Adult Education

Trainings for Girl Scout Troop Leaders:

Your Road to Enrichment

First Year Troop Leaders

Take GS101

This training is required within the first month of becoming a troop leader and is suggested for all adult volunteers.

Location: Online

Prerequisite: None

Fee: None

Get your feet wet and learn about Girl Scouts through GS101. This is a required training that briefly overviews all things Girl Scout. It includes the fundamentals – the Promise and Law, Girl Scout Mission and history, an introduction to the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, the Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting, and the Journey Programs.

Take Volunteer Essentials/ Welcome New Leader Training

Location: In-person

Prerequisite: None

Fee: None

The objective of this training is to provide troop leaders with a basis for how to lead a troop, to introduce the Volunteer Toolkit, Safety Activity Checkpoints, resources, badges and journeys, troop banking, and other basics for running a troop successfully. Jodi Walters will be your main point of contact the first year as you journey into Girl Scouts!

This training happens within the first month of becoming a troop leader.
This training can be taken in person through the council or local facilitators.
This training gives you the information you need to run a Girl Scout troop!
Check our calendar for upcoming trainings or email Customer Care to schedule a training.

Take First AID/ CPR

Location: In-person

Prerequisite: None

Fee: $35 (through council, other certifications vary in cost)

Ages: 14+

Receive your First Aid and CPR training. This training can be taken in person through the council or local businesses, such as American Red Cross, National Safety Council, EMP America, or American Heart Association. As a partner of Girl Scouts, American Red Cross offers discounts on certification courses.

Caution: First Aid/ CPR training that is available entirely online does not satisfy Girl Scout requirements. Such courses do not offer enough opportunites to practice and receive feedback on your technique. If you are taking a course not offered by one of the organizations listed in the previous paragraph, or any course that has online components, get approval from the council prior to enrolling in the course.

At least one registered Girl Scout adult with First Aid training needs to be present at all Girl Scout functions outside of the meeting place.

Check our calendar for upcoming trainings or email Customer Care to schedule a training.

Supplemental Support

Volunteer Toolkit: Plan your Girl Scout year with ease using this helpful on-line tool. Explore Girl Scout national leadership journeys and badges, set troop meeting dates, communicate with caregivers, and so much more. Available through GS Learn.

Troop Finances: Learn how to prepare and manage a budget for your troop while getting some tips for saving money! Available through GS Learn starting February 1, 2020.

Field Trips and Outings 101: Ready to go on your first troop outing? Learn how to prepare your girls (and yourself!) and make sure everyone has taken all the necessary steps to have a safe and fun experience. Available through GS Learn starting February 1, 2020.

Outdoor Essentials and Troop Travel

Field Trips and Outings 101

REQUIRED

Location: Online

Prerequisites: None

Fee: None

Ready to go on your first troop outing? Learn how to prepare your girls (and yourself!) and make sure everyone has taken all the necessary steps to have a safe and fun experience. Available through GS Learn starting February 1, 2020.

Overnight Trips

Required for overnights in hotels, etc.

Location: Online

Prerequisites: None

Fee: None

This course fulfills the training requirements for ‘Safety Activity Checkpoints - Travel’ and allows you to go on weekend trips with your girls (not including International travel/ Week-long travel - please see Extended Trips/ International Travel). Your girls are on the go and ready for adventure! Let Girl Scouts share our best tips for stress-free, safe trips and help you plan for great girl-led trips. Available through GS Learn starting February 1, 2020.

Outdoor Essentials Basic

Required for outdoor overnight trips and hiking.

Location: In-person

Prerequisites: None

Fee: $35

This course is required for outdoor activities and camping at sites that provide potable water and toilets. This course fulfills the training requirements for ‘Safety Activity Checkpoints - Hiking, Camping, and Outdoor Cooking’. This course will prepare volunteers to:

Work cooperatively with girls to plan and carry out an outdoor overnight trip
Apply the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to outdoor programs
Learn camping skills, including fire building, knife skills and outdoor cooking
Get ideas for outdoor activities and Girl Scout traditions, like songs and campfire ceremonies

This in-person training is offered as an intensive all-day experience or overnight. Due to both seasonal weather conditions and summer camp occupancy at our properties, this course is typically scheduled in April, May, September, and October.

