Leadership is more than “being in charge” or having a title; it’s recognizing that you’re part of a team and understanding that team’s needs and interests.
Here’s how you’ll do that with your troop!
Your role as a volunteer 
Planning for your first troop meeting
Depending on the ages of your girls, you might take the lead in guiding the structure and experiences of your troop—from how and when meetings are held to how the troop communicates, from steering girl-led activities to setting financial expectations. You’ll make these decisions collaboratively with your troop leadership team, as well as with input from the girls and their parents and caregivers.
Use these questions to guide your conversation with your troop leadership team, before discussing these topics with parents and caregivers.
- When will we meet and for how long? How frequently should we schedule troop meetings?
- Where will we meet? Your meeting space should be somewhere safe, clean, and secure that allows all girls to participate. Some great meeting space ideas include schools, places of worship, libraries, and community centers. If working with teens, consider meeting at coffee shops, bookstores, or other places they enjoy.
- Which components of the uniform will families need to purchase? Which uniform components will the troop provide for each girl?
- Will our troop be a single grade level or facilitated as a multi-level troop with girls of many grade levels combined into one troop? If multi-level, how will we make sure they each get an age-appropriate experience?
- How will we keep troop activities and decisions girl-led? Use the Volunteer Toolkit to help you through this process by exploring options for activities and reviewing the meeting plans and resources lists.
- How often are we going to communicate to troop families? Which channels will we use to keep families in the loop? Effective communication will help set expectations and clarify parent/ caregiver responsibilities.
- Will our troop charge dues, use product program proceeds, and/or charge per activity? How much money will we need to cover supplies and activities? What should our financial plan look like?
- What will your troop and family agreements look like? Be sure to include the girls when developing a troop agreement.
Choosing a Meeting Place
What makes a great meeting space? It depends on your troop, but here are a few considerations as you visit potential spaces:
Cost: The space should be free to use.
Size: Make sure the space is large enough for the whole group and all planned activities.
Availability: Be sure the space is available for the day and the entire length of time you want to meet.
Resources: Ask if tables and chairs come with the room and ensure that the lighting is adequate. A bonus would be a cubby of some sort where you could store supplies or a safe outdoor space for activities.
Safety: Potential spaces must be safe, secure, clean, properly ventilated, heated (or cooled, depending on your location), free from hazards, and have at least two exits that are well-marked and fully functional. Also be sure first-aid equipment is on hand.
Facilities: Make sure that toilets are sanitary and accessible.
Communication-friendly: Check for cell reception in the potential space and whether Wi-Fi is available.
Allergen-free: Ensure that pet dander and other common allergens won’t bother susceptible girls during meetings.
Accessibility: Your space should accommodate girls with disabilities as well as parents with disabilities who may come to meetings.
Need a few talking points to get started? Try:
“I’m a Girl Scout volunteer with a group of [number of girls] girls. We’re doing lots of great things for girls and for the community, like [something your group is doing] and [something else your troop is doing]. We’re all about leadership—the kind that girls use in their daily lives and the kind that makes our community better. We’d love to hold our meetings here because [reason why you’d like to meet there].”
Stuck and need additional support? Contact your council or your service unit support team for help with a troop meeting place.
Meeting in homes is not recommended.
Regular troop meetings should not be held at a private home/residence for girl safety reasons (see Safety Activity Checkpoints, Troop Meeting Space, page 26). The recommendation from Girl Scouts of the USA is to stay away from in-home meetings and GSCO aligns with this recommendation.
An occasional chaperoned event (i.e. BBQ, party, etc.) may take place at a private home/residence. A chaperoned event means there is one adult guardian/caregiver for every girl in attendance. If even one girl does not have a dedicated adult chaperone, then every person living in the home over the age of 18 must have a membership, pass a criminal background check and proof of homeowner's insurance must be provided.
