Welcome to Volunteer Training

At Girl Scouts, we believe every volunteer is a leader, and leadership grows through learning. Our Volunteer Training opportunities are designed to support you at every stage of your journey — building confidence, strengthening skills, and enriching the Girl Scout experience for girls. Through a mix of required trainings and optional enrichment opportunities offered online, in person, and on demand, we aim to provide learning experiences that speak to the leader in each of us while supporting safe, inclusive, and meaningful Girl Scout programming.

To start on any of the trainings listed below, volunteers must have an annual membership and approved background check.

For more information, please contact:

Sarah Worsowicz-Crooks
Volunteer Experience Director
scrooks@gsgateway.org

New Leader Roadmap

Your guide to success!

Troop Committee Guide

An essential guide to forming Troop Committees.

Ways Adults Can Help

How to get families involved and garner support for your troop.

Start Here: Required for All Volunteers

Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Course toggle arrow

Required annually for all volunteers

Keeping girls safe is our highest priority. To meet insurance and risk management requirements, all Girl Scout volunteers are required to complete Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Course annually to help ensure a safe, supportive, and positive environment for every girl. This training covers recognizing and preventing abuse, understanding reporting responsibilities, and best practices for maintaining girl safety. Volunteers may complete the council-provided training or submit verification of a comparable Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Course completed through another approved organization.

Complete or Renew Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Course

Role-Based Training Pathways

New Troop Co-Leader toggle arrow

New Troop Co-Leaders guide girls through their Girl Scout journey while learning alongside them. Training is designed to help you feel confident getting started — from understanding the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to hosting your first meeting and engaging families.

You’ll complete:

GSUSA New Leader Onboarding Series:

o GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: What Girl Scouts Do

o GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: Your First Troop Meeting

o GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: The Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE)

o GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: Family Engagement - The Key to Success

o GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: The Girl Scout Cookie Program

New Leader Orientation

Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Course

Bridging Troop Co-Leader toggle arrow

Bridging Co-Leaders are volunteers who are continuing with an existing troop or transitioning with girls to a new grade level. Training focuses on refreshing key Girl Scout concepts, learning what’s new, and supporting girls as their leadership skills grow.

You’ll complete:

GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: What Girl Scouts Do

Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Course

Troop Treasurer toggle arrow

Troop Treasurers support the troop by helping manage finances in a clear, responsible way. This role is a great fit for someone who enjoys organization and wants to support the troop behind the scenes. Training focuses on best practices, transparency, and setting the troop up for success — not accounting expertise.

You’ll complete:

313 Troop Finance: Overview and Proven Practices

GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: Funding the Fun – Managing Girl Scout Troop Finances (20 mins)

Monthly Troop Finance Tracking Sheet

Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Course

Troop Product Manager- Cookies toggle arrow

Troop Product Managers (TPMs) help coordinate the Girl Scout Cookie Program for their troop. This is a seasonal role and a great way to support girls’ goal-setting, teamwork, and entrepreneurship. It’s a good fit for volunteers who enjoy working with girls and caregivers while keeping track of orders, deadlines, and information.

You’ll complete:

A TPM Form
TPM Cookie Training – TPM’s have the option to attend the live virtual zoom webinar or watch the recorded version on GS Learn later. This training is mandatory to participate in the cookie program. It is typically scheduled in November each year. Watch for the save the date to come out each new membership year.
Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Course

Recommended:

It is recommended that all TPMs have access to the troop bank account. As such, we recommend you watch:

o 313 Troop Finance: Overview and Proven Practices

For additional information on the TPM role and cookie program, head over to the Cookie Resource page here!

Troop Product Manager- Sweets and Treats toggle arrow

Troop Product Managers (TPMs) help coordinate the Girl Scout Sweets & Treats Program for their troop. This is a seasonal role and a great way to support girls’ goal-setting, teamwork, and entrepreneurship. It’s a good fit for volunteers who enjoy working with girls and caregivers while keeping track of orders, deadlines, and information.

You’ll complete:

A TPM Form

TPM Sweets and Treats Training – TPM’s have the option to attend the live virtual zoom webinar or watch the recorded version on GS Learn later. This training is mandatory to participate in the sweets and treats program. It is typically scheduled in August each year. Watch for the save the date to come out in the summer months of each membership year.

Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Course

Recommended:

It is recommended that all TPMs have access to the troop bank account. As such, we recommend you watch:

o 313 Troop Finance: Overview and Proven Practices

For additional information on the TPM role and the Sweets and Treats program, head over to the Sweets and Treats Resource page here!

