New Leader’s Guide to Success Table of Contents

Thank you for becoming a Girl Scout leader! We’re so excited to have you join the Girl Scout Movement. Girl Scouts helps girls empower themselves to stand up and make a difference. By cultivating girls’ leadership skills, we prepare them to overcome challenges and advocate for their ideas, now and in the future. With an emphasis on self-discovery, character-building, and community impact, Girl Scouts helps girls become a powerful force for good in the world. No matter where or how you volunteer, you’ll make a difference in girls’ lives—and this go-to guide will

Let us know! We have various tools, training resources, and people to support you through each step.

Table of Contents Consider Meeting Location – page 34

Dues Worksheet – page 19 New Leader Checklist – page 3

Family Connections – page 12 Parent/Caregiver Involvement Form – page 17

Forms and Their Uses – page 35 Permission for a Girl Scout Activity Form – page 36

Girl Led Progression – page 7 Photo Release Form – page 39

Girl Scout Agreement: Girls and Guardians – page 16 Resources – page 33

Girl Scout Ceremonies – page 21 Table of Contents – page 2

Girl Scouts Is as Easy as 1,2,3,4,5 – page 6 The Developmental Relationships Framework – page 15

Girl Scout Money Earning Program Snapshot – page 24 The Beginning of Girl Scouts – page 5

Girl Scouts Outdoor Programs – page 30 Top 20 Questions to Ask Your Co-Leader – page 4

Girl Scout Program Levels – page 5 Troop Dues Overview – page 18

Girl Scout Safety Guidelines – page 23 Uniforms, Pins, Badges & Patches – page 9

Girl Scout Traditions – page 20 We Can Help! – page 40

Guiding Your Troop Experience – page 8 What to Include in Your Troop Supply Box – page 29

Keeping Girls Safe – Volunteer to Girl Ratios page 22 What Makes a Successful Troop Experience – page 14

Let’s Go – Your First Troop Meeting – page 28 What’s the Word? Terms You Want to Know– page 32

Making Decisions as a Troop – page 27 World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts – page 31

Minor & Adult Health History Record – page 37 Year at a Glance – page 25

Money Management – pages 10-11 Your Volunteer Troop Team – page 13

2 NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS New Leader Checklist

Getting Started: Complete Girl Scout membership registration ($25 annual dues—scholarships available). process). Complete background check through a link from Sterling Volunteer. Apply for Troop Number (Requires at least two approved adults and four registered girls). Connect & meet with co-leader(s). Review “Top 20 Questions to Ask Your Co-Leader” (Page 4). Login to gsLearn (GirlScoutsATL.org).

Complete Before Troop Parent/Caregiver Introduction Meeting: (select one of the two formats below):

In-person Orientation Hands-on, On-Demand Online Courses – Complete interactive learning on how to have a online four-course program through successful troop year, connect with other gsLearn at girlscoutatl.org: After new leaders, receive tools to use for working with your girls, and participate in a live Zoom meeting. (time varies by an Investiture Ceremony to be pinned as course).

Getting your Troop Started: Identify your meeting dates, times, and location with co-leader. In the Volunteer Toolkit, update meeting location, dates, and times.

☙ Establish how you will communicate with parents (email, text, VTK sample emails, etc.). ☙ Build your support team and encourage parents to register with Girl Scouts. ☙ (suggested minimum of $25 per family). Open troop bank account with two designated signers.

Attend the local service unit meeting (usually held once a month). Attend Treats and Keeps training, if troop started before September 1 of the year. Attend Service Unit Cookie training (November/December)

NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS 3 Top 20 Questions to ask Your Co-Leader

Your co-leader may be someone you know already, or maybe you just met them at the recruitment meeting. Either way, you will want to spend time getting to know each other before your parent meeting, so you are both on the same track in terms of how you would like your Girl Scout Troop to function.

Spend an hour or so face-to-face over coffee, lunch, or even a play date, and get to know each other's strengths, styles, and expectations around being a Girl Scout Leader.

1. Why do you want to be a Girl Scout Leader? Complete 2. Were you a Girl Scout growing up? 3. What is one thing you want our troop to do this year? 4. Do you work outside the home? What is your profession? 5. How many children do you have, if any? 6. Are you married? What date is your anniversary? (Don’t hold meetings on this date.) 7. Are you from Georgia originally? 8. When is your birthday? (Don’t hold meetings on this date.) 9. What holidays do you and your family celebrate? (Adjust meeting calendar around these dates.) 10. Do you have pets? What kind, and how many? 11. Do you like to be outdoors? Do you ha ve a favorite place to go? 12. Do you like to do crafts? Do you have a favorite? (sewing, knitting, drawing, making jewelry, pottery) 13. Do you like to cook? What is your favorite dish to make? 14. Do you like to sing? (in the shower, in public, with the radio?) 15. Do or did you play any sports? 16. What are your hobbies/talents? 17. What was your favorite vacation ever? 18. 19. Do you like to try new things, or stick with what you know? 20. What is one thing you want our troop to do in future years?

4 NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS The Beginning of Girl Scouts

Juliette Gordon Low had a dream.

together in Savannah, Georgia, she wanted them to explore new possibilities and the wonders of the world around them—and she wanted them to do it together.

for girls everywhere. They played basketball. They hiked, swam, and camped. They learned to tell time by the stars. And most importantly, they shared a sense of adventure and a belief that they could do anything. And just like Girl Scouts do across the country and around the globe today, they offered a helping hand to those in need, working together to improve their corner of the world. Since the founding of the Girl Scout Movement more than a century ago, Daisy’s small circle of girls has grown to include nearly 2 million girl members and more than 50 million Girl Scout alums—united across the decades by a spirit of lifelong friendship, shared adventure, and the desire to do big things to make the world a better place.

Girl Scout Program Levels Girl Scout Daisies (K & 1st grade) go on trips, learn about nature and science, and explore the arts and their communities—and so much more. Daisies can also earn learning petals. Girl Scout Brownies (2nd & 3rd grade) work together as they earn badges and explore their communities. Friendship, fun, and age-appropriate activities begin at the Girl Scout Brownie meeting, then move out to the community and the wider world. While earning badges, Brownies build skills, learn hobbies, and have fun! Girl Scout Juniors (4th & 5th grade) are big-idea thinkers. They’re explorers at camp, and product designers when they earn their Innovation and Storytelling badges, or even their Bronze Award. Every day, they wake up, ready to play a new role. Girl Scout Cadettes (6th-8th grade) chart their courses and let their curiosity and imagination lead girls, and can earn their Silver Award. Girl Scout Seniors (9th & 10th grade) are ready to take the world by storm, and Girl Scouts gives them countless ways to do it. Their experiences shape their world, while giving them a safe space to be themselves and explore their interests. Seniors can earn their Gold Award and change the world in a tangible, lasting way. Girl Scout Ambassadors (11th & 12th grade) know that small acts produce big change. While they

Award and drive lasting impact in their communities (and enhance their college applications too!).

NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS 5 Girl Scouts is as Easy as 1...2...3...4...5

What makes Girl Scouts truly unique? Everything is designed especially for, and is tested by, girls! Our program centers around our research-backed Girl Scout Leadership Experience—that is, what girls do and how they do it. Activities are girl-led, which gives girls opportunities to explore leadership roles and “learn by doing” in a cooperative-learning environment.

1. Mission:

2. Girl Scout Promise: Girl Scout Law: On my honor, I will try: I will do my best to be To serve God* and my country, honest and fair, To help people at all times, friendly and helpful, And to live by the Girl Scout Law. considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and *Members may substitute for the word responsible for what I say and do, God in accordance with their own and to spiritual beliefs. respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout. 3. Girl Scout Processes: Cooperative Learning: Girls work together toward shared goals in an atmosphere of respect and collaboration. Learning by Doing: Rather than listening to someone tell them about it, girls get in there and do it! They explore their questions, gain new skills, share ideas, and

Girl-Led: Girls play an active part in

and why of their activities.

6 NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS Girl-Led Progression: Engagement by Program Level

25% 50% 75% 90% 100% Daisy 10% Brownie Junior Cadette Senior Ambassador

4. Program Pillars: four areas that make up the core of the Girl Scout program:

STEM OUTDOORS LIFE SKILLS ENTREPRENEURSHIP Computer science, Adventure and skill Civic engagement, healthy The Girl Scout Cookie engineering, robotics, building, from the backyard living, global citizenship, Program—the largest girl-led outdoor STEM, to the backcountry, including communication skills—to entrepreneurial program in the and more through camping experiences name a few world— teaches goal setting, for all ages decision making, money management, business ethics, and people skills

5. Program Outcomes: When girls have a great experience, this is what they gain:

Strong Sense of Self: Girls have Healthy Relationships: Girls develop and maintain healthy relationships by abilities, and form positive identities. communicating their feelings directly

Positive Values: Girls act ethically, honestly, and responsibly, and show Community Problem-Solving: Girls concern for others. desire to contribute to the world in purposeful and meaningful ways, Challenge Seeking: Girls take learning to identify problems in their appropriate risks, try things even if they community and create “action plans” to might fail, and learn from their mistakes. solve them.

NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS 7 Guiding Your Troop Experience

Make Your Troop Work For You: Variations of a Troop

Traditional Troop Leaders by Level Two unrelated adults lead a troop. (This works well in Multi-level troops.) Other parents volunteer to help as One adult acts as the ‘administrator,’ needed. responding to emails, planning the troop calendar, etc. Other volunteers

activities based on skill or preference.

Guiding Your Troop Experience In leading a new troop, you’ll want to guide the structure and experiences of your troop—from how and when meetings are held to how the troop communicates, and from steering girl-led activities to setting as well as with input from the girls and their parents/caregivers.

Use these questions to guide your conversation with troop volunteers or your co-leader before discussing the topics with parents and caregivers.

Meeting logistics: Your troop: Money matters: • When will we meet and for how • Will our troop consist of girls in • Will our troop charge dues? long? How frequently should we a single grade level or facilitated • How much money will we need schedule troop meetings? as a multi-level troop with girls to cover supplies and activities? of many grade levels? • Where will we meet? (Troop leader pro tip: great meeting look like? spaces include schools, places • Which components of the of worship, libraries, and Troop communication: uniform—the tunic, sash, or community centers. If working • How often will we communicate vest—will troop families need to with teens, consider meeting with troop families? purchase? (Troop leader pro tip: at coffee shops, bookstores, or get the full rundown on uniforms other places they enjoy.) • How will we keep families in the loop? The Volunteer Toolkit? and insignia at girlscouts.org/en/ Emails? Group texts? our-program/uniforms).

8 NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS Uniforms, Pins, Badges & Patches

Girls want to look and feel their best when representing Girl Scouts. Uniforms have been a Girl Scout tradition since 1912, and today they are a symbol of membership, one that links Girl Scouts across the country and around the world.

tunic, vest, or sash. Girls are expected to wear their uniform at ceremonies and whenever they are representing the Girl Scout Movement—at parades, for example. Girls can also wear a coordinating grade-level scarf that unites their look with the sisterhood of Girl Scouts around

and membership pins for women, and a tie for men.

Badges, Petals, and Leaves Patches What have your girls always wanted to do? Make Think of patches like collecting memories in their own movie, cook food from a different Girl Scouts. They’re often a part of the fun country, go geocaching, sleep under the stars, activities you can do in Girl Scouts without the write a book of short stories, plant a garden? requirements of badges. Patches are worn on Great news! They can learn to do all these things the back of the vest, sash, or tunic. and more while earning Girl Scout badges. Badges are worn on the front of the vest, sash, or tunic.

Journeys Girls identify a problem, come up with a creative solution, create a team plan to make the solution a reality, put that plan into action, and talk about what they have learned. Journey awards are worn on the front of the vest, sash, or tunic. Pins World Trefoil Pin: Shows membership in Girl Scout Daisy Membership Pin: the World Association of Girl Guides and Shows that a girl is a Girl Scout Daisy Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) Girl Scout Brownie Membership Pin: Girl Scout Membership Pin: Shows Shows that a girl is a Girl Scout Brownie. membership in the Girl Scout Movement, Membership Star: Represents one year worn by Juniors through Adults of registration as a Girl Scout Girl Scout Volunteer Pin: Shows level that a volunteer leads.

Scholarships

cover some expenses including membership dues, uniforms, council-sponsored events, and summer camps. Requests are reviewed on an individual basis. Peach State, WellCare, Amerigroup, and Care Source Insurance providers also support their members to be Girl Scouts. NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS 9 Money Management The Basics: ☙ Only approved and registered Girl Scout volunteers should have access to troop funds. Parents/

☙ the funds are earned, unless the troop has a long-range plan for spending the funds. ☙ Troop activities are supported through troop dues and money-earning activities. ☙ Girls will have opportunities to earn money through Treats & Keeps (Fall) and/or the Cookie Program (Spring). ☙ Girls should play an active role in the managing of troop funds according to their grade level. ☙ decides to leave Girl Scouts, the money earned stays with the troop. ☙ Per IRS guidelines for charitable organizations, troops are prohibited from keeping separate girl accounts.

Opening a Troop Bank Account ☙ Request a Troop Bank Authorization letter online via the Troop Bank Authorization form. You will receive a form letter to take to the bank to open the account. ☙ Each account requires a minimum of two signers, who are registered members,

☙ All signers should be present when opening the account. Remember to bring two forms of

☙ Open the account under Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, Troop # . ☙ Choose a bank that has no fees or will waive the bank fees. ☙ Open bank account within 30 days of troop forming. ☙ A bank account must be open before any troop money is received, earned, or spent. (Dues, uniforms, cookie proceeds, etc.) ☙ Email or mail bank statements to the designated volunteer at their home address. The checkbook and debit card should be managed by the second volunteer for accountability. ☙ account—that could create a tax liability for you.

Record Keeping and Reporting ☙ Make sure money is spent wisely, record all expenses, and track all income (keep copies of all receipts). Tip: With older girls, your job is to oversee their work. ☙ All troop money earned or received should be deposited into the account within three days of receipt and should never be held in a personal checking account. ☙ Cash withdrawals should only be made when absolutely necessary—i.e., cookie booth change, tips, or cash-only vendors. Be sure to request receipts. ☙ If there is an instance where a signer paid out-of-pocket for troop supplies and needs to be reimbursed using troop funds, a signer other than the payee should approve and authorize the reimbursement.

10 NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS Money Management

☙ Funds acquired through money-earning projects must be reported and accounted for by the troop, following all council policies and procedures. ☙ product program sales, at the end of the year). ☙ By June 15 each year, submit a Finance Report outlining troop activities, income, and expenses. Bank statements are submitted along with the report.

Money-Earning Activities: Groups earn money for their troop in two distinct ways: 1. The Girl Scout Cookie Program and the Treats & Keeps Program, organized by Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, are a troop’s primary money-earning activities (however, they are not required activities). 2. Additional money-earning activities are organized by the girls in a troop and earn money for the group

ensure the sales are conducted with legal

Volunteer Essentials. Tips and Tricks • Label all receipts from any expenses. For Other Money Guidelines example, if you bought markers for the ☙ Girls cannot participate in games of troop to use during meetings, label the chance, the direct solicitation of cash receipt, “Troop Supplies.” (including walk-a-thons), or product- • Have a Troop Treasurer manage demonstration parties (for example: in-home paper receipts by keeping a designated product parties). Money earned must be envelope or money bag. for Girl Scout activities. • Log income and expenses throughout ☙ Money donated to the troop may not the year using the Volunteer Toolkit Finance Tab to keep up-to-date records, ☙ Girls may not directly solicit funds from making end-of-year reporting a breeze! individuals or organizations (including Youth Service Grants) ☙ Troops and service units may not solicit foundations or corporations. ☙ If a troop/service units receive a donation of more than $250, please contact Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, [email protected], for processing.

The Fine Print ☙ Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta is not responsible or liable for troop accounts. ☙ Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta does not issue Articles of Incorporation or corporate resolutions. ☙ Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta may close troop accounts after an extended period of inactivity. NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS 111 Family Connections: The key ingredient to successful Girl Scout troops!

Girl Scouting provides the best opportunities for girls when families step up and play an active part in the

a special sense of pride when their families take part and show interest in the things they are doing! Kick the Year Off Right With a Parents and Caregivers Meeting

both new and returning troops for success!

Why? Because it helps: • Families understand what Girl Scouting can do for their girl • Families and leaders identify ways they will work as a team to support the troop • Families and leaders agree about what the troop pays for and what families pay for individually • make an awesome assistant leader or troop cookie manager • Families know how the troop will communicate things like upcoming events or schedule changes • Families learn about uniforms, books, and other important basics

Outlining clear expectations, building a team, and engaging families in the Girl Scout experience is a great way to start off on the right foot. When families are involved, leaders have support, and when the troop

Check out our step-by-step guide and parent meeting outline in the Volunteer Toolkit. (Remember, you can access the Volunteer Toolkit via MyGS!) This hour-long meeting will make all the difference in the year ahead: hold parent meetings. You’ll also want to hold an additional family meeting ahead of cookie season to introduce parents and caregivers to the program and how they can pitch in. And remember to make family part of the formula! While Girl Scout programming is always focused on the girls themselves, it’s important and helpful to open a few events to their families throughout the year. Inviting a whole crew to celebrate her accomplishments in Girl Scouting—whether at a holiday open house, a bridging ceremony, or a fun “reverse meeting” where girls take on the role of leader and guide the adults, including caregivers, through an activity—will help parents better understand the value of Girl Scouts and be more likely to invest their time and talents with the troop. That said, there’s no need to wait for one of these special events to engage parents in their Girl Scouts’ troop lives. Keep communication lines open throughout the year—whether it’s through your troop’s social media page, personal emails, or in-person chats—to keep parents in the loop on what the girls are doing and learning during each meeting, and encourage them to let their daughters “be the expert” at home, by, for example, explaining or teaching a new skill she’s learned to the rest of the family.

