Girl Scout Cadette, Senior and Ambassador
Leadership Essentials
800-565-4475 • gswise.org
Contents
Responsibilities of a Girl Scout Volunteer ............................................ 3
A Successful Advisor ................................................................................... 3
Girl Centered Program Planning Progression ..................................... 3
The Girl Scout Mission Statement ..........................................................4
10 Essential Elements for Creating the Girl Scout Experience ..... 5
What Cadettes Do ........................................................................................6
What Seniors Do ............................................................................................ 7
What Ambassadors Do ...............................................................................8
Girl Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards FAQs .........................9-11
Girl/Adult Planning .......................................................................................12
Types of Girl Scout Ceremonies.............................................................13
Pathways for Girls ........................................................................................13
Opportunities for Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors
and Ambassadors ................................................................................. 14-15
Troop Trip Tips............................................................................................. 16
Working with Teens .....................................................................................17
Girl Scouting After High School .............................................................. 18
Networking with the Girls .......................................................................... 19
Resources for Girl Scout Cadette, Senior
and Ambassador Leaders ....................................................................... 20
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.
Responsibilities of a Girl Scout Volunteer
• Attends Girl Scout training! Thank you for coming!
• Consults and follows Safety-Wise
• Consults and follows council policies
and procedures
• Encourages participation
•
•
•
•
Helps girls develop as leaders
Implements girl/adult planning
Communicates with all stakeholders
Understands the needs of girls
A Successful Advisor
• Is sensitive
• Shares her skills
• Exhibits flexibility
• Has a sense of humor
• Is always aware of health and safety
Girl Centered Program Planning Progression
Daisy
Brownie
Junior
Cadette
Senior
Ambassador
Leader is a
“Director”
Leader is a
“Manager”
Leader is a
“Teacher”
Adult is an
“Advisor”
Adult is
an
“Advisor”
Adult is
an
“Advisor”
LEADERS percentage of the
decision-making responsibility
GIRLS percentage of the
decision-making responsibility
20%
40%
60%
70%
85%
95%
Girls give input as to
their interests and
what they would like
to do.
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
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.
5
6
7
8
Girl Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold Award FAQs
Question
What Girl Scout or
grade level(s) earn
this award?
Is training available
and/or mandatory?
What are the
pre-requisite
Requirement(s)?
List the steps girls
will take to earn this
award.
Do girls work
individually or as a
group?
Bronze
Juniors (Grades 4-5)
Silver
Cadettes (Grades 6-8)
No
Yes
“One is Silver…”
 Class is: Optional
 Class time: 2 hours
 Cost: $3 – includes girl
folder
Completing one Junior Completing one Cadette
Journey
Journey
Gold
Seniors and Ambassadors
(Grades 9-12)
Yes
“… And the Other’s Gold”
 Class is: Mandatory
 Class time: 2 hours
 Cost: $3 – includes girl folder
Completing two Senior or
Ambassador Journeys
OR earning the Girl Scout Silver
Award and completing one
Senior or Ambassador Journey
Pre-reqs: Journey(s) and
training
1. Identify an issue
2. Investigate
3. Build team
4. Create plan
5. Submit project proposal
and complete interview
6. Do project
7. Inspire others
8. Submit final report and
complete interview
Pre-req: One Journey Pre-req: One Journey
1. Identify issues
1. Build team
2. Build team
2. Explore
3. Explore
community
community
3. Choose project
4. Choose project
4. Plan project
5. Develop project
5. Do project
6. Submit project
6. Spread the
proposal
word
7. Make plan and put
7. Submit final
into effect
report
8. Spread the word
9. Submit final report
Group or Individually
Small team (two to four
Individually (girls will create a
(individuals recruit a
girls) or individually
team of non-Girl Scouts)
team to help them)
(individuals recruit team
to help them)
20 hours per girl
50 hours per girl
80 hours per girl
What is the
suggested minimum
number of hours
a girl would spend
working toward
earning this award?
