cookie Program.
- Join the Official Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa Leaders Group on Facebook for inside information and to share tips with other volunteers and parents/guardians. This is a private group only GSGI members and parents/guardians of members can join.
- Sign up for the Shout Out! newsletter for all product program updates.
- Sign up for our monthly Program Express newsletter to receive new program ideas and events right in your inbox!
- Complete online training.
- Visit GSLearn to view the leader training videos and earn your first leader patch!
- 524 Troop Leader Academy: Foundations (we recommend starting with this one!)
- 524 Troop Leader Academy: Elevate!
- GSUSA Girl Scouts in the Outdoors
- 524 First Aid/CPR/AED Certification (Someone in the troop must have First Aid/CPR/AED training in order to go anywhere. GSGI offers First Aid/CPR/AED training throughout the year! Find one closest to you today!)
- Looking to add more members to your troop?
- To make it easy for the girls in your community to join your troop, you can request a variety of flyers through the Troop Flyer Request Form. If you’d like staff assistance from your Community Engagement Manager, you can indicate that on the Troop Flyer Request Form and we will be happy to team up with you to host an event! Any questions? Email info@gsiowa.org and a member from our membership development team will follow up.
- You can also access a generic flyer online to download, print, and share with those in your community.
- Questions or need additional guidance?
- Email us at info@gsiowa.org or give us a call 800-342-8389 and we would be happy to connect you with your Volunteer Experience Manager!
- We also check in throughout the year to ensure you are on the right path to having a successful first year as a Girl Scout Troop Leader.
