Troop and Service Unit Activities
In addition to Girl Scout troop meetings, we know troops and service units love to get together for special activities! Here's your handy guide to planning adventures for your group:
Planning an outing with your troop or service unit?
If you're planning an event that falls into one of these categories, a trip agreement form is required before you start your journey:
- Your troop or group will be away for three or more nights.
- You'll be riding horses.
- You'll be doing water activities, or swimming at a location without a staff lifeguard.
If your trip doesn't fall into any of these categories, be sure to follow steps 1 through 3 to plan your activity or event!
- First things first! For each girl in your troop, be sure you have collected a completed Product Program and Troop Activities Year-Round Permission Form. Collect this form from all girls in the troop at the beginning of the year and keep it on file for your records.
- Next, check out the Event/Activity/Trip Checklist for all of your planning steps. Whether you're going on an afternoon outing or a week-long camping trip, this document will explain everything you need to do, including any forms that need to be submitted to the council.
- Be sure to check Safety Activity Checkpoints for all activities–this document will help you gather the resources and permissions you need to have a safe and fun event.
- Communication is key–be sure to communicate with parents about your troop’s plans for an event or activity away from your normal meeting place.
- Turn in any required forms:
- Staying somewhere for three or more nights? Be sure to submit the Trip Agreement!
- Planning to ride horses? Fill out the Horseback Riding Activity Application.
- Participating in a water activity or swimming at a location without staff lifeguards? Be sure to submit the Swimming/Water Activity Application.
- All Girl Scout members are covered under Girl Scout activity insurance. This insurance provides up to a specified maximum for medical expenses incurred as a result of an accident while a member is participating in an approved, supervised Girl Scout activity, after the individual’s primary insurance pays out.
Planning Service Unit Events
Service units should plan events that will bring girls together to learn new skills, earn badges or awards, and have fun! Use the resources below to help plan and get approval for service unit events.
- Develop a plan. A crucial part of planning service unit events is to ensure your event supports the Girl Scout Leadership Experience by planning an event around badges, Journeys, awards, or other aspects central to Girl Scouts.
- Accessibility. Be sure your event date, time, and locations are open and accessible to all girls.
- Budget. You’ll want to determine any necessary supplies and other event costs to develop a budget. If the event is planned as a fundraiser, you must review the Money-Earning Project Guidelines and submit the Money Earning Project Application. Use the Event Budget Excel Worksheet (XLS) to help you create your event budget.
- Safety. Be sure to reference the Safety Activity Checkpoints to ensure girl-to-adult ratios and safety activity checkpoints are followed.
- If you would like your service unit or troop event to be listed on The Hub, please submit the GSGI Service Unit Event Form at least six weeks prior to the event.
Service Unit Event Planning Guide 
Important Forms
Troop Travel
Travelling with your troop is an opportunity for Girl Scouts to develop decision-making skills, work collaboratively with their peers and troop leaders, and build up the confidence to take on more advanced travel opportunities.
Trip and Travel Progression
Volunteers without any travel experience probably aren’t ready to shepherd a group of 12+ Girl Scouts through an airport. Likewise, not all Girl Scouts will approach travel with the same comfort level or ability to follow rules while away. Troop leaders, troop volunteers, and Girl Scouts need to start with small, local trips to work their way up to advanced, national or international travel.
Planning for Trips and Travel
Planning for trips and travel is an opportunity for Girl Scouts to develop decision-making skills and work collaboratively with leaders and troop volunteers. Just remember, all trips should have an immediate purpose (such as complementing badges or learning new skills) and involve Girl Scouts in the planning process. Check out the Event/Activity/Trip Checklist (below) for help planning.
Get Council Approval
Finance Your Adventure
Plan for Safety
Permission Forms
Event/Activity/Trip Checklist
Use this as a planning tool when planning events, activities, and trips for your troop or Service Unit. Be sure to check Safety Activity Checkpoints for all activities. Contact info@gsiowa.org with any questions on safety standards.
THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES ARE NEVER ALLOWED FOR ANY YOUTH MEMBER: potentially uncontrolled free-falling (bounce houses, bungee jumping, hang gliding, parachuting, and parasailing); go carting; creating extreme variations of approved activities; hunting; shooting a projectile at another person; riding all terrain vehicles and motor bikes; using outdoor trampolines; and taking watercraft trips in Class V or higher. Indoor trampoline parks and indoor skydiving are permissible.
For all troop events and activities be sure to bring copies of Product Program and Troop Activities Year-Round Permission Form.
Troop/Service Unit Hosted Events
Short Trips (Day trips or fewer than 3 nights)
Extended Trips (3+ nights)
International Trips