Can the project
Yes
address a need
within Girl Scouting?
No
Can girls raise and
donate money in
the name of another
organization for this
award?
No, girls focus on making
their neighborhood or
community better.
No, girls focus on making a
lasting difference in their
community, region, or beyond.
No
No
9
Girl Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold Award FAQs
Question
Bronze
Silver
Gold
To what degree
must this award
project be
sustainable?
After the project
is complete,
girls develop an
understanding of
sustainability by
talking together about
how solutions can be
lasting.
Girls demonstrate
an understanding
of sustainability in
the project plan and
implementation.
Project must include provisions
to ensure sustainability.
To what degree
must this award
project be global?
After the project
is complete,
girls develop an
understanding of
the wider world by
talking together about
how others may
experience the same
problem that their
project helped resolve.
Expert on project
issue from
community. Can be
troop/group volunteer,
if they are an expert.
No, approved at troop/
group level
Girls connect with new
friends outside their
immediate community,
learn how others have
solved similar problems,
and determine if those
ideas can help with their
plan.
Girls identify national and/or
global links to their selected
issue. They learn from others
and develop a plan to share the
results of their project beyond
their local community.
Expert on project issue
from community. Can be
troop/group volunteer, if
they are an expert.
Expert on project issue from
community. CANNOT be troop/
group volunteer or parent.
No, approved at troop/
group level
Yes, must be approved at
the council level though an
interview process
No
Yes. Submit two weeks
before beginning the
project.
Yes. Submit three weeks before
preferred interview date.
No
No
Yes. Prescheduled interview
dates are listed in Connections
andcan be found at gswise.org.
Who serves as a
project advisor for
this award?
Is council approval
required to earn the
award?
Must girls submit a
project proposal to
the council before
they begin to work
on earning this
award?
Do girls have
to complete an
interview with the
council to gain
project approval?
Must girls submit
a final report to
the council upon
completion?
Yes. Submit one report Yes. Each girl submits her
per project when
own report when project
project is complete.
is complete.
Is there different
Coaching tips
information in the
adult guide but NOT
in the girl guidelines?
10
Coaching tips
Yes. Each girl submits her own
report three weeks before
preferred interview date.
Coaching tips
Girl Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold Award FAQs
Question
What resources are
available for girls
that are earning this
award?
Bronze
Gold
 Senior or Ambassador
Journeys
 Junior Journeys
 Cadette Journeys
On council website
(gswise.org):
On council website
(gswise.org):
 Guidelines for
Girl Scout Juniors
(also in Spanish)
 Guidelines for Girl
Scout Cadettes (also in On council website (gswise.org):
Spanish)
 Guidelines for Girl Scout
Seniors and Ambassadors
 Project Proposal and
Final Report forms
(also in Spanish)
 Final Report Form
 Troop/Group
Volunteer Guide
(also in Spanish)
 Troop/Group
Volunteer Guide (also
in Spanish)
 GSUSA Gold Award web app
(found at girlscouts.org)
 Project Proposal and Final
Report forms
 Grant information
 Community mapping
activity
 Troop/Group Volunteer
Guide and Project Advisor
Guide (also in Spanish)
 Bronze project
highlights in the
Award Celebration
program
 Grant information
 Grant information
 Silver project
highlights in the Award
Celebration program
 Gold project highlight videos
are on YouTube and in the
Award Celebration program
 FAQs
 Troop leaders/girls
can plan their own
ceremony.
 FAQs
 Troop leaders/girls
can plan their own
ceremony.
 FAQs
 Service Areas and/or schools
may recognize girls at endof-year celebrations.
 Service areas may
recognize girls
at end-of-year
celebrations.
 Service areas and/or
schools may recognize
girls at end-of-year
celebrations.
 Girls are invited to
the council-wide
Award Celebration
which occurs in
May. The deadline
to be recognized
is February 1.
Any final reports
received after
February 1 will be
recognized the
following year.
