we believe in the power of - girl scouts of colonial coast€¦ · journey resources, the girl’s...

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Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF

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Page 1: We Believe in the PoWer of - Girl Scouts of Colonial Coast€¦ · Journey resources, The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting, the Girl Scout Cookie Program, Girl Scout Safety Guidelines

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

We Believe in the PoWer of

Page 2: We Believe in the PoWer of - Girl Scouts of Colonial Coast€¦ · Journey resources, The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting, the Girl Scout Cookie Program, Girl Scout Safety Guidelines

Because the girl has a need, We have an obligation.Because the girl has a choice, We must be her better choice.Because the girl has high expectations, We must excel.Because the girl wants to explore, We must be her guide.Because the girl wants to belong, We must open our arms.

Because the girl is searching for direction. We must be her compass.Because the girl encounters times of turmoil, We must be her safe haven.Because the girl is tomorrow’s woman, We must care today.Because of the girl, We exist.

Mimi Murray Girl Scout Volunteer

Because the girl...

Dear Prospective Volunteer,

Thank you for your interest in exploring what’s involved in being a Girl Scout volunteer. Leading girls involves mentoring them, understanding them and being willing to work toward their growth and development. It is a rewarding

responsibility.

This booklet contains information that will help acquaint you to the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. This is only a brief overview. Once you have decided to become a volunteer, you will have an opportunity to get better acquainted through our orientation process.

If you are ready to take the next step, complete the volunteer application and screening process. We’ll work with you to best utilize your skills and meet your interests.

Thank you for your interest in helping build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.

Page 3: We Believe in the PoWer of - Girl Scouts of Colonial Coast€¦ · Journey resources, The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting, the Girl Scout Cookie Program, Girl Scout Safety Guidelines

Adult Leadership in Girl Scouting Imagine what an entire generation of girls could do given the confidence, the skills and the experience they need to lead. Girls benefit from women role models, so share yourself and your skills with the next generation!

Schedule tight? Not a problem! Today’s Girl Scouts offers flexible ways to participate. Spend a day volunteering at a science, technology, math and engineering and math (STEM) event or an afternoon sharing your story at a career workshop. Take girls on an overnight or week-long trip. The opportunities are endless. No matter what you choose to do, you’ll be making a lasting and positive impact on the lives of girls.

Camp: For a short seasonal experience, unplug from your everyday demands and explore the great outdoors with a group of like-minded girls. Share your passion and unique talents with tomorrow’s outdoor enthusiasts.

Events: Have high energy but limited availability? Choose your favorite topics and help girls unleash their potential. During half-day to three-day events you’ll interact with girls, excite their passions and help them become their best selves.

Series: Looking for a chance to work with girls for a short period of time over a few weeks? Then come lead a series for a focused group of girls who can’t wait to learn a new skill or pursue an area of interest. Share one of your passions or follow a pre-planned series program with all resources provided.

Travel: Explore the world - or at least a corner of it - with a group of girls who need help planning a trip, earning money and preparing themselves for the adventures of travel. Whether you’re available to travel or help with the planning, this volunteer opportunity is flexible enough to fit your schedule.

Troop: Want to participate in fun activities with a small group of girls? Whether it is for a few weeks or months, or an entire year, you’ll share so much as the girls in your troop follow a Leadership Journey, earn awards and badges, go on field trips and learn from community leaders and experts on issues important to your community.

Page 4: We Believe in the PoWer of - Girl Scouts of Colonial Coast€¦ · Journey resources, The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting, the Girl Scout Cookie Program, Girl Scout Safety Guidelines

The Girl Scout Leadership ExperienceMillions of girls across the nation benefit each year from being a Girl Scout – the largest organization dedicated solely to girls. Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, they are gaining skills that will last a lifetime. They are being engaged to discover their talents and interests, connect with others in meaningful ways and take action in their communities.

DISCOVERGirls understand themselves and their values

and use their knowledge and skills to explore the world.+

CONNECTGirls care about, inspire and team with others locally and globally.

