Skip to main content

Your First Year as a Girl Scout Troop Leader

SHOP
DONATE
MyGS
Forms
Espanol

Discover Discover
About Girl Scouts About Girl Scouts

What Girl Scouts Do What Girl Scouts Do
Activities Activities

Event Search Event Search

Event Calendar Event Calendar

NEW! Schedule Your Own Adventure Center NEW! Schedule Your Own

Overnight Camp Overnight Camp
Our Council Our Council

Contact Us Contact Us

Properties Properties

Visit Us Visit Us

Leadership Leadership

Newsroom Newsroom
Discover your local Girl Scout council: about Girl Scouts, what they do, what activities are available locally, and how to contact us.
Get Involved Get Involved
Become a Girl Scout Become a Girl Scout

Join a Troop Join a Troop

Go Solo Go Solo

More Ways to Participate More Ways to Participate

For Pre-K, Kinder & First Grade Families For Pre-K–First Grade Families
Become a Volunteer Become a Volunteer

Start a Troop Start a Troop
Become a Lifetime Member Lifetime Membership

Learn how to get involved with Girl Scouts: join a troop, go solo, or become a volunteer.
Cookies + Cookies +
Find Nuts, Candy & Magazines Find Nuts, Candy & Magazines
Find Cookies Find Cookies

Available Cookie Flavors Available Cookie Flavors

Cookie Share Cookie Share
Find out how to buy Girl Scout Cookies, nuts, candy, and more; explore Girl Scout Cookie flavors, see how girls learn essential life skills, and more.
Support Us Support Us
Ways to Give Ways to Give

Donate Donate

Employer Matching Employer Matching

Planned Giving Planned Giving

More Ways to Support Us More Ways to Support Us
Our Partners Our Partners

Corporate Partners Corporate Partners

Foundation Partners Foundation Partners
Community Events Community Events

GOLD GOLD
Support Girl Scouts by donating locally, becoming a lifetime member, or attending a special fundraising event.
Members Members
For Girl Scouts For Girl Scouts

Badges, Awards & Patches Badges, Awards & Patches

Camp & Outdoors Camp & Outdoors

STEM STEM

Highest Awards Highest Awards

Travel Travel

Resources for Cookie Sellers Resources for Cookie Sellers

Fall Product Program Fall Product Program

Activities & Events Activities & Events
For Volunteers For Volunteers

Getting Started Getting Started

Forms & Documents Forms & Documents

Adult Training Adult Training

Resources for Volunteers Resources for Volunteers

Volunteer Awards Volunteer Awards

Renew Membership Renew Membership

Cookie Resources for Volunteers Cookie Resources

Fall Product Program Fall Product Program
For Parents & Families For Parents & Families

Activities & Events Activities & Events

Fall Product Program Fall Product Program

Resources for Cookie Sellers Resources for Cookie Sellers

Renew Membership Renew
Resources for Girl Scout members. Find volunteer, Girl Scout, and family tools and support. Explore badges, activities, and more.

SHOP
DONATE
MyGS
Forms
Espanol

Council Finder

Use this finder to connect with your local Girl Scout council.

You are leaving girlscouts.org for a website opened by an external party. You will be subjected to the privacy and security policies of the website

Members
For Volunteers
Your First Year as a Girl Scout Troop Leader

Your First Year as a Girl Scout Troop Leader

First things first: Thank you.

We know that you may have a lot of demands on your time, and we are so grateful that you're willing to share some of it with Girl Scouts. We hope you're excited to make amazing memories with your troop—and a big difference in their lives.

Step 1: Your Troop Leader Journey Begins toggle arrow

Step 1: Your Troop Leader Journey Begins

Complete the 664 GSOSW Troop Leader Onboarding learning path in gsLearn.

Attend Before Your First Troop Meeting training.

Connect with your service unit team (administrative volunteer team in your area) and your council staff volunteer support specialist.

Invite at least four girls to join your troop.

Receive your official troop number and celebrate!

Step 2: The First 30 Days toggle arrow

Step 2: The First 30 Days

Welcome new girls and families as they register. Troops will remain open to new members until the standard size for your grade level is reached (listed in Volunteer Essentials). If needed, submit the Troop Information Update Form to expand your troop maximum.

Attend your first service unit volunteer meeting.

Connect with your service unit treasurer to begin setting up your troop bank account.

Secure a troop meeting location.

Confirm date/time and update the troop’s MyGS details.

Request a Certificate of Insurance if required.

Host your first caregiver meeting.

Review troop communication methods and expectations with families.

Ask caregivers to complete Annual Permission & Health History Form (form #120, required) and Meet My Girl Scout form (optional).

Involve caregivers. Invite them to register as volunteers and share tasks to benefit the whole troop.

