How to Start a Girl Scout Troop
Parents and community members make a key difference in the lives of girls by guiding them through the Girl Scout experience!
At Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GSGCNWI), we want leading a troop to be a great time, which is why we'll support you every step of the way.
Why Start A Girl Scout Troop?
It's simple. Today, perhaps more than ever, girls need unique and rewarding life experiences to help them grow to be confident, courageous, resilient adults in a complicated world.
By volunteering to be a positive adult role model and life coach in girls’ lives, you can make a lasting impact.
That’s the secret to our success. We believe in girls and what they can do, and we surround them with caring adults who help them learn to value themselves and others, and take action to make their world a better place.
What Do I Need to Know to Get Started?
Let’s set the record straight with some basic facts about being a Girl Scout troop leader.
- Any adult, male or female, age 18 and older may volunteer as a troop leader. You do not have to be a parent; you can be an aunt, uncle, grandparent, college student, or retired professional who wants to give back by mentoring girls.
- Girl Scouting has contemporary content, ample resources, and fun events in place to give you options for troop activities. Our guiding principle is that girls need to be part of the process of selecting what those activities are.
Adults who understand our emphasis on girl-led decision making, and who are flexible and patient as they work with the girls, have the greatest levels of satisfaction with their experiences as a troop leader. And the girls do, too!
- Make it fun! Yes, we want you to have fun, too. Ask friends and neighbors to join you. The more support you have, the more fun you will have.
- We provide convenient, online trainings to fit your schedule.
- We also provide online activity plans so you don't have to spend hours preparing for a meeting. It’s all there for you.
- The frequency and day/time of your troop meetings is up to you. If you work full-time and juggle family commitments, you can certainly still be a troop leader. Just set expectations upfront with the girls and their parents.
Our staff are here when you need us because we are grateful for your involvement. Call, email, or visit us when you have questions. We have lots of great ideas and tips for working with girls at every grade level!
Join a Troop
Whether you get together once a week or once a month, you’ll find yourself counting the days until your troop meeting starts!
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