Temporary Allowance for Regular Meetings in Private Residences: Please note that due to complications in finding meeting spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic, GSCO temporarily allowed troops to hold their regular troop troop meetings in private residences with prior approval and alignment with specific requirements outlined below. This temporary allowance will be phased out in summer 2023. Meetings in private residences will no longer be allowed as of May 31, 2023. Troops should identify a different meeting location prior to that time.
Troop requesting temporary permission to meet at a private residence must submit the Private Residence Notification Form at least two weeks before the first meeting and all adults living/present in the home must pass the required background check. Meeting in private residences should only be done in the event that another meeting location is unable to be identified. GSCO will no longer accept new requests for troops meeting in private residences after March 31, 2023.
Please note the Private Residence Notification Form needs to be completed and signed by the homeowner or renter of the property where the troop will be meeting. Requirements for temporarily meeting in a private residence include:
· All individuals 18 years and older living on the property are required to be registered members of GSUSA and have a current, eligible criminal background check on file with GSCO.
· Adult-to-girl safety ratios must be followed and Buddy System rules followed.
· The home must be safe, secure, clean, properly ventilated, heated, and free from hazards, and must have at least two exits.
· The area must be large enough for the group/troop activity.
· A first aid kit and fire extinguisher must be on hand.
· Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors must be installed and operational.
· The home must have access to toilets and sanitary facilities designed to accommodate those with different abilities. Items in the home that may be hazardous, including alcohol, firearms, and all weapons should be locked up and/or completely inaccessible to girls.
· Residence must be accessible by telephone or other communication device.
· Adequate lighting must be present in the activity area and at the entrance and exit.
· Ensure an allergen-free environment. All pets must be secured away from the meeting area.
· Property must be safe and free of hazards.
· Smoking, using drugs, or drinking alcohol by volunteers and/or residents in the presence of girls is prohibited.
Virtual Meetings
If your group or troop can’t meet in person or hold a traditional meeting, there are so many ways to bring the power of Girl Scouting home! Meeting virtually can be a fun, engaging option for your troop.
Before setting up a virtual meeting, you’ll want to:
- Partner with troop families to make sure the girls are safe online.
- Select a meeting platform that allows families who may not have internet access to call in.
- Think about logistics: work with the girls to set up ground rules; consider how you’ll incorporate in-person meeting traditions in your virtual space and how you’ll keep the meeting on track.
- Talk with families on how to keep activities girl-led if your girls will be completing them from home.
And don't worry if your girls want to use a web or social platform you’re not as familiar with, because you’ll learn alongside them! For more tips on successful virtual meetings, check out the For Troop Leaders section of Girl Scouts at Home.
Girl Scout Troop Size
The troop size “sweet spot” is large enough to provide an interactive and cooperative learning environment and small enough to encourage individual development. Though the ideal troop size is 12 girls, we recommend that groups be no fewer and no more than:
- Girl Scout Daisies: 5–12 girls
- Girl Scout Brownies: 10–20 girls
- Girl Scout Juniors 10–25 girls
- Girl Scout Cadettes: 5–25 girls
- Girl Scout Seniors: 5–30 girls
- Girl Scout Ambassadors: 5–30 girls
A Girl Scout troop/group must have at minimum three girls and two approved adult volunteers. (Double-check the volunteer-to-girl ratio chart to make sure you’ve got the right amount of coverage for your troop!) Adults and girls registering in groups of fewer than five girls and/or two approved, unrelated adult volunteers, at least one of whom is female, will be registered as individual Girl Scouts to more accurately reflect their status and program experience. Troops that have less than five girls must remain open in the online troop catalog to accept up to at least five girls. Individual girls are always welcome to participate in Girl Scout activities and events.
