Troop Leaders
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As girls learn, grow, and lead, you're there through it all.
But you don't have to do it alone—extra support and vital resources may just be a phone call away.
Parents, friends, family, and other community members can provide time, experience, and ideas to a troop, so get them involved from the very beginning as part of your volunteer troop team.
Troop Leader Resources
Suggested Troop Committee Roles 
Suggested Roles
In addition to leaders, other volunteer roles greatly benefit troops.
- Troop Support Volunteer
- Troop Product Sales Manager
- Troop Treasurer
- Troop Family and Friends
All adult volunteers must be screened and approved before taking on a volunteer role.
Troop Role Responsibilities
Troop Leader & Leadership Support
Leader/Co-Leader
- Communicates with service unit volunteers and council staff
- Keeps parents/caregivers informed
- Ensures girls' safety
- Guides the troop's Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE)
Leadership Support
- Assists troop leader(s)
- Ensures girls' safety
- Provides extra help at troop meetings
- Possibly transports girls, coordinates finances, and/or chaperones troop activities
Parent/Caregiver
Parent/Caregiver Responsibilities
- Communicates with troop leadership
- Provides permission and information needed for girl's participation in activities
- Ensures their girl's membership is current
- Provides transportation to and from meetings
- Completes and submits the Health History form
Engaging Parents & Caregivers
Tips for Boosting Parent & Caregiver Involvement
If you keep a positive attitude and follow these tips, you'll quickly discover that many parents want to help with your troop.
Set an expectation that we're all in this together.
We always welcome each new member and their family at the girls' first troop meeting. I introduce key members of our troop leadership and let parents know that they'll be asked to volunteer for at least one thing. Usually, I list (in writing) which things I know I'll need help with and a brief description of what duties are involved. Some of these jobs might include: helping pack for a camping trip, being a cookie parent, bringing snacks, or cutting out pieces for SWAPS. Your troop will have different positions depending on how you expect your year to unfold, so customize your list according to your needs.
A few jobs you might need to be filled in your troop are:
- Troop Treasurer
- Product Sales Manager
- Snack Planning
- Carpool Drivers
- Camping Lead
- Recruitment Supporter
- Community Outreach
- Event Planner (bridging ceremonies, holiday parties, etc)
Utilize the bilingual Ways to Help the Troop form and have every household fill it out.
This is a form where parents are asked about their own Girl Scout background as well as what talents and tasks they may be able to help with. From this, you can learn a lot about who's on your team.
Plan a family event and then fit the job to the personality.
When you host a fun family event, you'll quickly learn a lot about the parents in your troop. It's true that some folks love to be in front of kids, some have great teaching skills, while others are terrified, and don't know what to do. At our family events, we make sure to have a mix of activities, games, and teambuilding-type activities that everyone participates in with their girls. This gives everyone an opportunity to have fun together and you'll quickly know everyone's personalities from how they participate.
Personally ask parents for their help.
In the age of social media and email, avoid asking for volunteers via broadcast email. That approach almost never works and will only cause you frustration. Instead, address parents in a small group or in a one-on-one conversation. Make sure you speak with a positive tone and avoid being confrontational. campouts, BBQs, and events that are geared to be "mixers" are a perfect time to ask because parents tend to be relaxed and not stressed about their other obligations.
Once someone says "Yes," follow up and set them up for success.
As soon as you can, you'll also want to contact the volunteer to give them all the information they need to be successful. You'll also need to let them know if there is any training specific to their position that they will need to attend or complete such as a council background check.
Recognize your volunteer right away.
Once someone says they'll help, make sure you thank them. Perhaps write a personal note and hand it to them at the next meeting. Also at the next troop meeting, in front of all the parents and girls, announce the new volunteer's role. Then ask everyone to thank him or her for stepping up and helping support the troop. This makes the newcomer feel great about volunteering and makes it tougher to back out. It also lets the girls know they have a team supporting their Girl Scout experience throughout the year.
Bridging Ceremonies
Bridging is an important transition in a Girl Scout's life.
It's a defining moment when a Girl Scout becomes aware of her achievements and is ready for new adventures and responsibilities.
Celebrating this change should be fun, personalized, and memorable for everyone involved. And, most of all, it should be planned by Girl Scouts in true partnership with adults.
