Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

When can my girl start Girl Scouts? toggle arrow

Girls in grades K-12 can register for Girl Scouts at any time! Girls in pre-K, who will be starting kindergarten in the fall, can register as early as the summer before they start kindergarten.

What is GSOSW’s tax ID? toggle arrow

Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington's (GSOSW) tax ID number is 93-0399051.

What are Girl Scout Juliettes? toggle arrow

Juliettes are busy, independent, self-confident girls and young women who want to be a part of something larger—Girl Scouts!—and want to participate when they can and however they want! They are Girl Scouts who are not officially affiliated with a troop and customize their whole Girl Scout experience, finding badges and activities that match their unique interests.

With the guidance of an adult mentor, Juliettes participate in a way that fits their schedule! And, if your Girl Scout’s troop disbands, or there aren’t any open troops in your area, Girl Scout Juliettes is a great opportunity to continue or start the Girl Scout journey!

How do I use Program Credits (Cookie/Nut Credit) to purchase items from the GSOSW shop? toggle arrow

Program credits (i.e. Cookie Credit, Pathway cards, Nut Credit, etc.) can only be accepted through email or phone at (503) 977-6802, and in GSOSW shops. Learn more and find shop hours. They are not accepted online.

Will Girl Scouts table or participate in our school or local, family-friendly event (fun run, back-to-school night, school fair, flag ceremony, parade, etc)? toggle arrow

If you have an event that you would like Girl Scouts to attend, please send the following information to answers@girlscoutsosw.org:

Your name and contact information
Information about the event, including:
- Event name
- Type of event
- Event location
- Event date(s)
- And any other information you might want troops to know.

This will then be shared with troops near your area and they will get in contact if they are interested!

Membership Registration

Can I register for Girl Scouts by phone/paper? toggle arrow

Online registration is the fastest way to register for Girl Scouts! If you do not have the ability to go online or need assistance, you can reach out to our staff by calling 503-977-6800.

Can I get a membership fee refunded? toggle arrow

Girl Scout membership registration is non-refundable and non-transferable. Annual membership fees go directly to our national organization, GSUSA.

Registered members have active memberships through the end of the current membership year (the membership year runs October 1 to September 30). Active members can attend and participate in camps, events, and activities. To see what kind of great activities are happening in your area in the coming months, please check out our upcoming events!

I have moved to Oregon/SW Washington and was a Girl Scout in my old council, how do I join Girl Scouts of Oregon and SW Washington council? toggle arrow

Welcome to our council! Here is how you can transfer you and your family to us:

Log into your MyAccount.
Click on the yellow MyAccount button at the top of the page.
Click on MyHousehold (in left-hand white bar).
Click Change my participation next to your girl's name.
Click the green NEXT button.
Type in your new zip code and click the green SEARCH button.
From here, you can search for troops in your new community! When you find a troop that works for you, click the green JOIN THIS TROOP button.
Note: If your girl is a Girl Scout Juliette, click the green CONTINUE WITHOUT TROOP button.
In the pop-up window, confirm your selection by clicking the green LET'S DO THIS or JOIN THIS TROOP button.
You'll get one more confirmation page (just to make sure you're sure!); click the green CONFIRM button.

You’re now all set!

How do I and/or my girl join/register for Girl Scouts? toggle arrow

You can join today online or over the phone by reaching out to our customer care team at 503-977-6800. Staff can also answer any questions you might have about joining over the phone and help process membership payments.

How do I renew my/my girl’s annual membership? toggle arrow

You can find step-by-step instructions for renewal on our How to Renew page.

If you’re having trouble with your renewal (for example, if you cannot renew into the troop you’ve been a part of or it’s showing as pending), please reach out to our customer care team at 503-977-6800 for assistance.

How do I purchase a Lifetime Membership? toggle arrow

With our new system updates, members can now easily renew, register, and/or upgrade their memberships to a Lifetime Membership! Please check out our Lifetime Membership page to find out who is eligible and the benefits, and you can follow these steps to renew into a Lifetime Membership role:

Login to your MyAccount (select My GS in the upper right of this website).
Click on My Household.
Find the individual you want to renew with, or upgrade to, a Lifetime Membership. They should have a link on the upper right of their box that says Purchase Lifetime membership, click there. OR, if you would like to renew all volunteer jobs and troop assignments, you can merely tick all boxes and continue on with the renewal.
If you selected the boxes, you will have an option while filling out membership details to select Lifetime Membership before check-out.

