Frequently Asked Questions
We understand you may have questions about Girl Scouts before you are ready to join. If you have questions about starting a new troop for your girl and her friends, joining an existing troop, or if you need assistance with membership registration, please see the FAQs below, send us an email, or call 402.558.8189. We’re here for you!
Girl Scout Membership 
How do I join Girl Scouts?
Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska is thrilled to welcome you and your girl! Simply visit MY GS to get started! If you need assistance with your membership registration, please contact Member Support.
When does Girl Scouts begin each year?
You can sign up to be a Girl Scout any time! Many troops are formed in the fall but you are welcome to join when the time is right for you. Memberships are valid from October 1 to September 30 each year.
How much is a Girl Scout membership?
Each Girl Scout member pays $25 in national dues, which go directly to Girl Scouts of the USA. In return, local Councils receive Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) materials, including the Journey series, Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting, and badge skill sets. National dues support the Girl Scout Research Institute; whose valuable findings address the complex and ever-changing needs of girls. Girl Scouts of the USA also provides the leadership training tools used to educate our volunteers and support for Council accounting, registration, and information technology systems.
Is a Girl Scout uniform required?
Girl Scouts are not required to have a uniform, but tunics, sashes, and vests come in handy when girls proudly display their recognitions. Financial aid is available for uniforms for those who qualify.
Can girls become members if they are not in a troop?
Girl Scouting is for every girl! Whether you belong to a troop or venture solo as an individual member, there is a place for you in Girl Scouts.
Is financial aid available?
Yes! We are committed to ensuring that all girls who want to participate in Girl Scouting have the opportunity to do so. Financial aid is available for items such as national or troop dues, uniform pieces, books, programs, camps, or trips for those who qualify.
Girl Scout Programs
Can girls attend a Girl Scout program/event if they are not in a troop?
Absolutely! Any girl can participate in Girl Scout activities, she will just pay the annual membership dues prior to attending.
What happens if my girl is unable to attend a program she is registered for?
No worries! See our Refund/Cancellation Policy for more information and further instructions.
Where do I send my photos and stories?
We love photos of Girl Scouts exploring the world and making it a better place. Please send us your Girl Scout stories and high-resolution photos with this form, email them to Marketing, or call 402.779.8205 for instructions.
Girl Scout Cookies
When can I buy Girl Scout Cookies?
Girl Scout Cookies in Nebraska are generally available for purchase from mid-February to mid-March each year.
Where can I buy Girl Scout Cookies?
From a Girl Scout! Don’t know a Girl Scout? We can connect you to a volunteer and troop in your neighborhood. Visit our "Find Cookies" page and thank you for supporting Nebraska girls!
What cookie flavors are available?
Each Girl Scout Cookie is special, and everyone has their personal favorite. Visit our "Find Cookies" page for details on what Girl Scouts in our area are offering this year.
Where do the sale proceeds go?
One hundred percent of the money that a Council and its troops raise through the Girl Scout Cookie Program stays with that Council and its troops. Again, let there be no question: all of the revenue from cookie activities—every penny after paying the baker—stays with the Girl Scout Council. Girl Scout Councils offer a wide variety of recognition items, program- and store-related credits, and travel experiences that girls are eligible to earn individually based on their sales. Girl Scout councils do not provide any portion of their cookie revenue to Girl Scouts of the USA.
The Girl Scout Cookie Program is an important program for girls. Through this program, girls not only learn goal setting, but decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics—aspects essential to leadership, to success, and to life. Girl Scouts selling Girl Scout Cookies set their own money-earning goals for the season. They may decide to donate troop proceeds to a local animal hospital or use their hard-earned money to help fund a back-to-nature wilderness adventure. Whatever the specific goals and outcomes, we assure you that selling cookies does great things for girls.
Should people be concerned about where the money goes?
