Volunteer Resources | Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts (GSEMA)

Keep your troop running smoothly with these resources.

Your one-stop-shop for the most commonly asked questions and key volunteer resources.

Getting Started as a Troop toggle arrow

A troop is a group of girls and adult mentors that meets regularly to share Girl Scout experiences.

Are you a new troop leader? Check out our Starting a Troop webpage dedicated to guiding you through the phases of starting and leading a new Girl Scout troop.

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In accordance with Massachusetts State Law, and to ensure the safety of our Girl Scouts, Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts enforces a safety policy for adults who work directly with Girl Scouts. All volunteers must register and complete a criminal background check using the CORI/SORI Acknowledgement Form. Volunteers who have not resided in Massachusetts for the past seven years must also complete a national online screening, which we will initiate with your consent. By law, a volunteer’s criminal background check expires after three (3) years.

How it Works:

Print and complete the CORI/SORI Acknowledgement Form.
Present completed CORI/SORI form in person with a photo ID to a Notary Public or GSEMA Authorized Representative.
Mail completed CORI/SORI form to: GSEMA, 265 Beaver Street, Waltham, MA 02452

How Do I Know if a Criminal Background Check is Current?

For All Volunteers:

All volunteers are able to see their own criminal background check expiration date through their My GS portal in the My Household tab, under “CBC expiration.” Please renew your background check before it expires by following the steps above.

For Troop Leaders:

Troop leaders are able to view criminal background check expiration dates for all volunteers in their troop through their My GS portal in the My Troop(s) tab, under “CBC expiration.”

Volunteers with an "Active" status have both a current membership and background check, and are cleared to volunteer. “Screening” indicates that a volunteer is registered, but that the criminal background check is not yet complete. “Inactive” and “Lapsed” indicate that the volunteer has not registered for the current membership year.

Troop leaders who have questions should contact Customer Care at customercare@gsema.org.

For Service Unit Volunteers:

Appointed service unit leadership volunteers are not currently able to view criminal background check expiration dates on service unit rosters in Looker. Please encourage troop leaders to review their troops’ volunteers at least once per year.

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GSEMA’s online learning platform, gsLearn (accessed via single sign-on through your My GS login), is continually updated with new volunteer trainings, documents, resources, videos, and more! Whether you’re a new or returning leader, a service unit team member, or a friends and family network volunteer, there’s something here for you.

First year as a leader? You should begin your learning with the New Leader Orientation, the Essentials course for your program level (Daisy, Brownie, Junior, or Cadette), and Financing the Fun. After that, there are lots of courses to explore as your leadership adventure continues.

Second year and beyond? After completing your first-year learning courses, you can explore opportunities for returning leaders like Going Places with Girl Scouts, Outdoor Basics, Stepping-Up for bridging leaders (Daisy–Junior), Stress Management courses for every Girl Scout level, and so much more!

First Aid/CPR Trainings. Volunteers can sign up for in-person First Aid/CPR certification and/or recertification courses, Youth Mental Health First Aid, and Wilderness First Aid through our Program Catalog.

Outdoor Skills. Ready for adventure? Learn more about Archery, Canoeing (Small Craft Safety), and other outdoor adventure facilitator opportunities on our Outdoor Adventures page.

Need help? Contact Customer Care at customercare@gsema.org.

Planned Troop Meetings toggle arrow

Sample year plans. Check out our sample year plans for an overview of ways to help guide your Daisies, Brownies, or Juniors. Discover what Girl Scouting is all about, find simple ways to explore the outdoors, or improve your community with a service project.

Meeting on Private Property

GSEMA’s Meeting Place Policy, as detailed in Volunteer Policies and Procedures, allows exceptions for Girl Scouts to meet on private property on a limited basis. Review and complete the online application to request permission for Girl Scouts to meet outdoors and indoors, provided the space can reasonably accommodate the Meeting Space Guidelines.

Use of backyard equipment (outdoor cooking, play structures, or other equipment) requires a GSEMA approved first aider and additional council approval is required for swimming pools and other high-risk activities to ensure that Safety Activity Checkpoints are met. Please see our safety page for details. (Note: use of outdoor trampolines is not permitted, as defined on page 13 of the Safety Activity Checkpoints.)

Need more resources? Use the Troop Year Planner to help keep your troop going strong with specially adapted badges, Journeys, and activities for virtual and safe in-person meetings, as well as other guidelines and resources. We’re here to support you as you help your troop thrive!

Start building your custom year plan today! You can use the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) to create your troop’s custom year plan, communicate with troop families, and make running a troop easier than ever. Log in now to get started, and check out our user guide for technical help.

Annual Troop Checklist toggle arrow

Use our quick and easy Annual Troop Checklists below to help you remember important annual tasks for successfully wrapping up and beginning each troop year!

Fall Back-to-Troop Checklist

Consult this checklist when your troop is getting ready for the next troop year in September-October.

