Welcome to Volunteer Essentials! Starting with The Fundamentals - A Start Up Guide and moving throughout this resource you will find the answers to practically all the questions you might have as a volunteer with the Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians. Any that cannot be found here, just contact the council office and we will help you in any way that we can. It is our goal to help you and your girls have the adventure of a lifetime in the Girl Scouts!Why Girl Scouts? Girl Scout Mission, Promise, and Law - Includes ways to teach the Promise to the girls. Who Can Join Girl Scouts - and How! Girl Scouts' Organizational Structure - Includes contact information for all 3 Service Centers, Camp info for all the council's camps, how to sign up for Leader News, and get hooked up with the Twitter and Facebook sites of GSCSA. Getting Started with Journey Books - Includes helpful tutorial and how to complete Leadership Essentials online. Also includes a link to the Journey Game and the Journey Maps. The maps indicate how the traditional Girl Scout Program fits with the Journey Program. Planning in a Girl-Led Environment Meeting with Girls for the First Time - Includes some Icebreaker and Team Building Activities as well as simply walks you through some basic concepts for your first meeting. Using Safety Activity Checkpoints - VERY IMPORTANT! This is the first mention of the NEW SAFETY ACTIVITY CHECKPOINTS. This resource will replace the Safety-Wise book we have been using. Also be sure to pay close attention to Chapter 4 in this resource called "Safety-Wise (below)." Understanding Your Role as a Girl Scout Volunteer Your Responsibilities - Obviously vital information to know Your Support Team - Information on Service Units and the resources they are and much more
Evaluating Your Skills Taking Advantage of Volunteer Learning Opportunities - Important: Links to the 2 required online learning opportunties. Getting Feedback on a Job Well Done - How to access the Volunteer Recognition Process The Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GLSE) - What is all this "Discover, Connect and Take Action stuff?? The Outcomes of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience - Steps to becoming a purposeful leader Three Keys to Leadership: The Activities Girls Do - In depth about the Three Keys: Discover, Connect and Take Action Girl Scout Processes: How Girls Go About Doing those Activities - How meetings can become Girl Led, how the girls Learn by Doing and how they engage in Cooperative Learning.
The Journey Books! - More in depth look at all ages of the Journey book sets as well as lots of helpful links to new and fresh ideas to use these well-researched resources. Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards - How to access the new requirements for these Highest Awards for Girl Scouts. Badges, Try-Its, Pins, and More! - What are all these things and what are they doing on my uniform?? Other Initiatives and Opportunities - Just a few of the fun things Girl Scouts do Girl Scout Traditions: Pass it On! - Remember these things from when YOU were a Girl Scout? Girl Scout Calendar - Important dates to celebrate throughout the year in Girl Scouting as well as access to an awesome "Global Action Theme Badge from the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts! Time-Honored Ceremonies - Links to some great ideas for ceremonies as well as when to use which kind Signs, Songs, Handshakes, and More! - Things EVERY Girl Scout should know!
Arranging a Time and Space for Girl-Led Meetings - Things to arrange, process and decide before ever having the first meeting. Understanding Healthy Development in Girls - The different grade levels below all have their own unique characteristics. Be sure to familiarize yourself with each level each time you find yourself working with that group of girls. This is a handy resource as you move up in grade levels with your girls. Girl Scout Daisy Development Girl Scout Brownie Development Girl Scout Junior Development Girl Scout Cadette Development Girl Scout Senior Development Girl Scout Ambassador Development
Creating a Safe Space for Girls - the links below will help you to create the safe meeting space, emotionally and physically and help YOU to be what you NEED to be for the girls. Recognizing and Supporting Each Girl Promoting Fairness Building Trust Managing Conflict - Includes helpful Conflict Resolution tip sheet Inspiring Open Communication Communicating Effectively with Girls of Any Age - Includes the handy "LUTE" method Addressing the Needs of Older Girls Discussing Sensitive Topics - Includes how to assess when the girl needs more help that you can offer Who Reports, When and What - How to resport child abuse and neglect as mandated by State Law. Includes contact phone numbers. And for Tennessee only, a website that can also be used. Working with Parents and Guardians - How to communicate effectively and work as a team to provide the greatest experience for all the girls. Arranging Meetings with Parents and Guardians - How to hold that first parent meeting to discuss how the meetings will run, what you will be doing and all the specifics you will want to know at that meeting. Includes helpful paperwork to have at this meeting. Be sure to check out the "Family Promise." Registering the Girls in Girl Scouts - Includes a step-by-step on how to complete the Adult and Girl Membership forms as well as the Membership Dues Summary.
