Volunteer Training & Development

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Troop leaders lead and coach a troop of girls to experience the fun, friendships, and power of girls together as they make the world a better place through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience!

Our online and in-person training opportunities help prepare and guide our leaders to successfully lead and manage troops. We have required new leader and annual training as well as self-selecting training available throughout the year to assist leaders in areas such as activity development; overnight trips; behavior management; and more.

First Year Leader Training For Each Girl Scout Level toggle arrow

First-Year Leaders are required to take the gsLearn course, GSSC New Leader Training path designated for their Girl Scout program level prior to meeting with their troop.

Within this learning path, first-year leaders will receive an overview of the Girl Scout movement and mission and the role of a leader.

Topics covered will include GSSC policies; Service Unit support; parent roles; setting up meeting times/locations; online resources; fundraising programs; managing troop finances; using the Volunteer Toolkit; and important forms and documents.

Additionally, leaders will learn all about the Girl Scout Leadership Experience for the program level they are leading including badges/journeys/awards; uniforms; age-appropriate activities; meeting activity examples; and trip and fundraising procedures.

Leaders of multi-level troops may take courses for all program levels as well as the GSSC Managing Multi-Level Troops course.

Adult & Pediatric AED/CPR/First Aid Certification toggle arrow

All designated troop leaders are required to obtain certification in Adult & Pediatric AED/CPR/First Aid. Leaders have 60 days after their council registration to obtain certification and troops ARE NOT permitted to meet without a minimum of one certified leader during this time.

Acceptable courses for leaders to take are either fully in-person or blended learning (online and classroom). Course length varies. We do not accept online course certifications. Troop funds may be used to cover course costs for leaders. Council will accept certification from any one of the following organizations below.

GSSC will accept certification from the following vendors whom you may contact for class schedules and prices:

Local Resources

GSSC recommends reaching out to the following partners for discounted prices on courses:

Brentwood Legion Ambulance: This organization’s services include on-site in-person classes in Brentwood. On-location courses for 5+ volunteers can be scheduled with adequate venues. Audio-visual accessibility will also be required. Contact Christine at cpr4leaders@yahoo.com.
Have Dummy Will Travel: This organization will conduct CPR AED and First Aid courses for 5 or more leaders in both blended learning and fully in-person formats. Service Units are suggested to schedule courses within their community and will need to reserve adequate space. Contact Erik at erik@havedummy.com.
Just Enjoy Life Wellness Center: This organization’s services include on-site in-person classes in Smithtown. No minimum class size. Small, personalized, informal yet informative classes. Flexible scheduling. On-location courses are available for 4+ volunteers. Contact Jennifer Muilenburg for more information and scheduling at justenjoylifeacu@gmail.com

Submitting Certification

Upon completion of certification, leaders must complete the Volunteer CPR/First Aid Verification Form. *UPDATED*

Product Sales Campaign Trainings toggle arrow

One troop leader and the designated volunteer Product Sales Program Manager are required to take either online (gsLearn) or in-person training for the Fall Product Program (Munchies & More) and The Girl Scout Cookie Program.

Information about these training courses will become available and emailed to volunteers at the beginning of each season. Access to fundraising troop management software will not be granted without completing this training.

How to Access Training on gsLearn:

Log into MyGS (https://mygs.girlscouts.org) to access gsLearn
Once you are logged in, navigate to gsLearn to see the dashboard
Click on the course titled: "GSSC 2024 Cookie Campaign for Troop Volunteers"
You must complete all the modules of the training. This concludes with completing and submitting the Troop Product Sales Manager Agreement Form. Once finished, please allow 24-48 hours to receive access to eBudde.

Overnight Troop Camping Training *Updated 6/10* toggle arrow

To request a camping trip, troop leaders must fulfill training requirements as follows:

Troop Camping on Non-Council Property

Each leader must take the gsLearn course: GSSC Introduction to Troop Camping-Level 1 Troop Camping Certification. This certification is active for 3 years. Leaders may need to fulfill additional training requirements mandated by a non-council camp.

Troop Camping on Camp Property – Camp Edey

Each leader must take the gsLearn course: GSSC Introduction to Troop Camping-Level 1 Troop Camping Certification AND Volunteer Outdoor Skills Bootcamp Practical Session – Level 2 Troop Training Certification. This certification is active for three years. Practical sessions have a registration fee per participant and are offered several times a year. Read more information on our Troop Camping page.

These trainings prepare volunteers for their first troop camping experience and cover outdoor progression, outdoor cooking, fire building and safety, knot tying, outdoor first aid, knife safety, and planning girl-led experiences.

Program Level Trainings toggle arrow

As their troop bridges to the next program level, leaders are required to take the gsLearn course, GSSC Journey to the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Each course is designated to a specific program level. These courses will review safety guidelines, fundraising, and badge activities as these criteria change within each program level.

On-Demand Course List (gsLearn) toggle arrow

gsLearn is full of essential volunteer trainings and courses, like how to lead activities the Girl Scout way, safety procedures, and advice for guiding Girl Scouts at every grade level.

