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How to start a Troop

How to Start a Girl Scout Troop

Are you interested in starting a Girl Scout troop but don’t know where to start, what to do, or if it’s even workable for your lifestyle? Keep reading!

We want you to feel as prepared as possible and super excited about giving your time and talents to directly transform the lives of girls near you by guiding them through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Yes, you are the secret sauce to Girl Scouts!

At Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains, we want your troop’s experience to be nothing less than awesome, so we'll support you every step of the way.

Leading a Girl Scout Troop FAQ

Most people have questions about leading a troop of Girl Scouts! You are absolutely not alone. Here are a few of the most frequent questions we hear.

Do I have to have a daughter in Girl Scouts to be a troop leader?

Nope! Any adult, male or female, age 18 and older may volunteer as a troop leader.

How much time will it take?

It’s pretty much up to you! Successful troops meet at least twice a month, and our current troop leaders find they spend about four hours preparing for and leading each meeting. As a troop leader, you will choose the day, time, and frequency of your meetings.

Do I have to do it alone?

No; each troop must have two leaders, so you won’t go it alone! You can lead your troop with a friend, or we can match you with someone nearby who also wants to lead a troop. Both of you will be the troop leadership team and can lead your troop in whatever way works best. 

How will I know what to do at a meeting?

Our Volunteer Toolkit provides online meeting plans to guide you through each step of planning your troop’s activities. Don’t forget that the main feature of Girl Scouts is that it’s meant to be girl-led—so every girl from Daisy to Ambassador can play a part in deciding what your troop does!


Ready to Get Started? 

Follow the steps below to start your Girl Scout Troop: 

  1. Sign up to be a volunteer.
    All volunteers must be Girl Scouts themselves—which means you have a current membership with our Girl Scout council.
  2. Start looking for other adults to help.
    A troop needs at least two unrelated adults (one must be female) to be the troop leadership team. Successful troops have volunteers who focus on the Girl Scout Cookie Program, finances, camping, field trips, etc. These can be parents of girls in your troop, but any adult you know might LOVE to jump on this opportunity before your troop is even formed! 
  3. Plan a day, time, and location for troop meetings.
    Start thinking about how and when your troop will get together and the grade level (or levels) that you want your troop to comprise. Good options for troop meetings include schools, libraries, places of worship, and community centers. Your meeting space just needs to be a safe, clean, and secure environment that allows all girls to participate. Go ahead and brainstorm location and time options now!
  4. Follow us on Facebook. 
    Get a feel for the girls, volunteers, and community that make up our 81-county council!