1. Register yourself as a Girl Scout
You'll need to become a member of Girl Scouts by registering online then successfully completing a background check.
During the registration process, first check for open troop leader positions near you. If you don’t see what you are looking for or would like to start your own troop, click “UNSURE” and indicate that you are interested in starting your own troop in the comments section and see Step 4 below!
The background check process typically takes a few days. While you wait, you can start reviewing the online resources available to you.
Once you’ve registered as a member and are linked to a troop with a leadership position, you’ll gain access to our online Volunteer Toolkit (VTK), event and program resource listings, and much more!
2. Ask your friends to help
When you ask a friend or neighbor to join you, you already have great chemistry. That makes leading a troop more fun. Together, you'll need to decide on a meeting location, meeting frequency (day and start time), start date, and what grade level (or levels!) your troop will include.
A troop needs at least two unrelated, background-checked adults (one of whom must be female) to get started, and most leaders also look for additional volunteers to help throughout the year.
Troops can have more than two leaders, and they typically have additional volunteers to help with the Girl Scout Cookie Program, fall product program, and to assist with snacks, field trips, and other activities.
Parents/guardians of other girls in your troop are great people to ask to help right from the beginning, although adults from the community might love this opportunity, too. We can help you recruit volunteers for your troop, but people tend to have the most fun with adults they already know in real life.
3. Pick a day, time, and location for troop meetings
Start thinking right away about where and when your troop will meet. Contact potential venues now as you complete your Girl Scout registration, background check, and onboarding process.
Keep in mind:
Most troops meet twice per month, but you should choose a schedule that works best for you.
Your meeting space needs to be a safe, clean, and secure environment that allows all girls to participate. Good options include:
Schools
Libraries
Places of worship
Community centers and buildings
Local businesses
4. Set up your new troop
Fill out the New Troop Request form to notify us about your interest in starting a new troop.
5. Spread the word
It’s never too early to start talking about your new Girl Scout troop. Even while you finish the preliminary details, you can talk to your friends, neighbors, and other families in the community about your plans. The more girls you welcome to your troop, the more adults you will have available to help. An optimal size troop is about 12 girls on average. Use our Recruitment Resources to help you find girls to fill your troop.
In addition to your word-of-mouth efforts, any open girl or volunteer spots will be listed in our online Opportunity Catalog so other parents seeking troops for their daughters can sign them up for your openings.
Our staff will work closely with you to help support the formation of your new troop!
6. Get ready for your first troop meeting
Once you receive confirmation of your approval to lead a troop, you'll have the opportunity to attend a welcome session with a staff member or local volunteer who will help you get started on the right foot!
You can also purchase a copy of the Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting, and review meeting plans by visiting the Volunteer Toolkit.
7. Stay in touch
Like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter to stay connected to council events and network with other awesome volunteers.