For graduating girls, the process will be a little different but follow the same paths as above. See below:

For Guardians paying for the Lifetime Membership: Follow the same steps as above, you should now see your graduating Girl listed as “Renew as Adult” as the status. You will select the Membership box and Add Renewal. Follow the same steps as above, making sure to select the Young Alumna Lifetime Membership option. You can select Program Credits (e.g. Cookie Credits, Nut Credits, etc.) during check-out if girls will be using their Program Credits to purchase all or part of their membership!
If you are a troop leader gifting Lifetime Memberships to graduating girls: You can also do this through your My Troop page in your account! You will just want to select the Membership checkbox for all girls listed as “Renew as Adult”. If the girl would like to use Program Credits for all or partial payment, please have the guardian follow the process above. If there is a remaining balance the troop is covering please call the shop at (503) 977-6802.

If you run into any trouble or have any questions, please reach out to answers@girlscoutsosw.org for assistance!

Can I use Program Credits (Cookie/Nut Credit) to pay for Girl Scout membership renewal? toggle arrow

Program Credits can only be used to pay for a girl’s Girl Scout membership renewal and may not be used toward renewing adult Girl Scout membership.

Here’s the process:

Log into your MyAccount.
Click on the My Household tab on the left-hand side.
Click the checkbox next to the Girl you’d like to renew (make sure you select both the Membership checkbox and any troop or programs that your Girl Scout will be continuing in; do not select any adults as you will need to renew all adults separately).
Click on the green Add Renewal button.
Verify member details are still accurate, then click Program Credits under “Choose payment type.”
Review your cart and complete your transaction, you’re done!

Council staff will be notified that you would like to use Program Credits. Unless otherwise indicated, staff will start with the oldest card and may reach out to you to verify. If the amount of Program Credits you have only cover a portion of a Girl’s membership, staff will let you know your options. Please note that only guardians can select Program Credits—they cannot be requested by Troop Leaders through MyAccount/MyGS.

If you have further questions, please check out the Program Credits page!

Parents, Guardians, and Volunteers

I already have a background check with another volunteer organization. Can I submit that report to GSOSW instead? toggle arrow

Unfortunately, GSOSW is unable to accept background checks from other organizations. This is because GSOSW has its own criteria for determining volunteer eligibility which may differ from what is included in outside reports.

How do I request a background check? toggle arrow

The first step for any prospective Girl Scout volunteer is to register as a member of Girl Scouts for the current membership year. Once a new member completes their registration into a volunteer role (e.g. not an Adult Member role), they will automatically receive an email from GSOSW’s secure background check provider, Asurint. Asurint’s email will contain an individualized link to complete and safely submit a background check application.

If you require a background check for your position or program and did not receive one, or if you have additional questions regarding your eligibility, please contact answers@girlscoutsosw.org for assistance.

Do I need to upload any documents during the background check process? toggle arrow

No! You may see options to upload documents while filling out your background check, please disregard these. You will never need to upload documents for a GSOSW background check. If further information is needed from you, the request will come from GSOSW staff.

Why is my background check telling me my birthday is wrong? toggle arrow

Sometimes birthdates can be entered into the system incorrectly. All information (including names and birthdates) must be accurate for the background check to work. If you need to update your birthdate, name, or any other information for the background check, please reach out to answers@girlscoutsosw.org.

Why do I need a membership to volunteer? toggle arrow

All troop volunteers at Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington must be registered members of GSUSA for the current membership year and have successfully completed a criminal background check.

With an active Girl Scout membership, all troop volunteers are also covered by insurance in the event of an accident occurring during a Girl Scout activity. Additionally, our council covers all background check costs for all volunteers.

Most importantly, by becoming a member of Girl Scouts, volunteers like you join a global movement focused on building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place!