Creating an Atmosphere of Acceptance and Inclusion - How to address inclusion and appreciate diversity Special Needs and Other Issues to Consider - Specifics on how to address special needs withing the troops Knowing Your Responsibilities - link to the Safety Activity Checkpoints (SAC) Responsibilities of the Volunteer - SPECIFIC DO's and DON'Ts for the volunteer; do NOT skip this page! Responsibilities of Parents and Guardians - Handy resource to review with the parents in the parent meetings Responsibilities of the Girls - Handy resource to review with the girls...frequently 
Knowing How Many Volunteers You Need Girl/Adult Ratio for Girl Scout Meetings, Travel, Events and Camping - Print this out and keep with you at all times! Transporting Girls - Very specific information that may be new to some. Hosting a Girl-Led Event - Handy question worksheet to use when planning an event with the girls Approaching Activities Health Histories (Including Examinations and Immunizations) - link to the Health Card that must be completed each year on every girl. Girl Scout Activity Insurance - when it is needed and what is covered
Providing Emergency Care - Great links to the safety related Try-it, Junior Badge and the Older Girl IPP! First-Aid/CPR - Requirements and contact information; also parent consent forms Procedure for Accidents Regional Emergency Council Contact Information - ATTENTION: NEW NUMBER!!!
Establishing an Account - Includes a link to the form to set up a new checking account Closing a Bank Account Closing Out Your Girl Scout Year - Includes a link to the end of the year "Troop Financial Record" When a Girl Transfers to Another Troop - SPELLS OUT the required actions to use with the girls' money when a girl move to another troop, when a troop disbands, or when a leader is not returning.
Money-Earning Basics - Very important Helping Girls Reach Their Financial Goals - without following these steps, it is just another thing the girls are selling. Engaging the girls in THIS process teaches skills, values and knowledge in a way that is priceless! Understanding Financial and Sales Abliities by Grade Level
Understanding the Girl Scout Cookie Program Recognizing that Product Sales are Part of the GSLE - How Discover, Connect and Take Action fit into the Product Sales Program Determining Who Can Participate Knowing Where Proceeds Go Using Online Resources to Market Cookies and Other Products - These guidelines are new because the online resource options change all the time. Be sure to review this. Includes many helpful links. Safely Selling Girl Scout Cookies and Other Products - Some specifics to keep the the girls, you and the girls' money safe. Additional Group Money-Earning - This must be ready and followed related to money earning projects other than the two product sales. Collaborating with Sponsors and Other Organizations
Forming a Troop Committee - You are not alone in this...involve others. Holding Troop Meetings Reviewing the Six Elements of a Troop Meeting - CHOCK FULL of links and helpful tips for a great Girl Scout meeting. This is a MUST READ! Letting Girls Lead - How to do the Troop Governance thing. Give girls the power!
Looking at a Sample Troop Year - Wrapping up what you have learned...lots of helpful links and reminders. Reengaging Girls - flexible ways to participate Traveling with Girls - What kind of trips are there? Seeking Council Permission - Permission must be granted by the Council office before going on any trip. See this section for specifics. Involving Chaperones - Make sure you are following the requirements for the chaperones you involve in the troop. Are they all registered? They need to be! Letting Girls Lead - Remember that everything is a PROGRESSION in Girl Scouting Staying Safe During the Trip - As always: Safety First!!
Reengaging Girls - Discusses "destinations" for older girls. How to get girls to see the world as a Girl Scout Because You Said Yes ... Every volunteer should read this page over and over and over..... To print only The Fundamentals - A Start Up Guide, you can find it here. If you would like to print this document in its entirety, you can find it here. |
Beginning in June our new office and shop hours will be 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with no Saturday hours. This change applies to all three service center locations. 