Troop First Aider toggle arrow

A Troop First Aider is a volunteer who helps the troop prepare for and respond to minor emergencies during activities and outings. This role is required for most troop activities beyond regular meetings and is ideal for someone who prefers an intermittent, support-focused commitment.

To serve in this role, you must:

Hold current certification in First Aid, CPR (adult & child), and AED
(or be a licensed medical professional recognized by GSUSA)
Complete the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Course

Certifications must be current and include a hands-on skills component (no online only training will be accepted).

Find courses offered by our council here!

Troop Camp Trained Adult toggle arrow

Camp Trained Adults support troops during camping experiences by ensuring outdoor activities are safe, fun, and aligned with Girl Scout guidelines. Training focuses on outdoor skills, safety planning, and helping girls build confidence in an outdoor setting.

You’ll complete:

Camp Training - This in person training is held throughout the year at our camp properties. To find a Camp Training, head to our events page and look for “Gateway Camp Training”. This is a one time training that is good for 3 years, with a test out option to recertify. Click here for more!

Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Course

Outdoor Adventure toggle arrow

Remote Wilderness First Aid
Canoe
Kayak
Archery
Paddleboard
Lifeguard

Troop Chaperone toggle arrow

Troop Chaperones assist troop leaders during meetings, events, trips, or outings. This is a flexible, short-term role that provides extra support and supervision when needed. Chaperones help make activities run smoothly and ensure girls have a safe, positive experience.

You’ll complete:

Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Course

Community Partnership Team Training

Community Partnership Team (CPT) members help strengthen Girl Scouts in their local communities by serving as a bridge between volunteers, families, and council staff. This role focuses on connection, communication, and community support.

CPT members help ensure volunteers feel informed, supported, and connected to Girl Scout opportunities in their area. This role is ideal for volunteers who enjoy relationship-building, sharing information, and supporting others behind the scenes.

As a Community Partnership Team member, you may:

Welcome and support volunteers within your community
Share council updates, opportunities, and resources with local volunteers
Serve as a point of connection between volunteers and council support team
Support community-based events or initiatives as needed

Commitment levels vary by community and role- check out roles below!

Community Manager toggle arrow

Community Managers help coordinate the overall work of the Community Partnership Team in their area and serve as a primary point of contact for council staff.

You’ll complete:

Core Four Foundations
Community Partnership Team Training – Community Manager Track

Community Treasurer toggle arrow

Community Treasurers support community-level financial needs by helping track the income and expenses of the community and follow council guidelines. This role focuses on accuracy and transparency.

You’ll complete:

Core Four Foundations
Community Partnership Team Training – Treasurer Track

Community Communications Lead toggle arrow

Community Communications Leads help share timely information with volunteers through approved channels and support consistent messaging.

You’ll complete:

Core Four Foundations
Community Partnership Team Training – Communications Track

Community Events Lead toggle arrow

Community Recruitment Lead toggle arrow

Community Product Manager toggle arrow

New Leader Trainings

First, complete the New Leader Onboarding Series from GSUSA (found on GS Learn). This series includes:

GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: What Girl Scouts Do
GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: Your First Troop Meeting
GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: The Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE)
GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: Family Engagement - The Key to Success
GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: The Girl Scout Cookie Program

After completing these trainings, register for one of our New Leader Orientation sessions (via Zoom). Looking for topic-specific trainings? Head over to gsLearn to explore our on demand trainings.

New Leader Orientation Schedule toggle arrow

New Leader Orientation is a virtual training for new Troop Co-Leaders navigating their first 30–40 days in their leadership role. The one-hour training provides essential skills, resources, and guidance to help new leaders confidently begin their first year of Girl Scouting. Volunteers can register for an upcoming session through the Event Calendar.

Additional Resources and Support for New Troop Leaders

Guides & Tools toggle arrow

Year at a Glance toggle arrow

Girl Scout Year Planner - It is time to plan your best troop year! Use this document to plan and schedule activities for each of the six elements of the Girl Scout Troop Fundamentals: Badges & Awards, Outdoor, Product Program, Traditions, Community Service, and Special Events.

Welcome to Volunteer Training

To start on any of the trainings listed below, volunteers must have an annual membership and approved background check.

For more information, please contact:

Sarah Worsowicz-Crooks Volunteer Experience Director scrooks@gsgateway.org

Start Here: Required for All Volunteers

Role-Based Training Pathways

Community Partnership Team Training

New Leader Trainings

Additional Resources and Support for New Troop Leaders

Sarah Worsowicz-Crooks
Volunteer Experience Director
scrooks@gsgateway.org