Brownie Leadership Essential booklet

Girl Scout Brownie
Leadership Essentials
800-565-4475 • gswise.org
Contents
10 Essential Elements for Creating the Girl Scout Experience ....3
The Girl Scout Mission Statement ....................................................... 4
Girl Scout Processes ................................................................................. 5
Putting the Process into Place ............................................................... 6
Troop Government and Girl/Adult Planning ......................................7
Girl Scout Troop Government................................................................ 8
Girl Scout Ways .......................................................................................... 10
Valuing Differences .................................................................................. 10
Diversity ..........................................................................................................11
Disability Simulations ................................................................................11
Tips for Working with Girl Scout Brownies ........................................12
Tips for the Girl Scout Brownie meeting ............................................14
Helpful Hints for the Leader ...................................................................15
Girl Scout Terms .........................................................................................16
Girl Scout Brownie Terms .......................................................................16
Kapers and Sample Kaper Charts ........................................................17
Suggested Items to Take on a Troop Outing ....................................18
Fun Girl Scout Brownie Stuff ..................................................................18
What Brownies Do ....................................................................................20
Girl Scout Brownie - 3 Journeys ............................................................21
Brownie Quest ............................................................................................ 22
Brownie WOW! ........................................................................................... 23
A World of Girls...........................................................................................24
Safety Issues ............................................................................................... 25
Child Seat Belt/Booster Seat usage....................................................26
Resources for Girl Scout Brownie Leaders ...................................... 27
Summary of Volunteer Positions ........................................................28
2
The Girl Scout
Promise
On my honor, I will try:
To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
The Girl Scout Law
I will do my best to be
honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong, and
responsible for what I say and do,
and to
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.
*Girl Scouts of the USA makes no attempt to define or interpret the
word “God” in the Girl Scout Promise. It looks to individual
members to establish for themselves the nature of their spiritual
beliefs. When making the Girl Scout Promise, individuals may
substitute wording appropriate to their own spiritual beliefs for the
word “God.” Note: This disclaimer appears in the National
Leadership Journey adult guides, but not in the girls’ books. It is
included here as a reminder to you, as a volunteer, that it’s your
responsibility to be sensitive to the spiritual beliefs of the girls in
your group and to make sure that everyone in the group feels
comfortable and included in Girl Scouting. Please feel free to share
this information with girls’ families.
10 Essential Elements for Creating
the Girl Scout Experience
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
WELCOME FAMILIES TO
GIRL SCOUTS OF THE USA
Girl Scouting helps girls become leaders in their daily lives and in the world. Let
girls know about all the fun they’ll have—and tell families what Girl Scouts does
and why it matters.
SHOW GIRLS THEY BELONG
TO A BIG SISTERHOOD
Help girls make the connection between their troop and the millions of girls around
the country and the world who share a mission to make the world a better place.
GUIDE GIRLS TO DEVELOP
AS LEADERS
Use the national leadership curriculum to help girls experience the three keys
to leadership—Discovering Self, Connecting with Others, and Taking Action—
in the world.
EMPOWER GIRLS TO
TAKE ACTION IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES
Girls want to know they can make a difference in the world. Help girls identify a
problem they want to solve, reach out to others who can help, and put together
their Take Action project.
SUPPORT GIRLS TO
BUILD SKILLS THROUGH
PROFICIENCY BADGES
Girls feel proud and confident when they’ve learned a new skill through earning a
badge. Show girls the badges available at their grade level and guide them as they
earn the ones that interest them most.
EXPAND GIRLS’ VIEW
OF THE WORLD
Give girls the opportunity to go to new places, meet new friends, and talk to
experts in various fields. This expands their horizons and helps them imagine all
kinds of new possibilities for their futures.
CELEBRATE WITH
CEREMONIES AND
TRADITIONS
Hold award ceremonies to celebrate what girls have learned; enjoy beloved Girl
Scout traditions, such as flag ceremonies, sing-alongs, and campfires; or come
together at bridging ceremonies to mark the moment when girls move to the next
level in Girl Scouting.
USE A GIRL-FRIENDLY
APPROACH
Girls have fun when they can shape their own experiences, do hands-on activities,
and work together as teams. Help make this happen by using Girl Scouts’ three
processes: Girl Led, Learning by Doing, and Cooperative Learning.
ENCOURAGE GIRLS TO EARN
AND LEARN THROUGH THE
GIRL SCOUT COOKIE PROGRAM
Coach girls to develop five key skills—Goal Setting, Decision Making, Money
Management, People Skills, and Business Ethics—by taking part in the largest
girl-led business in the world.
INSPIRE GIRLS TO
CONTINUE GROWING
THROUGH GIRL SCOUTS
Share with girls the exciting opportunities they’ll have—to learn new things, meet
new friends, and make the world a better place—by staying involved in Girl Scouts.
3
The Girl Scout Mission Statement
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a
better place.
The mission is supported by qualified adult volunteers who provide guidance to the growth of girls through
diverse actions.
Confidence
Girls discover and
cultivate their strength
and are empowered to
make a difference in their
own lives and beyond.
Character
Courage
Girls act with integrity
and compassion, making
decisions that promote the
well-being of themselves
and others.
Girls speak out on issues
they care about and take
leadership roles in their
communities.
The Girl Scout Leadership Development model follows a girl-centric approach and organizes girls’
achievements into three broad categories – Girls Discover, Girls Connect, and Girls Take Action.
Discover
Connect
Take Action
• Girls develop a strong sense
of self
• Girls develop healthy
relationships
• Girls can identify
• Girls develop positive values
• Girls promote cooperation
and teambuilding
• Girls are resourceful
• Girls gain practical life skills
• Girls seek challenges in the
world
• Girls develop critical thinking
+
• Girls resolve conflicts
• Girls advance diversity in a
multicultural world
community needs
+
• Girls feel connected to their
communities, locally and
globally
problem solvers
• Girls advocate for
themselves and others,
locally and globally
• Girls educate and inspire
others to act
• Girls feel empowered to
make a difference in the
world
= Leadership
4
Girl Scout Processes
Girl-Led
• Girls play an active part in
figuring out the “what, where,
when, how, and why” of their
activities
• Girls are more engaged as
decision makers in planning
and putting their ideas into
action
• Girls are more engaged in
their learning
• Girls are empowered
• Adults provide ageappropriate facilitation
to ensure that planning,
organization, set-up and
evaluation of all activities are
done jointly with girls
• Girls experience leadership
and decision making
opportunities
• Girls prepare to become
active participants in their
local and global communities
Learning By Doing
• A “hands-on” learning
process
• Engages girls in continuous
cycles of action and
reflection
• Results in deeper
understanding of concepts
and mastery of practical skills
• Girls actively participate in
meaningful activities (e.g.
trying new skills, solving
real-life problems, or role
playing) and reflect on them
to evaluate what they have
learned (e.g. by keeping a
journal)
• Girls get to explore their own
questions, discover answers,
gain new skills, and share
ideas and observations with
others
• Girls connect their
experiences to their lives and
apply what they have learned
in the future
Cooperative Learning
• All members of a group work
together toward a common
goal
• Promotes sharing of
knowledge, skills, and learning
• Promotes an atmosphere of
respect and cooperation
• Girls work together on goals
that can only be
accomplished with the help
of others
• Working together in all-girl
environments encourages
girls to feel powerful and
emotionally and physically
safe
• Girls experience a sense of
belonging even in the most
diverse groups
• In cooperative learning
environments, people learn
faster, process information
more efficiently, and are
better able to retain the
information learned.