Knowing How Many Volunteers You Need
From troop meetings to camping weekends and cookie booths, adult volunteers must always be present to ensure Girl Scouts have fun and stay safe, no matter their grade level. If you are not sure about the number of adults you will need for your activity, the chart below breaks down the minimum number of volunteers needed to supervise a specific number of Girl Scouts; your council may also establish maximums due to size or cost restrictions, so be sure to check with them as you plan your activity. These ratios should be followed for the youngest Girl Scouts present at an activity and any additional children present (tag-a-longs, siblings, non-Girl Scouts) are included in the count.
Safety in Girl Scouting
The emotional and physical safety and well-being of Girl Scouts is our top priority. Safety Activity Checkpoints outlines the Safety Standards and Guidelines used in Girl Scouting, which apply to all Girl Scout activities. All volunteers should review the Safety Activity Checkpoints manual when planning activities with girls in order to manage safety and risk in Girl Scout-sanctioned activities.
For current COVID-19 guidelines, check your local council’s version of Safety Activity Checkpoints.
The current version of Safety Activity Checkpoints can be found here.
In Safety Activity Checkpoints, you will find:
- Girl Scouts Safety Standards and Guidelines, which apply to all Girl Scout activities, including requirements for adult supervision, permission slips, preparation, field trips and overnight trips, and other vital information.
- Activities that are not permitted by Girl Scouts of the USA and actions that girls and volunteers should not take.
- Policies surrounding chartered aircraft trips and aviation.
- First aid and overall health information.
- Standards for well-being and inclusivity along with ways to include Girl Scouts with disabilities and ways to ensure girls’ emotional safety.
- Individual safety activity checkpoints for specific activities—such as camping, internet use, and water sports that provide activity-specific safety information.
The document is laid out in three primary sections, Safety Standards and Guidelines, Activities at a Glance, and individual safety activity checkpoint pages.
- Girl Scouts’ Activities at a Glance table provides a quick look at the safety standards for that activity with a focus on two critical points to keep in mind when considering and planning activities for you troop:
- Age-appropriate activities and participation by grade level, and
- whether prior approval from Girl Scouts of Colorado is required before girls participate in a specific activity. The Activity and Event Approval form is required for any activities requiring prior approval in Safety Activity Checkpoints and should be submitted at least 30 days prior to the activity taking place.
- Individual Safety Activity Checkpoint pages provide activity-specific safety measures and guidance on the individual activities that troops and girls may choose participate in.
Registering Girls and Adults in Girl Scouting
Every participant (girl or adult) in Girl Scouting must register and become a member of Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA). GSUSA membership dues are valid for one year from October 1-September 30. Membership dues cannot be transferred to another member and are not refundable.
Early Bird registration for the upcoming membership year occurs in the spring. Girls are encouraged to register early to avoid the fall rush. Early registration allows for uninterrupted receipt of forms and materials from the council, helps girls and councils plan ahead, and gets girls excited about all the great stuff they want to do as Girl Scouts next year. Girl Scout grade level is determined by the current membership year beginning October 1.
Lifetime membership is available to anyone who accepts the principles and beliefs of the Girl Scout Promise and Law, pays the one-time lifetime membership fee, and is at least 18 years old (or a high school graduate or equivalent). Volunteers with ten or more years of service can become lifetime members at the discounted young alum rate.
Adding New Girls to Your Troop
Growing your troop is a great way to share the power of the Girl Scout experience and there are many ways to get the word out , like hanging posters at your girls’ schools, using social media to reach families in your community, or including your troop in your council’s Opportunity Catalog or Troop Catalog.
Contact Girl Scouts of Colorado to connect with a Recruitment Specialist in your area for support in adding new members to your troop. To list your troop in the local troop opportunity catalog so new girls can join you, reach out to the Girl Scouts of Colorado customer care team at 877-404-5708 or inquiry@gscolorado.org or complete the Troop Update form to indicate how many openings you have in your troop.
Creating an atmosphere of acceptance and inclusion
Getting support for your troop
Troop management tools and resources
Taking advantage of learning opportunities
Knowing how much you're appreciated
Girl Scout participation in activities with other scouting organizations
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