Can parents attend troop meetings? toggle arrow

Per Page 5 of GSOSW’s Council Volunteer Policies and Procedures in Volunteer Essentials, if an adult will have direct contact with girls then they must be a registered member of GSUSA for the current membership year and have successfully completed a criminal background check. Exceptions to this would be an individual who meets all of the requirements under either of the below.

An individual who:

Serves as a one-time advisor or consultant, e.g. a speaker or presenter,
Is never left alone with girl(s), AND
Is not counted when considering girl/adult ratio.

A parent or guardian who:

Attends a group family function, e.g. court of awards, family picnic, etc. AND
Is not counted when considering girl/adult ratio.

This is both to ensure the safety of girls in the troop and to foster a girl’s independence in the spirit of Girl Scouts.

How do I reset my My GS account password? toggle arrow

Go to My GS, click "login" and "Forgot Password?". Then type in the email address you used to sign up for Girl Scouts. Press Continue.

You’ll receive an email with a link to create a new password and login.

If you don’t remember your My GS account email address, or don’t receive a password email, please contact us at answers@girlscoutsosw.org.

Cost and Financial Aid

How much does Girl Scout membership cost? Are there troop dues? toggle arrow

The Girl Scout annual membership dues for the 2025–2026 membership year cost $45 for girls and $30 for adults. Financial assistance is available.

Collecting troop dues (separate from annual membership fees) is at the discretion of each Girl Scout troop. Many troops collect dues at the start of their first year, and sometimes annually, to help support the troop’s activities.

Is financial assistance available for new & renewing girl and adult members? toggle arrow

Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington (GSOSW) offers 100% financial assistance to members in need, no questions asked.

If there is need, the primary caregiver for the household may request financial assistance for girl and adult memberships at the payment screen during online registration.

To eliminate barriers to volunteer participation, financial assistance is also available for adults renewing into a volunteer role.

Is financial assistance available for my girl’s Girl Scout book and uniform? toggle arrow

Yes! GSOSW offers financial assistance for these items:

Uniform assistance: includes one tunic, sash, or vest, your troop numbers, a flag patch, the council ID set, and insignia tab.
Book assistance: includes the cost of one grade-level book.

This assistance is available when a Girl Scout is moving into their next program level (called "bridging") and there is an accompanying uniform change. Caregivers can request this assistance by completing the GSOSW Financial Assistance Request form.

Families may use this assistance at any GSOSW shop by providing their Girl’s name to staff. If families do not live near a GSOSW shop, they may call 800-905-5605 to fulfill their order over the phone and have it mailed to their home.

Girl Scout volunteers may request financial assistance for program materials when moving to a new Girl Scout grade level, and volunteers in a troop leader or service team role may request one-time uniform support.

The Girl Scout or volunteer must be registered for the current membership year before submitting the request form.

Is financial assistance available for overnight camp? toggle arrow

Overnight Camp Tiered Pricing

Girl Scouts uses tiered pricing to keep camp affordable for all families while also expressing the true cost of overnight camp. Tier one reflects the actual cost of camp including staffing, program supplies, food and maintenance costs. Tier two is a partially subsidized fee, and tier three is our fully subsidized fee. Regardless of what tier your family is able to pay, all girls will enjoy the same high-quality camp experience. View the Overnight Camp Registration page for more details.

Overnight Camp Financial Assistance (Campership)

Overnight camp financial assistance (campership) is available for all girls. Select tier three pricing when requesting financial assistance. Please visit our Overnight Camp registration page for more information.

NEW! Camp Registration Deposit Assistance

Families may request financial assistance to cover the cost of the $75 overnight camp registration fee for camp programs beginning summer 2026, using the GSOSW Financial Assistance Application Form.

Troops and Girl Scout Program

How do I start a new Girl Scout troop? toggle arrow

You can find step-by-step instructions, information about the process, and more by going to GSOSW’S How to Start a Troop page. Once you’ve made your decision, you can fill out the Google form included under step one.