When used together, these processes ensure the quality and promote the fun and friendship that’s so integral
to Girl Scouting.
5
Putting the Processes into Place
Is Your Group Girl-Led?
Making Adjustments
1. As a leader, if you gave your ideas for the things to do in the troop:
a. The girls would put them on the list with all the other ideas
b. The girls would be paying attention because it’s time for
announcements
Find ways to make sure girls get a
chance to be part of the planning.
Make it a practice for everyone to
share at least one idea when
planning. Find ways to make sure
that every voice is heard. Ask girls
to pair up to discuss their ideas,
which make it easier for a shy girl to
voice her opinion. Use lots of
different ways of getting the girls’
ideas.
2. If girls gave their ideas would you:
a. Explore the ideas with the girls to see how they could work
b. Explain why your idea is more workable
3. If your troop was asked to share something at the campfire at your
camp:
a. The girl would do the talking
b. Adults would do the talking
4. If the girls were baking a cake but forgot to watch the time:
a. You would let them over-bake it (they could always eat the
middle part!)
b. You would take the cake out of the oven when it’s done
5. If the girls wanted to do something that you don’t know how to do:
a. You would find another adult who could help the girls make it
happen
b. You would tell them the troop wouldn’t be able to do it
6. If two girls in your troop were not getting along, would you
a. Ask them to tell each other how they feel, and ask their opinions
about how the issue should be resolved?
b. Talk to both of them to get the complete story and then decide
who should receive consequences
7. After an activity would you
a. Ask the girls their opinions about their activities and what they
might do differently?
b. De-brief the activity with the other adults?
Quiz Answers
If you marked mostly A’s, you know that even though it sometimes takes a
little more effort and time (and might be a little messier!) to a accomplish
tasks, it is worth it in the end to help the girls grow and learn skills by
involving them in the process. Your partnership with your girls will result in
empowering them to reach their fullest potential.
If you marked mostly B’s, you are working hard to provide a wonderful
Girl Scout program for your girls, but probably should try to remember
that how they do things is really more important than what they do. They
really need a chance to ‘learn by doing’. Try involving them a little bit
more–it gets easier as you go!
6
Concentrate on adding little bits
of responsibility at a time. Each
time you do an activity involve the
girls in the planning process a little
more each time. Baby steps will get
you there!
Help other adults plan with girls,
not for the girls. Parents and
volunteers understand that the
girl-adult partnership is a
cornerstone of Girl Scouting. If you
need to, give the other adults a
separate task or topic to discuss,
preferably in another room, so the
planning is largely girl centered.
Recognize that delegating,
especially to girls, may be an area
of personal growth for you!
Sometimes, the problem may not
be that the girls need more/new
skills, but that we adults do!
Delegating can be difficult, but
when we remember that in
Girl Scouting, the process is as (or
more!) important than the actual
activity, it becomes easier.
Focus on building skills.
Remember that planning and
decision-making are life skills, and
are learned over time. Build a little
more each time, and your girls will
be on their way!
Troop Government and Girl/Adult Planning
Foster girl/adult planning
• Ask questions, rather than
provide answers.
• Guide, rather than lead.
• Advise, rather than judge.
• Help a girl to think through a
decision, rather than decide
for her.
Elements of decision
making
Points to calendar planning
• Leave openings/be flexible.
• Collect all ideas.
• Sort out those that are best
liked.
• Check for feasibility.
Girls can help with
• Limit the number of choices
girls can pick from.
• Look for opportunities to
include families in
troop/group activities as
helpers and resource people.
• Be respectful and inclusive
about the various religious
and cultural holidays and
observances your girls may
celebrate.
• Snacks
• Crafts
• Ceremonies
• Clean-up
Daisy
Brownie
Junior
Leader is a
“Director”
Leader is a
“Manager”
Leader is a
“Teacher”
Cadette/Senior/
Ambassador
Leader is an
“Advisor”
Leaders percentage of the
decision-making responsibility
Remember:
A leader is always
responsible for
Safety!
Girls percentage of the
decision-making responsibility
20%
40%
60%
85%-95%
7
Girl Scout Troop Government
• Every grade level of Girl Scouting
uses some form of troop
government.
• Troop government is a way
for girls to learn responsibility,
independence and how to
become leaders!
• Troop government is designed
to be progressive, building on the
skills learned in previous years.
• When girls reach
Girl Scout Juniors and on
through Girl Scout Ambassadors,
the girls take on more
responsibility of running the
troop and thus should decide
which form of troop government
they will use.
• You may want to try all three
forms of girl government out
before the girls make a final
decision. And, if the system
they chose is not working for the
troop, the troop can then decide
on another form of government
for themselves.
What if girls have little or no
experience in troop governance?
If older girls have not experienced
making group decisions on their
own, use a very focused, single-topic
version of troop government
formats. For example, use the Town
Meeting format with only one topic,
like what service project would they
like to do. Or run a discussion as if it
were a Girl Scout Brownie Ring, using
Girl Scout Brownie Ring rules for
talking and brainstorming. Do this for
several smaller topics. The leader
might lead the first few discussions,
but after that the girls should be
leading the discussions. Rotate
discussion leaders. A bit of practice
and the girls will be ready to function
more independently in patrols.
8
Girl Scout Daisy Circle
Girl Scout Daisies can help make some of the decisions about their
troop through the Girl Scout Daisy Circle. It is the business part of a
Girl Scout Daisy meeting and at this age lasts only five to ten minutes.
This part of the meeting is led by the Troop Leader. It is best for the
Leader to give girls two or three choices to pick from at this age.
Decisions could include things such as where to go on a field trip or
what kind of service project the girls would like to participate in.
Simplicity is the key here.
Girl
Troop
Leader
Girl
Girl
Girl
Girl
Girl Scout Brownie Ring
The Girl Scout Brownie Ring is very similar to the Girl Scout Daisy Circle
but expands to the abilities of these now somewhat “older” girls. Girls
can now begin to lead discussions and “brainstorm” ideas. A Ring
“Leader” may be designated to lead discussions, but make sure that all
girls are given this leadership opportunity.