 Girls are invited to
the council-wide
Award Celebration
which occurs in May.
The deadline to be
recognized is February
1. Any final reports
received after February
1 will be recognized the
following year.
 Girls are invited to the
council-wide Award
Celebration which occurs
in May. The deadline to be
recognized is February 1.
Any final reports received
after February 1 will be
recognized the following
year.
 Community
mapping activity
How are girls
recognized?
Silver
11
Girl/Adult Planning
Girl Scouting is for the girls.
They learn leadership, decision
making, and problem solving
skills by planning and carrying out
activities with our guidance. Selfgovernment makes Girl Scouting
unique. The key is to allow girls
to make and implement as many
decisions as possible. Girls grow,
learn and have fun by making
decisions, doing, experimenting,
and discovering for themselves.
Evaluation
This step will help the girls understand where they did well, where they
can improve and allows them to fall forward. According to Dr. Harriet S.
Mostache, Director of Program Development at Girl Scouts of the USA, “you
and they will learn that you can survive a less-than-perfect event or a trip
that didn’t go exactly according to plan. Most importantly, girls will learn that
they are competent, they are responsible, and they can get the job done—
even if it’s not the job you would have done.” These are often the most fun
memories!
Resourcefulness in the face of adversity can be fun! Girl Scouts is one of the
few places where girls are allowed to experience failure in a safe setting.
Democratic groups experience the five Ds!
Decision
Discussion
• Have girls do the research to
make informed choices (cost
factors, time involved,
troop/group calendar, etc.)
• Everyone has a say in
the final decision.
• Voting different ways (ballots,
hands, voice.)
• Consult Safety-Wise.
• Collect ideas, long- and
short-term.
• Make sure every girl has a chance
to express ideas.
• If troop/group has never planned
before, the advisor may offer
alternatives.
• When a troop/group is doing
planning, the advisor should strive
to keep it fun.
• All ideas are valid.
Debrief:
Discuss and Evaluate
• This is the critical part to making
it a real leaning experience.
• What worked?
• What didn’t work so well?
• What would you do differently
next time?
12
Delegate
Do
• Let the girls do it but give them
the tools for success!
• Enjoy it with them but resist the
urge to take over.
• Is “failure” a bad thing or can we
learn from it?
• Decide who does what –
committees, patrols.
• Opportunity to ask, does the
advisor do it all?
Types of Girl Scout Ceremonies
Several kinds of ceremonies have
become part of the Girl Scout
tradition. These include:
• Investiture - to welcome
new members into
Girl Scouting
• Rededication - members
renew their commitment to
the Girl Scout Promise and
Law
• Court of Awards - Girls
receive recognition for
special accomplishments
• Bridging - Girls celebrate
passage form one level of
Girl Scouting to the next
• Patrol Leader Installation
- signifies acceptance of
responsibility to the patrol
and the troop
Other types of ceremonies that
may take less planning, or may
even happen spontaneously
includes:
• Flag Ceremony - to honor the
Flag of our country
• Opening/Closing - the
beginning or end of a meeting
• Scouts Own - a quiet
ceremony with a theme
expressing feelings or ideas
• Campfires - for fun, friendship,
or to celebrate a happy
experience
Girls may want to celebrate special
Girl Scout days with a ceremony.
These special times include:
• Founder’s Day (Juliette Low’s
Birthday) - October 31
• Thinking Day - February 22
• Girl Scout Birthday - March 12
• Girl Scout Week - the week
including March 12
• Leader Appreciation Day April 22
Girls may also want to celebrate
other religious, cultural, or national
holidays.
