Travel

Where in the world will Girl Scouts take you?
Girl Scouts offers many travel opportunities so girls can see new places, meet new people, and learn about different cultures and ideas. Whether exploring your own neighborhoods, going on overnight camping trips, participating in community service projects, or flying to one of the four World Centres, Girl Scouts are continually expanding their horizons.

The Girl Scouts Travel Progression allows girls to learn the skills they need to become competent travelers, including how to plan and organize trips. Check out the Travel Progression [PDF] and how to travel as a Girl Scout. [Video]

You can participate as an individually registered girl (Juliette) or by traveling with your troop, service unit, our council, or with girls from around the world. The world is your playground; where will you explore today and dream of conquering tomorrow?

GSGCNWI Contact
Ashley Christensen
312-912-6322

Upcoming Council-Sponsored Travel

GSGCNWI usually hosts multiple trips throughout the year for Brownies through Ambassadors. We follow a travel progression where girls start by staying close to home as Brownies and Juniors, then taking trips further away and for longer periods of time the older Girl Scouts become.

You-and-Me Trips

Board the GCNWI coach bus for a You-And-Me Trip! Girl Scout Brownies, Juniors, and Cadettes are invited, along with their mom, aunt, grandma, or favorite female adult friend, to explore a new place. In the past, we’ve hosted trips to Door County, St. Louis, and Mackinac Island.

You-And-Me on Mackinac Island!

Grab your mom, aunt, or grandma for a getaway to Mackinac Island! Once on the island, take a horse-drawn carriage tour, photograph the beautiful butterflies, and choose from other fun activities. Multiple meals, hotel stay, various group activities, and coach bus included in the cost.

*Trip dates are TBD

Check out our blog post about the last trip to Mackinac Island!

Choose Your Own Adventure

A Choose Your Own Adventure trip (CYOA) allows Girl Scouts the chance to plan a trip from start to finish, including:

Choosing where they want to travel
Planning an itinerary
Mapping skills
Transportation – how to get there and how to get around
Budgeting

We do not have a trip date planned in the near future.

Can’t make one of our council-sponsored trips? Your troop can plan their own! GCNWI created a CYOA resource guide with the steps you can take, trip planning resources, itinerary templates, and info on how to create a budget. Check out that resource here!

Colorado

Join our 2023 trip to Colorado!

Summer is a great time for exploring the great outdoors! Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby, Colorado offers many fun activities including canoeing, horseback riding, hiking, archery, ropes courses, zip lining, climbing wall, and much more. Group activities include a day at Rocky Mountain National Park, white water rafting, and team-bonding experiences. Approximate cost is $1,200 per person + additional activities chosen. Troops and individually registered girls may attend. Leaders and parents are invited to attend and serve as group chaperones.

Check out the blog post about the trip!

Register and pay the deposit for the 2023 trip here

International Travel

Each year, we host an international trip to one of the WAGGGS World Centres. We're headed back to Switzerland in 2023 – and we’re excited! If you are interested in learning more about this trip, contact Ashley at achristensen@girlscoutsgcnwi.org.

*Please note that our trip to Our Cabana in Mexico has been postponed.

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Destinations

2023 Destinations are currently available on the GSUSA Destinations webpage. Application deadlines will be updated here soon. Be sure to check out the Destinations webpage to see what trips are open.

Travel Scholarships are available to girls who have been accepted to a GSUSA Destination.

Troop Travel

Are the girls in your troop planning their own adventure?

Learn about traveling with Girl Scouts in the Travel Appendix of Volunteer Essentials.

Our new GSGCNWI Troop Travel Resource is a comprehensive guide for trip leaders to help their troop plan their own trip.

From local day trips to coast-to-coast treks, learn how to explore the country with Girl Scouts in this Girl Scouts Guide to U.S. Travel and the new Road to Global Travel.

Check out our blog series with tips and tricks about planning a Girl Scout troop trip to Savannah, Georgia! Part I | Part 2

GSGCNWI has training available on gsLearn for troop trip coordinators, including preparing for your first trip, overnights, and extended trips. Why not start dreaming (and planning!) for a trip today?!

Let girls exercise their travel brain by planning a trip – even if it means you can’t go on it quite yet OR have girls plan a field trip you are able to take. Use this as a guide at your next virtual meeting!

Day Trips

Review Safety Activity Checkpoints for any activities planned during the trip. Many higher risk activities require council approval.
Submit a Trip and Travel Application at least 30 days prior to your trip. Use this for day trips that include activities that require council approval per Safety Activity Checkpoints.
Complete required Safety in Girl Scouting course on gsLearn.
Complete First Aider training if needed, as indicated in Safety Activity Checkpoints.
Secure supplemental insurance (recommended for non-members). Please purchase at least three weeks prior to trip.