When someone wishes to speak, a special “Talking Signal” is used in the
Girl Scout Brownie Ring. This is indicated by the girl placing the two
fingers of her right hand on the floor (or table, if you are seated at a table
instead of on the floor). The Girl Scout Brownie Ring is a good way to
make all of the major decisions in your troop from how to spend cookie
profits to which badge to work on next.
Brownie Ring time:
Announcements
Sharing time
Planning and Decision-making
Keep it short, simple, and fun!
Brownie Ring song:
Round and round and round
about, Take the hand of a
Brownie Scout, Here we are in the
Brownie Ring, Ready for ‘most
anything!
Girl
“Ring
Leader”
Girl
Girl
Girl
Girl
Girl Scout Troop Government
Town Meeting
In a Town Meeting, the entire troop makes its decisions together. A
Moderator is generally needed to lead group discussions. Officers
such as Secretary and Treasurer may be elected if the troop feels
that there is a need. This generally only works well in small groups but
can work in large groups if the girls can stay on task.
Moderator
Secretary
Treasurer
Girl
Girl
Executive Board
The Executive Board consists of the “officers” of the troop. They
generally include a President, Vice President, Secretary, and
Treasurer. Job descriptions should be agreed upon as well as the
duration of office. It is important, especially at the beginning of
self-government, that everyone has the opportunity to participate at
some time throughout the year. These “board” members meet on a
regular basis to decide matters for the troop. Some method needs to
be devised for the troop members to give input to the Executive
Board. This could be a simple suggestion box at a troop meeting. This
system tends to work well with smaller troops.
Vice
President
President
Treasurer
Secretary
Girl
Girl
Patrol System
Asst.
Patrol
Leader
The Patrol System is the most versatile of the systems of
government. The troop is divided into smaller units called patrols.
The ideal patrol size is about 5-8 girls. Each Patrol elects a Patrol
Leader responsible for running their patrol meetings. An Assistant
Patrol Leader is also a good idea in the event that the Patrol Leader
cannot make a meeting. All troop business can be handled in these
patrols. Attendance and dues can be recorded by the patrols. For any
given outing, chores may be divided up with each patrol responsible
for its own task.
In order for the troop to run smoothly and as a group, Patrol Leaders
should come together periodically (at least once a month) to discuss
troop issues and make group decisions. This is called the “Court of
Honor”. Each patrol gives their input to the Patrol Leader who
presents their viewpoint at the Court of Honor. Also included in the
Court of Honor are any other troop officers such as Secretary and
Treasurer. The Patrol System can be very successful, but only if the
girls are given skills with which to succeed.
Girl
Patrol Leader
Girl
Asst.
Patrol
Patrol Leader
Leader
Girl
Girl
Court of Honor
Generally consisting of the Troop Officers and the Patrol Leaders, the
Court of Honor meets on a regular basis to plan troop activities.
Monthly meetings can be used to plan events that occur the following
month. A long meeting once or twice a year can be used for long-term
planning of troop events and planning the troop yearly calendar. If
you have a troop Moderator or President, this person generally
presides over the Court of Honor meetings.
Patrol
Leader
President
Patrol
Leader
Patrol
Leader
Patrol
Leader
9
Girl Scout Ways
Quiet Sign:
Traditionally, the Quiet Sign is the
open hand (referring back to an
older version of the Girl Scout
Law—the fifth Law was ‘to be
courteous’ so when you raised your
five fingers and were quiet, you
were being courteous to the
speaker.) Sometimes people use
the three fingered sign for the quiet
sign. New traditions are always
being started in Girl Scouting, so
that works, too. Either way, “when
your hand goes up, your mouth
goes shut.”
Talking Stick:
No one may speak unless they are
holding the talking stick.
Talking Sign:
If someone wishes to speak, they
tap their two fingers on the floor in
front of them. (Tradition refers to
the old Brownie sign, made with
two fingers instead of three.)
Do It/Did It:
Use for choosing who gets to do
special jobs, be line leader, who
gets to sit next to the leader, etc.
Put everyone’s name on a piece of
paper or a popsicle stick. When
that one is chosen from the Do It
can or bag, put it into the Did It can
or bag.
10
Valuing Differences
How can adults encourage pluralistic attitudes and healthy ethnic
identities? Try the following activities:
1. A Girl Scout can gain pride in
her family heritage by exploring
her family history. She can
draw a family tree on a large
sheet of paper. Include names,
pictures, or photographs of
all the members of her family
that she can discover by talking
to her parents, grandparents,
aunts, uncles, or others who
make up her family. A Girl Scout
can add drawings or pictures of
the places her family has lived
or the places that represent her
family’s heritage. She can add
pictures of important events in
her family’s history or activities
or skills that make her family
special. Have girls share their
family trees with their families.
2. Many people from various racial,
ethnic, and cultural groups have
made important contributions
to society. Girls can have lots of
fun finding out about famous
people who share their heritage.
They can also find out about
people from groups other than
their own. Why are these people
famous? The girls can create
a simple game or a pretend
television quiz show on the
accomplishments of the famous
people they have learned more
about. They can also share
their findings with younger girls.
Encourage girls to utilize the
resources in their communities
such as museums, universities
and colleges, and ethnic festival
representatives from racial,
ethnic, or cultural groups to
gather the information.
3. The slogan, “We’re the same.
We’re different.” can encourage
an appreciation of differences.
Assign partners and ask girls to
sit or stand facing each other.
Ask girls to think of three ways in
which they are like their partners
and three ways in which they are
different from their partners.
Ask the partners to share their
similarities and differences with
each other and with the group.
4. Encourage the troop/group to
explore the diversity of ethnic,
cultural, and racial groups within
the United States. Each girl can
choose a particular group or her
own ethnic, cultural, or racial
group. She can learn about
customs, foods, holidays, values,
and the history and traditions
of the group she picked and
share this information with
her troop/group. Girls might
visit a museum, a library, an
ethnic market, or speak with a
representative from their chosen
group to gather information.
Ask girls to think about what
similar values or characteristics
the different groups share. If the
girls are enjoying this activity and
are excited about learning more
about their groups, they can make a
booklet, display, collage, play, or skit
that demonstrates the uniqueness
of these groups. Consider doing
a Thinking Day event with either
Girl Scout troops/groups in your
school or in your membership area.
Taken from Valuing Differences, GSUSA 1990
Nota: Los materiales están también en Español
Look in Connections and go online
at gswise.org for more information
about these programs that promote
diversity, and World Thinking Day
activities.
Diversity
Diversity is defined by the dictionary as (1) the condition of being
different and (2) an instance or a point of difference. Here is a game
that points out how we are alike and different from our friends in the
troop/group.
Disability
Simulations
Help girls develop empathy and
understanding for others by doing
one of these simulations.
Stand next to someone who:
1. has the same color eyes as you.
