Dear New Girl Scout Leaders, Congratulations on starting your journey as a troop volunteer. You are making a difference in the lives of Girl Scouts as well as creating memories and having tons of fun! This bag contains six meeting kits, each containing activities you can use to earn one badge. Some of the supplies you need for each activity are included in the kits. Besides the items included in the kit, what else will I need to run my meetings? •
Badges. These are available in our in-person shops or online at www.girlscoutshop.com.
•
One ream of white paper. A few tablets of art paper would also work well for this purpose.
•
Reusable art supplies. Examples include markers, crayons, pencils, scissors, and glue. Many new leaders ask families to bring in one of each item to add to the troop kit, so there is one per Girl Scout.
•
Additional supplies. Some meeting activities require a few additional supplies which are not included, such as a device connected to the internet (for instructional videos), food items, water, dishes, and other simple household materials. Don’t worry—most of these items are ones you have on hand! Make sure to read through the meeting plans and review the included items before your meeting so you can gather anything else you might need—and you can always ask caregivers to bring items to the meeting. Preparation won’t take long, but it is an important step!
Is there a particular order we should earn the badges in? We recommend doing the “Welcome to Girl Scouts” meeting plan first, as it is set up to be one of the first troop meetings. However, the rest of the badges can be earned in an order that works for you. One way to start adding in the girl-led focus would be to let the Girl Scouts vote on which one they would like to earn next! Do we have to do ALL the activities on the meeting plan sheet to earn that badge? You choose! Girl Scouts is about the spirit or intent of a badge, not checking off a to-do list. Most activity plans include four or five activities to help Girl Scouts earn their badge, but your meeting length and setting may change your approach. In addition, if you want to modify the activity idea or come up with your own activities that teach the concept, that is great too! How many supplies are included? Will I have enough for my troop? We have included enough supplies for 12 Girl Scouts to complete each activity, but it will depend on how they are used. In many cases, the Girl Scouts can share the supplies, or you can supplement with things you have on hand. If you have a large troop and are short of an item and don’t have it easily accessible, feel free to contact the council and we will help! Is each badge designed to be completed/earned in one meeting? That is totally up to you! Depending on the activities you choose and the length of your meetings, a badge could be earned in one meeting or split up over several sessions. Are these badges the only badges or activities we will work on this year? Should this kit be our primary source of activities? Girl Scouting is flexible, and volunteers can customize their troop program based on your Girl Scouts’ interests and available resources. This kit is meant as a convenient resource to help your troop get started. You are welcome to work with the kids on other badges, field trips, service projects, or whatever sparks your interest!
Have more questions about this kit or any part of your volunteer experience? Contact us and we are happy to help! 888-747-6945 | info@gsnwgl.org