+TAKE ACTION

Girls act to make the world a better place. =

LEADERSHIP

Girl Scout FundamentalsThere are three important guiding principles in Girl Scouts:

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.

The Girl Scout MissionGirl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character

who make the world a better place.

Page 5: We Believe in the PoWer of - Girl Scouts of Colonial Coast€¦ · Journey resources, The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting, the Girl Scout Cookie Program, Girl Scout Safety Guidelines

Membership in Girl ScoutingGirl Scouts is open to all girls in grades K through 12 and adults 18 and over, regardless of race, religion, national origin, physical ability or socioeconomic factors who accept the Girl Scout Promise and Law (members may substitute their own faith’s word in the Promise) and the principles and beliefs of Girl Scouting. In addition, members must pay the annual membership dues of $15 per person. Annual membership dues are received by Girl Scouts of the USA - not your local council, and helps fund:

•  Program activities for girls

•  Resources for volunteers

•  Advocacy of public support of Girl Scouting

•  Maintenance of the Girl Scout headquarters, the Girl Scout Research Institute

and other national centers

Registered members of Girls Scouts of the USA:

•  May participate in Girl Scout activities and events

•  May wear the appropriate uniform and insignia

•  Are covered by Girl Scout accident insurance

All volunteers and girls participating in Girl Scouts must be registered as members through the Council. The volunteer leader or group advisor is responsible for seeing that girls and adults of the troop or group are registered. Online registration is available and encouraged. A membership in Girl Scouting is based on a membership year – from October 1 to September 30. There are several membership levels in the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Each grade level has a choice of three Leadership Journeys and a Girls Guide to Girl Scouting, which includes a handbook and all the awards and badges girls can earn.

Financial AssistanceFinancial assistance for girls is available based on need through the Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast. Financial assistance can be requested for membership registration, council events and activities.

daisies

grades k-1

brownies

grades 2-3

juniors

grades 4-5

cadettes grades 6-8

seniors grades 9-10

ambassadors grades 11-12

Page 6: We Believe in the PoWer of - Girl Scouts of Colonial Coast€¦ · Journey resources, The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting, the Girl Scout Cookie Program, Girl Scout Safety Guidelines

Preparing for Your Leadership Role

Criteria The Girl Scouts value diversity and embrace inclusiveness.

Qualifications

•  At least 18 years old

•  Girl focused

•  Personal integrity

•  Good communication skills

•  Adaptability

•  Interest in the well-being of girls

Responsibilities

•  Complete volunteer application background check process

•  Complete required coursework

•  Register the troop/group (girls and at least two adults*) each membership year

•  Schedule and conduct regular troop/ group meetings and activities

•  Comply with all Council and national policies

•  Keep the troop/group members and parents/caregivers informed of all Girl Scout events

* Because we believe female role models are especially important to young girls during their developing years, men working directly with girls may only serve as co-leaders with women leaders in troops or groups.

Alumnae...Reconnect and Rediscover

Since 1912, millions of women (and many men) have had their lives positively influenced, sometimes even transformed, by their Girl Scout experience. Whether you are one of the more than 59 million women who were Girl Scouts, including Daisies and Brownies, or you were a volunteer or staff member who helped Girl Scouts reach their full potential, you are forever connected to a rich and vibrant movement. As a Girl Scout alumna, you know first hand how transforming a positive program can be in a girl's life. Whether you are actively involved with Girl Scouts or not, you can stay connected through the local and national Girl Scout Alumnae Program.

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Volunteer Courses We encourage you to take advantage of all learning opportunities.

• Online and in-person volunteer classes

• Discussions with other troop leaders

• Volunteer Essentials and other GSUSA resources

• Support team meetings

• Volunteer newsletters

• The Council website - gsccc.org 

Girl Scouting 101 Introduces new volunteers to the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Learn about Journey resources, The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting, the Girl Scout Cookie Program, Girl Scout Safety Guidelines and much more. Spend 45–50 minutes learning online—whenever you can fit it into your day.