2. is as tall as you.
3. is living in the same type of family as you (i.e. with one parent, a
grandparent, foster family, with step parent, adopted).
4. goes to your church or if you don’t go to a church someone like
you.
5. has a family from the same country as you. You may have to
give an example like: Mexico, France, South Africa, Sweden, or
you just don’t know where your family is from.
6. goes to your school.
7. loves their family.
8. who is a Girl Scout.
Now you can see that we may have differences but we are also the
same. You can add other topics that point out differences and close
with ways that we are the same.
As a unique way to discuss diversity, try the following snack idea:
• Bring ice cream and several different toppings. (You could
also ask each girl to bring her favorite ice cream topping to that
meeting.)
• Allow each girl to choose the toppings for her ice cream, but do
not eat it yet.
• Once all the girls have fixed their ice cream treat, ask each girl to
say why she chose the toppings that she did.
• Allow each girl to share.
• Talk about how we are all different and unique.
• Enjoy the ice cream treat!
Try It One-Handed
A child with limited use of a hand or
an arm can encounter difficulties
performing even the most common
school activities. Tie a long strip
of cloth gently around each of the
girls’ bodies in such a way that one
of their arms is held snug to their
sides. Have the girls continue with
typical classroom experiences such
as writing, reading books, opening
a backpack, and eating lunch. You
may want to try this activity with only
half of your girls so that the other
half can act as helpers. When all the
girls have experienced this activity,
ask them to share their feelings and
observations.
Sack Walk
Materials: caution cones or small
cardboard boxes, burlap bags or old
pillowcases
Some children, though not in
wheelchairs, still have difficulty
walking. They may have muscle or
bone troubles that make moving a
trying task. Create a simple obstacle
course using the cones or boxes
to indicate a pathway. To walk
around the course, each girl must
stand inside a burlap sack or an
old pillowcase and use her hands
to hold up the edges of the bag or
case. (Note: The object is not to
hop around the course, but rather to
walk.)
11
Tips for Working with Girl Scout Brownies
These tips can help with the situations that arise whenever a group of girls gets together.
• Involve each girl’s family
member as much as possible.
Send notes to each girl’s home
and spend some time speaking
to family members who drop
off or pick up the girls. Always
be certain that any discussion
you need to have with another
adult about a girl is not within
her hearing or that of any of the
other girls.
• Share your successes with other
leaders. Share resources and
ideas.
• Focus on the talents and skills
of each girl. For example, if a
girl is very organized, but is very
shy about speaking in front of
others, try to give her tasks that
use her organizational skills. Her
confidence in a job well done
will help build her confidence
to speak up. You could also
structure some activities in
which she would need to speak
in front of a small group of girls.
Similarly, a very active girl can
be involved in tasks that require
movement rather than more
passive, sitting still, types of
activities.
• Encourage respect for different
religious, racial, ethnic, and
cultural backgrounds. Help
each girl both express pride
in her own heritage and also
value the diversity of others.
Be a role model in never using
prejudiced words and in never
taking prejudicial actions.
Discover ways for girls to find
accurate information about and
have positive experiences with
girls and adults different from
themselves.
• Offer help in small doses. Girls
often need less help than you
think. Ask a girl the best way
to do something. She usually
knows.
• Make full use of the buddy
system and rotate buddies so
that everyone gets a chance to
know one another.
• Girl Scout Brownies may need
some extra help in sharing and
taking turns. If a girl becomes
frustrated at not being able to
use the materials she desires at
that moment, suggest an equally
attractive substitute.
• Encourage girls to solve
their own problems, to go to
each other for support and
assistance, and to take turns
being the leader of the group.
Intervene only if you are really
needed. However, intercede
immediately if a child’s safety is
at risk.
12
• Girls learn best by doing.
Encourage girls to discover
things on their own and to try
new things. Do not expect every
Brownie to participate in every
activity. Suggest a quiet activity
that will not disturb the group
to a girl who wishes to work
independently.
• Girls need to feel positive
about themselves. At this age,
when girls are reaching beyond
their families, getting positive
affirmation from others is
critical. Accept each girl as she is
—strengths and weaknesses—so
that she can learn to accept you
and your guidance. Remember
to use her name when speaking
to her. Praise often; criticize
never.
• Girls can understand that certain
behaviors are unacceptable
without being criticized. They
need to be told firmly, and
shown, which behaviors are
unacceptable.
• Be supportive of and interested
in the girls’ ideas and interests.
Rejoice with a girl when she
achieves something important
to her, no matter how small.
Don’t hold all girls to a uniform
standard of performance. Vary
the amount of help and support
given in a situation according to
a girl’s physical, intellectual, and
emotional status.
Continued on next page
• Keep directions simple, direct,
and positive. Be sure that each
girl understands you. Try to
meet her at eye level if giving
complicated instructions or
if working through a problem.
Speak in a quiet, pleasant
tone. Girls listen better to
someone speaking softly and
calmly. Phrase directions
positively. Say put your cup in
the wastebasket, please rather
than, don’t leave your cup on
the table.
More Ideas for a Successful Meeting
• Be reasonable about time with
the girls. Start projects that
the girls can finish. Give plenty
of advance warning when
an activity is going to end or
begin. Girl Scout Brownies may
become frustrated or confused
when hurried. Watch for signs
of fatigue; girls can tire easily at
this age.
• Parent helpers should be encouraged to work with all the girls rather
than just their daughter. Parent helpers could work with a group of
girls other than their daughter or work at one of several stations the
girls are rotating through during a meeting.
• Limits should be clearly defined
and well maintained. Girl Scout
Brownies need consistency.
They have a highly developed
sense of fairness and will be
quick to feel hurt if they believe
you play favorites. Be especially
careful of this if your daughter
is a member of your troop or
group.
• Over-plan for the meeting. Always have plenty to do in case
something finishes faster than you thought or the girls finish with an
activity early. You may not get to do it at that meeting but it’s best to
be prepared.
• Try activities at home before doing them at a meeting. This will
ensure that you fully understand the project and have all the supplies
needed. You should do this without your daughter around so that she
gets the same experience as the other girls.
• If you are unable to finish an activity during a meeting, you can keep it
for the next meeting or send it home with written instructions. Have
zippered plastic bags on hand to put projects in to save.
• Hairdryers are a great addition to the box of supplies. You can use it to
help dry the paint, glue or other materials needed for some crafts.
Budget Tips to Survive the Year
• Have a birthday party (or holiday party) for your troop. This is a great
way to collect supplies for your troop. For example, October 31 is
Juliette Low’s birthday and a great time to ask that each girl bring
a wrapped gift for the troop consisting of: paper, glue, markers,
crayons, or other similar item. You can make your list to meet your
specific needs.
• Ask your parents for donations. You never know what you will get if
you don’t ask.