As we’ve made clear, absolutely not! Girl Scout Cookie sale proceeds fund the amazing work that Girl Scouts do to improve communities nationwide—including yours. Through Girl Scouting, including our beloved Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls discover the fun and friendship that life holds, developing to their full potential and gaining values that will guide their actions along the way.
More background: in the United States, Girl Scouts serves 3 million members as part of a worldwide girl-serving family consisting of 10 million girls and adults in 145 countries. More than 59 million American women were Girl Scouts as girls, and through our 100-year-plus history, our mission has remained constant: to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
Psst, here’s a tip: if you want to know more about where the money goes, ask a Girl Scout! She would probably love to give you the full scoop.
Why do some people voice concern about Girl Scout Cookies?
In short, it’s because they’ve been fed false information about the Girl Scout Cookie Program, which frankly is nothing new. As such a large organization, Girl Scouts is occasionally a target for outside entities with clear agendas. A fundamental piece you should know is that Girl Scouts does not advocate one way or another with regard to what we perceive as private issues best
handled by families. Personal matters are just that—personal and private—and should be addressed accordingly.
And hey, let’s let the girls have fun! We ask that adults keep adult conversations to themselves. Approaching girls with salacious materials at a cookie sale is not acceptable.
Should I buy Girl Scout Cookies?
For all the great reasons above, we certainly think so! Following a diet that looks less than favorably on sweet treats? You should know that Girl Scouts have the option of participating in a Council-approved “Gift of Sharing” program that allows them to collect cookie box donations for military personnel serving overseas. Ask us more about it!
To drive our point home: when a Girl Scout sells you cookies, she’s building a lifetime of skills and confidence. Through Girl Scouting and the Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls learn they can be and do anything they set their minds to. And why wouldn’t you want to be a part of that?
Volunteers
I would like to start a troop, where do I begin?
Reach out to our Member Support team! They will answer your questions and get you started down the right path. Thank you for your interest in building girls of courage, confidence, and character.
How much time will it take?
As a troop co-leader, you can decide how often your troop meets and in how many programs/events/activities your troop participates. It helps to have adult support members on board to lighten everyone’s load! It is such a rewarding experience; you will enjoy any and all of the time you spend with the girls.
Are there additional volunteer opportunities?
Yes! There are many ways to volunteer beyond being a troop leader. We are seeking individuals who have talents or skills and the desire to encourage and empower girls. The process for becoming a volunteer varies depending on the position and includes a background screening when working directly with girls.
Social Issues
What is the Mission of Girl Scouts?
The mission of Girl Scouts is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Grounded in the Girl Scout Promise and Law, Girl Scouting is a non-formal, experimental, and cooperative education program that promotes girls’ personal growth and leadership development.
Source: Girl Scouts of the USA Constitution, Article III
Is Girl Scouts a religious organization?
No. The Girl Scout organization does not endorse or promote any particular philosophy or religious belief. Our movement is secular and is founded on American democratic principles, one of which is freedom of religion. While we believe the motivating force in Girl Scouting is a spiritual one, we do not attempt to dictate the form of a member's worship. We consider religious beliefs to be a private matter for girls and their families to address.
Does Girl Scouts have a Religious Award Program?
Yes. Girl Scouts and religious communities work together to provide opportunities for girls. This includes a Religious Award Program, which encourages girls to grow stronger in their faith. Each religion develops a curriculum in which Girl Scouts participate, allowing individual members or troops to work within their church to earn their award. When girls complete the program requirements, their award is often presented in a ceremony at their place of worship and is then worn on their Girl Scout uniform. In addition, Girl Scouts has a "My Promise, My Faith" pin, which is a key component of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and available at every grade level to all girl members.
Does Girl Scouting support families of faith?
