Quick Links

Girls and adults participating in troops usually stay together for an entire school year and meet once a week, once a month, or twice a month—how often is up to you and the girls. Troops can meet just about anywhere, as long as the location is safe, easily accessible to girls and adults, and within a reasonable commute (“reasonable” having different definitions in different areas: In rural areas, a two-hour drive may be acceptable; in an urban area, a 30-minute subway ride may be too long). In each meeting, girls participate in fun activities that engage them in the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

Troops provide a flexible way for girls to meet for nine to twelve months. Some ideas include:

• Fourteen Girl Scout Brownies who meet twice a month from September through May at a local community center, church or school

• Seven girls who are homeschooled and meet weekly as a Girl Scout Cadette troop

• Girls who meet together once a week at their juvenile detention center to participate in Girl Scout activities

Taking Your First Steps

Your first steps as a troop volunteer include the following:

• Form a troop committee. (see below)

• Decide when and where to meet.

• Hold a parent/guardian meeting. (For more information see Chapter 3.4 - Working with Parents and Guardians)

This section shows you how to complete all three steps. After you’ve completed those, you’re ready to plan and hold your first few troop meetings, which is discussed in the remainder of this module.

Forming a Troop Committee

You’ll want to involve other adults in the troop—there’s no need to go it alone or depend on too few adults! Many hands make light work, and the role is more fun when it’s shared. The troop committee is vital to the health of the troop because the members help the leadership team balance the load of troop responsibilities. Think about the people you know whom you admire, who connect with children (especially girls), who are dependable and responsible, and who realistically have time to spend volunteering. (Remember that these adults will need to register as Girl Scout members, fill out volunteer application forms, take adult learning opportunities, and review written resources.) Consider business associates, neighbors, former classmates, friends, and so on. If you have trouble finding reliable, quality volunteers to assist, talk to your volunteer support team for advice and support.

Remember: Be sure every chaperone reviews and follows the twelve Girl Scout Safety Guidelines, available both in the Quick-Start Guide to this handbook and in the “Safety First” chapter.

Your troop committee members might help by:

• Filling in for you

• Arranging meeting places

• Locating adults with special skills to facilitate a specialized troop meeting

• Assisting with trips and chaperoning

• Managing troop records

A troop committee may be made up of general members or may include specific positions, such as

• Cookie Chair: A volunteer who would manage all aspects of Girl Scout Cookie sales

• Transportation Coordinator: The volunteer you’d look to whenever you need to transport girls for any reason; this person would have volunteers available to drive and chaperone

• Record Keeper: A treasurer/secretary rolled into one person—someone to keep track of the money and keep the books

Set up positions that work for you, and draw on other volunteers who possess skill sets that you may lack. When you’re ready to invite parents, neighbors, friends, colleagues, and other respected adults to work with you, send them a letter and invite them to their first troop committee meeting. (Note: The adult guides for the Girl Scout Daisy, Brownie, and Junior leadership journeys include a sample welcome letter and a friends/family checklist to assist you in expanding your troop’s adult network). Troop Committee Roster forms are provided through the council’s website, Troop Registration packets, New Member Orientation and council offices.