When planning a bridging ceremony, please:
- Review the Girl Scout Bridging Guide.
- View the Bridging Ceremony Short & Snappy on gsLearn.
- Purchase bridging supplies via service center order pickup or at our council shops in Clinton Twp and Southgate.
- Renew your Girl Scouts' memberships by June 15 of that year.
Important Links & Documents
For New Troop Leaders
Getting Started
Thank you for helping inspire tomorrow's leaders.
The information in this section will help you navigate through major milestones as a Girl Scout troop leader.
Quick Startup Checklist
- Receive Your Appointment Letter
- Get a Troop Number
- Set Up Troop Bank Account
- Take Required Training Sessions
- Recruit Volunteers
- Register Girls and Adults
- Set Troop Meeting Information
- Hold a Troop Organizational Meeting
Resources & Help
Reference Guides
Training Options
gsLearn is the portal to GSSEM's online, on-demand learning opportunities.
New troop leaders and co-leaders are required to complete:
- Troop Leader Orientation Live Webinar gsLearn
- Grade-Level Essentials* gsLearn
- Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention Course gsLearn
In addition to these mandatory courses, you can learn a wide range of topics online through GSSEM's interactive and informative video tutorials called Short & Snappies.
Check out our event list for upcoming training opportunities.
You must complete at least one Grade-Level Essentials training.
Rallyhood
Rallyhood is an all-in-one platform that combines many tools Girl Scout service units and troop leaders use to communicate and collaborate with families and other volunteers. With Rallyhood, you can manage event promotion/registration/payment, share photos, post/reply to messages, and more!
If you have questions, want to request a Rally for your troop, or need a platform invitation, please email volunteerexp@gssem.org.
Member Support Specialist (MSS)
Your MSS will contact you after you’ve completed your troop organization meeting. They'll provide a wealth of information and help throughout the troop year. They're assigned to each troop volunteer, based on the GSSEM community in which your troop meets.
Troop Management
Your Member Profile on MyGS
The Member Profile is where you’ll manage the Girl Scout members in your household and troop.
There are step-by-step learning modules for Managing Your Member Profile on gsLearn that you can view anytime, anywhere.
Assembling Your Troop
You're going to need family members, sister volunteers, and girls to organize your troop. Please remember to always follow the adult-to-youth ratio.
- Recruiting Adults
Consider the adult support and resources you'll need throughout the year. There's even a short learning module if you need help talking to parents or adding adults to your troop.
- Recruiting Girls
GSSEM's online Opportunity Catalog is where interested families can find available troops for their girls. Your recruitment specialist can help with adding your new troop to the Opportunity Catalog.
Finances shouldn't stand in the way of a girl’s participation. Girls in need of financial assistance for membership may request it during online registration.
Boosting Parent & Caregiver Involvement
The first step for increasing meaningful family involvement in your troop is figuring out where parents can get involved.
For tips on how to do this, check out our Engaging Girl Scout Families webinar on gsLearn. It's important to take time to define your troop’s needs and identify opportunities for parents to support the troop.
Safety Activity Checkpoints
Troop leaders must always refer to Safety Activity Checkpoints and Volunteer Essentials for everything their troop does during the year.
These resources cover everything—from packing the right gear to maintaining adequate adult-to-girl ratios, using the buddy system, and so much more! Be sure to refer to them when planning all of your troop’s activities.
Troop Meetings
Troop meetings should be fun, productive, and girl-led. At your meetings, you and your girls can plan which activities they may want to do, like badges or service projects.
To help get started, check out the First Four Meetings Short & Snappy. Rallyhood is also a great place to help plan every troop meeting of your Girl Scout year.
Troop Finances
Managing Troop Finances
Every GSSEM troop is required to open and maintain a troop bank account for troop dues (optional) and product sales revenues, and for purchasing supplies or activities. The troop cannot participate in any money-making activities until a troop bank account is established.
Learn how you can get your troop bank account up and running by viewing the Managing Troop Finances Short & Snappy on gsLearn.
See the Recommended Banks for Troop Leaders to help make the process smoother.
