Volunteer Essentials
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Welcome!
As a volunteer, you’re not just helping—you’re inspiring. You’re a builder of community, a mentor, and a joyful guide who leads with kindness. Thanks to you, Girl Scouts of all ages will dream big, explore boldly, and make a real difference in the world. We’re so glad you’re here!
These pages are designed to support you as a Girl Scout volunteer. From Girl Scout basics to managing your troop, we’ve got you covered! We recommend that you begin by browsing the sections below and return throughout the year to find answers to your questions as they arise.
Additional Materials for Volunteers:
- Welcome to Girl Scouts: New Volunteer Guide: This document contains helpful information for new volunteers; including, GS basics, planning troop meetings and events, working with girls and their families, and more!
- Volunteer Essentials: This robust document is here to help answer your questions about the troop experience, engaging families, safety, and more.
- Volunteer Handbook: Read our council's volunteer policies and expectations, as well as detailed volunteer position descriptions.
- Encampment Manual: Plan the best campout in service unit history! It’s filled with helpful information on how to reserve camp, plan activities, manage a budget, sample timelines, checklists, and more!
- Blue Book of Basic Documents: This publication contains all of the basic documents of Girl Scouts of the United States of America. It is the foundation for the work of all Girl Scout councils. Available online or in print by request.
- An annual Zoom license is available for currently registered, adult Girl Scout volunteers to facilitate Girl Scout activities. Troops can opt-in throughout the year! Licenses can be purchased online.
- Honor Troop Application: Each year, troops who complete the Honor Troop requirements and submit a completed application will receive a patch and year bar for all the girls in the troop.
- Super Service Unit Application: Service units who achieve Super Service Unit status will receive a Super Service Unit patch, the opportunity to create a service unit logo that will be printed on a shirt or tote bag, a volunteer teambuilding day at their closest camp, be featured in GSCSA communications, and be strong contenders for the nationally-recognized President’s Award (separate application).
- Joyce Maienschein Leadership Grants: Cadettes, Seniors, or Ambassadors who are working on a community service, Take Action project, or High Award can apply for a Joyce Maienschein Leadership Grant to help make their dream a reality. (Final Report)
- PRAY Chart: Religious recoginitions created by the faith communities for their members who are Girl Scouts.
Safety Activity Checkpoints
Safety checkpoints are tailored for each activity girls might participate in to ensure that each adventure is safe as well as fun!
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© Copyright 2009–2024 Girl Scouts of the United States of America. All rights reserved. All information and material contained in Girl Scouts’ Volunteer Essentials guide (“Material”) is provided by Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA) and is intended to be educational material solely to be used by Girl Scout volunteers and council staff. Reproduction, distribution, compiling, or creating derivative works of any portion of the Material or any use other than noncommercial uses as permitted by copyright law is prohibited, unless explicit, prior authorization by GSUSA in writing was granted. GSUSA reserves its exclusive right in its sole discretion to alter, limit, or discontinue the Material at any time without notice.