Welcome to Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast This online learning session is an introduction to Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast and the resources available to volunteers. This is a required session for troop volunteers and is completed following Girl Scouting 101.

Getting Your Troop Started Learn the ins and outs of starting a new troop during this online learning session. It covers the steps needed to form your troop, troop costs, getting the support you need and running your first parent/caregiver meeting. This is a required session for new troop volunteers and is completed following: Welcome to Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast.

Girl Scout Program Basics This three-hour interactive workshop introduces volunteers to the National Leadership Journeys and The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting for all grade levels and demonstrates how to create a “fun with purpose” leadership experience for girls. Participants will have the opportunity to experience fun activities they can share with girls. This class is a program-specific class that focuses on the National Program Portfolio (National Leadership Journeys and The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting). Register for classes at http://gsccc.org/Adult-Learning.aspx

More Opportunities Classes are offered throughout the year to help make your volunteer experience successful. New troop leaders must complete Troop Paperwork & Trip Planning before accompanying girls on activities away from their troop meeting place.

There are also opportunities to attend outdoor classes, become certified in CPR/AED/First Aid, learn about ceremonies and special awards, and participate in enrichment events.

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Volunteer SupportWe believe it is essential that volunteers have rewarding experiences and are given the resources to achieve their goals. Girl Scouts has a support system that provides assistance at every level and for a multitude of situations.

Your Council Your local Girl Scout Council is the entity that ensures that the Girl Scout Leadership Experience is available within its jurisdiction. Structurally, the chief executive officer holds the highest staff position in the Council and is hired by the Council’s elected governing body, the board of directors. The Council provides:

• Interpretation of the organization’s mission

  • Information on Council facilities

  • Adult learning opportunities

  • Opportunities for you to express your needs and make suggestions

  • Information on opportunities beyond the troop, service unit, or community.

Council Location A Place for Girls is the Council’s headquarters and regional program center. It is located at 912 Cedar Road in Chesapeake and offers space for girl activities and adult learning opportunities, as well as a shop that carries resources and uniforms. The Outback, a nearly nine-acre nature area, and the Lodge, an auxiliary program building, are also part of the Center’s complex.

Retail Shops Retail shops are open year round and offer a wide selection of Girl Scout merchandise. Shop hours are listed online at www.gsccc.org.

Volunteer Support Teams When you need help, there are a number of places to turn. A good place to begin is with your service unit. A service unit volunteer support team is a group of administrative volunteers and leaders like yourself. The volunteer support team is your best resource and link to the Council. They can help you with:

  • Management

  • Volunteer courses

  • Finding consultants for special activities

  • Finding mentors

  • Getting feedback or reaching someone who can act as a sounding board

  • Helping interpret policies, standards and procedures

  • Locating special equipment (for camping, bridging, games and ceremonies)

Troop/Group CommitteeThe committee gives support in planning activities and fundraising. The committee includes parents as well as interested members of the community, such as teachers or sponsor representatives.

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SponsorshipSponsorship from the community can be obtained. A sponsor can be a community organization (places of worship and schools) or a business that will agree to provide a meeting place or a service. As a “thank you” to the sponsor, girls may choose to offer a community service project to benefit their sponsor.

Resources Starting 2017, volunteers will have access to a digital resource – Volunteer Toolkit. Think of it as a gateway that gives volunteers access to great resources to help run a troop and can be used across devices – including your smartphone, tablet or computer. For troop leaders and key volunteers the toolkit streamlines on-boarding and simplifiers troop management, meeting planning and program experiences, and allows them to connect with other volunteers and communicate a Girl Scout’s progress to parents.

For parents and caregivers the toolkit offers a parent portal that will make it easier to communicate with their Girl Scout’s troop leader, manage her schedule and stay involved in her Girl Scout experience.

Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast produces several publications that provide valuable information to girls, parents and caregivers, troop leaders, volunteers, media and the general public.

The handbook, Volunteer Essentials, is a guide to volunteering with Girl Scouts and provides all the information volunteers need, from policies to planning trips, safety, managing finances and program information.

The Girl Scout Magazine is produced three times per each year and contains news and program information. It is mailed to each member household.

Volunteer Connection is a Council blog that keeps volunteers up-to-date with timely information. Updates are added often and subscribers receive notification when new information is available.

GSCCC Blog is a Council news blog that spotlights interesting articles on our girl and adult members.

Our electronic newsletter, Enews is a monthly publication that is sent to all registered Girl Scouts who have provided an email address.

Each year the Council also produces the Family Guide, a brochure that includes basic information about Girl Scouts and answers frequently asked questions by new members and their families.

The Summer Camp Guide, a listing of all Council sponsored camps, is produced in early spring. You will find detailed descriptions of resident and day camp offerings and information on the unique all-girl camp experience offered by the Girl Scouts.

All of these resources and much more can be found on the Council website at gsccc.org.

Page 10: We Believe in the PoWer of - Girl Scouts of Colonial Coast€¦ · Journey resources, The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting, the Girl Scout Cookie Program, Girl Scout Safety Guidelines

Working With Girls

Troop or Group A Girl Scout troop or group should be small enough to allow for individual development, yet large enough to accommodate group activities based on recommended adult/girl ratios. The minimum ratio of adults to girls is two unrelated adults (at least one of whom is female) for this number of girls:

12 Girl Scout Daisies

20 Girl Scout Brownies

25 Girls Scout Juniors

25 Girl Scout Cadettes

30 Girl Scout Seniors

30 Girl Scout Ambassadors

MeetingsMeetings and activities may take place any time: in the evenings or on weekends. Schools, churches and public buildings are all good meeting places to consider. Any meeting place must conform to health and safety standards, permit group games without disturbing others and, if possible, have outdoor facilities nearby.

ActivitiesGirl Scout National Leadership Journeys make meeting planning easy. Each Journey adult guide provides six to eight sample meeting sessions that can be adapted to the interests of the girls and resources available. There are three Journeys to choose from for each grade level: It’s Your Planet - Love It!, It’s your World - Change It! and It’s Your Story - Tell It! Girls should choose the Journey they want to work on. Meetings, field trips, community service and additional activities can be planned accordingly. The Girls Guide to Girl Scouting provides information on badges and awards that can be earned in addition to the Journey awards.

Series Leadership Journeys can also be used for themed series over a short period of time. Pre-planned series sessions are available in a variety of topics, including STEM, Healthy Habits, bullying awareness and the environment.

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“I’m on my way” Checklist

Reviewed this pamphlet and became acquainted with the role of troop or series leader.

Talked with the person who recruited me and asked her/him any follow-up questions I may have concerning the Girl Scout troop or series leader position or organizing a troop or group.

Became a Girl Scout member and completed the volunteer application background check process.

Completed Girl Scouting 101, Welcome to Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, Getting Your Troop Started and Girl Scout Program Basics and any other classes that will help me in my volunteer role.

Troop leaders should also be taking steps to help find other adults to assist with the troop. All volunteers must be 18 years of age or above. Begin recruiting girl members, who are usually recruited through area schools. However, you may recruit girls in your own church, school or community. Your service unit and community recruiters and staff representative can best advise you on girl recruitment. All troops are open to a minimum of 12 girls.

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gsccc 10/2016

Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Pintrest, Instagram and the GSCCC blog We are supported in part by

Peninsula Service Center 894 J. Clyde Morris Blvd. Newport News, VA 23601

Elizabeth City Field Center 214 N. Dyer St. Elizabeth City, NC 27909

A Place for Girls 912 Cedar Road Chesapeake, VA 23322 757-547-4405800-77SCOUT

Kitty Hawk Field Center 3852 N. Croatan Hwy. Kitty Hawk, NC 27949