Parents/guardians and community members make a key difference in the
lives of girls by guiding them through the Girl Scout Leadership
Experience. Leading a traditional troop is an incredible way to help
girls empower themselves to make the world a better place! To get
started, select the “I want to lead her troop” option when you join
Girl Scouts.
At Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, we want leading a troop to be a
great experience, which is why we'll support you every step of the
way. We provide our leaders:
- Convenient, online trainings that give you everything you need
on your schedule.
- Activity Plans to help you quickly
and easily prepare for meetings.
- Individual guidance from
our Volunteer Support team.
- Flexibility—leaders set the
troop meeting times and locations convenient to their
schedules.
Common Questions About Leading Girl Scouts
Many parents have at least a few questions before standing up to
lead their girl’s troop. Here are a few of the most frequent questions
we hear:
Start Your Troop In 7 Easy Steps!
Complete the New Troop Request Form below. Once your request is
submitted, you will be connected to our membership staff who will work
closely with you to ensure a successful start to your new troop!
When a new girl or volunteer joins your troop, you’ll get an email
notification with their contact information, allowing you to reach out
and welcome them into your troop.
Start looking for other adults to help!
A troop needs at least two unrelated, background checked adults (one
of whom must be female) to get started. Troops can have more than two
leaders and are encouraged to involve all adults. Additional
volunteers can help with the Cookie and Treats & Reads Programs,
as well as pitch in with snacks, field trips and other activities.
Parents of girls in your troop are prime candidates to help out, but
adults from the community might love this opportunity, too. People
tend to have the most fun with adults they know.
Your leadership experience begins when you register and
successfully complete a background check. You will receive a link via
email to complete your background check once your registration is processed.
After your membership is complete, it is now time to begin your
training with the New Leader Course which is available online or
in-person. Learn more at girlscoutsem.org/training.
At least one leader or assistant leader in your troop must complete
the New Leader Course within 90 days of beginning your role. We have
additional trainings available to support many planned activities,
like camping, canoeing and archery. We offer a wide range of online
and face-face trainings that empower volunteers with the knowledge,
skills and confidence to deliver fun, safe and meaningful Girl Scout experiences.
Need Help? Contact our Answer Center at 314.400.4600 or answercenter@girlscoutsem.org.
Pick a Day, Time, and Location for Your Troop
It’s a great idea to start thinking about how your troop will get
together right away. You can start contacting potential venues now as
you complete your registration and on-boarding to find a good meeting
space. Keep in mind:
Most troops meet twice per month, but you can choose a schedule that
works best for you and your meeting space needs to be a safe, clean
and secure environment that allows all girls to participate. Good
options include: schools, libraries, places of worship, community
centers, local businesses or virtual.
Choosing a Meeting Place
-
Cost—the space should be free to use. Availability—Be sure
the space is available for the en tire length of the time you want
to meet.
-
Resources—Ask if tables and chairs come with the room and
ensure lighting is adequate.
-
Accessibility—Your space should accommodate girls with
disabilities as well as parents with special abilities who may come
to meetings.
It's time to spread the word!
Now that you’ve registered, it’s never too early to start spreading
the word about your new Girl Scout troop. While you complete your Girl Scout training
in order to establish your troop, you can talk to your girl’s friends,
your neighbors, and other families in the community to make sure that
your girl will have a lively troop. As a bonus, more girls usually
means more adults who will be happy to help you lead this troop. Our
staff will work closely with you to help support the formation of your
new troop!
To get started, troops need to have a minimum of five girls. At Girl
Scouts of Eastern Missouri we encourage troops to have at least 10-15
girls. However, we understand that every troop is different and we
will work with you to create the best possible experience for both you
and the girls in your troop!
Get ready for your first troop meeting
Now that your troop is registered you can hold a parent meeting to
discuss logistics and encourage other adults to get involved.
Next, review lesson plans by visiting the Volunteer Toolkit. Leaders gain access to the
Volunteer Toolkit once they have completed their registration. The
Volunteer Toolkit is a digital resource that supports troop leaders
making the process of running a troop easier and more efficient. It
includes a year plan and meeting agendas as well as badge curriculum,
additional activities and community service ideas.
Your Community Engagement Manager is the Council staff member who
will be in touch once you are registered. They can answer any
questions and direct you to local volunteers and resources.
You are encouraged to attend neighborhood meetings and check your
email for Council news and information. Like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter
to stay connected to events and find other awesome volunteers to
network and collaborate with.