You’ll find gsLearn via the left menu bar of MyGS in My Account. It’s accessible on any desktop, tablet, or mobile device, and it will be populated with any trainings you should view. Watch our video on how to access it. (2025)

Available Course List:

The following online trainings are available to all registered volunteers and adults and can be viewed on their dashboard and content library upon logging in.

Program Level Training

2021 New Badges (GSUSA)
Journey to the Girl Scouts Leadership Experience for Daisy Troops
Journey to the Girl Scouts Leadership Experience for Brownie Troops
Journey to the Girl Scouts Leadership Experience for Junior Troops
Journey to the Girl Scouts Leadership Experience for Cadette Troops
Journey to the Girl Scouts Leadership Experience for Senior Troops
Journey to the Girl Scouts Leadership Experience for Ambassador Troops
The Juliette Girl Scout (Individual Registered Girl Scout) Leadership Experience

Trips & Camping

Introduction to Troop Camping
Girl Scouts in the Outdoors (GSUSA)
Planning Overnight Troop Trips

Troop Management

Forming a Troop Committee (GSUSA)
Inclusion for Girls with Disabilities
Leader Essentials
Managing Multi-Level Troops
Volunteer Toolkit-Troop Leader View (GSUSA)
Volunteer Toolkit -Individual Registered Girl (IRG) Caregiver View (GSUSA)
Volunteer Toolkit-Caregiver View (GSUSA)

Product Sales Campaigns (Note: these courses will be updated annually)

Mags & Munchies for Troop Leaders and Volunteers
Cookie Campaign for Troop Leaders and Volunteers

Highest Awards

Introduction to Bronze & Silver Awards
Go for Gold! An Introduction to the Gold Award
These trainings will be sunsetting on June 30th, and new training videos will be available on August 1, 2025. If you have questions about the highest awards during this period, please reach out customercare@gssc.us.

Bilingual Training

Esenciales para Lideres (Leader Essentials)

Service Unit Training

Specific trainings will be assigned to Service Unit members and appear on their dashboard.

Ongoing Training & Support toggle arrow

Live virtual and in-person sessions are available throughout the year.

Topics include: best practices on troop activities; bridging ceremonies; Take Action projects; highest awards; badge and journey activities; inclusion for girls with disabilities; and more. Volunteers will have the opportunity to interact with other volunteers, council staff, special guests, alumnae, and girls to share experiences, ask questions, and network.

Check our program calendar to register for a session.

Service Unit Trainings toggle arrow

Service Units are communities of volunteers in a specific town or school district who come together to lend support, share resources, plan events for local Girl Scouts, and serve as liaisons between volunteers in their area and Girl Scouts of Suffolk County.

GSSC provides comprehensive training and resources to prepare and guide our Service Unit Team members. See below for required trainings:

REQUIRED COURSES/VIDEOS FOR ALL SERVICE UNIT TEAM MEMBERS

GSSC Service Unit Team Onboarding (gsLearn): This course will review the roles and responsibilities of each member of the Service Unit Team and detail the next steps for onboarding. This course is REQUIRED for all team members to complete.
GSSC New Leader Training (Daisy-Ambassador) (gsLearn): These learning paths will review the Girl Scout Leadership Experience for each program level, policies and procedures, and troop management.
Volunteer Toolkit Videos: These videos will review how to manage the features of the Volunteer Toolkit. Videos are available via the “Planning Your Year” tab on the GSSC website.

REQUIRED ADDITIONAL COURSES FOR SPECIFIC ROLES

Service Unit Coordinators

GSSC Service Unit Coordinator Onboarding (gsLearn): This course will review the roles and responsibilities of the SU Coordinator and SU Team as well as detail processes for approving trips, managing finances, and focusing on retention and growth of the Service Unit.
Looker Software Training: This course will review accessing reports for membership and gsLearn training completion of volunteers. Currently, this course is offered live. Dates will be emailed to SU Team members.

Service Unit Treasurers

GSSC Service Unit Treasurer Onboarding (gsLearn): This course will review the roles and responsibilities of the SU Treasurer as well as detail processes for managing finances of SU and troop, opening, and closing accounts, and completing financial reports.

Service Unit Data Specialist

Looker Software Training: This course will review accessing reports for membership and gsLearn training completion of volunteers. Currently, this course is offered live. Dates will be emailed to SU Team members.

Social Media Specialist

GSUSA Brand Ambassador 101 for Volunteers (gsLearn): This course will review rules about using the Girl Scout images/logos for printed materials, clothing, and website/social media use.

Product Sales Managers

Fall Product Program and Girl Scout Cookie Campaign Courses – These courses will be available via gsLearn, in-person, and via Zoom. Information will be emailed before the start of each campaign.

Level Consultants

GSSC Journey to the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (Daisy-Ambassador) (gsLearn): These courses are designed for each level and will review badges and awards, trip policies, and characteristics of each age group.
GSSC The Juliette Girl Scout (Individual Registered Girl Scout) Leadership Experience (gsLearn): This course reviews the IRG experience, how funds are managed, and badges/activities.
GSSC Managing Multi-Level Troops (gsLearn): This course reviews the management of multi-level troops including badges and awards that can be used simultaneously for different levels.

Questions? We are here to help! Contact us here or email customercare@gssc.us

Tips for Troop Leaders

Real-world advice from fellow troop leaders who've been there.

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