Check our calendar for upcoming trainings or email Customer Care to schedule a training.

Outdoor Essentials - Advanced

Required for backcountry backpacking

Location: In-person

Prerequisite: Outdoor Essentials Basic

Fee: $25

Excited to bring your girls further into the wilderness? This training will give you advanced tools to have a safe, fun experience while experiencing more of the rugged outdoors. Backpacking certificate is added onto the Outdoor Advanced Training. This course fulfills the training requirements for ‘Safety Activity Checkpoints - Backpacking.’

This training can be taken in-person through the council or local facilitators. It is offered as an intensive, all day experience (for those who want to take their kids primitive camping) and as an overnight (for those who want to get the backpacking certificate).
This training is required in order to bring troops camping where there is no potable water or toilets.

Check our calendar for upcoming trainings or email Customer Care to schedule a training.

Wilderness First Aid

Required for outdoor backcountry trips (any trip that is beyond 30 minutes reach from a paramedic, per our policy).

Location: In-person

Prerequisite: Current CPR/ First Aid certification

Fee: $40

This course fulfills the training requirements to certify you as an advanced first aider, per the Safety Activity Checkpoints. It will prepare you if you need to do first aid and support children in case of any emergency in the backcountry. This is a 16-hour training dedicated to making sure we have all the tools and tricks needed to make those backcountry excursions as safe as possible. Troop leaders who are a physician, physician’s assistant, licensed practical nurse, paramedic, military medic, wilderness trainer, certified lifeguard, or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) are advanced first aiders, according to the safety activity checkpoints, and do not need WFA certification. Troop leaders who do not have this certification/ background will need to take this training before any troop trip that is within 30 minutes of help from a medical professional. For example, if a trailhead is within 30 minutes of help from an ambulance and you can hike back out to it, you do not need Wilderness First Aid. If, however, you are hiking in a remote area without cell phone service, someone on your volunteer team will have to be an advanced first aider.

This training can be taken in-person through the council or through local facilitators. It is offered as an intensive two-day experience.
This training is required in order to bring girls camping further than 30 minutes from help (backcountry, primitive campground, etc)

Check our calendar for upcoming trainings or email Customer Care to schedule a training.

Extended Trips/ International Travel

Required for longer trips and international travel.

Location: Online or in-person.

Prerequisite: Overnight Trips

Fee: Free

This course fulfills the training requirements for ‘Safety Activity Checkpoints - Travel’ for extended trips and international travel. Required before planning a trip of three nights or more. Your Juniors are ready for their first road trip, or maybe your Seniors want to go global and you want to be right there with them. Extended Trips training addresses safety, covers advice on budgeting, and how to include girls in planning. Plus there’s information about Girl Scout travel opportunities and additional resources.

Backpacking Certificate

Location: In-person

Prerequisite: Outdoor Advanced training

Fee: $10

This course fulfills the training requirements for ‘Safety Activity Checkpoints - Backpacking.’ This certificate gives you an opportunity to go out into the backcountry and is included as an option for those of you who would like extra support in sharing this skill with your girls. Participants will spend an overnight backpacking to a destination, setting up camp, practicing map and compass skills, working on the correct way to hike with a pack, and other hiking skills.

Check our calendar for upcoming trainings or email Customer Care to schedule a training.

First Aid/ CPR/ WFA Certifications

Take First Aid/ CPR

Location: In-person through the council or local facilitators

Prerequisite: None

Fee: $35 (through council, other certifications vary in cost)

Age: 14+

This course fulfills the training requirements for ‘Safety Activity Checkpoints - FA/CPR.’ This training can be taken in-person through the council or local businesses such as American Red Cross, National Safety Council, EMP America, or American Heart Association. This certification is a four hour class that certifies you for two years. This certification can be renewed with a shorter class after the two year period is up.

