You’ve signed up to be a leader ... now what?
In your new role, you will meet other adults committed to helping build girls of courage, confidence, and character. You will use many resources to learn about fun and exciting programs for girls. You will maintain a troop budget and manage health forms.
REQUIRED training for new leaders
- GSUSA Online Volunteer Orientation is required of all new Girl Scout volunteers
- Important: Print your learning log before hitting Submit. Your learning log serves as proof of completion of this course. Redeem a copy of your log at a Girl Scout Shop to receive a free Volunteer Orientation patch
- GSEM Introduction to Girl Scouting is required of new Leaders, Co-Leaders and Assistant Leaders:
- Request a home study from your District Home Study Coordinator or Volunteer Development Manager (listed in every issue of the GSEM Course Catalog) or Neighborhood Chair
- Also available in classroom format, scheduled in the GSEM Course Catalog
- Leadership Essentials
- Important: Print your learning log before hitting Submit. Your learning log serves as proof of completion of this course. Redeem a copy of your log at a Girl Scout Shop to receive a free Leadership Essentials patch
Girl Scouting 101, an enhanced online orientation developed by GSUSA, launched in late August. The GSUSA web address remains the same:
http://training.girlscouts.org, but the case-sensitive password for GS101 is: aboutGS101. The passwords for Online Volunteer Orientation and Leadership Essentials remains as: discover.
Girl Scouting 101 gives new Girl Scout volunteers an overview of the organization and the basics on working with girls of all ages. Hosted by Sophia (from the GSLE Overview, aka “Ask Sophia”), the vibrant, interactive orientation combines and streamlines the information currently contained in the online volunteer orientation, Leadership Essentials online, and the GSLE Overview/Ask Sophia.
So what happens to those older pieces now? During the 2011-2012 program year, new leaders can choose to use the older pieces as components of the Leader Prep Series, along with Introduction to Girl Scouting in GSEM OR participate in Girl Scouting 101, Introduction to Girl Scouting in GSEM and a Journey Immersion workshop to fulfill their training requirements. In those areas where online training is not convenient, printed versions of GSUSA's Online Orientation are still available and face-to-face courses in Introduction to Girl Scouting, Leadership Essentials and Journey Immersion workshops can be scheduled at the discretion of the Learning Support Team in your area.
GSEM plans to provide Girl Scouting 101, Volunteer Essentials, Safety Activity Checkpoints and Introduction to Girl Scouting in GSEM in a DVD version as well.
More tips:
But that’s just the beginning! GSEM offers plenty of additional support for leaders!
- Resource Centers where Leaders can find electronic and written resources and equipment that can be borrowed
- The Girl Scout Shop, where adults can purchase books, insignia, uniforms, and so much more!
- Leader Program Bulletin, a publication which provides information on troop program activities, upcoming events, GSEM news, and more
- A Girl Scout Summer, a publication which provides information on Girl Scout camp opportunities
Leaders who complete the first two courses in the Leader Prep Series are eligible to purchase this tote!