Pathways for Girls
(Multi-pathway participation allowed)
Events
Different girls
each event
Special
Interest
Camp
Day and Resident
Camps, focus on
out-of-doors and/
or environmental,
outdoor education
Same girls, all
sessions relating
to a specific
theme or purpose
Virtual
High-quality,
interactive
program; safe,
secure, online
environment
Travel
Troops
Same girls, all
sessions; typically
spans of the
length of a school
year
Regional,
national, and
international
trips
13
Opportunities for Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors
and Ambassadors
Leadership
Girl Scout Silver/Gold Awards:
The Girl Scout Silver Award is the
highest award a Girl Scout Cadette
can earn and represents a girl’s
accomplishments in Girl Scouting
and her community as she grows
and works to improve her life and
the lives of others.
Prerequisite: Complete one
Girl Scout Cadette Journey.
The Girl Scout Gold Award is
the highest award a Girl Scout
Senior and Ambassador can earn
and symbolizes outstanding
accomplishments in leadership,
career planning, advocating for
others, and personal development.
Mandatory training is required for
Gold Award girls.
Prerequisites: 1) Complete two
Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador
Journeys or earn the Girl Scout
Silver Award and complete one
Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador
Journey. 2) Attend ...And the
Other’s Gold training workshop.
Camper Council: Camper
councils meet 3-5 times a year to
plan camp for the next summer.
Planning may include choosing
Trading Post merchandise,
activities, T-shirt designs, and
themes.
14
Camp Pathway
Event Pathway
Day Camp Counselor-inTraining (CIT): Day Camp CIT
program provides a progression
in leadership for girls in grades
11-12 who are ready to assume
more responsibility. It consists
of two components: core and
specialization training.
Event Program Aide: (used to
be PA) Girls in grades 6-12 can
lead and assist with activities
at events for younger girls. Girls
rotate through various stations,
each station focusing on a specific
project or skill. Teens need to be
at least two years older than the
girls they are working with. They
do not have to pay registration
fees to attend events. Teens are
encouraged to attend trainings
although they are not required.
Teen leadership training gives
them a basis for working with
younger Girl Scouts. Event specific
training focuses on skills needed to
assist at events.
Resident Camp Counselor-inTraining (CIT): Training includes
outdoor education and camp
structure, leadership development
keys and processes, outdoor
resources, and working with adults
and girls at camp.
CIT 1 (Girls entering in grades 9-11)
– Enhance skills in teambuilding
and kid savvy responsibilities.
Troop Pathway
CIT 2 (Girls entering in grades 10-11)
– Learn about campers’ needs and Volunteer-in-Training (VIT): This
program provides a progression in
wants, teach activities, and take
leadership for girls in grades 10-12
road trips to other nearby camps.
who would like to increase their
CIT 3 (Girls entering grades 11skills by working with a troop.
12) – Spend more time with kids
to practice your style of camp
GSWISE Board of Directors counseling.
Teen Member: Girl Scouts ages
14-17 have a unique opportunity
to serve a two-year term on the
Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast
board of directors. Teen board
members have full voting privileges
and may serve on a task group or
committee.
Opportunities for Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors
and Ambassadors
Other Activities
Individual registered girls: They
may attend many of the council
events and may earn program
credits through the Girl Scout
Cookie Program Activity and Fall
Product Sales too.
Girl Scout destinations: Girls 11-17
years can travel to amazing places,
try new things, and meet sister
Girl Scouts from around the globe
through Girl Scout destinations. To
learn more go to gswise.org under
the what girls can do tab.
Extended troop trips (trips of 3
or more nights): Girl Scout travel
opportunities are a chance for
girls to develop self-confidence
and leadership skills by working
cooperatively with others to plan
the adventure of a lifetime. Check
out gswise.org for the following
trip planning resources: Girl Scout
Guide to Global Travel, the
Adult Guide to Girl Scout Global
Travel, Girl Scout Travel Log, and
Appendix.
Journeys: A key part of the New
Girl Scout Leadership Experience
is the leadership Journey, a
coordinated series of activities
grouped around a theme. Each
Journey is tied to some of
Girl Scouts’ 15 national outcomes
for girls, as defined in the
Girl Scout Leadership Model. These
outcomes are integral to the three
leadership keys, Discover, Connect,
and Take Action. These new
program materials for Girl Scouts
all come with a “How to Guide” for
adults. Refer to the Journeys flier
available at this training and at the
resource centers.
