Resources for Volunteers

Let's dive into some training.

Required Troop Leader Training

You wouldn’t try to build a house without a hammer and nails! The trainings below are the “hammer and nails” you need to build your troop leader skills. The videos are short, fun, and interactive! View them at your own pace in your own space. All of these videos are part of the Troop Leadership Pathway in gsLearn. All trainings are required to complete the learning pathway with the exception of the grade level trainings. You only need to complete the training for the grade level you are leading. If you have a multi-level troop, choose all grade levels you will be leading. You will also be asked to review our council's volunteer policies and sign a volunteer agreement. You need to be logged into myGS before opening the courses below.

Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention toggle arrow

This essential training helps you spot the signs of possible child abuse, gives you info on how to report any suspicious behavior, and how to keep your girls and yourself safe. This training is required for all volunteers who work directly with girls, and must be repeated every year. The quiz has also been separated out for your convenience. There is a quiz after the video with questions for review. You may want to take notes!

Child Abuse Training Video

Grade Level Training toggle arrow

Choose the Grade Level Training video for your troop to get all the info you need for a great year!

Volunteer Toolkit Training toggle arrow

The Volunteer Toolkit is your official source for delivering easy, fun troop meetings year-round! With this step-by-step guide, you can start your troop year strong and spend more time adventuring with your Girl Scouts!

Outdoor Training

You live in a world of screens—smartphone! laptop! TV! tablet!—and sometimes you just want to get away from it all. We get it. Help girls develop the kind of outdoor skills it’s hard to get anywhere else. Skills like building a campfire, pitching a tent, or canoeing across a lake. Many outdoor activities require additional certification training. We offer a wide variety of outdoor certification courses, so you can safely get your girls into the great outdoors! Webform to submit Activity Specialist General Recertification

Archery Activity Specialist toggle arrow

Learn the basics of archery, how to instruct students and find out about the Girl Scout Safety Activity Checkpoints related to this sport. Participants skills will be evaluated as to whether they are ready to instruct youth in archery after taking this course.

Backpacking Activity Specialist toggle arrow

During this course, you will learn what to take along, what to leave behind and how to pack it, the importance of proper footwear, and the mechanics involved in backpacking. This workshop will teach you how to backpack safely with respect for the environment. The class will incorporate a hike where you will be able to make use of your newly acquired skills. This course is required to take a troop/group on a lengthy backpacking hike which often involves camping overnight. This is an in-person course.

Camping In toggle arrow

This course is required in order to hold overnight activities with a troop. It is also a prerequisite to Camping Out. Camping In is available as a self-study online.

Camping Out toggle arrow

Do you want to take girls camping in the great outdoors? This course gives you the knowledge and skills to camp in a tent, cook meals over an open fire and practice Leave No Trace camping techniques. You will learn to appreciate the outdoors and pass the love of nature on to the girls. Camping In is a prerequisite for Camping Out. This course is required to take a troop on an overnight camping trip which involves sleeping in tents. Certification in Outdoor Cooking and Fire Building is also included in this course.

Cost of Camping Out - $30

Camping Out Certification – Overnight
Camping Out Training certifies you to take youth camping. Camping In is a pre-requisite.

Canoeing Activity Specialist toggle arrow

This is the basic course for entry-level adults who would like to be qualified to take girls canoeing on non-moving or slow moving waters (small lakes, ponds and slow moving sections of creeks and rivers). This course is required to take a troop/group canoeing. This is an in-person course.

Fire Building Safety toggle arrow

By completing the self-study below, you will be certified to build a simple camp fire that does not involve outdoor cooking with your troop/group. Download the fire building guide, then complete and submit the activity specialist form.

Fire Building Guide

Fire Building Self-Study Review

First Aid/CPR toggle arrow

First Aid/CPR training session provided by a certified Red Cross instructor are available depending on location and availability. The training provides certification in both First Aid and Adult/Child CPR. If you have a group of 5 or more and would like a training, please email CustomerCare@bdgsc.org to see if one is available in your area.

We accept training certificates from Red Cross, American Heart Association, and other organizations as long as they provide a hands-on training.

Hiking Activity Specialist toggle arrow

Learn the basics of taking your group hiking. Find out what gear you will need, how to plan a hiking trip, safety and emergency procedures. This course is a must for any troop/group that plans to hike. This course is required to take a troop on a hike which involves more than a simple walk around the neighborhood. This is an in-person course.

Knots

Girl Scouts will use several different knots while camping and adventuring in the outdoors. Get started by learning these basic and advanced knots.