As a partner of Girl Scouts, American Red Cross offers discounts on certification courses. Caution: First Aid/ CPR training that is available entirely online does not satisfy Girl Scouts’ requirements. Such courses do not offer enough opportunities to practice and receive feedback on your technique. If taking a course not offered by one of the organizations listed in the previous paragraph, or any course that has online components, get approval from the council prior to enrolling in the course. (Safety Activity Checkpoints)
At least one registered Girl Scout adult with First Aid training needs to be present at all Girl Scout functions outside of the meeting place (Policy 3, GSEWNI)

WFA (Wilderness First Aid)

Location: In-person

Prerequisite: Current CPR/ First Aid certification

Fee: $40

This course fulfills the training requirements for ‘Safety Activity Checkpoints - Advanced First Aider’. It will prepare you if you need to do first aid or support children in case of any emergency in the backcountry. This is a 16-hour training dedicated to making sure we have all the tools/tricks needed to make those backcountry excursions as safe as possible. Troop leaders who are a physician, physician’s assistant, licensed practical nurse, paramedic, military medic, wilderness trainer, certified lifeguard, or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) are advanced first aiders according to the Safety Activity Checkpoints and do not need WFA certification. They do need to fill out this Equivalency form and submit it online to council. Troop leaders who do not have this certification/ background will need to take this training before any troop trip that is within 30 minutes of help from a medical professional. For example if a trailhead is within 30 minutes of help from an ambulance driver and you can hike back out to it, you do not need Wilderness First Aid. If, however, you are hiking in a remote area without cell phone service, someone on your volunteer team will have to be an advanced first aider.

This training can be taken in person through the council or through local facilitators. It is offered as an intensive two-day experience.
This training is required in order to bring girls camping further than 30 minutes from help (backcountry, primitive campground, etc)

First Aid/ CPR Trainers Course

Location: In-person

Prerequisite: Current CPR/ First Aid certification

Fee: No Fee

Train to be a trainer and teach Girl Scouts in our council, as well as other members, about CPR/First Aid and WFA. Help us keep troop leaders/volunteers/ girls current in CPR/First Aid and Wilderness First Aid Certifications. These courses are approved through our partner ASHI as we work on developing our troop leaders to be the best they can be.

Enrichment Trainings

On the Level Training

Location: In-person or Online (Contact Customer Care to schedule in person)

Prerequisite: None

Fee: Free

During each of these trainings we will specifically work with a level of Girl Scouts and help you understand the journey that they go through, work with specific questions you may have about working with this age group, and do hands-on activities to build your toolkit for girls in your troop. For all levels of Girl Scouts.

Events Director Training

Location: Online

Prerequisite: None

Fee: Free

This online course is designed for volunteers who are interested in planning and implementing events large or small for a Service Unit or Troop. Topics include:

Event design
Event budgeting
Planning for a range of event types and scales

Day Camp Director Training

Location: In-person

Prerequisites: None

Fee: $3

This training helps troop leaders develop a weekend or week-long day camp for the girls in their Service Unit. This training will cover:

Site selection, set-up and utilization
Volunteer roles and training
Program material/ outdoor skills/ etc.
Working with the girls and general health and safety
Marketing and finances

Check our calendar for upcoming trainings or email Customer Care to schedule a training.

Ceremonies and Flag

Location: Online or In-person

Prerequisites: None

Fee: Free online/ $3 in person

There are so many ceremonies that Girl Scouts do as part of what makes our work so very special and unique. Take time to learn these special Girl Scout ceremonies and understand the importance of flag ceremonies at this unique offering.

Songs, Games and Crafts

Location: Online or In-person

Prerequisites: None

Fee: Free online/ $3 in person

Take a few hours to focus on your inner child through learning games, songs, and crafts specific to your girls age groups.

Workshop content will be shaped to attendees needs for their toolkit and include traditional songs, games, and/ or crafts upon request.

This workshop is also helpful for older girls who plan to lead younger girl scouts.

Skills Trainings

Lifeguarding

Location: In-person

Prerequisites: None

Fee: $225.00 + optional Lifeguard textbook ($37) + optional CPR mask ($15) or once annually with Marcy Mastel at Camp Four Echoes.

This course fulfills the training requirements for ‘Safety Activity Checkpoints - Swimming.’ The purpose of the American Red Cross Lifeguarding course is to provide entry-level lifeguard participants with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies and to provide care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries and sudden illnesses until emergency medical services (EMS) personnel take over.

