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Online Support for Volunteers

We’ve got you, Girl Scout volunteers!

When you volunteer with Girl Scouts, you’ll uncover new strengths and build on them. And we’re here to help you shine.

Check out these online resources and training courses that you can access whenever, wherever to make the most of your volunteer experience.

My GS


My GS is your Girl Scout home base and how you access other great tools to manage the Girl Scout experience for your family and troop! By logging into My GS in the upper right-hand corner you can:

  • Manage your Girl Scout membership and all the memberships in your household and troop(s).
  • Find exciting in-person and virtual events for your Girl Scout, your family, or your troop to attend.
  • Maintain your contact information, preferences and manage any changes within your troop.
  • Access essential tools like the Volunteer Toolkit and gsLearn to make your Girl Scout volunteer experience a breeze!

 

Volunteer Toolkit


The Volunteer Toolkit is your official source for delivering easy, fun troop meetings year-round! This fully customizable digital planning tool is accessible on any computer, tablet, or mobile device and provides you with Girl Scout program content, award requirements, and other resources.

Through the Volunteer Toolkit, troop leaders can:

  • Plan the troop’s calendar year.
  • View the troop roster and email families with one click.
  • View badges, Journeys and awards for all program levels including prepopulated tracks for younger and older Multi-Level troop groups (K–5 and 6–12).
  • Explore meeting plans that show a breakdown of every meeting, including a list of materials needed and editable time allotments for each activity within a meeting.
  • Record girls’ attendance at meetings and their badge and Journey achievements.
  • Add council or custom troop events to the troop’s calendar.
  • Enter the troop’s finances (depending on the council’s process).
  • Easily locate resources both national and local council resources, such as Safety Activity Checkpoints.

The Volunteer Toolkit isn’t just for troop leaders!
Caregivers and administrative volunteers can have access too.

  • Caregivers of Girl Scouts in a troop can see troop financial reports, download their attendance and achievement record and stay up-to-date on the great things the troop is doing throughout the year.
  • Individually registered Girl Scouts and their caregivers can access badges, Journeys and awards to take charge of their experience individually.
  • Administrative volunteers can see a demo version of the Volunteer Tookit to see all the programming available to troops and families, as well as provide support and training to their local volunteers.

Ready to learn more?
Check out the Volunteer Toolkit trainings in gsLearn before you start.Click on My GS in the upper right-hand corner to login and access gsLearn and the Volunteer Toolkit.

Caregivers
Check out our easy-access trainings available on YouTube!

gsZoom


Zoom is an easy, reliable video conferencing and messaging platform with powerful security, that works across mobile and desktop devices. Safely meet with your Girl Scouts and families through virtual meetings to stay in-touch when meeting in-person is difficult. GsZoom is our unique partnership with Zoom organization to provide this essential product at a vastly reduced price point for our volunteers.


gsLearn


gsLearn is Girl Scouts’ official online and on demand training platform. Confident leaders are prepared leaders, and these online learnings will give you all the info you need to be a great troop leader.

gsLearn isn’t just for volunteers! All members have access to this great tool. Click on myGS in the upper right-hand corner to login and check it out.

Think virtual meetings are for you? Contact us to get started!

 

 

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More Resources

The documents below contain everything you need to know about volunteering with Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada. From opening your troop bank account to taking your girls overseas, everything you need is here at your fingertips!

Color Guard Training

A flag ceremony is a way of showing love and respect for one’s country. Flag ceremonies are used for a variety of reasons, but they all have one thing in common: respect for the flag. Take this online training to learn about flag etiquette and simple ceremonies to perform with your girls! Girl Scouts will learn how to properly present, retire, fold, and salute the flag before participating in a Flag Ceremony.

Adult volunteers should (1) download the Training Booklet, (2) watch the training video, (3) and then share the training information with their girls.

After adults finish these three steps, they should submit the online form to notify GSSN that the training has been completed. There is no minimum Girl Scout age requirement. However, to participate in a formal Color Guard, girls must demonstrate respect for the flag and ceremony with appropriate behavior. 

Note: The Training Booklet is a resource for you and your troop. Please feel free to make as many copies as needed.

Girl Scouting 101
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GSSN Leader Training Learning Path (Access this learning path through GSLearn located in your MyGS account)  This learning path provides important information to help ensure your troop will be a success.  Be sure to view these videos prior to your first troop meeting.

If you have any questions please contact us through girlscoutshelp@gssn.org or 775-322-0642.

In-Person Training Opportunities

Visit the Activities Calendar for upcoming in-person training and enrichment opportunities. 

Keeping Girls Safe Training

Keeping Girls Safe
The Keeping Girls Safe training provides in-depth safety information and tips that adult volunteers can use to help protect girls by being safety-concious.

 

Outdoor Resources

Taking girls outside as they develop valuable outdoor skills and a passion for nature can be fun for everyone! Ready to step outside, expose girls to new things, and add something special to your Girl Scout year? Check out the resources below!

Outdoor Basics
These self-study materials are designed for any volunteer planning to take girls camping or on an outdoor experience. They provide important information on how to assess your girls’ readiness and ensure a fun, positive experience!