The Overhand Knot. It's the most simple knot, but also the most essential to understanding the rest of the upcoming series.
Round Turn & Two Half Hitches Knot. It's a knot with multiple components, but the components are simple and easy to remember.
Clove Hitch. It's a hitch with structure that requires memorization, but the motions are uni-directional and easy to remember.
Square or Reef Knot. It's easy enough - two half hitches stacked on top of each other. However, their relationship to each other is tricky and it's easy to accidentally tie a variation of the square/reef knot rather than the knot itself.
Sheet Bend. This knot requires more specific memorization than the last.
Bowline Knot (pronounced "bowl - in," not "bow-line.") It's essentially the sheet bend, but with a very different application.
Bowline On a Bight (Pronounced "Bowl - in," not "Bow - line"). It has the same structure as the Bowline, but with a much more complicated procedure.
Taut Line Hitch. It's more difficult due to it's many turns and direction changes.
Cleat Hitch. It's easy once you've memorized all the different turns and nit-picky particulars of the knot.
Double Figure Eight knot is complicated. It has many turns, direction changes, and requires a lot of memorization. Once mastered, it is a very useful heavy duty knot.

Wilderness First Aid toggle arrow

Prepare for the unexpected with this fun, hands-on introduction to wilderness medicine, taught over two days. Attendance both days is required.

If you like to take short trips relatively close to medical resources, work at wilderness camps, enjoy weekend family outdoor activities, or just spending time in the outdoors, this course is for you!

This course is great for people of all experience levels and is best suited for those who work and play outdoors where EMS response time can be expected in more than 30 minutes but fewer than 8 hours. This course is strongly recommended for adults who run camps in rural areas (including Rocky Ledges and Camp Gisco!), as well as any Troop Volunteers who take their girls hiking, backpacking or traveling.

You'll learn the Patient Assessment System, how to provide effective first aid treatments for injuries and illnesses common in the outdoors, and how to make appropriate evacuation decisions.

You'll learn both in the classroom and in outdoor settings regardless of weather, so come prepared for wet, muddy, cold or hot environments!

Prerequisites: Participants must be at least 14 years of age to register. Participants must also have a current adult CPR/AED Certification, as well.

Check out our Council Activities page to see upcoming training dates.

Additional Information

Outdoor Videos toggle arrow

Funded by a grant from the Elliott Wildlife Values Project, we created six outdoor-skill-building videos especially for volunteers newer to Girl Scouts and older girl members taking younger girls outside.

Three Processes toggle arrow

How do you incorporate the Three Processes into your troop meeting? This video shows you how!

Activities toggle arrow

Learn about leading Girl Scout Songs.
Check out more Girl Scout Songs and Skits.
Have fun with this Campfire Sing-a-long Song Book.

Bridging

Your girls have worked hard—and had tons of fun—all year; they’ve earned a celebration! Girl Scouts love a good ceremony, so get your troop excited for what lies ahead with a bridging ceremony. Bridging is a beloved Girl Scout tradition that honors girls’ achievements throughout the year and celebrates their “crossing the bridge” to the next Girl Scout level. Learn more here.

Ceremonies toggle arrow

Ceremonies help Girl Scouts celebrate special moments and accomplishments throughout the year, such as bridging to another level or earning a National Leadership Journey award. They can plan a ceremony around a theme, such as friendship or nature, and express themselves in words or song. There are all kinds of ceremonies:

Bridging ceremonies mark a girl's move from one level of Girl Scouting to another. Find bridging kits for every level.

Flag ceremonies can be part of any activity that honors the American flag. Be sure to observe flag etiquette during a flag ceremony.
A Fly-Up is a bridging ceremony for Girl Scout Brownies bridging to Girl Scout Juniors. Girls receive the Girl Scout pin along with their Brownie wings.
A Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award ceremony honors Girl Scouts who have earned these special awards and is usually held at the troop/group level or combined with council recognition.
Girl Scouts' Own is a girl-planned program that lets girls explore their feelings around a topic, such as friendship or the Girl Scout Promise and Law, using spoken word, favorite songs, poetry, or other forms of expression. It is never a religious ceremony.
Investiture welcomes new members into the Girl Scout family for the first time. New Girl Scouts receive their membership pin as well as their grade-level pin at this ceremony.

Journey ceremonies honor Girl Scouts who have earned the final award in a Journey. The ceremonies are usually held at the troop/group level and invite Girl Scouts to develop a themed celebration of their Journey, often including friends and family.
A Court of Awards ceremony honors Girl Scouts’ accomplishments. They are presented with their badges, year pins, and other recognitions earned during the year. Volunteers may also be recognized during the ceremony. The Court of Awards can be held anytime during the year, at any location, and as often as the troop wants.
Opening ceremonies can kick off regular Girl Scout meetings and make them feel special!
Pinning ceremonies help celebrate when girls receive grade-level Girl Scout pins.