12 NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS Your Volunteer Troop Team

On my honor, I will … not do this alone! It takes a village to lift the next generation of leaders; you don’t have to embark on your troop leader journey alone! Set the stage for a successful troop year by tapping into the people resources already at their own unique strengths and can provide troops with time, experience, and ideas—so get them involved from the very beginning as part of your troop volunteer team! Some members of your volunteer team might play more active roles than others—and that’s OK! One caregiver in your troop might step up as a dedicated troop treasurer, while others might volunteer to girls, require additional registration and approval. Be sure those volunteers have completed a background check and registered before they jump into the fun!

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

Troop Co-Leader(s) First Aider • Girl Safety • Guides the troop’s Girl Scout Leadership • Attends all off-site activities Experience (GSLE) • Maintains health history records • Keeps program girl-led Treats and Keeps Chair • Liaison with service unit and council staff • Communication/safety • Program money management Troop Meeting Helpers • Inventory management • Assists troop leaders • Organizes snacks, supplies, materials Cookie Chair • Communication/safety Troop Treasurer • Program money management • Inventory management • Signatory on the troop bank account Troop Camper • Completes camper training • Leads girls in camping experience

Four Hours 4Her! Girls who have family support and participation in their Girl Scout adventures are more likely to stay in Girl Scouts. Ask your parents to volunteer four hours this year, 4Her! Parents can: • Prep craft projects for younger girls

• Offer to host and facilitate meetings in their home, community center, or church (see Page 39) • Organize community service projects for the troop. • Chaperone a Girl Scout Cookie booth

NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS 13 WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL TROOP EXPERIENCE?

No matter where your girls live, a universal Girl Scout experience connects them to their Girl Scout sisters around the country. And there are so many ways to make sure your girls get the full Girl Scout experience in a way that excites and inspires them!

Supportive Adult Mentors Cooperative, Hands-On Learning All-Girl Spaces

Girl-Led Activities

Tools for Family Involvement

Rigorous Safety Standards

You can count on Girl Scouts to provide…

Throughout their troop year, you’ll support Attend Regular your girls as they... Meetings

Earn Badges & Girl Scout Awards Get Outdoors

Complete Take Action Projects

Go on Field Trips Participate in the Cookie and Product Sale Programs Learn Girl Scout Traditions

14 NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS The Developmental Relationships Framework

Young people are more likely to grow up successfully when they experience developmental relationships with important people in their lives. Developmental relationships are close connections through which young people discover who they are, cultivate abilities to shape their own lives, and learn how to engage with and contribute

Express Care • Be dependable...... Be someone I can trust. Show me that I matter • Listen...... Really pay attention when we are together. to you. • Believe in me...... Make me feel known and valued. • Be warm...... Show me you enjoy being with me. • Encourage...... Praise me for my efforts and achievements.

Challenge Growth • Expect my best...... Expect me to live up to my potential. Push me to keep • Stretch...... Push me to go further. getting better. • Hold me accountable...Insist I take responsibility for my actions. • ...... Help me learn from mistakes and setbacks.

Provide Support • Navigate...... Guide me through hard situations and systems. Help me complete tasks• Empower and achieve goals. • Advocate...... Stand up for me when I need it. • Set boundaries...... Put limits in place that keep me on track.

Share Power • Respect me...... Take me seriously and treat me fairly. Treat me with respect • Include me...... Involve me in decisions that affect me. and give me a say. • Collaborate...... Work with me to solve problems and reach goals. • Let me lead...... Create opportunities for me to take action and lead.

Expand Possibilities • Inspire...... Inspire me to see possibilities for my future. Connect me with • Broaden horizons...... Expose me to new ideas, experiences, and places. people and places that • Connect...... Introduce me to people who can help me grow. broaden my world.

strong relationship both engages in and experiences each of these actions. However, for the purpose of clarity, this framework is expressed from the perspective of one young person.

NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS 15 GirlGirl S couScout Agrt Agreeeement:ment: GirlGirls ans and dGu Guarardidiansans Girl Scout Agreement: Girls and Guardians Our mission is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. In order to do this, we strive to make a fulfilling and safe environment modeled after the Girl Scout Promise and Law. Please sign this document pledging that you will continue to help build a positive and encouraging environment for every girl. Girl Agreement

I will: The Girl Scout Promise and Law are shared by Help others every member of Girl Scouting. The Girl Scout Show patience Promise is the way Girl Scouts agree to act every day toward one another and other people, Demonstrate integrity and the Law outlines a way to act towards one Follow troop guidelines Honor my commitments The Girl Scout Promise Stand up for what is right On my honor, I will try: Find solutions for disagreements To help people at all times,

If I do not abide by the Girl Scout Promise and Law, troop leadership will: The Girl Scout Law I will do my best to be Ask the girl to behave honest and fair, Remove the girl from the activity and will review friendly and helpful, the Promise and Law with her considerate and caring, Request the guardian’s assistance in resolving courageous and strong, the issue and responsible for what Request the guardian’s attendance at future meetings and trips and to Help the girl find an alternate Girl Scout pathway respect myself and others, outside of a troop respect authority, use resources wisely, Guardian Agreement make the world a better place,

I will: Set a good example to my daughter Be cooperative, honest, and respectful Arrive on time to drop off/pick up my daughter Provide current emergency contact information to troop leadership Inform leadership of circumstances that may affect my daughter’s welfare (ex. providing information and legal documentation about additional individuals picking her up). Notify troop leadership if my daughter is unable to attend a meeting Find solutions for disagreements in a private and appropriate manner

I, agree to accept the Girl Scout Promise and Law and display appropriate behavior at all times. (Girl Print Name)

Girl Signature: Parent Signature:

Troop Leader: Co-Leader:

Date: Parents, please tear this portion and turn in to your Girl Scout Troop Leader.

1

166 NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS Parent/Caregiver Involvement Form

Adult Name (s): Girl Name: Email: Mobile Phone: ( ) Text Yes No

Running a quality Girl Scout troop requires the support of ALL parents/caregivers. Ways you can Help: (*Requires Girl Scout membership registration and background check) O *Co-Leader: Plans/assists in leading activities with girls and communication with parents O *Troop Treasurer: O *First Aider: O *Treats & Keeps Chair: Organizes product ordering, training, and delivery (Oct-Nov) O *Cookie Chair: Organizes and manages the Girl Scout Cookie Program for troop (Jan-March) O *Troop Camper: Coordinates camping trips for girls and attends camp training O *Troop Meeting Helper: Helps as needed: -*Activity Chaperone/Driver: Drives and serves as an adult helper on trips and activities

participate in - Service Project Coordinator: Plans and coordinates service opportunities for troop - Material Coordinator: Preps materials for troop (pre-cutting items, ordering specialty supplies, etc.) -*Cookie Booth Chaperone: Attends Cookie Booths to monitor girl safety - Troop Photographer: Takes photos and posts to an online site or memory book

Skills or interests to share (STEM, Camping, Art, Music, Etc.)

Times Available: Weekdays From: to Weeknights From: to Saturdays: Sundays Adult Girl Scout Membership: Member with approved background check Plan to be a member Need more information Not planning to be a member Girl Scout Hopes and Dreams My hope for my girl this year in Girl Scouts is:

Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your Girl Scout?

NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS 177 Troop Dues Overview

What are troop dues? Dues are monies girls EXAMPLE: Brownie Troop ABC contribute to help fund their troop’s activities or • Parents expressed that they wanted to buy meeting needs. They are typically collected at each membership and starter kit (uniform, insignia, book) meeting, once a month, or annually. special events as they come up. ☙ The average troop dues range between $2.00 • Parents decided they wanted to take turns and $5.00 per meeting. providing snacks. ☙ • Girls wanted to earn money through cookie sales to start-up fee of up to $25.00 to get needed troop pay for their new GGGS books and badges. Troop will supplies. meet twice a month, for eight months. Determine Expenses: ☙ Keep in mind that dues should be based on the • Four badges and four patches ($14/girl) activities and goals of the girls. • Journey awards ($6/girl) ☙ Work with parents/caregiver when personal • Supplies & troop equipment ($10/girl) • Incidentals ($5/girl) Determine per-girl expense: 14+6+10+5 = $35 DENIED based on a girl’s inability to pay troop dues. TROOP DUES: $35 Annually or $2.19 per meeting (16 Expenses: Determine if parents want to include meetings) the following as part of troop dues or purchase these things on their own. EXAMPLE: Junior Troop JKL • Parents want to include membership and the uniform

☙ GSUSA Membership ($25) special events as they come up, and make Annual Fund ☙ Girl Scouts Greater Atlanta Annual Fund donations individually. Donation (suggested $25 per family) • Parents and girls decided that since the meetings are after dinner, no snacks are needed. ☙ Uniform and insignia ($40-$75) • Girls want to earn money through cookie sales to pay ☙ Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting - for their Journey Take Action project. Journey Girl book ($7-$20) • Troop will meet once a month in a meeting and once a month for service. Ongoing Supply Costs Determine Expenses: ☙ Snacks (if there will be any) • GSUSA membership ($25/girl) ☙ • Uniform – vest, insignia ($42/girl) • Four patches ($6/girl) ☙ Program supplies (for arts & crafts projects, • Journey book and awards ($13/girl) science experiments, games, • Supplies & troop equipment – ($10/girl) Take Action projects) • Incidentals – ($3/girl) ☙ Determine per-girl expense: 25+42+6+13+10+3 = $99 TROOP DUES: $99 Annually Brainstorm with girls what they hope to do this year, and determine how much will be needed to EXAMPLE: Cadette Troop XYZ cover the cost of each: badges, journey awards, • They no longer do snacks; troop has supplies from Income: Consider that income for troops includes past years. family contributions (dues and material/monetary • Busy schedules, so they prefer to pay per event. • Journey book and awards ($13/girl). donations) and Cookie Program proceeds • One badge & one patch ($5/girl) (available mid-February). Some parents may prefer Determine per-girl expense: 13+4= $17 (paid from troop to pay everything initially, while others may prefer treasury) to pay for special events as they occur. TROOP DUES $0

Note: Example prices listed are approximate. Prices may vary.

188 NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS Dues Worksheet

Determining Troop Dues: Troop money should be spent in the year the funds are earned, unless the troop has a long-range plan. This worksheet will help you determine how much you should collect in

Questions to Cover in Your Parent/Caregiver Meeting: ☙ Include Annual Girl Scout Membership? ☙ Include the cost of chaperone fees? Yes/No ($25 annually) Yes/No (Cost Varies) ☙ Include Annual Service Unit Dues? ☙ Include volunteer training costs? Yes/No ($2-$5 annually) Yes/No (Cost Varies) **can add graphics if ☙ Include Girl Scout uniforms? ☙ Include snacks? Yes/No (Cost Varies) Yes/No (~$45-$75 per program level) ☙ Include Annual Fund donation? ☙ Include Girl Scout books? Yes/No (Suggested $25 per Family) Yes/No (~$7-$20 per program level) ☙ ☙ Yes/No (Up to $25)

Download excel worksheet at newleaders.girlscouts.org > Resources NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS 19 Girl Scout Traditions

The Girl Scout Motto is, “Be The Girl Scout slogan is, “Do a good turn prepared.” Girl Scouts of yesteryear daily.” In the early days of Girl Scouting, girls tied a learned skills not only for fun, but also knot in their neckerchiefs. They could not untie the to cope with emergencies of their times. knot until a good deed was accomplished. Today, Today, the motto reminds girls to be the slogan is a reminder of the many ways girls can prepared to help others in need in their contribute to the lives of others. communities and around the world.

The Girl Scout Handshake is a form of greeting between Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. Girls raise their right hand in the Girl Scout sign The Girl Scout Sign and shake using their left hand (denoting friendliness and loyalty). is made when reciting the Girl Scout Promise. The sign is formed with the right hand, by using the thumb to hold down The Friendship Circle is a circle often formed at the beginning and end of meetings and activities, as part of a beginning or closing ceremony; extended to represent the three it can be used for discussions, instructions, parts of the Promise.

The Friendship Squeeze is a traditional way to The Quiet Sign is a way end meetings and activities. Everyone gathers in the to silence a crowd without friendship circle, and each girl crosses her right arm over shouting at anyone. The her left and holds hands with the person on each side. sign is made by holding up Once everyone is silent, the leader or a girl starts the friendship squeeze by squeezing the hand of the person next to her. One by one, each girl passes on the squeeze to the original Fifth Law of until it travels around the full circle. Girl Scouting: A Girl Scout is courteous.

Kaper Charts are a Girl Scout Attendance CraftsCrafts tradition for dividing up troop responsibilities among the girls. Each job is called a kaper, and the chart that shows which girls Kaper Law complete a particularticular job is called Chart Clean CleanUp Up a Kaper Chart. Using a kaper system right from the start helps Girl Scoutcout UniUniformsforms are worn build leadership and ownershipship in to showcasee Girl Scout prideride and troop activities, and assists with Dues SongsSongs are used too displaydisplay bbadges, awards, group behavior management. and accomplishments. UniformsUni are Some examples of kaperss include: encouraged,d, butbut not required. There is attendance, promise leader, activityctivity a uniform foror eacheach Girl ScoutS grade- helper, snack helper, and friendshipriendship Flag Flag level.el. See details onon page 9. squeeze leader.

20 NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS Girl Scout Ceremonies

Girl Scout family, honoring themes that are important to girls, bridging into a new program grade-level, and everything in between. Come on, who doesn’t love to celebrate!

The Investiture Ceremony welcomes new members—girls and adults—into the Girl Scout family for

The Court of Awards Ceremony recognizes girls’ accomplishments throughout the year. It can be held at any time during the year, and whenever the troop or service unit wishes it to be. The Court of Awards includes both girls and volunteers. Flag Ceremonies are used to honor the American Flag and occur at the beginning and end of an event and/or meeting. While not a required part of troop meetings, it is recommended for girls to

Bridging Ceremonies signify a girl’s move from one level of Girl Scouting to another. (for example,

their achievements and look forward to new adventures and responsibilities to come. Traditionally, girls cross over a bridge (it can be a real bridge or something girls make), sharing what they have learned at their level. The Fly Up Ceremony is a special bridging ceremony for Girl Scout Brownies; a girl will receive a Girl Scout pin along with her Brownie wings.

Investiture Ceremony Candle Lighting This is a sample ceremony, and many more can #1 This candle that I light shall shine as a symbol be found in gsLearn and online. that Girl Scouts are true to God and their Have girls help plan the ceremony, including a country. song or skit. #2 May the light of the second candle shine as Setup: Table in front of the room with three a symbol that a Girl Scout’s greatest desire is to candles and new-member pins serve those around them. Welcome families #3 May the light of the third candle shine as a Read Investiture Poem symbol that Girl Scouts are true to their ideals as These Girl Scout trefoils in my hand expressed in the Girl Scout Law. Upon new members, we will bestow, Pinning: Have members to be invested come forward. Present pin and give Girl Scout The spirit of our Promise we must know, Handshake. Three bold leaves the trefoil wears, Threefold the Promise that it bears, This pin tells everyone that you are a Girl Scout. I To Serve God and your country, dear. know you will wear it proudly. (Pin starts upside- To bring people hope and cheer down; once she does a good turn, she can turn it And every day in every way, right side up.) The Girl Scout Law obey.

Recite: WELCOME TO Please stand and signify your belief in the words GIRL SCOUTS! of the Girl Scout Promise by repeating with me.

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. NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS 21 Keeping Girls Safe

While working with girls and learning new skills is fun and rewarding, assuming responsibility for other people’s children means that some level of risk management and due diligence is involved. There are several resources we use to help you minimize risk and keep girls safe. Understanding How Many Volunteers You Need Girl Scout groups are large enough to provide a cooperative learning environment and small enough to allow the development of individual girls. Girl Scouts’ volunteer-to-girl ratios show the minimum number

ensure the safety and health of girls.

Your group must have at least two unrelated, approved volunteers present at all times, plus additional volunteers as necessary, depending on the size of the group and the ages and abilities of the girls. Any adult that is supervising girls must be an approved volunteer (this means they are a registered Girl Scout and have completed a background check before interacting with the girls). Adult volunteers must be at least 18 years old. One troop leader in every group must be female. Please refer to the ratio chart below.