The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting:
One for each level, is the new
badge and handbook series.
Series: These are groups of
Girl Scouts meeting for the
purpose of following a specific
interest such as group camping,
travel, or technology.
The above listing is a sampling of
the many opportunities for girl
involvement and development for
girls grades 6-12. It is our desire to
have your individual Girl Scout or
troop/group of Girl Scouts remain
in Girl Scouting. With so many
options and opportunities, the girls
can make Girl Scouting an exciting
and unique experience depending
on where their interests, desires,
and curiosity lead them and keep
them coming back year after year.
Please go gswise.org
The most
exciting aspects of
this level are…
all of the choices
and opportunities
that are available
to girls.
15
Troop Trip Tips
To plan a safe, enjoyable trip, refer to the Safety Activity Checkpoints (found online) and Volunteer Essentials.
Council-specific information about trip activities can be found at gswise.org as well as tools for planning the
trip.
Please note the following:
• Council trainings are required
before doing an overnight trip
with girls. Be sure one adult
has completed the Planning
the Overnight training well
in advance of your trip. If
you plan to have a camp fire
or cook over the fire; it is
also required that one adult
volunteer has completed
the Camp Skills for Outdoors
training. All training dates
can be found by going to the
Volunteers tab at gswise.org.
• Troop Trip Applications must
be submitted for: 1-2 night
trips to noncouncil-owned
sites more than 100 miles
from the troop’s community,
extended trips (3 or more
nights), and international
trips. Find this form at
gswise.org.
16
• Plan 2 additional activity/
accident insurance must be
obtained for all unregistered
participants; Plan 3 insurance
for all participants going on
trips of three or more nights.
• For trips of a day or more,
one currently certified firstaider must be present. Check
Safety Activity Checkpoints
to determine if other special
training or certifications
are required for activities.
A certified lifeguard must
be present at any public or
private swimming site.
• Council-authorized
signatures are required
on all site agreements and
vehicle/bus rental contracts,
even if there is no charge. To
obtain council-authorized
signatures, contact the
program manager six weeks
in advance.
• Health histories are required
for participation in physically
demanding activities such
as water sports, horseback
riding, and skiing. Health
examinations are required
for trips of more than three
nights.
• Many activities are either
not permitted or not
recommended as Girl Scout
activities. (See the SafetyWise Chapter in Volunteer
Essentials for more
information).
• All adult volunteers attending
extended troop trips need
to go through the online
volunteer application and
background check process.
Working with Teens
Characteristics/focus of
girls in grades 6-8
Characteristics/focus of
girls in grades 9-12
Tips for working with teens
• Encourage girls to be
independent
• Transitioning from
elementary school to middle
school
• Learning to drive
• Being liked
• Fitting in
• Having power over their own
lives
• Friendships
• Social networking
• Understand when girls make
mistakes
• Sports
• Completed puberty
• Don’t pressure them
• Improving the world
• Pressure to achieve success
• Act as an advisor vs. a leader
• Getting outside-camping
• Stressed out
• Improving self-confidence
• Applying for college,
universities, jobs, career
opportunities
• Discuss issues in a positive
way
• Importance of technology
like cell phones and social
media
• Increasing their
independence
• Have the capacity to
develop long lasting healthy
relationships with friends and
family
• Understand their own
feelings and have the ability
to analyze why they feel a
certain way
• Understand teen issues
• Encourage girls to explore
opportunities
• Don’t underestimate the
depth of their feelings
• Respect their views and they
will respect you in return
• Be open and non-judgmental
about their suggestions and
insights
• Help teach them life skills
• Encourage goal setting
17
Girl Scouting After High School
Staying in Girl Scouting as a Campus Girl Scout or as an adult Girl Scout can help meet school requirements,
job experience, and advance your career plans.
