Welcome to Nuts & Bolts for new leaders mkl mkl

The work of today is the history of tomorrow and we are its makers…” Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low founder of the Girl Scouts

Session Agenda - participants will learn: About Girl Scouting, Girl Scout structure and support The steps in starting a troop How to involve families How to facilitate girl-led troops How to manage troop finances About possible troop activities How to locate Girl Scout resources

Girl Scout Promise & The Girl Scout Law The Girl Scout Promise On my honor, I will try: to serve God and my country, To help people at all times, And to live by the Girl Scout Law. The Girl Scout Law I will do my best to be: honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.

Girl Scout Leadership Experience 3 HOWs How Girls Experience Girl Scouts BENEFITS To girls What girls CONTRIBUTE to the world WHAT girls do

Girl Scout Structure Pathway Voluntee rs Voluntee r Service Unit Girl Scouts of Colorad o Staff Membership Connection Committee Volunteer Board of Directors Girl Scouts of the USA World Associatio n of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts GIRLS

Levels of Girl Scouting Girl Scout Ambassadors 11 th and 12 th Graders Girl Scout Seniors 9 th and 10th Graders Girl Scout Cadettes 6 th,7 th, and 8 th Graders Girl Scout Juniors 4 th and 5 th Graders Girl Scout Brownies 2 nd and 3 rd Graders Girl Scout Daisies K and 1 st Graders

Getting your Troop Started

New leader timeline 4 Hold Family Information meeting Attend Service Unit leader meetings 1 Become an Approved Volunteer 2 Become familiar with resources like Quickstart Guide, Volunteer Essentials and Safety Activity Checkpoints Recruit leadership team and girls for troop 3 Stay in touch with Program Teamfor troop number & introduction to Service Unit Select a bank and complete online steps to open back account Complete Required Training – GS101, Nuts and Bolts, Level 101 Start researching meeting locations and times Work with parents to get girls registered 5 Hold first meeting with girls that combines girl-led planning and Girl Scout fun Complete a new volunteer interview Build a draft troop dues budget

Online Registration Registration is first and foremost the family’s job! ts/register Membership fee is $15 due annually After the first year, the troop leaders can renew the troop online Parent’s can input 5-digit troop number at time of registration This will ensure placement in your troop Financial Assistance is available, “Opportunity Grants”

On-line Troop Management Tool This tool is accessible only to 01 troop coleaders by logging into the registration site What can I do with the Troop Management Tool? Re-register existing troop members troop members Check girl and adult memberships and print rosters Update troop meeting information Register troop members to Council events

Your responsibility to girls Use the three “Hows” to build leadership in girls: girl-led, learning by doing, and cooperative learning Create a safe and inclusive space for girls and adults Be a positive role model Share your knowledge, experience and skills Partnering with girls to plan and implement Girl Scouting activities like Journeys and badges, community service, cookie program and outdoor experiences

Your responsibilities - administrative Communicate effectively with girls, parents, volunteers, and staff Collaborate with families to ensure that all girls and adults are registered members of GSUSA Oversee proper management of troop funds Maintain close connection to volunteer service unit support team Take advantage of adult learning opportunities Follow Girl Scout Safety Guidelines

Girl Scout Safety Guidelines Follow the Safety Activity Checkpoints Arrange for proper adult supervision of girls Get documented parent/guardian permission Report abuse Be prepared for emergencies Travel safely Ensure safe overnight outings Role-model the right behavior Create an emotionally safe space Ensure that no girl is treated differently Promote online safety Keep girls safe during money-earning activities

Adult to girl ratios Group meetings: Two non-related adults (at least one of whom is female) for this number of girls Group meetings: Plus one adult for each additional number of girls Events, travel, and camping: Two unrelated adults (at least one of whom is female) for each number of girls Events, travel, and camping: Plus one adult for each additional number of girls Girl Scout Daisies (K– grade 1) Girl Scout Brownies (grades 2–3) Girl Scout Juniors (grades 4–5) Girl Scout Cadettes (grades 6–8) Girl Scout Seniors (grades 9–10) Girl Scout Ambassadors (grades 11–12)

Review 1. Are adult volunteers required to register as members of GSUSA? 2. How can leaders ensure that no girl is treated differently in the troop or group? 3. At a minimum, how many adults are required at all times at Girl Scout activities? 4. What are the “3 Hows” of Girl Scouts leadership development?