1–2 Night Trips

This includes hotels, hostels, private property, church property, and school lock-in, etc. Anything not at a council camp property.

Review Safety Activity Checkpoints for any activities planned during the trip. Many higher risk activities require council approval.
Submit a Trip and Travel Application a minimum of 30 days prior to your trip. Use this to secure council approval for any higher risk activities as indicated in Safety Activity Checkpoint.
Complete required Safety in Girl Scouting course on gsLearn.
Complete First Aider and Outdoor Module training, if needed, as indicated in Safety Activity Checkpoints. *Outdoor Module training is currently being revised; more information will be added to this website when it’s available.
Secure supplemental insurance (recommended for non-members). Please purchase at least three weeks prior to trip.

3+ Night Trips

This includes hotels, hostels, private property, church property, and school lock-in, etc. Anything not at a council camp property.

Review Safety Activity Checkpoints for any activities planned during the trip. Many higher risk activities require council approval.
Submit a Trip and Travel Application a minimum of 30 days prior to your trip. Use this to secure council approval for any higher risk activities as indicated in Safety Activity Checkpoint.
Complete required Safety in Girl Scouting course on gsLearn.
Complete First Aider and Outdoor Module training, if needed, as indicated in Safety Activity Checkpoints. *Outdoor Module training is currently being revised; more information will be added to this website when it’s available.
Secure supplemental insurance (recommended for non-members). Please purchase at least three weeks prior to trip.

Camp Property Rentals, 1+ Nights

Review Safety Activity Checkpoints for any activities planned during the trip. Many higher risk activities require council approval.
Reserve a camp property.
Complete First Aider and Outdoor Module training, if needed, as indicated in Safety Activity Checkpoints.
Secure supplemental insurance (recommended for non-members). Please purchase at least three weeks prior to trip.

International Travel

This includes any location where a passport is required.

Submit an Intent to Travel Internationally Application application at least one year prior to trip.
Complete required Safety in Girl Scouting course on gsLearn.
Complete the required First Aider and appropriate Outdoor Module training as indicated in Safety Activity Checkpoints.
Secure supplemental insurance (recommended for non-members). Please purchase at least three weeks prior to trip.

International travel questions? Please contact Ashley Christensen at 312-912-6322 or explore GSUSA’s Global Travel Toolkit!

How to Fund your Girl Scout Travels

Money Earning Tips for Funding Girl Scout Trips »

Financial Planning Tips »

Financial Assistance and Scholarships for Travel »

Frequently Asked Questions about Funding Travel »

Financial Assistance and Scholarships

Financial Assistance and Travel Scholarships are available for both council-sponsored trips and GSUSA Destinations.

The amount of assistance varies for Destinations. Maximum assistance for council-sponsored trips is $500.00.

You must register for a trip prior to applying for financial assistance. Applications are available after Jan. 1 annually.

Girls must participate in both Fall Product and Cookie Sales in order to receive financial assistance or scholarships, completing the minimum requirements:

Fall Product Program—a minimum of 12 candy/nut products OR four magazine subscriptions, OR a combination of both (6 candy/nut products and 2 magazine subscriptions)
Cookie Program—a minimum of 30 packages of cookies.

Help make travel adventures like these possible for more Girl Scouts through the GCNWI Travel Scholarship! Scholarship funds provide girls facing financial hardship with the resources to plan and pursue travel, from council-sponsored day trips to international journeys through the Destinations program. Together, we can help Girl Scouts become more knowledgeable, compassionate citizens of the world through global programming and travel opportunities.

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Global Awareness Team

The Global Awareness Team is a group of volunteers who love all things global and travel. They've traveled extensively locally, nationally and internationally with Girl Scouts and on their own. The team is here to serve the members of GSGCNWI to make global, cultural and travel experiences fun and accessible to our entire Girl Scout community. These adults are here to help you every step of the way, ensuring you are ready for the upcoming adventure.

Join our team!

Adult Application

Read about our Global Awareness Team on our Blog!

The Global Awareness Team produced a series of videos showing off their neighborhoods! Watch the series on our YouTube, then check out these neighborhoods with your troop or family.

We want to know about your favorite town or neighborhood with your very own video! You can even bring Flat Juliette with you on your tour. Once you’ve made a video, share them on our website!

Download Flat Juliette »
Download Flat Juliette Junior »