 Women who are enrolled in college, junior college, university, vocational, or technical school can join
Campus Girl Scouts, either by signing up with a troop at your college, or starting your own with the
help of your local council. Campus Girl Scouts is a way to meet people, acquire job experience,
develop new skills, and have fun.
 Be involved as an adult Girl Scout through your local council. You could be a troop leader, leadership
group advisor, special event organizer, or in other volunteer roles.
Special Offer: Once in a Lifetime Opportunity!
Girl Scout Lifetime Membership is available at half price for Girl Scouts
who are graduating from high school or equivalent. This offer is available
only if the Girl Scout registers as a Lifetime Member before her current
membership expires. As a lifetime member you will receive a permanent
membership card, recognition certificate, and ongoing Girl Scout Activity
Insurance.
Girl Scout Employment Opportunities
Your local Girl Scout council office may have opportunities for paid
employment, and your experiences as a Girl Scout could be an advantage in
being selected for a position. Even though councils vary in size and number
of staff, if you are looking for work, the staff may have suggestions and
contacts in the community, as well as in the council office.
Seasonal positions: Summer camp staff
International Opportunities
As a member of the World
Association of Girl Guides and
Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), you not
only can visit the World Centers
when you are traveling, but you can
be a volunteer-in-residence, or a
paid staff member. A great way to
spend time in a foreign country!
Check out WAGGGS online.
OUR CABAÑA – Cuernavaca,
Mexico: ourcabana.org
SANGAM – India:
sangamwagggs.org.uk
Part-time positions: Clerical, retail, printing and design, writing grants,
housekeeping, facility maintenance, and IT.
OUR CHALET – Adelboden
Switzerland: ourchalet.ch
Internships: While student interns may be volunteers, sometimes paid
internships become available through special funding.
PAX LODGE – London, England:
paxlodge.org
Full-time positions: Though they are non-profit organizations, Girl Scout
councils share similarities with businesses, and employ individuals in a
broad range of positions, from financial accountants to property managers.
In addition, there are typically staff positions, which emphasize education
and program development for children, adult training, or community
organization and outreach.
Careers in Girl Scouting: It is possible to pursue a variety of careers in
Girl Scouts, which might include positions at the local, national, or even
international level.
18
Networking with the Girls
Where do you start?
Think about what your goals are first, then decide who can help you.
• Online research
• Former Girl Scouts
• Friends and family
• Baby-sitters that are now in
college
• Utilize Facebook, Linked-In,
etc.
• Work colleagues
• Unemployed friends
• Church
• Alumni associations
• School
• Other: neighbor, coaches/
team contacts, instructors,
service providers (such as
car mechanic, manicurist, or
real estate agent), product
representatives (such as
Mary Kay, scrapbooking,
or Pampered Chef), board
members, etc.
Finally, help the girls practice how to make the first call and ask for information.
19
Resources for Girl Scout Cadette, Senior and
Ambassador Leaders
Publications from GSUSA
Volunteer Essentials
Resource Centers
Girl Scout Brownie Journey books
and Leader guides
Cadette:
Chapters include:
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.
•
Quick-Start Guide to
Girl Scouting
•
Sharing Your Unique Gifts
•
Girl Scouting as a National
Experience
• MEdia
•
Engaging Girls at All Grade
Levels
Senior:
•
Safety-Wise
• GirlTopia
•
Managing Group Finances
• Sow What?
•
Appendix: For Troop
Volunteers
•
Appendix: For Travel
Volunteers
• aMaze: The Twists and Turns
of Getting Along
• Breathe
• Mission Sisterhood!
Ambassador
• Your Voice, Your World: The
Power of Advocacy
• Justice
• Bliss: Live It! Give It!
The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting
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.
20
Connections
This publication created by
Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast
is your guide to planning events,
activities, and renting program
properties.
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.
• 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.