Family Involvement Meeting

Discuss Girl Scouting Explain girl and adult expectations Ask for help Review meetings & procedures Discuss dues GSUSA membership registration fee is paid by family the 1 st year (Girl Scout membership runs 10/1 - 9/30) Troop dues Collect Annual Parent Permission & Health History forms

 Leader/co-leader (01)  Troop Fall Sale Manager  Troop Cookie Manager  Troop Treasurer  Overnight Chaperones  Positions require volunteer approval through Council Troop leadership team positions

How can parents help? Arranging and managing meeting places Provide supervision to meet safety ratios Finding guest speakers for special events Assisting with trips and chaperoning Act as troop First Aider or Emergency Contact Bringing snacks to the troop meetings Other

When and where to meet How often should you meet? Semi-monthly or monthly? For how long? 1 hour, 1 ½ hours, longer? Where can your troop meet? Schools, libraries, community buildings, houses of worship, childcare facilities, etc. Check cost, safety, size, accessibility resources, bathrooms, potential allergens

Review 1. What is the best way to register as a member of Girl Scouts? 2.List three places where troop meetings can be held. 3.Because specialized training begins in November, this leadership team member should be recruited in the early Fall. 4.Why is a family involvement meeting important?

Troop finances

Troop bank account Select a bank Complete the GSCO online form to request a Bank Account Authorization Letter You will need a co-signer who: Is unrelated Is an approved volunteer All troop financial, bank, and product sales records are open to girls and guardians and GSCO Council at any point in time. Do not allow troop finances to mix with personal finances Troop money belongs to the troop, not the individual girl

Troop Dues Possible Start up costs include: Troop or individual girl set of curriculum Petals, Badges, Awards, Patches Girl uniforms Supplies for activities, field trips, etc. Leader training costs (including First Aid) Product Sales can help when girls set goals for large ticket trips and activities Opportunity Grants are available to help! Shop online or at Denver Store

Girl-led Finances Goal setting, money management, business ethics, people skills, decision making Girls involved in troop finances at any age! Create a budget together including how much things cost Determine how much the group needs to earn Make a plan, write it out Keep financial records open and able to be viewed Leaders/girls give a treasury report

Troop money earning Council Sponsored Money Earning Fall Product Sale - September – November Magazines, nuts and candy is a friends & family sale Cookie Sale -January – March Booths and door to door sales Group money-earning Organized by the group, not the council Planned and carried out by the girls Never carried out during Product Sales times

Money Earning checklist Girl’s goals are based on planning, budgeting amount needed to support planned activities Personal safety of girls is insured Girl participation is voluntary requires the written permission of parents/guardian Families understand why money is needed Troops observe all local ordinances Money is safeguarded DON’T resell product, sell on internet, solicit cash, earn money for others, participate in games of chance

Review 1. What do you do once you have selected a bank? 2.What is one of the best ways to earn troop funds and reduce costs for girls and families? 3.True or false: girls must have written permission from their parent or guardian to sell cookies. 4.When are the annual troop reports due to Girl Scouts of Colorado? 5.What are two things your troop should take into account when budgeting?

Outings and Field trips

Progression The type and length of the outing and trip varies by the age and experience of the girls Questions to ask when planning: Are the activities appropriate for the personal, behavioral, and social development of the girls? Are the girls ready for these activities? Are the leaders ready for these activities? How can this activity be girl-led? Make sure 75% of the troop are able to attend the planned trip and strive for 100%

Field trip Safety Secure volunteers to meet adult-to-girl ratios Annual Parent/Guardian Permission form vs. Parent Permission for Girl Scout Activity Permission and Health History forms must accompany girls. at all times. Ask for visual or verbal confirmation of current drivers’ licenses and insurance of all adult drivers. In Colorado, all girls under 8 years of age must be in a child restraint system when traveling by car (CO State Law). Check Safety Activity Checkpoints Keep parents/guardians informed in the planning, especially if more money will be required from each girl to participate

Insurance Every registered girl and adult member is covered for accidents by Basic Insurance Girl Scout insurance will always be secondary and subsidiary to family’s primary insurance carrier Girl Scout insurance does not cover non-registered Girl Scout participants including siblings, tagalongs, and unregistered adults Girl Scouts of Colorado carries liability insurance to protect itself and persons acting on its behalf

First Aid /CPR First Aid requirements are based on how much danger is involved in the activity and how remote the area is from emergency medical services (EMS) and are strongly recommended to be taken. Less than 30 minutes from EMS = First Aid/CPR 30 minutes or more from EMS = Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder A certified First Aid/CPR trained adult must accompany troop on any outing away from the regular meeting location

Review 1.What is progression in Girl Scouting? 2.When is it appropriate to use the Annual Parent Permission Form? 3.When is a First Aid/CPR certified adult required? 4.How can you accommodate a girl(s) who’s schedule does not allow for attendance at a troop event/trip?

Girl Scout Resources

Adult learning Overnight Trips – required for trips of one or two nights (and pre-requisite for Cooking & Camping and Extended Trips) Cooking and Camping – required for troops planning to cook or camp in the outdoors Extended Trips – required for trips of three nights or more Enrichment Workshops Training Events Springaganza Fallapalooza

Resources Volunteer Essentials Safety Activity CheckpointsVolunteer EssentialsSafety Activity Checkpoints Service Unit team, other leaders, Program Team staff and other GSCO staff members Customer Support Line at GSCO newsletter signup is automatic with online registration. You should opt in to regional e- blast, GSCOBlog, Facebook and Twitter

Questions?

Thanks for participating!