Annual Troop Finance Report
Every troop must submit an Annual Troop Finance Report by June 21 each year. Leaders are responsible for ensuring accurate and complete financial records are 1) maintained for each troop and 2) open for review at any time by parents of girls, service unit/community volunteers, or council staff.
Note especially the following:
- Your Troop Finance Report is due to GSSEM's Finance Department by June 21 each year. An easy-to-use Excel spreadsheet is available for download or on the Forms & Documents webpage. If you don't use Excel, there is also a PDF version on the Forms & Documents webpage.
- Please email your completed, three-page Annual Troop Finance Report to annualfinancereport@gssem.org or fax it to 313-309-1193.
- Accurate financial records and reports are a condition of reappointment for the next year.
- Financial information should be reviewed with girls and parents at least quarterly.
- As a reminder, personal use of troop money is never allowed! GSSEM takes misuse of funds very seriously and will take legal action when necessary, including filing criminal and/or civil charges.
If you have questions about submitting your Annual Troop Finance Report, please email the Finance Department at gssem-finance@gssem.org or call 800-482-6734 and then select the option for Finance.
Awards, Ceremonies, & Programming
Badges
Badges help girls work on things that will deepen their skills in a particular area. Girls can learn to do great things like design a work of art, plant a garden, or build a robot, and earn some great badges as they go.
Helpful Links
Engaging Girls in STEM
As a troop leader, you have many great opportunities to engage your Girl Scouts in the fascinating field of Science, Technology. and Mathematics (STEM), including joining a FIRST Robotics team.
Show your girl how STEM can help her make the world a better place.
Girl Scout Highest Awards
Older Girl Scouts can earn the Highest Award for their level. Girl Scouts' Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards give them a chance to make a lasting impact on their community.
Girl Scouts of all ages have a chance to prepare to earn the Highest Award for their level with the Precious Medals P.I. patch program.
Girl Scout Ceremonies
The ceremonies and traditions that commemorate the milestones and sisterhood of Girl Scouts are essential to the Movement. Also, investiture ceremonies welcome new members—girls and adults—into the Girl Scout family for the first time.
Investitures are typically coupled with Rededication ceremonies, in which girls and adults returning to Girl Scouts renew their commitment to the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
World Thinking Day
Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from around the world celebrate World Thinking Day on February 22 each year.
Beyond the Troop
There are many ways for Girl Scouts to get involved with the organization and their community—with or without the participation of their troop.
GSSEM offers many council and community events throughout the year for troops and individual girls:
You can also tell older Girl Scouts about amazing travel opportunities like Destinations and the Mackinac Island Honor Guard.
The Outdoors
Tips for Getting Girls Outside
We live in a world driven by technology, but at Girl Scouts, the Great Outdoors is where it's at. It’s not easy to break separate girls from technology; the newest Outdoor badges will help.
Learn more in the Badge Explorer, and check out GSUSA’s tips for Raising Girl Adventurers.
Traveling With Girls
Girl Scout travel is a great way to offer girls leadership opportunities. Volunteer Essentials and Safety Activity Checkpoints discuss safety while traveling. Please review these documents prior to any field trip or travel experience with Girl Scouts.
For questions about traveling with Girl Scouts, please email travel@gssem.org.
National & International Destinations
Girl Scouting is all about adventures, and GSUSA's Destinations program offers the ultimate in Girl Scouts adventures for girls.
Be prepared for the amazing: Having a Celtic adventure in Ireland, exploring India and its culture, or journeying down under in Australia and New Zealand—to name a few.
More Online Resources
Please bookmark these important pages and documents.
Also, you can stay up-to-date by following GSSEM's Facebook page.
Product Programs
Fall Product Program (FPP)
The Fall Product Program runs from early October through November each year.
Girls sell magazines, nuts, and candy to help troops earn start-up money to fund troop activities. FPP information is available in early fall.
Cookie Program (CP)
The Cookie Program helps girls learn goal-setting, people skills, business ethics, money management, and decision-making. GSSEM's sale generally runs from December through April each year.
Every year, a wealth of resources are available for troop leaders to help support their girls, including information on selling cookies, in-person and online training sessions, and cookie kits—which are mailed directly to you or your co-leader.
Cookie Program (CP) information is available in late fall each year.