Group Meetings Events, Travel, and Camping Volunteer- Two unrelated volunteers (at Plus one At least two female adults Plus one additional adult for to-Girl- least one of whom is female) additional adult for each for this number of girls or each additional number of Ratio Chart for this number of girls or additional number of girls less girls or less less. or less

Girl Scout Daises 12 6 6 4 (K-Grade 1) Girl Scout Brownies 20 8 12 6 (Grades 2-3) Girl Scout Juniors 25 10 16 8 (Grades 4-5) Girl Scout Cadettes 30 15 24 12 (Grades 6-8) Girl Scout Seniors 30 15 24 12 (Grades 9-10) Girl Scout Ambassa- 30 15 24 12 dors (Grades 11-12)

Who needs to be an approved, background-checked adult member? • Anyone driving Girl Scouts other than their daughter(s). • Anyone managing troop money. • Anyone left in charge of girls other than their daughter(s). • It is a best practice to ask all parents to complete the background check process. How can adults help without a background check? • Pre-prep activity supplies (snack, cutting out items, making copies). • Attend Parent/Girl programs and events. • Drop off their Girl Scout directly at events. When do you need a trained First-Aider?

nurse practitioner, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, paramedic, military medic, and emergency medical technician.

22 NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS Girl Scout Safety Guidelines

Every adult in Girl Scouting is responsible for the physical and emotional safety of girls, and we demonstrate that by agreeing to follow these standards at all times.

1. Follow the Safety Activity Checkpoints: Instructions for staying safe while participating in activities are detailed in the Safety Activity Checkpoints. Read the checkpoints, follow them, and share them with other volunteers, parents, and girls (as grade-level appropriate) before engaging in activities with girls.

2. Get parent/guardian permission: When an activity takes place outside the normal time and place, advise each parent/guardian of the details of the activity and obtain permission for girls to participate.

3. You are a mandated reporter: In Georgia, volunteers who work with children are mandated reporters—they are required by law to report observed or suspected child abuse or neglect to 1-855-GA CHILD (422-4453). Sexual advances, improper touching, and sexual activity of any kind with girl members are forbidden. Physical, verbal, and emotional abuse of girls is also forbidden. Follow your council’s guidelines as well as state laws for reporting concerns about abuse or neglect that may be occurring inside or outside of Girl Scouting.

4. Be prepared for emergencies: Work with girls and other adults to establish and practice procedures for emergencies histories, and contact information for girls’ families.

5. Travel Safely: time and place, every driver must be an approved adult volunteer, age 21 years or older, and have a good driving record, a valid license, and a registered/insured vehicle. Insist that everyone is in a legal seat and wears her seatbelt at all times, and adhere to state laws regarding booster seats and requirements for children in rear seats.

6. Ensure safe overnight outings: Prepare girls to be away from home by involving them in planning, so they know what to expect. Men cannot sleep in the same space as girls and women. During family or parent-daughter overnights, one family unit may sleep in the same sleeping quarters in program areas.

7. Role-model the right behavior: Never use illegal drugs. Don’t consume alcohol, smoke, or use foul language in the council for group marksmanship activities.

8. Create an emotionally safe space: Adults are responsible for making Girl Scouting a place where girls are as safe emotionally as they are physically. Protect the emotional safety of girls by creating a team agreement and coaching girls to honor it. Agreements typically encourage behaviors like respecting a diversity of feelings and opinions; resolving

9. Promote online safety: Instruct girls never to put their full names or contact information online, engage in virtual conversation with strangers, or arrange in-person meetings with online information. Teach girls the Girl Scout Online Safety Pledge, and have them commit to it.

10. Using the buddy system: Girls are divided into teams of two. Each girl is responsible for staying with her buddy at all times, warning her buddy of danger, giving her buddy immediate assistance if safe to do so, and seeking help when the situation warrants it. Girls are encouraged to stay near the group or buddy with another team of two, so in the event someone is injured, one person cares for the patient while two others seek help.

Full Safety Guidelines and Procedures are found in Volunteer Essentials NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS 23 Girl Scout Money Earning Program Snapshot

Treats & Keeps Program begins: October 1 Product arrives: Late November Items sold: Chocolates, nuts, and magazines Selling methods: Paper order card or Online store Troop proceeds: $1-2 per item Average new troop sells: 80 Items Volunteer training: August/September

Girl Scout Cookie Program Program begins: January 1 Product arrives: Mid-February Items sold: Girl Scout Cookies Selling methods: Paper order card or online store Troop proceeds: $.60-.85 per box Volunteer training: October/November New girls sell an average of 132 boxes of cookies Atlanta’s top-selling cookie: Thin Mints

Four Tips to Getting Ready for the Girls Scout Cookie Program 1. Build your support team—Find a Troop Cookie manager and Treats & Keeps product manager! Help the girls have a better program by delegating this role and letting another adult support the troop! Pick someone with strong organizational skills. 2. Know your timeline—Save program dates in your Volunteer Toolkit Calendar. 3. Share the skills with the girls before they start—Include earning a Cookie Business or Financial Literacy badge in the Volunteer Toolkit. Have the girls role-play their sales pitch. 4. Save and mark all receipts—Include receipts of cash withdrawals and deposits. Write what

When a girl runs her own business, she’ll learn a lifetime of skills, including:

Goal-Setting – How to develop a business plan People Skills – How to engage with the

Decision-Making – How to think critically and Business Ethics – How to develop solve problems positive values like honesty and integrity

Money Management – How to directly handle customer money

24 NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS Year at a Glance

August – We are gearing up for the new year by forming March – Celebrate the History of Girl Scouting troops, recruiting volunteers and girls, and planning the • March 12: Girl Scout Birthday upcoming events! • Week of March 12: Girl Scout Week • Start New Leader Checklist • Girl Scout Sunday Troop Tip: Sign in to the Volunteer Toolkit and start • Girl Scout Sabbath to Explore Troop Tip: Check out the Girl Scout Website for ways to celebrate September – Prep for new Girl Scout year! • Hold parent/caregiver meeting April – Volunteer Appreciation Month! • First troop meeting • April 1: Spring Renewal Beings • Plan for Treats & Keeps Program • April 22: A special day to thank volunteers for all Troop Tip: Identify a meeting location for your troop year they do. Troop Tip: Consider getting outdoors with your troop this October month to work on badges

to date May – Celebrate a great year! • October 1: Treats & Keeps Program begins • End-of-Year Awards Ceremony • October 31: Juliette Gordon Low’s Birthday – Founder’s Day • Bridging Ceremony for girls moving to the next Troop Tip: Celebrate Founder’s Day with a troop party program level • Ask parents to commit to renewing for the fall Troop Tip: After your celebration, have a brainstorming – Give thanks for your troop November session to plan for the fall. • Summer Camp registration begins • Participate in a service project in your community! • Attend Volunteer Cookie Training June/July – Enjoy the Summer Troop Tip: Host your investiture ceremony now that your • Summer camp begins! Hooray! girls know the GS promise • Have a summer get-together as a troop Troop Tip: Send a letter to your girls at camp December – Prep for the Cookie Program and the spirit of the holidays – Back to School! Back to Girl Scouts! • Hold a troop parent meeting all about cookies. August o Kick-off your Girl Scout year • Earn a Cookie Business Badge o Host First Troop meeting Troop Tip: Keep in mind the variety of faith traditions in your Troop Tip: Consider adding girls to your troop, especially if troop during this time girls moved away

January – Girl Scout Cookie Program starts. • Place your initial cookie order. For a full list of events, programs and activities, • Participate in service unit events. visit Events.GirlScoutsATL.org Troop Tip: local cookie booths

February – Have your troop connect with international Girl Scout & Guide sisters! • February 22: World Thinking Day • Attend Thinking Day Event • Cookies arrive! • Cookie booths begin Troop Tip: Begin talking about who may be interested in summer camp

NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS 25 MYGS: Volunteer Toolkit & Member

family and troop. It allows you to register girls directly in your troop and renew their membership for upcoming years quickly and easily.

Volunteer Toolkit: The Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) gives you access to program content and other resources to manage your troop planning all year long! · Your digital Girl Scout Tool. · MYGS is a members-only section of the council website that gives you, as a Troop Leader, access to a variety of tools and resources to plan, manage, and communicate with your troop. · Click My GS/SIGN IN at GirlScoutsATL.org to get started!

Explore: The Explore page will present you with a variety of Pre-Selected Tracks, which contain a series of meetings designed to help you lead your girls through a Journey or earn a popular selection of badges. Once you select a Track, the meetings will be copied over to your Year Plan so you can begin customizing your experience.

Year Plan:The Year Plan will list all the meetings from your selected track. You can customize your Year Plan by scheduling dates and locations for your meetings, adding other meetings to your year, and adding activities to supplement your meetings. You can create custom activities for your troop.