How do I move a girl/adult into a different troop? toggle arrow

The easiest thing to do is have the Primary Caregiver of a Girl initiate the troop transfer. To do this, they will:

Log into their MyAccount.
Click on My Household on the left-hand side.
At the top of the Girl you’re wanting to move, select Change Troop or Change my Participation.
The caregiver will put the information in the box: who is changing troops, which troop they are leaving, and then click Find Troop to find the right one.
Review the transfer information and, if everything looks right, hit Confirm!

If the Caregiver cannot find a specific troop (the troop may be at capacity or removed from the catalog), the Caregiver should scroll all the way to the bottom of the troops and select “Apply to participate without a troop”, this will then give them the option to complete the transfer without a specific troop. Then they will want to fill out the Council Contact Form with the following description:

“My Girl [Girl’s Name] has been invited by the troop leaders to join Troop [Number]!”

A staff member will then place the Girl into the new troop!

I haven’t heard from a girl’s troop leader yet. What do I do? toggle arrow

We give troops one week (7 days) from the date the individual registered into the troop to reach out to new members! If you do not hear from your troop at all after seven days, please reach out to customer care at answers@girlscoutsosw.org.

How do I find my troop's details in MyAccount/MyGS? toggle arrow

To find your troop’s details:

Log into your MyAccount.
On the left-hand side of the page, click on the dropdown symbol (v) next to MyTroop(s) to open a dropdown.
Click on your girl's troop.
On this troop page, you'll find:
- Meeting Details
- Meeting Location
- Weekday(s) of meetings
- Meeting Frequency
- Meeting Time
- Program Level
- Contact Info for all troop volunteers

How do I find a new troop for my girl? We just moved! toggle arrow

To search for troops to join in your new community:

Log into your MyAccount.
Select My Household on the left-hand side.
For each active member of your household, you will want to select the Change my participation link at the top of each box.
Enter the requested information - e.g. the individual who is transferring and the troop they’re leaving - and then click the green Find Troop button.
You will now be able to search through all available and open troops by a few different parameters, including location, language, etc. Once you fill out the parameters you would like to use, you will click Search and select a troop.
You will then verify the information is correct and then select Confirm.
For Girl members, this process is now complete! For adults, Council staff will need to verify the transfer on their end.

If you’ve been invited to a troop that is not showing in the catalog, you should scroll all the way to the bottom of the troop catalog (Step #5 above) and select “Apply to participate without a troop”, this will then register your Girl in the Individually Registered Member status. Once you have completed the transfer, per above, you will then want to fill out the Council Contact Form with the following description:

“My Girl [Girl’s Name] has been invited by the troop leaders to join Troop [Number]!”

A staff member will then place the Girl into the new troop!

Don’t see a troop with openings in your area? Consider starting a brand new troop! Not interested in starting a new troop? Become a Juliette Girl Scout with your girl! To do this during the transfer process above, there is an option at the bottom of the available troop lists with the option to participate as an Individually Registered Member!

What do I do if I can’t find a troop for my girl? toggle arrow

Consider starting a brand new troop! If your area doesn’t have any troops in your girl’s grade level, or you are simply interested in starting a new troop, check out the How to Start a Troop page to see if starting a new troop might be a good option for you.

Want to start the fun today? Become a Juliette Girl Scout! Juliettes are Girl Scouts and do all the things that Girl Scouts do, but without a troop. They can still attend events, do activities, earn badges, sell Cookies, and everything else! If this interests you, you can select the Individually Registered Member option at the bottom of the catalog (e.g. the page showing available troops).

If you have any questions or have trouble finding the above options, please reach out to answers@girlscoutsosw.org!

How do we split off from our current troop and start a new troop? toggle arrow

To begin the troop. split process, please go to our How to Start a Troop page. There you can fill out the Google form and GSOSW staff will be in touch to assist.

Why can’t people find my troop?/How can I find a specific troop? toggle arrow

To start, make sure you have the troop number correct and, in the location parameters, make sure your ZIP code and radius are correct. If you’re still unable to find the troop, this may mean the troop is at capacity.