• Remember that financial assistance is available from GSWISE for girls
who cannot afford the membership registration fee or need other
financial assistance. You can find the form in at www.gswise.org or at
the Resource Center.
Most of all,
learn with the girls,
laugh with them, and
have fun!
13
Tips for the Girl Scout Brownie Meeting
1. Be Prepared: Set up materials before the meeting, make sure all adults involved know their roles at the
meeting.
2. Pre-meeting Activity: Puzzles, drawing, books, or a game everyone knows. Allows girls to learn to work
independently, gives leaders a chance to greet each girl and family members.
3. Connect with Each Girl: Take the time to greet each girl and find out how she is feeling. If the girls are full
of energy, you may want to save that quiet activity for another time.
4. Five and One Minute Warnings: Transitioning can be difficult for girls of this age group. Time warnings
help.
5. Establish Routines: Lets girls know what to expect during the meeting, this gives them ownership of their
meeting. Use Kaper Charts, let them know where things are kept, off limits areas, etc.
6. Opening Ceremony: Simple flag ceremonies, group cheers, singing favorite songs, reciting the Girl Scout
Promise and parts of the Law, etc. Use kapers to involve girls in planning the ceremony.
7. Sharing Time: Encourage girls to talk about their interests, feelings, and daily experiences.
8. Involve the Girls in Planning: At first, the girls may need to choose from a few options, and later will be
able to become more active in the planning process.
9. Snack Time: Girls can take turns bringing the snack and passing them out. This should be an enjoyable and
informal time when the girls can relax and enjoy being together.
10. Clean Up: Clean up is a troop responsibility and a good opportunity for all girls to learn to be responsible.
All of the girls should help with clean up. One or two girls can be assigned to check kapers off of the Kaper
Chart when they are complete.
11. Closing Ceremony: Friendship circle and squeeze, say goodbye in other languages, group hug, sing a song,
etc. Use kapers to involve the girls in planning.
12. Goodbye: Make sure to learn what adult is responsible for picking up each girl.
Snack Bucket
Your daughter has brought home the Brownie Troop Snack Bucket. Please send it back with your daughter to
our next meeting with enough healthy snacks for
girls.
Girls in our troop are allergic to:
“Helping Hands”
Attach some rubber gloves to a ribbon or trace hands on heavy paper and cut out, staple to some yarn. Let
girls who have “clean up” as a kaper wear these around their shoulders.
14
Tips for Setting a Positive
Environment
• Set limits
• Encourage respect
• Give positive, polite directions
• Involve girls in establishing rules
• Focus on talents and skills—not
problems
• Set a good example
• Don’t expect every girl to do every
project
• Allow each girl to learn by
experience
• Help each girl develop positive
feelings about herself
• Let the girls solve problems,
ask for help, and experience
leadership
• Encourage group projects—it is
important to be part of a group
• Involve and communicate with
the families
• Rejoice in all achievements, large
and small
Helpful Hints for the Leader
There are dozens of ways to do almost anything in Girl Scouting. Each
can be as right as the others. So, relax and use your common sense! If
you don’t know how to do something (or even if you do), ask the girls
how they would do it—and if there is no clear danger to life, limb, or other
folks’ property—let them.
• The worst wrong thing you could do is shut the girls out of the
decision making. Share the load. It’s their group; you are there to
help them. For a while, they will not believe you are for real, but
stick with it.
• Examples of things they can decide: choosing what they would like
to do (i.e., like which Badges to work on); what supplies are needed
for a project; how to welcome and invest new members; ways to
start and end meetings.
Polish up your sense of humor. Have fun! The sky will not fall if, now and
then, a meeting sounds and looks like the fun house at an amusement
park. Sometimes the girls need to blow off steam and be silly. If you are
a mother, shift gears. Love the girls and worry about them sometimes,
of course, but you are not their parent. You are their friend. Think about
a person you loved to visit because such wonderful things happened.
Think about what this person was like and in what ways they were
different from your mother and father.
Doing is a great way to learn and grow, which is what Girl Scouting is
all about. That goes for both you and the girls. They can try anything,
and learn from what does not work almost more than from what does.
That is a great gift to any young person—a place to learn from mistakes
without being marked a failure. Use learning events and watch other
Girl Scout leaders; experiment, practice, and learn by doing. You can
make it the place to explore and experiment with ideas and skills that
the girls may not be able to help you with.
15
Girl Scout Terms
Bridging: Girls move from one
level of Girl Scouting to another.
Certain requirements need to be
fulfilled to earn the Bridging Patch
for a particular level (optional).
Buddy System: A safety system
where two girls stay together and
watch out for each other.
Court of Awards: A ceremony to
present earned recognitions at
any level.
Fly Up: The ceremony in which
a Girl Scout Brownie becomes a
Girl Scout Junior.
Health History: A request for
health information from parents
regarding health issues their
daughter has that troop leaders
should be aware of.
Investiture: A special ceremony
that welcomes someone new to
Girl Scouting. She receives her pin
and officially makes her Girl Scout
Promise for the first time.
Kaper Chart: A Girl Scout way
for organizing jobs (kapers) to be
done during a meeting, campout,
or other activity.
Permission Slips: A girl needs
to have a completed and signed
permission slip to attend an outing
that is not at the normal meeting
place and/or time.
Rededication: A ceremony when
a Girl Scout reaffirms her belief in
the Promise and Law.
Girl Scout
Brownie Terms
Girl Scout Brownie Ring:
Girl Scout Brownies and their
leaders get together in a large
circle when making group
plans and/or decisions, such as
making rules, assigning tasks,
discussing activities, trips, and
service projects. Girls take turns
expressing their opinions and
ideas.
Girl Scout Brownie Ring guidelines
for leaders:
Sit Upon: A cushion to sit on
outside or in meetings, generally
made by Girl Scouts.
• Girls need to listen to each
other.
SWAPS: (Special
Whatchamacallits Affectionately
Pinned Somewhere): Handmade
crafts Girl Scouts give or trade
with other Girl Scouts as a special
remembrance.
• Everyone gets a chance to
speak.
Take Out Boxes: Program boxes
available to check out from
Resource Centers, available for
all grade levels, covering a wide
variety of interests and topics.
• There are no dumb ideas.
• All girls are encouraged to
participate.
• Time limits should be set and
followed.
Girl Scout Brownie Circle: A large
troop/group may need to break
into smaller circles. One girl from
each circle is selected to represent
that circle. These representatives
then meet in their own circle.
Girl Scout Motto: “Be
prepared.”
Girl Scout Slogan: “Do a good turn
daily.”
Girl Scout Brownie Story: (Page
19) There are two Girl Scout
Brownie stories (traditional and
contemporary), which explain
how Girl Scout Brownies are
ready helpers who gain a positive
experience by doing good deeds.
Girl Scout Brownies help wherever
and whenever they are needed.