Meeting Plan: Each meeting on your Year Plan has an accompanying Meeting Plan, which provides a thorough overview and detailed activity plans focused on learning the content for the Journey or badge, a shopping list to make preparing for the meeting easier, and a customizable agenda, so you can adjust

meeting for each badge allows you to record which members have earned that badge.

My Troop: The My Troop section of the VTK is where you can view and download your current troop roster, see each girl’s attendance and achievements earned, and send emails to every parent on your roster to remind them of upcoming activities. Resources: important documents and links for successfully running your troop. You won’t need to know everything here right away, but as your troop grows and wants to experience more of what Girl

our Safety Activity Checkpoints, Troop Travel guidelines, and many other topics.

Parent Communication & Involvement: In addition to the troop leader messaging capabilities, one parent for each of your girls will have access to the MYGS system. This provides them a read-only view of your troop plans in the VTK so they can catch their daughter up if she misses a meeting, and keep track of scheduled troop activities all year long.

26 NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS Making Decisions as a Troop

One of the great things about the Girl Scout Program is how girls can shape their own troop experience. This is an empowering opportunity and learning process. It should be a progressive experience matching the girls’ program level. Girls can decide what badge and activities they want to participate in as a group.

Decision-making techniques:

· Order ideas from most interest to least interest

the girls’ age level · Does the activity cost money? Do we have enough money this year? · Vote: Blind voting is best for younger girls

Compromising: girls to be happy with the choices. · Break the troop into smaller groups based on their ideas. Have girls work through an idea and present it to the group. of the ideas they come up with. Maybe it’s a better idea to move to a future year.

Decisions your troop may make over the year: At the start of each year: Tip: Make sure all girls have a chance to speak—their body · Brainstorm what they would like to do as a troop. (Older girls may language with help give you want to come to this meeting with some pre-research.) clues to their needs. · What badges and/or Journeys do they want to do this year? · What are they most looking forward to? · What funds do we have currently in our troop account to support these ideas?

In planning for the Girl Scout Cookie Program and/or Treats & Keeps: · Set a “Fun” goal – What kind of activity can we do with our troop proceeds (skating, zoo overnight, trip, etc.)? · Set a “Philanthropy” goal – How is the troop going to use the funds to serve the community around them? · Determine the money needed for each goal and how much product will need to be sold to achieve it. Is the amount reasonable? · Girls can then set their personal goals for the programs.

Money Management: of troop money management. · What is the age level of your troop, and how much understanding do they have of money and bank accounts? · What are the girls learning by the way the troop funds are managed? What do they need to learn? · What if a girl joins the troop or leaves the troop– how will the funds be managed? (Remember, the funds belong to the whole troop, and funds can only be transferred to another Girl Scout troop, not to a personal account) NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS 27 Let’s Go-Your First Troop Meeting

the girls and brainstorm all the exciting things they First meeting checklist: want to do in the year to come. If you’re feeling a little nervous about leading troop meetings and experiences 1. Cover the basics. Review the with your girls, that’s OK! Just remember that: details about when and where the meeting will take place, and make It doesn’t need to be perfect. Did an activity run over sure parents/caregivers are aware.

Take a deep breath, roll with the changes, and have 2. Get ready. Use the Volunteer fun! The girls aren’t expecting perfection from you: your Toolkit to verify your troop roster time, attention, and guidance are the best part of your and email parents. This might leadership. be a great time to ask parents to provide you with any needed Learn with your girls. Keeping activities girl-led also items, such as health history means that at some point, the girls will want to earn a forms, uniform order forms, and badge or complete a project in a subject unfamiliar to troop dues. you. But don’t let that hold you back! Be open with the girls when you don’t know something, and become their 3. Know the agenda. Refer to our “Six partner in learning more. You’ll show them that learning Elements of a Troop Meeting” list is a lifelong process and that with an open mind, they and the Volunteer Toolkit sample can overcome any challenges that come their way. meeting agenda. Six Elements of a Great Troop Meeting 4. Review and practice your agenda. The only requirement for your meeting? That your girls You’ll feel calmer during the are laughing, smiling, and having a fun time! That being actual meeting and ready to make said, many troop leaders use this basic structure for adjustments as needed. their meetings: 5. Prepare for fun! When the girls 1. Ramp up. Plan activities for the girls on arrival and parents see that you’re at the meeting so they have something to prepared for the meeting and do until the meeting begins. This could be as ready to have a great time, they’ll simple as coloring pages, journaling, or talking follow your lead! with one another. (5 minutes) 2. Opening. Each troop decides how to open its meetings—

ceremony, song, game, story, or other activity designed by the girls. (5–10 minutes) 3. Troop business. Collect dues and make announcements, or plan an upcoming event or trip while families are present. (5 minutes) 4. Let the fun begin. Use the meeting plans found in the Volunteer Toolkit! Activities are already

complete Journeys. (30–45 minutes) 5. Clean up. Because Girl Scouts should always leave a place cleaner than they found it! (5 minutes) 6. Closing. Just like the opening, each troop can decide how to close—with a song, a game, a story, or pretty much anything else! (5–10 minutes)

28 NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS What to Include in Your Troop Supply Box What to include in your troop supply box: What do you need to have on hand to do the activities and crafts at your troop meetings? How many of useful. Check in your junk drawers, and have your troop parents do the same; many of these items are just lying around houses and will not need to be purchased if they are donated. (Old crayons and pencils

Scissors (1 pair per 2-3 girls) Tape measure First-aid kit Rulers (1 per 2-3 girls) Black sharpies (4) Money bag Colored pencils (1 box per 2-3 girls) Hole punch (1) Yarn Colored markers (1 box per 2-3 girls) Glue dots (2 boxes) Extra items you may Crayons (1 box per 2-3 girls) Rubber bands want for games Regular pencils (1 per girl) Sticky note pad A deck of cards Glue sticks (1 per 2-3 girls) Cardstock/colored paper Dice Tape blow-up ball Paper clips Bandanas (1 per girl)

Organizational Structure Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) A national organization supporting the work of more than 100 councils across the U.S. for more than 100 years. Headquartered in New York City. Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta: operating under the direction of a local board of directors geographic area. Girl Scout of Greater Atlanta serves 34 metro Atlanta Counties. Girls are the heart of our Service Unit: organization Made up of volunteers who support the work of troop volunteers within a given geographic area. Troops Volunteer-supervised groups of girls.

NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS 29 Girl Scouts ATL Outdoor Program

Outdoor adventures for all ages and skill levels Outdoor progression is a core part of the camp experience. The camp setting provides the perfect environment for girls to try new things and develop skills in a safe and supportive environment and continue to level up and challenge themselves. Girls with frequent outdoor experiences are more likely to seek challenges and are better at solving problems—qualities that will help them both academically and personally in the future. Girl Scouts ATL owns and operates three year-round properties: Camp Meriwether, Camp Misty Mountain, and Camp Timber Ridge. During the school year, your troop can visit and camp at the facilities. Over the summer, girls can attend overnight and day camps.

Camp Timber Ridge – Located just outside Metro Atlanta on 280 acres, Timber Ridge has been a magical spot for generations of Girl Scouts for close to 100 years. From the camp’s pristine lake and swimming pool, to the beautiful archery range and extensive challenge course, and the new STEM and Design labs, Timber Ridge is the hub for “camp magic” with deep traditions and a future focus that keep girls coming back, week after week and year after year.

Camp Misty Mountain – Misty Mountain is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream come true! This Girl Scout property is nestled against the Appalachian Mountains on 1,000 acres of lake front, open meadows and forests. Girls will unleash their G.I.R.L (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader) , as they explore a wide range of camp

sailing, kayaking, and more at this hub for high adventure activities.

Camp Meriwether – Located in Luthersville (50 miles southwest of Metro Atlanta), Meriwether’s cozy 270 acres of rolling hills, shady woods and open

equestrian program for beginning to advanced riders, perform on the stage, stay cool kayaking and paddle boarding, or take aim on the archery range. Meriwether will become your campers’ “home” during their stay.

First-Time Camping Opportunities: ☙ Attend Preplanned Troop Program at a Girl Scout Camp – These programs are

☙ Service Unit Camporee – Many Service Units plan a weekend camping trip or the girls in their community.

☙ Sleepover Under the Stars – The Council offers a one-night camping opportunity each spring.