If you’ve been invited to a troop that is not showing in the catalog due to it being at capacity, you should scroll all the way to the bottom of the troop catalog (e.g. the page where you can browse open troops) and select “Apply to participate without a troop”, this will then register your girl in the Individually Registered Member status. Once you have completed the registration, per above, you will then want to fill out the Council Contact Form with the following description:

“[Girl’s Name] has been invited by the troop leaders to join Troop [Number]!”

A staff member will then place the girl into the troop!

What is additional insurance (Supplemental Activity or Event Insurance) and how do I get it? toggle arrow

We are pleased to announce a terrific coverage enhancement to Girl Scouts Activity Accident insurance with Mutual of Omaha which is effective as of October 1, 2023.

GSUSA and Mutual of Omaha have expanded the automatic coverage under Basic Plan 1 (the insurance included in a Girl Scout membership), and this new coverage means that insurance no longer needs to be purchased for these two scenarios:

Non-member participation. Non-member participation is automatically covered. A non-member participant is any person invited to attend or participate in a Girl Scout-approved/supervised event.
Trips longer than two overnight stays. All domestic trips within the USA, regardless of time duration, are automatically covered under Basic Plan 1. There is no longer a time element involved. Extra insurance will only be needed for international travel.

Please note that sickness/accident insurance continues to be available for purchase for trips as well.

We are working to update all references to Activity Accident Insurance in our publications, but it may take a bit of time to update all references. We appreciate your patience with this process.

Please contact answers@girlscoutsosw.org with any questions.

Girl Scout Cookie and Fall Product Programs

What do I do if the product I received is damaged or is bad quality? toggle arrow

We apologize that the condition was not as desired. All quality issues with products are handled directly through the manufacturer. We ask that you contact them directly at the customer service number listed on the package or below:

Cookies: Little Brownie Bakers (1-800-962-1718)
Candies/Nuts: Ashdon Farms (1-800-274-3666)

How do I look up the balance of my Program Credits (Cookie/Nut Credit) card? toggle arrow

To check the balance on a Program Credits card, please visit the eCard Systems website. Once you validate the CAPTCHA, you should be able to put in your card number to see your current balance!

Why doesn't the Girl Scout Cookie Program run all year? toggle arrow

The Girl Scout Cookie Program is an annual entrepreneurship program individual Girl Scouts and Girl Scout troops may choose to participate in, and is just one of the many programs offered during the Girl Scout year.

The Cookie Program for our council, Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington, takes place annually in the spring.

What if I don’t know my Girl Scout’s Program Credit number? toggle arrow

Reach out to answers@girlscoutsosw.org! We will be able to verify if your Girl Scout has a card and, if so, we can send you the card number and balance. Please note that these requests should come from guardians and we will verify with guardians if they come from other individuals.

Properties

Can I reserve a property for a wedding or other event even if I’m not a Girl Scout member? toggle arrow

Yes, with the exception of the Seaside Program Center, which is only available to Girl Scouts! Contact the site registrar to check availability, or to obtain a rental agreement, at property@girlscoutsosw.org or by phone at 503-977-6834.

How do I reserve a property? toggle arrow

See our Properties page for information.

Begin by reviewing our Guide to GSOSW Properties to choose which property is best suited to your needs.

After choosing your desired property, Girl Scout members may check the password-protected property calendar to see open dates. Both members and non-members may also contact our site registrar for availability at property@girlscoutsosw.org, or by phone at 503-977-6834.

Confirm your request with the site registrar, then download and fill out the site agreement. Submit the agreement, along with the deposit, to the site registrar. Confirmation of your reservation will be emailed, along with rental information.

Non-members may obtain a rental agreement from the site registrar by emailing property@girlscoutsosw.org.

How do I cancel my property reservation? toggle arrow

Contact our site registrar at property@girlscoutsosw.org or by phone at 503-977-6834. Deposits are nonrefundable as stated on the rental agreement. All additional payments are nonrefundable if cancellation is made less than 30 days (for Girl Scouts) or 60-90 days (for non-members, depending on the type of rental) prior to the check-in date.

Do I have to rent the whole property or can I just rent part of it? toggle arrow

Girl Scout troops and service units may reserve all or part of a property; non-members must reserve the entire property to be in compliance with Girl Scout co-occupancy safety requirements.