16
Kapers and Sample Kaper Charts
A kaper chart is a Girl Scout way for organizing activities and is a visible reminder of the tasks that need to be
done, usually at meetings and while camping. Depending on the number of girls in the troop/group, kapers
on the chart may be done individually or in small groups. The names and jobs are recorded and the tasks are
rotated.
Meeting Kaper Charts
KAPERS
Marta
Snack
Amber
Supplies
Tasha
Special Helper
Jodi
Opening
Ceremony
Kelly
Closing
Ceremony
Dorothy
Clean-Up
Checker
BROWNIES
SEPT. 10
SEPT. 25
OCT. 9
OCT. 23
Jaime
Catrina
(Stars)
Christal
Amy
(Moons)
Anna
Jessica
(Suns)
Opening or
Song or
Game
Serve the
Snack
Pass Out
Supplies
Closing
Ceremony
Closing
Ceremony
Opening or
Song or
Game
Serve the
Snack
Pass Out
Supplies
Pass Out
Supplies
Closing
Ceremony
Opening or
Song or
Game
Serve the
Snack
Serve the
Snack
Pass Out
Supplies
Closing
Ceremony
Opening or
Song or Game
Saturday
Breakfast
Saturday
Lunch
Saturday
Dinner
Sunday
Breakfast
Stars
Moons
Suns
Rainbows
Rainbows
Stars
Moons
Suns
Stars
Moons
Amanda
Samantha
(Rainbows)
Camping Kaper Chart
KAPERS
Cooks
(Prepare meal)
Hostesses
(Make centerpieces,
set table, start grace)
Clean-up
(Wipe off tables,
sweep floor, garbage)
Wash dishes
(Wash, dry, and
put away dishes)
Brownies
Moons
Suns
Rainbows
Stars
Jaime
Catrina
(Stars)
Christal
Amy
(Moons)
Anna
Jessica
(Suns)
Amanda
Samantha
(Rainbows)
17
Suggested Items
to Take on a
Troop Outing
• Appropriate number of
adults for girl/adult ratio
• Cell phone numbers, if other
drivers have cell phones
• Permission slips—signed and
completed
Fun Girl Scout Brownie Stuff
Brownie Smile Song
Pass the Squeeze -
I have something in my pocket,
that belongs across my face.
I keep it very close to me,
in a most convenient place.
I’m sure you couldn’t guess it,
if you guessed a long, long while.
So, I’ll take it out,
and put it on,
it’s a great big Brownie Smile!
(Tune: Farmer in the Dell)
• Troop copies of Girl
Registration forms
Alternative Words to the
• Girl Health Information Cards Brownie Smile Song
• Blank insurance form
• What to do in an Emergency
card
• Confirmation forms
• Directions to the site
• Troop Roster or Emergency
Contact List
• Troop checkbook
• Paper and pencil/pen
• Girls’ medication(s) with
completed forms
• When camping, a battery
operated radio for weather
advisories/warnings
• First aid kit—suggested items
for your first aid kit are at
redcross.org.
Tip:
Be sure
you’ve completed the
appropriate training and
all volunteers have
completed the application
and background check
process.
18
I’ve got something in my pocket
That I found behind a log
My leader said to put it back
But I want to keep this frog
It’s cool and green and slimy
And it wiggles in my hand
I’ve also got a wooly worm
And a pocket full of sand.
The squeeze is going around,
the squeeze is going around.
I’ll try to do a good turn each day.
The squeeze is going around”
Each girl makes a serious face. All
the girls hold hands and one person
starts the squeeze by gently
squeezing the hand of the person
on her right, who passes it to the
next girl. As each girl receives the
squeeze, she makes a great big
Brownie smile. Some troops sing
the song and when the song ends
(or the Leader, with her eyes
closed, says, “Stop”), the last
person to get the squeeze has to
come back next week and tell
about a Good Turn that she did.
Some groups send a Brownie doll
or other stuffed toy home with that
Girl Scout Brownie.
Fun Girl Scout Brownie Stuff
The Brownie Story
Word
Girls
Granny
Brownies
House
Owl
Forest
Sound
giggle
Oh my!
Be Prepared!
come in
whoo-whoo
moannn
Motion
hands in front of mouth
both hands slap knees
stand and make GS sign
hand motion to come in
bend arms and flap hands
wave arms like branches
Once there were two little girls who lived in England with their Granny and their father. The girls played all day
while Granny and father had to work very hard. One day Granny told the girls about the Brownies who used to
do lots of things to help around the house. “They are gone now,” she said “but we were always so much happier
when they helped.” The girls wanted to know where the Brownies had gone and how to get then to come back.
Granny said “Only the wise old owl knows.”
That night, when everyone else was asleep, one of the girls ran out of the house into the magic forest. There
she found the wise old owl. “Please,” said the girl, “where can I find the Brownies to come and live with us?” The
owl said, “I know where two live-- right in your house.” She was very surprised! “Tell me how to find them,” she
begged. He told her to go the pond in the magic forest, turn herself around 3 times and say “twist me and turn
me and show me the elf---I looked in the water and saw ______!”. “Then,” owl said, “finish the rhyme and you will
see the Brownie in the magic pond.”
The girl went to the pond in the magic forest and did as she had been told. Then she went back to the wise old
owl and said, “Something must be wrong-- I did all you told me to do and I only saw myself! And I’m not a
Brownie!”. “Are you sure?” said owl, “to be a Brownie you must be ready to help those around you, make friends
whenever you can, and above all, try everyday to discover something new.” “I’d like to be a Brownie ,” she said.
“Then go home and try,” owl said kindly. He touched her hand with his feathers and suddenly she was home.
Quietly she woke up her sister, told her all that had happened and together they tip-toed into the front room
and began to clean the house. In the morning, when Granny and Father saw it, they wanted to know what had
happened, who did it! The girls danced around and sang, “it’s the Brownies!” And from that day on, theirs was a
very happy house in the forest.
19
20
Brownie Quest
Girl Scout Brownies join the Brownie friends and
Brownie Elf as they enjoy some wonder-filled
adventures. As they dive in, the Brownies try
out new ways of working as a team, learn about
the water cycle, and enjoy making their own
rainbows. As Brownies learn how precious water
is, they can pledge to protect it and team up to
advocate for water conservation.
WOW! Wonders of Water
In A World of Girls, Brownies have fun learning
that stories contain clues and that they can use
those clues to make the world better. A flip book,
A World of Girls devotes one side to fictional
stories that take the Brownie girl characters to
diverse places in the world. The other side has
the real-life Brownies exploring themselves
and their world closer to home. Through the
journey’s many adventures, anecdotes, and
activities, the Brownies follow through on clues
and enjoy a fun and challenging Girl Scout
experience that strengthens their confidence
and gives them a chance to better the world.