Find out more at: camp.girlscoutsatl.org 30 NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts Girl Guiding and Girl ScoutingS can be the magic threadd which links the girls of the world together –Juliette Gordon Low The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) is the largest voluntary movement dedicated to girls and young women in the world. WAGGGS’s diverse movement represents 10 million girls and young women from 150 countries. For more than 100 years, Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting has transformed the lives of girls and young women worldwide, supporting and empowering them to achieve their fullest potential and become “responsible citizens of the world. All members of the movement wear the World Badge as a” symbol of their membership in the organization. Badge Symbolism: · Trefoil – Represents that all Girl Guides and Girl Scouts everywhere have a three-part Promise. · Two Stars – Represent the Promise and Law · The Needle/Vein (in the middle) – The compass needle that serves as a guide pointing the way · The Stalk (base of the trefoil) – · The outer gold ring on the blue background – Represents the sun shining over all the children of the world

Our Chalet in Switzerland, Sangam in India, Pax Lodge in the UK, Our Cabaña in Mexico, and

over the world come together to learn new skills, share their international experiences, and form lifelong friendships.

Ways you can bring a global connection to your troop: · World Thinking Day (February 22nd) calls Girl Scouts and Girl Guides to join together and take part in activities that promote changing the world for the better. Check out the activity guides on the WGGGS website to explore many different ways girls can be leaders and create the change they want to see in the world—and celebrate being part of the global sisterhood that is Girl Scouts and Girl Guides! Details at WAGGGS.org.

· Learn a song or game from another WAGGGS Member – Visit YouTube, Facebook, and movement websites to learn about what girls at your age level are doing elsewhere.

· Celebrate a Global Action Day. See Global Action Day Toolkit, found in the Volunteer Toolkit under Resources.

Learn more at WAGGGS.org. NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS 31 What’s the Word? Terms you want to know!

Review these acronyms and words that you most likely will encounter when working with Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta Council or other Girl Scout volunteers.

Area Executive: Local staff member servicing your area meeting or event. Kaper charts are a Girl Scout Approved Volunteers: Volunteers that have passed a tradition to make sure jobs are shared fairly. Girl Scout background check MDS: Area Executive Badges: Skill-based awards girls earn by learning new MYGS: The portal to Volunteer Systems and Volunteer Toolkit, located on the GSGATL homepage Badge & Sash: Girl Scout store Opportunity Catalog: A list of available troop & Bridging Ceremony: Ceremony to recognize a girl’s volunteer possibilities for members to join. move from one program level to another Take Action Project: A project where girls identify a Camporee or Ingathering: Camping weekends hosted community need and take action to solve it. by service units for the troops in their areas Troop Trainer & Leader Coach (TTLC): A Service Unit Case: A record of interaction between GSGATL Customer volunteer who offers training and support to leaders Care and members used to achieve resolution for a Service Unit (SU): Local group of troops in your question, request, or concern community that host events and programs CBC: Criminal Background Check SUCM: Service Unit Cookie Manager Member Care: SUD: Service Unit Director. They are here for general of contact for inquiries questions or service unit meeting information Doubleknot: Event and Camp registration system SUT: Service Unit Treasurer eBudde: Girl Scout Cookie Program portal to place SU Team: Service Unit Team. Made up of volunteers. cookie orders and manage the program. The Service Unit Team is your local Girl Scout resource Fun Patches: Patches mark a memory that girls create, Volunteer Essentials (VE): Document that includes such as an ice cream party or cookie booth—these go policy and procedures for Girl Scout Volunteers on the back of a vest/sash/tunic VLC: Volunteer Systems (membership registration) GSGATL: Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, the local council Volunteer Toolkit (VTK): A digital tool for planning, that serves 34 counties in Georgia troop management, and communications GSLE: Girl Scout Leadership Experience is what girls do from it (Discover, Connect, Take Action) gsLearn: Girl Scouts online learning platform, where resources. GSUSA: Girl Scouts of the United States of America, national Girl Scout Organization High Awards: The Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards are the highest award girls can earn at the Junior, Cadette, and Senior/Ambassador levels, respectively Investiture/Rededication: Ceremonies where girls receive their membership pin or rededicate their commitment to the Girl Scout Promise & Law. Journeys: theme that culminates in a Take Action project Juliette: A girl who choose to register as an individual member of Girl Scouts Kaper: A job or chore that must be done at a troop

32 NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS Resources

Your Service Unit is: You have volunteers in your community who are dedicated to supporting you and your troop to have a great Girl Scout year. A member of the team will reach out to you soon with information about meetings and other support opportunities. Volunteer Essentials: GirlScoutsATL.Org> Volunteer Essentials Volunteer Essentials is the primary resource for all volunteers. It provides information about our council, volunteer staff structure, service unit structure, emergency procedures, and much more. Volunteer Toolkit: GirlScoutsATL.Org> MY GS/Sign In> Volunteer Toolkit The Girl Scout Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) is a comprehensive digital tool accessible on your computer, smartphone, and/or tablet through the MYGS tab on our website. Please see Volunteer Toolkit reference on page 18. Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta Website: GirlScoutsATL.org Offers information about programs, learning opportunities, events, and product programs scheduled throughout the council. The website is updated regularly to provide the latest information to Girl Scout volunteers. Program Guide: Events.GirlScoutsATL.org A publication that outlines a variety of council- and community-sponsored programs available to girls. This is published each fall and is available in print and online. Safety Activity Checkpoints: GirlScoutsATL.org> Volunteer> Safety Activity Checkpoints When preparing for any activity with girls, always begin by reviewing the Safety Activity Checkpoints written about that particular activity. Girl Scout Leadership Journeys: Girl Scout Leadership Journeys are a program resource that helps girls explore a theme through a sequence of fun and challenging experiences. Journeys help girls to develop leadership skills, explore their interests, try new things, meet different people, and make the world a better place. There are a total of seven journey series for all grade levels: It’s Your World – Change it!, It’s Your Planet – Love it!, and It’s your Story – Tell it! are all available in print and through the VTK. Outdoor, Think Like an Engineer, Think Like a Citizen Scientist, and Think Like a Programmer are only available through the VTK. The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting: at that level. The guide includes three sections: Grade Level Handbook, Requirements for Grade Level Badges, and MY Girl Scouts, a section for girls to document their experiences that includes pages to scrapbook, draw, journal, or save special moments. This is a great resource to share with parents. Purchase at Shop.GirlScoutsATL.org Girl Scouts of the USA Website: GirlScouts.org The national Girl Scouts website provides information about Girl Scout programs, including the Girl Scout Journeys and other helpful resources addressing issues that girls and volunteers face in today’s world. gsLearn: GirlScoutsATL.org>myGS

NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS 33 Consider Meeting Location

Here are a few points to keep in mind as you consider meeting locations: ☙ Cost: Space should be free to use. ☙ Size: Make sure the space is large enough to accommodate the whole group and all planned activities. ☙ Availability: Be sure space is available for the day and the entire length of time you want to meet. ☙ Agreements: Submit any agreements or contracts to [email protected] for review and signature. ☙ Resources: Determine what types of furnishings (table, chairs, etc.) come with the room, and ensure the lighting is adequate. A bonus would be a closet/cubby of some sort where you can store supplies. ☙ Safety: Ensure that space is safe, secure, clean, properly ventilated, heated (or cooled, depending on your location), and free from hazards, and has at least two exits that are well-marked and fully

☙ Facilities: Sanitary and accessible toilets are critical. ☙ Communication-friendly: Be sure your cell phone works in the meeting space. ☙ Allergen-free: Ensure pet dander and other common allergens won’t bother susceptible girls during meetings. ☙ Accessibility: Be sure space can accommodate girls with disabilities, as well as parents with disabilities who may come to meetings.

to get you started: “I’m a Girl Scout volunteer, with a group of girls. We’re doing lots of great things for girls and the community, like and . 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 of .” Things to consider before meeting in a private home In addition to the above guidelines, groups meeting in private homes need to follow the guidelines below: The homeowner must understand that they are primarily responsible for insurance; any available council insurance would be secondary if applicable (advise that homeowner checks with their insurance to let them know and to ask about possible coverage gaps) The space must adhere to the following standards: • Safe and secure (no access to guns or other weapons, alcohol, or legal or non-legal drugs) • Clean • At least two exits that are evident and fully-functional • Direct access to a bathroom with a toilet and sink that is for the exclusive use of the troop during a meeting • First aid kit is available • Pets are not allowed to access the meeting location (unless for a special program) • All adults in the household have successfully passed our criminal background check (non-Girl Scouts can request the Good Deed code if they do not want to join) • Girls should not be allowed in bedrooms • Girls must always be supervised by approved volunteers following the proper ratios • Adequate parking for safe drop off and pick up of girls • Review safety activity checkpoints: Example–Girls are not allowed to use outdoor trampolines during Girl Scout activities

34 NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS Forms and Their Uses

FORM NAME PURPOSE WHO COMPLETES/USES THE FORM Adult and Girl Membership Form While registering online is the preferred Caregiver, troop leader, troop assistant method, we do have paper registration forms for both girls and adults

