Fall Back Into Girl Scouts - A New Troop Season Awaits!

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 5 Ideas to Keep Planning Girl-Led

Girl Scouts shape their experience by asking questions, sharing ideas, and using their imaginations. As a leader, allow girls to take an active role in making decisions and choosing activities, while providing guidance that is appropriate to the age of the girls.  When girls step up and take ownership of their decisions, they develop new skills and grow into empowered, confident leaders. All levels of Girl Scouts can be girl-led! How much responsibility varies based on the age of the girls. It is just as crucial that Daisy Girl Scouts get the chance to lead as it is for Junior Girl Scouts, it is just going to look different.

Here are 5 ways troops can incorporate girl-led activities:

  1. Hold a Braining Storming Session: To start a brainstorming session, ask the Girl Scouts, “what do you like to do?” Write their answers on a dry erase board or blackboard. Talk with them about how their ideas can be incorporated into the petals or badges they are earning. 

  2. Use the Volunteer Toolkit: Troop leaders can pull up the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) during a troop meeting. Share the computer screen and let the girls explore all of the resources available. Have them choose one or two badges they want to earn and add it to the Year Plan!

  3. Let Girl Scouts lead a meeting or activity: While at troop meetings, have the girls take on different leadership roles. Allow them to make decisions and they will feel the meeting belongs to them. Troop leaders can also share meeting plans, from the VTK, with the Girl Scouts so they have an outline to follow as they take the lead on their activities. Be sure different Girl Scouts get to lead each meeting!

  4. Have the Girl Scouts plan a ceremony or event: When planning ceremonies, allow the Girl Scouts to decide the guest list, the food that is served, and what the decorations will look like. After all, it’s their event! Also, encourage the Girl Scouts to step up and make a speech at the ceremony, when appropriate. 

  5. Introduce Troop governance: Troop Government is a democratic system that allows all members to have a chance to express their interests, feelings, and share in the planning and coordination of troop activities. This will help them to develop communication and decision-making skills through group discussion. Allow the troop to decide which form of government they will use. To learn more about governance at each level, check out the How To be Girl-Led series on gsLearn. 


Remember that every troop experience is different and its members diverse, so no two troops will experience girl-led planning the same way. It’s important to try different options and find what works best for your Girl Scout troop!


 

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