Rededication ceremonies are an opportunity for Girl Scouts, their families, and volunteers to renew their commitment to the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
Learn more here.

Days

Throughout the year, Girl Scouts and Girl Scout volunteers celebrate some very special days in Girl Scouting.

Juliette Gordon Low's birthday or Founder's Day, October 31, marks the birth in 1860 of Girl Scouts of the USA founder Juliette Gordon Low in Savannah, Georgia.
World Thinking Day, February 22, celebrates the birthdays of Girl Guide/Girl Scout founder Lord Baden-Powell (1857–1941) and World Chief Guide Lady Baden-Powell (1889–1977). The day is also a time to donate funds to the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund.

Girl Scouts’ birthday, March 12, commemorates the day in 1912 when Juliette Gordon Low officially registered the organization's first 18 members in Savannah, Georgia.
Girl Scout Week is celebrated each March, starting with Girl Scout Sunday and ending with Girl Scout Sabbath on a Saturday, and it always includes Girl Scouts’ birthday, March 12.
Girl Scouts Celebrate Faith events give Girl Scouts an opportunity to be recognized at their places of worship during Girl Scout Week, share their legacy of service to others, and deepen their connection to their faith and Girl Scouting. Celebration days include Girl Scout Sunday, Girl Scout Jummah, and Girl Scout Sabbath/Shabbat.
Girl Scout Leader's Day, April 22, honors all the volunteers who work as leaders and mentors in partnership with girls. On this day, Girl Scouts, their families, and their communities find special ways to thank their Girl Scout volunteers.

Learn more here.

SWAPS

SWAPS stands for “Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere.” They are small tokens of friendship that Girl Scouts exchange with one another, and each SWAP uniquely reflects a fellow Girl Scout, their troop, or a memory of a special event. They’re a great way to share stories and get to know Girl Scouts from across the country and the world.

Tips for SWAPS Givers

Girl Scouts should:

Think about the kind of SWAPS they would like to receive from someone else.
Try not to spend a lot of money. Consider making something from donated or recycled material.

Be creative and take time to make hand-crafted SWAPS. (Include directions for making them if it is a craft project that can be replicated.)
Try to have one for each event participant and staff member.
Plan ahead so there's time to make them.
Make SWAPS that can be worn, used, or displayed.
Ask their group or service unit for help, if needed, in putting SWAPS together.

Make them portable. Remember, they must be carried or shipped ahead to the event, where other Girl Scouts will be carrying them away.

What To Do with SWAPS

Girl Scouts can:

Include them with thank-you letters to sponsors and those who helped with a travel event.
Keep them in a scrapbook, memory box, or shadow box.
Use them to make a quilt or other textile project.
Put pins and patches on a hat or jacket.

Start a council best-of-SWAPS collection.

SWAPS Safety and Etiquette

Girl Scouts should:

Never refuse to swap with another person.
Swap face-to-face, especially if exchanging addresses or email information.
Avoid using glass or sharp objects in SWAPS.
Follow all Safety Activity Checkpoints guidelines.

Avoid using food products, unless they are individually wrapped.

Learn more here.

Traditions toggle arrow

Whether at a troop meeting, a council-wide event, or meeting Girl Scouts around the world, here are a few traditions that every Girl Scout knows

Girl Scout sign: Girl Scouts make the Girl Scout sign—raising three fingers of the right hand with the thumb holding down the pinky—when they say the Girl Scout Promise. The three fingers represent the three parts of the Promise.
Motto: The Girl Scout motto is "Be prepared." In the 1947 Girl Scout Handbook, the motto was explained this way: "A Girl Scout is ready to help out wherever she is needed. Willingness to serve is not enough; you must know how to do the job well, even in an emergency." The same holds true today.

Slogan: The Girl Scout slogan is "Do a good turn daily." The slogan, which has been used since 1912, is a reminder that Girl Scouts can make a difference in big and small ways.
Greeting: Girl Scouts can greet one another with the Girl Scout handshake, used by Girl Scouts and Girl Guides all over the world. The handshake is made by shaking hands with the left hand and making the Girl Scout sign with the right. The left hand is nearer to the heart and signifies friendship.
Friendship Circle: Representing the unbroken chain of friendship among Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world, the Friendship Circle involves Girl Scouts standing in a circle, crossing their right arms over their left, and clasping hands with their friends on both sides. Everyone then makes a silent wish as a friendship squeeze is passed from hand to hand around the circle.