Minor & Adult Health History Record An updated record of health status (for Girl’s caregiver or adult completes example, allergies, chronic illness, and the form and submits it to the troop injuries) and authorization. Forms are leader completed and given to the troop leader for troop records Photo Release Form—Minor and Adult Allows Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, or A caregiver for each girl in the troop collaborating organizations the ability to use, distribute, publish, exhibit, digitize, broadcast, display, modify, etc. the use of name, picture, voice, or likeness Permission for a Girl Scout Activity When participating in activities beyond Troop leader or assistant provides to the troop meeting, caregiver permission caregivers who complete and returns is required. This form allows leaders it prior to trip or activity to communicate to caregivers the key information about the activity and receive permission for girl participation. Incident/Accident Report Form Online form completed in the event of an Troop leader Co-Leader completes the incident, accident, or emergency. Please form within 24 hours of the incident/ follow emergency procedures found in accident Volunteer Essentials. Troop/Group Bank Account Request Online form completed by the troop bank The troop bank account is opened account signers, a troop leader and second by either two troop leaders or one designated approved adult, and submitted troop leader and one troop treasurer to the bank when opening the troop bank registered with Girl Scouts of Greater account. The troop bank account signers Atlanta. will be responsible for managing the troop funds. Financial Assistance for Duniform/ Online form completed in order to remove Caregiver of child, can not be Insignia & Program Events completed by troop leader Scouts, limited funds are available to cover some expenses Requests are reviewed on an individual basis and limited to two requests per Girl Scout Membership year Trip Approval Request Form Some trips and high risk activities require Troop Co-Leaders approval from the council. You will learn about this process in the day trips and overnights training

NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS 35 SAVE PRINT

GSGATL Glamping at the Hike Inn 2/15-16/2015 Arrive 10:30 on 2/15 and Depart 12:30 on 2/16 Amicalola Falls State Park Melinda Miller, 678-591-0658

10:30 a.m. Amicalola Falls State Park Visitor's Center 12:30 p.m. Amicalola Falls State Park Visitor's Center personal vehicles Melinda Miller Jay Dement 8 optional lunch see list

Melinda Miller 678-591-0658

678-591-0658

36 NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS PRINT GIRL SCOUTS OF GREATER ATLANTA, INC. SAVE

Minor & Adult Health History Record

USE: This health history is to be completed and signed by parents/guardians of minor members or by adult volunteers themselves. The information should be reviewed by parent/guardian or adult member before every trip to ensure that the information has not changed. The troop leader and/or troop adult trained in first aid should ensure that the information on this form remains as confidential as possible. Out of date forms should be securely shredded.

Full Name: Date of Birth: Age: Parent/Guardian Full Name: Troop Number: Email address of adult: Home Phone: Home Address: Cell Phone: Business Phone:

In Emergency Notify: at (Name & Relationship) (Phone number with area code)

If they are not available, notify: at (Name & Relationship) (Phone number with area code)

Family Physician: at (Name) (Phone number with area code)

Section I: Current Medications Is the participant currently taking any medication? Please list below. You may also use this space to indicate any over the counter medications that your daughter is allowed to take if necessary – note that troop leaders are not authorized to administer over the counter medications unless they are provided by the participant. Please indicate the usual dosage that you woul d administer. Only the adult certified in First Aid or other adult in charge of activity will be allowed to administer the medication based on your instructions. Any medications, along with written instructions for dosage, that your daughter must take while participating in a Girl Scout Activity must be given to the adult certified in First Aid or other adult in charge of activity prior to departure. The only exceptions to this shall be PRN inhalers or epi-kits that your daughter has been trained to self-administer (adult certified in First Aid and other adults in charge of activity must be made aware if your daughter is carrying such item). Name of Medicine/indication Date prescribed Dosage

Date of last health exam: Were any complicating medical problems or any conditions requiring monitoring or follow up noted in the last health exam? Explain on a separate piece of paper. Since the last health exam, has participant had (explain any yes response): YES NO Any injury or medical requiring medical attention? An illness lasting more than five days? Any exposure to a contagious disease? Treatment in a hospital, outpatient clinic, or emergency room? Any restrictions on physical activities?

NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS 37 Section II: Illnesses and injuries (check those that apply and explain below) Chronic or Recurring Illness Ear Infection Bleeding/Clotting Disorders Hypertension Asthma Heart Defect/Disease Seizures Diabetes Other (explain)

Are immunizations up to date? YES NO Date of last tetanus shot: If your child is not immunized for religious or medical reasons please provide a written statement of explanation.

Is participant currently under the care of a health care professional?

Section III: Allergies (check those that apply and specify nature of allergic reaction) Animals Plants Bugs/insects Medicines/drugs Other – describe Section IV: Other health conditions (check all that apply and explain in open space below)

Bed wetting Emotional disturbances Constipation Fainting

Menstrual cramps Motion sickness Hearing impairment Anemia

Nosebleeds Sleep disturbances Dietary restrictions

Glasses/contact lenses Other (Specify)

FOR MINOR PARTICIPANTS This health history is complete and accurate. I know of no reason(s), other than the information indicated on this form, why my daughter should not participate in prescribed activities except as noted. If this information changes during the Girl Scout year I will notify the leader in writing. I understand that this information will remain confidential to the troop/group/program leaders, designated person trained in first aid, or emergency personnel as needed. I hereby give permission to the adult in charge to provide routine health care, administer prescribed medications and seek emergency medical treatment including ordering x-rays or routine tests. I agree to the release of any records necessary for insurance purposes. I give permission to the adult in charge to arrange necessary related transportation for my child.

(Signature of parent or legal guardian) (Date this form was signed)

FOR ADULT PARTICIPANTS This health history is complete and accurate. I am able to participate in prescribed activities except as noted. If this information changes during the Girl Scout year I will notify the leader in writing. I understand that this information will remain confidential to the troop/group/program leaders, designated person trained in first aid, or emergency personnel as needed.

(Signature of adult participant) (Date this form was signed)

38 NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS

PHOTO RELEASE FORM

Photo release form policy-

When parents register their daughter to be a Girl Scout member, they “understand that when participating in Girl Scout activities the registrant may be photographed for print, video or electronic imaging.” Parents also “understand that the images may be used in promotional materials, news releases and other published formats for either the local Girl Scout councils or Girl Scouts of the USA” (GSUSA’s girl r egistration form).

It is the policy of the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, Inc. to require a photo release form only in the event that a girl will be identified in a picture that is being used by the council. Otherwise, the council follows the same understanding that the parents did when registering their daughter in Girl Scouts.

I, being parent/guardian of ______, hereby consent that the photographs, videotapes and/or motion picture film for which she posed – and/or audio recordings made of her voice – may be used by the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, Inc. or Girl Scouts of the USA (or their successors) in whatever way they desire, including television, radio, print and electronic uses. Furthermore, I hereby consent that such photographs, films and recordings – and the plates and/or tapes from which they are made – shall be their property, and they shall have the right to sell, duplicate, reproduce and make other uses of such photographs, films and recordings as they may desire free and clear of any claim whatsoever on my part.

______Parent/guardian signature date

Girl’s name: Age: Troop #: Service unit: Street address: City: State: Zip: Name of parent: Daytime phone #: E-mail address: Event this photo was taken at:

Thank you for supporting the Girl Scouts!

Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, Inc. 5601 North Allen Road • Mableton, GA 30126 Phone: (770) 702-9100 • Fax: (770) 702-9105 www.gsgatl.org

Marketing/Communications/Melissa Brandon/09/28/2010

NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS 39 We Can Help!

Girl Scout volunteers are essential to our mission of building girls of courage,

committing to this role and making an impact in the lives of girls. We are here for you. Member Care can help! Phone: 800-771-1139 | Email: [email protected] Member Care Hours Check website for hours Jan-April: May-July: Aug-Oct: Nov & Dec: M-F 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. M-F 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. M-F 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. M-F 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sat 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sat 10 a.m. - 4pm

My Troop Number: My Co-Leader(s): My Service Unit: My Service Unit Contact (volunteer): My Area Executive (Staff):

GirlScoutsATL.org 5601 North Allen Road Mableton, GA 30126 Your New Leader Support Team: Michelle Sager, [email protected] & Kathryn Schroeder, [email protected]

Badge & Sash Locations Badge & Sash is here to provide the resources for your G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader) to practice leadership every day with uniform essentials, program materials, badges and awards, seasonal alumna gifts, collectibles and more! Hours change during slow times - check GirlScoutsATL.org for hours

Mableton 5601 North Allen Road, Mableton, GA 30126 Phone: 770.702.9600 Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Wednesday: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

(Closed 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. for lunch) Sunday: Closed

Online 24/7 at Shop.GirlScoutsATL.org 40 NEW LEADER’S GUIDE TO SUCCESS