Small Watercraft

Location: Online

Prerequisites: None

Fee: $29.50

This course fulfills the training requirements for Safety Activity Checkpoints:

Canoeing- Flat, near shore, no current
Corcl Boat- Flat, near shore, no current
Kayaking- Flat, near shore, no current
Rowboat- Flat, no current
Stand up Paddleboard-flat, near shore, no current

Approved by the American Canoe Association (ACA), the ACA Online Paddlesports Course covers everything a new paddlesports enthusiast may need to know in order to be safe while using a paddle craft.

Hands-On Watercraft Training

Location: In-Person

Prerequisite: Online Small Watercraft Course, or intent to take course

This three-hour long course will teach you the hands-on basics of watercraft (canoes and/or kayaks) and how to stay safe on the water. Get your hands wet with our experienced facilitators.

Archery

Location: In-person

Prerequisites: None

Fee: TBD

This course fulfills the training requirements for ‘Safety Activity Checkpoint - Archery'. In partnership with NASP, troop leaders can be trained in the art of archery. This includes how to properly string a bow, shoot safely and with technique, and how to maintain a safe archery range.

Check our calendar for upcoming trainings or email Customer Care to schedule a training.

Leadership Trainings

Service Unit Leadership Team Training

Location: In-person or via webinar

Prerequisites: Service Unit leadership position or troop leadership

Fee: TBD

Through this training, the Service Unit leaders will learn the ins and outs of how to run a successful Service Unit, how to have productive service unit meetings, to support troops and their leaders, to create group events for their service unit, etc.

Facilitator Training

Location: In-person or Online

Prerequisites: Be a troop leader with experiences to share and/or be a professional with experiences to share

Fee: TBD

In this training, troop leaders will learn what it takes to facilitate productive, educational trainings for our troop leaders throughout our region. They will work with experienced facilitators (both Girl Scout Leaders and professional trainers) to get more tools to learn how to plan trainings, lead trainings, and assess learning in participants.

Girl Leadership Trainings

Precious Metals

Location: In-person or Online

Prerequisites: Be a Junior (Bronze), Cadette (Silver), Senior or Ambassador (both Gold) Girl Scout

Fee: Free

Join us for a session to help your Girl Scouts understand what it takes to earn a highest award -- bronze, silver, and gold. Girls, come prepared to think, play, and get into the nitty-gritty of your award process. Adults, come with questions (you can stay for the whole thing or come just for the last 30 minutes when we will answer any questions you may have).

PA Training

Location: In-person

Prerequisites: Be a Cadette

Fee: $15

This is your Program Aide course. During this course you will:

Learn about your work as a leader
Understand the Girl Scout Leadership Experience
Develop skills to help younger girls become leaders in their lives
Learn how to manage groups effectively
Understand how they can create high-quality experiences for younger girls
Learn about the 12 safety standards
Prepare to facilitate six sessions with younger girls to earn their PA award

After this course girls will be able to volunteer to help younger girl troops, to assist at day camps, and with council and service unit events.

VIT Training

Location: In-person

Prerequisites: Be a Senior or Ambassador (and preferably have completed PA Training)

Fee: $15

This is your Volunteer-in-Training Leadership course. During this course you will:

Learn about your work as a leader
Understand the Girl Scout Leadership Experience
Develop skills to help younger girls become leaders in their lives
Learn how to manage groups effectively
Understand leadership Journeys
Learn about the 12 safety standards and apply them to your VIT project
Develop your VIT project for your VIT award

After this course, girls will have the opportunity to volunteer at day camps, council events, service unit events and with a troop.

Counselor-in-Training I & II, Grades 10-12

Location: In-person

Prerequisites: Be in Grades 10-12

During CIT training, you'll focus on the skills necessary to work with children at camp. CIT Training is offered exclusively at Camp Four Echoes. Look at the Field Guide for more information.

Don’t see the training that you are looking for? Submit this form to request a “special training” for your area. We will work with you and your Service Unit to develop a training that will help you and your fellow leaders thrive.

Do you have skills from other councils? Or other equivalent skills that you would like considered in lieu of taking courses? Please take a moment to fill out the equivalency form. We will get back to you with notice of approval, or let you know what other training you will need, within four weeks.

Questions? Email us!

Curiosidad Hoy. Carrera Mañana. Sea una Girl Scout. Participe Hoy

Hiking Today. Trailblazing Tomorrow. Become a Girl Scout. Join Now

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