Plan your first troop meeting.

Plan your first troop meeting.

Use Girl Scout Experience Boxes (available for Daisy/Brownie levels).

Create your troop’s year plan in the Volunteer Toolkit, also known as VTK.

Follow the six-step troop meeting format (welcome, opening, business, activity, clean-up, closing).

Step 3: The First Three Months toggle arrow

Step 3: The First Three Months

Attend ongoing service unit volunteer meetings each month.

Practice planning and facilitating troop meetings; invite girls to take the lead when they are ready.

Take recommended trainings:

GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: What Girl Scouts Do.

GSUSA Leading Multi-Level Troops (if applicable).

Review the Volunteer Resources section of the GSOSW website.

Volunteer Essentials, also known as “VE” (PDF).

GSOSW Volunteer Policies and Procedures, also known as “P&Ps” (PDF).

Safety Activity Checkpoints, also known as “SACs” (PDF)—Review the first 25 pages carefully.

Ensure at least one volunteer completes Adult & Child First Aid/CPR certification.

Submit GSOSW First Aid and CPR/AED Certification Submission form.

Complete troop bank account setup (and ensure treasurers can log in).

Learn about Girl Scout traditions, holidays, and ceremonies.

Decide how/when you’ll award badges, patches, and recognitions throughout the year.

Step 4: Progressing with your Troop (First Year) toggle arrow

Step 4: Progressing with your Troop (First Year)

Take training based on troop readiness and plans:

Before You Leave the Meeting Place (2–3 months before outings; typically end of year one).

Before Your First Overnight (prior to overnight trips; typically year two).

Explore program resources:

GSUSA Badge Explorer.

GSOSW Golden Trefoil Patch Program.

Product Programs (Fall Product Program and Girl Scout Cookie Program).

Attend fall product program and cookie program trainings when they come up throughout the year.

Attend a cookie rally (an event typically held by your service unit).

Work on entrepreneurship pins and badges as a part of these programs.

Submit Troop Financial Report (form #108) by June 30.

Every troop’s journey is unique! Use this checklist as a guide and lean on your service unit team and volunteer support specialist whenever you need help. Additional questions can be sent to answers@girlscoutsosw.org.

Download the Checklist!

Download the Checklist!

Follow along with this fillable PDF throughout your troop's first year. You've got this!

GO

Illustration of a Girl Scout volunteer holding a clipboard with Troop Leader Plan documents

Troop Year Plans

A customizable resource featuring our most popular activities to plan fun and bright year for your Girl Scouts.

EXPLORE PLANS

Your first connection to the service unit is through the Volunteer Mentor! These volunteers are here to provide a warm welcome, introduce opportunities available to you through the service unit, provide advanced learning opportunities, and answer any questions you may have about Girl Scouts and your role.

Action Item: Connect with your service unit’s Volunteer Mentor for a New Leader Orientation and to be introduced to your Service Team; If your service unit does not have a Volunteer Mentor, attend a New Leader Orientation provided by GSOSW staff.
Our council website, girlscoutsosw.org, is a helpful resource for all our Girl Scouts. You can find up-to-date information, council patch program details, register for trainings and events, and more!
Action Item: Grow familiar with navigating the GSOSW website and bookmark the Resources for Volunteers page. Note the quick access icons in the upper right that will help you navigate to MyGS, find forms and documents, and search the website.

Very few documents will be more important in your Girl Scout journey than the following: Volunteer Essentials, Policies and Procedures, and Safety Activity Checkpoints. These guides are meant to be referenced often; while there is no need to memorize them, we hope you'll take some time to familiarize yourself with them and keep them close at hand!

Action Item: Bookmark these guides for future reference:
- Volunteer Essentials: With key GSUSA information, policies, and procedures like ratios, conflict management, and your first troop meeting, Volunteer Essentials is just that—essential. Use this document to support the safe and consistent delivery of Girl Scout programming to girls across the council. (Access the PDF version)
- Policies and Procedures: Updated annually, this document contains GSOSW-specific policies and procedures. From managing troop finances to travel requirements, this is your go-to resource for anything GSOSW.
- Safety Activity Checkpoints: This guide has everything you need to prepare for and keep your girls safe during all activities outside the normal Girl Scout troop meeting.

Our council website, girlscoutsosw.org, is a helpful resource for all our Girl Scouts. You can find up-to-date information, council patch program details, register for trainings and events, and more!

Action Item: Grow familiar with navigating the GSOSW website and bookmark the Resources for Volunteers page. Note the quick access icons in the upper right that will help you navigate to MyGS, find forms and documents, and search the website.