Learn more here.

Marketing & Communications toggle arrow

We want to ensure that we communicate our brand promise. Girl Scouts gives every girl access to life-changing experiences that inspire her to do something big. Thank you for partnering with us to represent the amazing things that our girls are doing to change the world.

If you have questions or need assistance on a communications-related topic, please send an e-mail to Joelle Gates, Senior Manager of Marketing and Communications, at customercare@bdgsc.org.

Branding

Any publicly visible materials that use the Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council logo, fonts or any other branding must follow Girl Scouts of the USA brand guidelines AND be approved by Marketing and Communications. In general, you can’t use copyrighted designs, text, graphics or trademarked symbols without specific permission from the copyright or trademark holder. The basic principle is: If it is not yours, don’t use it. Using the phrase "no copyright infringement is intended" (or similar wording) on your website does not mean that you can upload copyrighted or trademarked material without permission. All necessary permission must be obtained, or the material cannot be used. Check out our branding guidelines for a quick reference sheet.

Referencing Our Name

The words "Scout", "Scouts" and "scouting" should never appear without the modifier "Girl," and each word should be capitalized. When mentioning our name in copy, use either "Girl Scouts" or "Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council."

Colors

Our colors are Black, White and Green (#00AE58 or R0 G174 B88 or PMS 355). Girl Scouts and green go together. To ensure that we continue to claim the color and to solidify our identity, embrace green. Be sure to include at least a bit of green in every piece you produce.

Font

Girls, troops, volunteers, etc. are encouraged to use the Girl Scout font primarily and Palatino font secondarily and its variations for any design materials created.

Logos and Service Marks

If the Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council's logo or service mark or trefoil is placed on distributed materials, it must have prior approval. Make sure to leave white space around the logo and not crowd it. Girl Scouts of the USA recommends to leave at least the same amount of white space around it as the "g." Do not stretch or modify logos or service marks in any way.

Photos

Use of photos or videos requires a Photo/Artwork Release form signed by parents/guardians and any adults pictured. This release only provides permission for use directly related to Girl Scouts and should never be used to promote a business or political campaign. The troop leader should keep this document on file at all times.

Social Media

When representing Girl Scouts on social media channels make safety a priority.

Make sure the privacy standards settings ensure the safety of girls.
Practice diligence to ensure that groups you are joining or linking to have standards consistent with Girl Scouts.
Make sure the messages you post do not conflict with Girl Scouts' positions. Please contact the council if you need clarity.
Use good judgment and common sense - do not write or post anything that would embarrass or upset Girl Scout members and volunteers, or reflect badly on our organization.
Treat others as you want to be treated; do not use the internet to attack or abuse any group, race, gender, religion, or political group. Careful monitoring of social media is important in maintaining a positive image of Girl Scouting. When possible, please share articles/events from the GSBDC website, Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), YouTube, and other communication resources.

Advertising

Do not sell advertising on your site, either in text or graphic format. This includes banner ads and sponsored links. The sale of advertising creates an implied relationship between Girl Scouts and the goods or services advertised, and are NOT permitted.

myGS

My GS is your Girl Scout home base and how you access other great tools to manage the Girl Scout experience for your family and troop! By logging into My GS in the upper right-hand corner you can:

Manage your Girl Scout membership and all the memberships in your household and troop(s).
Find exciting in-person and virtual events for your Girl Scout, your family, or your troop to attend.
Maintain your contact information, preferences and manage any changes within your troop.
Access essential tools like the Volunteer Toolkit and gsLearn to make your Girl Scout volunteer experience a breeze!

gsLearn

gsLearn is Girl Scouts’ official online and on demand training platform. Confident leaders are prepared leaders, and these online learnings will give you all the info you need to be a great troop leader.

gsLearn isn’t just for volunteers! All members have access to this great tool. Click on myGS in the upper right-hand corner to login and check it out.

Cookie Resources

Take Girl Scout Cookie® sales to the next level.

From downloads to guidelines, doorhangers to business cards and beyond—try these handy resources.

Want to make this cookie season the best one yet? Check out some of the fun activities and materials for Girl Scouts from our partners at Little Brownie Bakers.

volunteer with junior girl scouts at outside cookie booth smiling

Tools from Little Brownie Bakers

These resources will help you support Girl Scouts as they run their very own cookie businesses and gain skills essential for success.

FIND RESOURCES

girl scout putting boxes of trefoils into cookie transport bag

Resources from Girl Scouts of the USA

Find handouts, posters, videos, and other materials to help you have fun and stay safe as you build your cookie business.