Yes. Girl Scouting supports girls from all backgrounds and beliefs. While we are a secular organization that refrains from teaching religious or spiritual beliefs or practices, we believe that the motivating force in Girl Scouting is a spiritual one, and we greatly value our longstanding partnerships with religious organizations across many faiths which share the values of the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
We encourage girls to develop connections to their own spiritual and religious beliefs by earning recognitions provided by their faith communities and by earning the new My Promise, My Faith pin, which helps a girl deepen the connection between the Girl Scout Law and her faith. We support the right of faith leaders to verify that program delivered to girls in their places of worship is consistent with their faith’s teachings.
Does Girl Scouts partner with other businesses or individuals?
The Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska Council has collaborations with many community partners, including religious institutions, youth-serving organizations, schools, universities, arts organizations and athletic programs. Girl Scout collaborations must be approved by a supervisor and programs are properly vetted to ensure content is appropriate for our members.
What is Girl Scouts’ process for reviewing materials?
Girl Scouts constantly reviews our materials based on feedback and suggestions we receive from our members, and we update our materials on a regular basis. As a result of this process, upcoming reprints of Journeys materials will not include playwright Josefina Lopez or links to the Women’s Media Center or Media Matters. Councils will be notified of changes that are made in the future, and information on changes will be posted on our corporate website. We are also making changes to our corporate website to ensure the appropriateness of our content.
It is important to note that our materials feature more than 200 women and girls from many walks of life who have worked to make a difference in the world, and while we may not agree with the opinion of everyone featured, we believe they embody the commitment to leadership that we strive to teach our girls.
What is Girl Scouts of the USA’s position regarding human sexuality, birth control, and abortion?
Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) does not take a position or develop materials on these issues. We feel our role is to help girls develop self-confidence and good decision-making skills that will help them make wise choices in all areas of their lives.
Parents/caregivers make all decisions regarding program participation that may be of a sensitive nature. Consistent with that belief, GSUSA directs Councils, including volunteer co-leaders, to get written parental/caregiver permission for any locally planned program that could be considered sensitive.
Does Girl Scouts of the USA or the Spirt of Nebraska Council have a relationship with Planned Parenthood?
No, neither Girl Scouts of the USA nor Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska have a relationship or partnership with Planned Parenthood.
Did GSUSA distribute a Planned Parenthood brochure at a United Nations event?
No, we did not. In 2010, GSUSA took part in the 54th Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations. Our participation in that conference was subject to numerous internet stories and blogs that were factually inaccurate and troubling. Girl Scouts had no knowledge of the brochure in question and played no role in distributing it.
What is GSUSA’s relationship with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts?
The World Association of Girl Guide and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) comprises 145 member organizations that promote mutual understanding and cross-cultural opportunities for girls around the world. Girl Scouts of the USA is one of the 145 member organizations.
Each member organization creates its own programs and pursues advocacy efforts based on the needs and issues affecting girls in its individual country. GSUSA does not always take the same positions or endorse the same programs as WAGGGS. GSUSA’s relationship with WAGGGS is akin to the United States’ relationship with the United Nations (UN). The United States may not agree with every position the UN takes, but values having a seat at the table.
Does GSUSA have a financial relationship with WAGGGS?
Every Girl Scout and Girl Guide organization is a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts—and each Member Organization, including Girl Scouts of the USA, pays dues. WAGGGS operates in much the same way as the United Nations: each Member Organization pays dues based on the size of its membership and the per capita income of the country in which the organization resides.
Are girl membership dues used to pay the WAGGGS quota?
Membership dues from girls and from adults are not used to pay the WAGGGS quota. All dues connected from Girl Scout memberships are used to pay for services that directly impact the development and delivery of Girl Scouting to girls in the United States and girls who are involved in USA Girl Scouts Overseas, our program that brings Girl Scouting to American families who live and work abroad.
Is any money from Girl Scout Cookie activities used to pay the WAGGGS quota?
No, all the money from Girl Scout Cookie activities stays at Councils. The national funds that GSUSA sends to WAGGGS come solely from investment income.
Are girls individual members of WAGGGS?
No, individual girls are not members of WAGGGS. Girl Scouts of the USA is a Member Organization of WAGGGS.