Renew yourself and your troop, if you haven’t already; confirm volunteer-to-girl safety ratios; and ensure that volunteer background checks are up to date in My GS.
Read the “Back to Troop” September edition of Troop Scoop, an email newsletter from your Volunteer Support Specialist, which includes important fall updates and announcements.
Complete your annual Online Volunteer Agreement.
Welcome new Girl Scouts to your troop by updating your troop's listing in the Opportunity Catalog.
Confirm your troop's meeting location and, if needed, complete the annual Meeting on Private Property Application.
Questions? Check Volunteer Essentials, your encyclopedia to Girl Scout volunteering, or Volunteer Policies and Procedures.

Spring Wrap-up

Complete these steps by June 30 each troop year.
Renew yourself and your Girl Scouts during our Early Bird Renewal season to earn thank-you incentives!
Submit your Annual Troop Financial Report.
Celebrate your Girl Scouts and all that you have accomplished together as a troop this year with an end-of-year party or awards ceremony. Check with your local service unit to see if there’s a town-wide celebration.
If your troop is bridging to the next level, check out the Girl Scout Bridging Guide for celebration ideas and awards to earn.

Beyond Troop Meetings toggle arrow

Are you ready for a troop adventure? Attend GSEMA programs, explore community events within your service unit, or plan your own troop day, overnight, or extended travel trips! For more information, check out our Troop Adventures.

Troop Bank Account Request toggle arrow

A troop bank account is the first step towards your girls reaching their financial goals!

Whether you are opening a new bank account, or are changing the information on an existing troop bank account, your first step is to submit a troop bank account request form. Once this form is submitted, please allow 2-4 weeks for GSEMA to process your request.

Girl Scout Troop Bank Accounts Overview

The process for opening, changing signers, and managing new Girl Scout troop bank accounts is detailed in GSEMA’s Volunteer Essentials and summarized below.

GSEMA requires two (2) non-related registered volunteer members of Girl Scouts who do not reside at the same address and who have a current, eligible Criminal Background Check (CORI/SORI) to be the authorized signers on the troop’s bank account.

For new accounts, select the bank and branch location that you will use. Ask about free checking accounts. GSEMA has an agreement with Citizens Bank where you will not be charged a monthly fee. Contact your Volunteer Support Specialist if you need help.
Please submit your Troop Bank Account Request at least 3 weeks prior to when you expect to need to use your troop bank account.
Upon receipt of your request and verification of membership requirements, a signed authorization letter will be emailed to the first signer on the account. Please note: during peak processing times it may take 2-3 weeks to approve your request.
Both signers must be present in person to open the account or change signers at the bank; bring the authorization letter and proof of identification to the bank.
Use the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, Inc. Tax Identification Number 04-2703281 on the account during count opening/documentation process.
Checks should be printed as detailed below with the address of the first signer. Debit Cards should have the same information.

Please see Volunteer Essentials: Troop Finances for additional information about troop money management best practices and your financial responsibilities.

Fall Product and Cookie Programs toggle arrow

Resources are available online for Fall Product and Cookie Program sellers and volunteers, including training videos, live webinars, forms, guides, and more.

Troop Scoop Emails toggle arrow

Troop Scoop (September 2026)

Troop Scoop (August 2026)

Opportunity Catalog toggle arrow

What is the Opportunity Catalog?

The Opportunity Catalog is an online listing of troops—some with space available, and others that are new troop opportunities for girls and/or volunteers. It enables caregivers to search by zip code to find local troops, making it easier and quicker for their girls to begin their leadership journey. Caregivers also will be able to sign up for available volunteer opportunities as they register their girl(s). This means more girls and adults participating in Girl Scouting!

How does the Opportunity Catalog work?

Troop leaders welcoming more girls into their troop will submit their information to be included in the online Opportunity Catalog using this online form. If you need to update your listing at any time, log into your My GS account, select "My Troops", and click on your troop number. Select "Meeting Details" at the top of the screen, and click on “Edit Meeting Details”.

Tell us how many available spaces you have in your troop (we encourage a minimum troop size of 12 girls), and when and where your troop meets, and we’ll add it to the online catalog so girls and potential volunteers can be matched with your opportunities.

Your service unit team and volunteer support specialist will provide any guidance you need as you welcome new girls and volunteers into your troop.

If your family is new to Girl Scouts, please provide contact information on our girl registration webpage to view troop options in the Opportunity Catalog.

How does it work?

Fill out this online form to let us know you have room in your troop. We will use your response to add your troop to the Opportunity Catalog. When the troop is added to the Opportunity Catalog, caregivers will be able to select the troop as part of the registration process. You would receive an automated notification when a new girl chooses your troop! Once your troop is full, your troop will no longer appear in the catalog.

Forms & Documents

Search for important forms and documents for managing your troop, traveling, and more.

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For Service Units

Find resources for service unit volunteers to help your troops and Girl Scouts excel.

FIND RESOURCES

2024-2026 Volunteer Essentials Edition

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Need help? Contact Customer Care at customercare@gsema.org or 844-306-4736 (please leave a message).