A World of Girls
Girl Scout Brownie
What are the most important keys for a
Girl Scout to own? This quest answers that
question in a very special way. It has Girl Scout
Brownies traveling along two colorful trails—
one they can enjoy on their own and one they
explore with their Girl Scout group. Along the
Quest, Brownies meet three new friends and a
bright and shining elf—in a brand-new Brownie
story meant to inspire their own take-action
projects.
21
22
Trips:
Go on a hike or walk through a park and count the
different trees. Do any look like the ones the Brownie
Friends saved?
Choosing a Take Action Project: Girl Scout Brownies brainstorm to consider what they
could do to make a difference in their communities.
Taking Action: Girl Scout Brownies make a difference by creating a skit or gathering supplies
to help others in their community.
Session 4
Session 5
Session 7
Unlocking the Code to Leadership: Celebration and Reflection: Girl Scout Brownies
celebrate what leaders they are and will continue to be.
Making the World a Better Place: Girl Scout Brownies wrap up their efforts to reach out
Session 6 and make an impact in their community. They make healthy snacks and create a closing
ceremony.
Computer Expert:
Connecting and Taking Action: Girl Scout Brownies create a circle of caring in their
community. They write letters to their school or town officials.
Cookies:
Ask your Girl Scout cookie customers what changes
they’d like to see in the community. Use their ideas
for possible Take Action projets. Think about using
some of your cookie proceeds to fund your journey
trips or a Take Action project.
Home Scientist:
Throw a dance party. Teach
others a dance you know or
have invented!
Using ingredients from your
kitchen, conduct experiments
that will blow up a balloon or
send soda sky high.
Search online and send a free
e-card to your best friend.
Session 3
Badges:
Dancer:
Discovering and Connecting: Girl Scout Brownies play cooperative games, and commit to
leading a healthy living activity with their family.
Outdoors:
Hide a dozen keys at camp and have a treasure hunt.
Maybe each key can have a friendship message!
Traditions:
Gather all the Brownies in your town to sing the Smile
Song! Who’s happy now?!
Sample Activities for Mapping
Your Journey
Session 2
Discovering…You: Girl Scout Brownies discover their
Session 1 skills and qualities and the value of the Girl Scout Law
that means the most to her family.
Snapshot of the Brownie Journey
Brownie Quest
23
Loving Water: The Girl Scout Brownies begin exploring
the Wonders of Water, what they LOVE about water,
and why it’s important to protect water.
“Green” Tea for a Blue Planet: Through a festive tea
party, the Girl Scout Brownies learn about the water
cycle and why it’s important to save and protect it.
Water for All: Girl Scout Brownies engage in water-gathering and rationing activities to
learn how families make do in places where clean water is scarce.
Teaming Up to Advocate for Water: The Girl Scout Brownies create a team plan to SAVE
water.
Advocates Communicate!: Girl Scout Brownies prepare to carry out their SAVE project as
a team. They learn about a local water issue through a field trip or special guest speaker.
SAVE!: The Brownies Team advocates for saving water.
Planning to SHARE: Girl Scout Brownies discuss the success of their SAVE effort and what
they learned from it as they plan how to inspire others to protect water.
SHARE!: The Girl Scout Brownies SHARE what they’ve learned and how they have acted to
SAVE water with others.
WOW!: Girl Scout Brownies look back on their journey, from loving water as individuals, to
saving water as a team, to sharing what they know, with even more people.
Session 1
Session 2
Session 3
Session 4
Session 5
Session 6
Session 7
Session 8
Session 9
Snapshot of the Brownie Journey
Cookies:
Ask your Girl Scout cookie customers what changes
they’d like to see in the community. Use their ideas
for possible Take Action projects. Think about using
some of your cookie proceeds to fund your journey
trips or a Take Action project.
Trips:
Visit places where people help people, like a food
pantry, hospital, or nursery school.
Visit a ceramics studio and make a
clay pot.
Household Elf: Help your family save energy, save
money and save the planet.
Hiker:
Go on a nature scavenger hunt or
decorate a walking stick.
Badges:
Potter:
Outdoors:
Visit a Girl Scout camp and learn about protecting
the water there.
Traditions:
Make a S.W.A.P. with something from nature.
Sample Activities for Mapping
Your Journey
WOW!
24
Trips:
Go to the Holiday Folk Fair, eat at a restaurant, or
visit a summer festival that focuses on a different
culture.
Cookies:
Ask your Girl Scout cookie customers what changes
they would like to see in the community. Use their
ideas for possible Take Action projects. Think about
using some of your cookie proceeds to fund your
journey trips or a Take Action project.
Girls in Our World: Brownies see how they belong to many
circles or worlds of girls and learn about women and girls
who have made the world a better place.
From Story Clues to Story Change: Brownies explore how they can use clues to create
change in their world and play relay games to create stories.
Planning for Change a Story: Brownies use role-play scenarios to practice
communication skills and get active with a team dance.
Change a Story: Making It Happen : Brownies create self portraits, act out favorite stories
in charades, and learn about Juliette Gordon Low.
Planning and Telling our Story of Change: Brownies plan and present their story of
change and inspire their audience to keep that change going. Brownies explore stories in
advertising and media and create their own ads.
Our Whole Story: Brownies create a team quilt that expresses their own strengths and
tells the story of their Brownie world of girls.
World of Girls Celebration: Brownies celebrate their place in the world of girls with their
own artistic creations.
Session 2
Session 3
Session 4
Session 5
and 6
Session 7
and 8
Session 9
Session 10
Make a pet feel loved—play a game or
make a simple pet toy.
Making Games: Invite friends to a game party or put
a new twist on an old game to make it
your very own.
Letterboxer: Discover a hidden treasure in your
neighborhood. Make your own
letterbox and challenge others to
find the treasure you have hidden!
Badges:
Pets:
Outdoors:
Visit a Girl Scout camp and look around — how is a
Girl Scout camp in the United States different from a
camp in Canada or Mexico?
Girls Around the World: Brownies play games from around
the world and explore how games and stories link them to
a wider world of girls.
Traditions:
Learn about another country. Play a game and share
a traditional snack from that country. Share what
you have learned with other Girl Scouts.
Sample Activities for Mapping
Your Journey
Session 1
Snapshot of the Brownie Journey
A World of Girls
Safety Issues
Safety Activity Checkpoints provide resources that every troop/group
should have. These checkpoints contain the rules that govern all aspects
of Girl Scout activities and programs. Scan through these and regularly
refer them. Review the checkpoints while planning Girl Scout outings. Get
the girls into the habit of looking up the safety procedures for all activities
you are doing. Below are some of the basic rules that apply to Girl Scout
Brownies and will help prepare you to start your troop year.