Girl Scouts are able to earn money and fund their adventures. Each service unit has a treasurer who serves as the coordinator of Girl Scout funds in their area and supports the banking needs of Girl Scout troops. The service unit treasurer helps ensure that all financial processes followed are consistent with the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and Girl Scout guidelines. Each troop also has a designated volunteer who serves as the troop treasurer and manages bank account access and funds for the troop.

Action Item: Designate your troop treasurers/bank account signers (reach out if you need help placing them into the Treasurer role)
Action Item : Connect with your Service Team Treasurer to request a bank account and to learn more about Troop Finances

Girl Scouts look at our world and take action to change it for the better. They make friends, challenge themselves with new experiences, write their own stories, and develop the skills and confidence to say, “I know I can do this!” So how do we do it? It's all part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, and it’s what makes Girl Scouting a unique experience for girls.

Action Item: Explore the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and watch What Girl Scouts Do in gsLearn to understand how to apply it to your troop program level.

The girl experience mentor (GEM) focuses on helping troop leaders understand Girl Scout programming and incorporating the Girl Scout Leadership Experience into their troop experience. They support and coach volunteers in utilizing the Volunteer Toolkit, and creating troop year plans that are girl-led, safe, and progression-based.

Action Item: Connect with your service unit’s girl experience mentor for support in your year-planning and use of the Volunteer Toolkit.

Obviously, you need to have a place to meet with your troop! Read some tips and tricks before you check out your nearest school, churches, or other community centers that might have space available. Trouble finding a space? Connect with your service unit to see if they have ideas!

Action Item: Confirm location, days, time, and frequency of your troop meetings with families & GSOSW by updating this troop info in your MyGS account so it reflects accurately in the troop catalog.

Being a troop leader is a lot of fun, but can be a big responsibility! The good news is, you don't have to go it alone. Tap into caregivers and encourage them to get involved in a volunteer role, whether just for Girl Scout Cookie season or year-round.

Action Item: Schedule and hold your first caregiver/parent meeting (resources in gsLearn, VTK)

Mention GSUSA troop meeting training. Explain why sticking to your meeting place for a certain amount of time is beneficial.

Action Item: Schedule and hold your first troop meeting (resources: Volunteer Toolkit Meeting Plan, Troop Management, Girl Scout Handbook or Guides)

Continued training is essential as you progress through your experience with your Girl Scout troop. Yes, eventually you will go camping, take a trip, and earn a Highest Award, but it is essential to start with the basics. Your next required training ensures you can plan and implement safe, fun, and successful troop meetings and short outings close to your meeting place. You will also learn more about troop logistics, readiness, and progression and how to keep everything you do with your troop girl-led. Most importantly, you'll get to interact with and learn from other leaders and hear real examples of solutions to some of the challenges faced when first leaving the meeting place with Girl Scouts.

Action Item: Register for and attend Girl Scouts Inside + Out Part 1. Find upcoming dates on the events list.

Action Item: Complete your First Aid/CPR training (required for certain troop activities; review Policies & Procedures to know what activities require trainings) or submit your current certifications.

Make sure you've completed everything and are ready to move to the next phase of leading your troop!

□ Connect with your service unit’s Volunteer Mentor for a New Leader Orientation and to be introduced to your Service Team; If your service unit does not have a Volunteer Mentor, attend a New Leader Orientation provided by GSOSW staff.

□ Bookmark these guides for future reference:

Volunteer Essentials
Policies and Procedures
Safety Activity Checkpoints

□ Learn to navigate the GSOSW website and bookmark the Resources for Volunteers page.

□ Designate your troop treasurers/bank account signers (reach out if you need help placing them into the Treasurer role)

□ Connect with your Service Team's treasurer to request a bank account and to learn more about Troop Finances.

□ Explore the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and watch What Girl Scouts Do in gsLearn to understand how to apply it to your troop program level.

□ Connect with your service unit’s girl experience mentor for support in your year-planning and use of the Volunteer Toolkit.

□ Confirm location, days, time, and frequency of your troop meetings with families & GSOSW by updating this troop info in your MyGS account so it reflects accurately in the troop catalog.

□ Schedule and hold your first caregiver/parent meeting (resources in gsLearn, VTK)

□ Schedule and hold your first troop meeting (resources: Volunteer Toolkit Meeting Plan, Troop Management, Girl Scout Handbook or Guides)

□ Register for and attend Girl Scouts Inside + Out Part 1. Find upcoming dates on the events list.

□ Complete your First Aid/CPR training or submit your current certifications.

Contact Us
Visit Us
Careers
Council Leadership
News
Financials
Terms and Conditions
SMS Terms and Conditions
Privacy Policy

© 2016–2025 Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington.

A 501(c)(3) Organization. All Rights Reserved.