Starting a Troop

Welcome new troop leaders! Want to know what your next to-do is and then get the satisfaction of checking it off? We’ve got you covered in our Getting Started Checklist for your first to-do items as a new Girl Scout troop leader.

New leader drop-in sessions are an opportunity to connect with a GSEMA staff member virtually and ask your questions in real-time. Register for this free online event to ask questions, connect with your peers, and get to know your Volunteer Support Specialist.

Getting Started with Troop Leadership

Begin by logging in to gsLearn and following the Getting Started in Leadership learning path, where we support you through all of the basics of troop leadership online and at your convenience. To help you along your learning path, print and follow along in the New Leader’s Guide to Success/Guía al éxito para nuevos líderes resource packet.

Growing Your Troop

Reach out to the families in your troop! Once your background check is complete (which may take up to 4 weeks), you will see a troop roster with contact information for each of your troop’s families.
Encourage everyone to invite new families to join your troop with these easy fillable PDFs:
- Girl-to-girl invites: Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Multi-level
- Adult-to-adult invites: English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Tri-lingual
Do families need help registering? Share our online registration instructions with potential new members.
Welcome families with the bi-lingual Girl Scout Family Connection guide, which is their go-to overview of a year in Girl Scouts.

Asking for Help

When you have questions, we’ve got answers! Your Girl Scout staff support team is available to answer questions big and small. And you may also have a support network of local community leadership volunteers who can show you the ins and outs of Girl Scouting your area. Email us at customercare@gsema.org or call and leave a message at 844-306-4736.

Many volunteer skills, interests and abilities are needed for a troop to be successful. Use our troop volunteer roles worksheet to help you start a conversation with your troop’s families about how they can get involved.

Leading Your First Meeting(s)

Daisy Sampler Meeting
An introductory meeting for your new members and girls who may be curious about joining. This sample meeting is focused on the Girl Scout Promise and one Daisy petal.

Troop Leader Blueprint
Next you’re ready to try one of the simple, pre-designed meetings in the Troop Leader Blueprint. For Daisies, we recommend starting with the Tula Petal to learn how to be courageous and strong.

Volunteer Toolkit
Now you’re ready to start planning your year in the online Volunteer Toolkit through My GS. Check out these sample year overviews for inspiration and begin planning your troop’s year of fun, adventure and leadership!

Questions? We’re here for you! Contact Customer Care at customercare@gsema.org or or leave a message at 844-306-4736.

Totally Fun. Totally You. Be a Girl Scout