Outdoor Skill-Building Videos
Now it’s even easier for Girl Scout volunteers to introduce girls to the wonders of hiking and camping. Whether they’re camping pros or just starting out, our volunteers can help girls of all ages have positive experiences in the great outdoors. 

Step by Step- Developing Outdoor Skills in Girls from GirlScoutsUSA on Vimeo.

Step by Step: Developing Outdoor Skills in Girls
At Girl Scouts, we work to build girls’ outdoor skills and inspire girls to care for the environment as they grow. The Girl Scout Outdoor Progression Chart (PDF) is a tool you can use as you advance girls’ skills in an age-appropriate way. 

Taking the Journeys Outside from GirlScoutsUSA on Vimeo.

Taking the Journeys Outside
It’s easy to take a Girl Scout Journey outside. Each Journey is full of fun, interactive activities that can easily go outdoors and inspire girls to love and protect the planet. Watch this video to find out how!

Planning Your Troop’s First Campout from GirlScoutsUSA on Vimeo.

Planning Your Troop’s First Campout 
In order to have a great campout, you need to plan ahead—and be prepared. This video will give you plenty to think about as you plan your next outdoor adventure with Girl Scouts.

Introduction to Campsite Set-up from GirlScoutsUSA on Vimeo.

Introduction to Campsite Set-Up 
A safe, efficient campsite is important when camping. Watch and learn how to set up a proper camp!

Introduction to Cooking Outdoors from GirlScoutsUSA on Vimeo.

Introduction to Cooking Outdoors
Propane, charcoal, box ovens—there are so many choices when cooking outside. This video shares ideas about the delicious possibilities. Tasty!

How to Leave No Trace Outdoors from GirlScoutsUSA on Vimeo.

How to Leave No Trace Outdoors
A Girl Scout always leaves an area better than she found it. Throughout this video, girls will learn the importance of caring for the land, and how to easily “Leave No Trace” when exploring and enjoying the outdoors.

Safety Activity Checkpoints

Safety Activity Checkpoints
Safety Activity Checkpoints provides in-depth safety information and tips that adult volunteers can use for Girl Scout activities. Girl can also use these checkpoints to get ready for a girl-led activity! Whether you’re conducting your regular meeting or taking your troop scuba diving, these checkpoints will help you prepare for an inclusive, fun, and safe experience with the girls.

Self-Study Resources
Support Your Girls in Highest Awards

Support Your Girls in Highest Awards

Bronze Award Training

The Bronze Award Training is required for adult volunteers planning to mentor their Girl Scout Juniors through achieving the Girl Scout Bronze Award. Ready to help your troop develop confidence, meet new people and make a difference in their community? Get everything you need to get started and watch the online video training now!

Silver Award Training

The Silver Award Training is for Girl Scout Cadettes who plan on working toward their Girl Scout Silver Award. Parents and leaders are encouraged to attend to support their girls. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the Girl Scout Silver Award process and be able to ask questions about possible project ideas. Girls are required to attend a Girl Scout Silver Award Training (either in person or webinar) and get their project approved before they start working on the Girl Scout Silver Award.

Gold Award Training

The Gold Award Training is required for Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts interested in earning their Gold Award. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the Girl Scout Gold Award process and be able to ask questions about possible Gold Award project ideas. Before beginning their Gold Award projects, girls must attend this training (either in person or webinar). Parents and leaders may attend to support their girls. 

Support Your Service Unit

Support Your Service Unit

Download your Service Unit Volunteer Manual to find out all about service unit position descriptions, guides on how to handle service unit finances, resolve conflict, plan events, mentor leaders, be welcoming, and much more!

Check out these brief Service Unit training videos:

Service Unit Planning

Service Unit Meeting Attendance

Service Unit Budgets

Incorporating the GSLE into Service Unit Events

Travel

Domestic Travel
Completion of the following self-study materials are required for any volunteer planning a trip with a group of Girl Scouts.

Troop Leadership
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Troop Leadership
Troop Leadership is an in-person volunteer learning workshop that is required for all troop leaders, and highly recommended for all other volunteers working with girls. This workshop is designed to guide you as you begin your journey as a Girl Scout troop volunteer. 

Volunteer Essentials

Volunteer Essentials
Have you ever wished that all the answers to the most common questions about Girl Scouting could be found in one place? Then Volunteer Essentials is for you! It includes:

  • The whats: programs, badges, meetings, awards, cookies and more
  • The whys: council procedures, how they work, when to use them
  • The hows: taking trips, understanding your girls, and getting the most out of your leadership role

Blue Book
The 2022 edition of our Blue Book of Basic Documents contains important information and source documents, including the Constitution of Girl Scouts of the United States of America, bylaws, policies, credentials criteria and standards for councils, our Congressional Charter, and more.

Volunteer Training Requirements

 

Have questions? Don't be shy! Contact us at girlscoutshelp@gssn.org or 775-322-0642.

 

Fun, friendship, and a brighter tomorrow? Girl Scouts has you covered. Learn More.
Fun, friendship, and a brighter tomorrow? Girl Scouts has you covered. Learn More.
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Your Next Step. Powered by Girl Scouts! Renew Today
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You're invited to join the world of Girl Scouts! Join Us