Permission Slips
No girl will be allowed to attend a troop/group outing without a
completed, signed permission slip from the parent/guardian, including
how to contact the parent/guardian while the troop/group is away. A
permission slip is needed any time the troop/group is not at its normal
meeting place and/or time. A permission slip is also needed any time the
troop focuses on a sensitive or controversial issue. Permission slips can
be filled out and copies made online at gswise.org.
Tagalongs
We recommend that tagalongs or children other than troop members
not be a part of the official troop meeting. A girl and an adult are in
partnership when they work together to complete a task, resolve an issue,
or plan an activity. The Girl Scout Brownie troop meeting’s focus is on the
girls registered with the troop.
Troop Leadership
Because the female role model is essential to fulfilling the purpose of
Girl Scouting, at least one member of the leadership team needs to be an
adult female. This person is designated as the 01. All registered
Girl Scouts, including adults, are covered under the Girl Scout insurance
policy. A trained adult female needs to be present at all troop events.
Adult/Girl Ratios
Safety Activity Checkpoints
provides guidelines for the girl/adult
ratio. Remember that if you or a girl
is injured at a meeting or on a trip,
you do not want to take all the girls
with you to the hospital or leave
them alone. That is the reason we
always start out with two leaders no
matter how few girls are attending.
For Girl Scout Brownies the
recommended ratios of adults to
girls are:
• For meetings: two adults to
every 20 Girl Scout Brownies
• Plus one adult for each
additional eight Girl Scout
Brownies
• For events, trips, and group
camping: two adults to every
12 Girl Scout Brownies
• Plus one adult for each
additional six Girl Scout
Brownies
Meeting Places
The meeting area needs to meet
the criteria described Volunteer
Essentials. Contents for your first
aid kit are discussed in Volunteer
Essentials, and during training
on several levels and in girl and
leader books. You may also visit
the American Red Cross Web site,
redcross.org, for more information.
25
Child Seat Belt/Booster Seat usage
Wisconsin State Law
Children 4 through 7 who both
weigh at least 40 lbs. but less than
80 lbs. and who are less than 57”
tall are required to be in a booster
seat (effective 6/1/06).
Child Passenger Safety
Growing Up Safe:
It’s a four-step process. As children grow, how they sit in your car, truck
or SUV should change. Save your child from injury or death by observing
all four steps:
A booster seat is a child safety
seat designed for children who
have outgrown toddler seats and
are not tall enough for safety
belts. A booster seat raises a child
up so the safety belt fits properly.
It’s surprising, but being buckled
up with a safety belt is not the
safest way for many children to
ride in a vehicle. Safety belts are
designed for adults, and children
under 4’9” tall should ride with a
booster seat. Children prematurely
moved to seat belts are 4 times
more likely to suffer serious head
injuries during a collision than
children in child safety or booster
seats.
26
All children age 12 and under should ride in the back seat.
Resources for Girl Scout Brownie Leaders
Publications from GSUSA
Connections
Resource Centers
Girl Scout Brownie Journey books
and Leader guides
This publication created by
Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast
is your guide to planning
events, activities, and renting
program properties.
Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast
operates three Resource Centers
which are Girl Scout libraries and
retail shops to assist volunteers
in the delivery of Girl Scout
programming to girls and adults.
The Resource Centers are your
year-round source for Girl Scout
uniforms, pins, badges, and books.
Each Resource Center is filled with
books and Take Out Boxes that
may be loaned to troop leaders.
Reservations are necessary due to
a limited number of items. Please
contact your local Resource
Center for availability. Visit any of
our four convenient locations or
place an order by mail, fax, phone,
or online at gswise.org.
• Brownie Quest
• WOW! Wonders of Water
• A World of GIrls
The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting
Information Online
•
National website:
girlscouts.org
•
Local council website:
gswise.org
•
Go to gswise.org and click on
the volunteers tab for all your
volunteer needs.
The Girl Scout Songbook
Safety Activity Checkpoints,
available online at gswise.org.
Let’s Celebrate! This four part
booklet will give you
information on basic parts
and elements of a ceremony,
how to create ceremonies,
sample ceremonies, and
a bibliography. A previous
edition, Ceremonies in
Girl Scouting, also has
information that you may
use.
Volunteer Essentials
Chapters include:
Quick-Start Guide to Girl Scouting
Sharing Your Unique Gifts
• Becoming a Volunteer
• Training for Volunteers
• Troop Organization
• Volunteer Recognition
• Volunteer Support
PLEASE NOTE: The resources
mentioned in this training plus
additional tools can be found
at gswise.org by clicking on the
Forms and Resources section.
Service Area Meetings
Throughout the school year,
Troop Leaders meet with other
volunteers in their service areas.
To find when your local service
area meets go to Volunteer
Support under the volunteers
tab or contact your membership
manager for location, dates and
times.
Girl Scouting as a National
Experience
Engaging Girls at All Grade Levels
Safety-Wise
Managing Group Finances
Appendix: For Troop Volunteers
Appendix: For Travel Volunteers
27
Summary of Volunteer Positions
Position Responsibilities
Time
Commitment
Service Area
Coordinator
Coordinate and communicate with volunteers to ensure the
delivery of the Girl Scout Leadership Development program
within a specific geographic area. Develop and carry out the
service team plan.
One-year
appointment, not to
exceed three
consecutive years
School/
Site Organizer
Recruit girls and adults. Organize and maintain Girl Scout
troops in a specified school or geographic area. Help place
adults in volunteer positions based on individual skills and
interests.
One-year
appointment; may be
re-appointed
multiple years.
Consultant
Troop Coach
Provide Girl Scout Leadership Development program
support to Leaders in a specific geographic area.
One-year
appointment; may be
re-appointed
multiple years
Service Area
Project/Event
Coordinator
Coordinate Service Area wide leadership development
opportunities for girls.
Ongoing, annual
appointment.
Service Area Press
Representative
Promote the continued growth and development of
Girl Scouting in the community.
Ongoing.
Service Area
Treasurer
Work with Service Area Coordinators to establish and
manage the service area budget within council procedures
and guidelines.
One-year
appointment; may be
re-appointed
multiple years.
Day Camp Director
Provide a day camp experience that supports the Girl Scout
Leadership Development program through planning,
training, implementation and evaluation.
One-year
appointment; may be
re-appointed
multiple years.
Regional Nut
Manager
Coordinate the Fall Nut Sale in a specific region.
October - December
Troop Nut Manager
Coordinate the Fall Nut Sale within a specific troop.
October - December
Service Area
Cookie Manager
Coordinate the Girl Scout Cookie Program Activity within a
specific geographic area.
October - March
Troop Cookie
Captain
Coordinates the Girl Scout Cookie Program Activity within a
specific troop.
November - March
Service Area
Recognition
Committee
Promote recognition of adult volunteers through national
and service area awards. Collect and process nominations
and letters of endorsement.
December – May
according to service
area guidelines and
practices.
Position
28