Girl Scouts love to travel—from the field trips they take as Brownies to the global adventures they go on as teens. If you love exploring different places and cultures, then Girl Scouts is the place for you.
As girls grow older, their independence also grows. We've outlined the progression of travel experiences to give you a little guidance when making plans for that next big trip. For current travel opportunities, view our travel opportunities!
How far will your Girl Scout experience take you? That’s up to you!
Progression allows girls to learn the skills they need to become competent travelers, including how to plan and organize trips. Travel fun can be endless when girls lead.
Girls should have experience at every level of the progression before moving on to the next level. When moving up to each level of the progression, consider girls’ independence, flexibility, decision making, group skills, and cross cultural skills.
For regional travel, girls must be Juniors or older. For national and international trips, girls must be Cadettes or older.
Planning and going on a troop trip is an important part of the Girl Scout travel experience. Your co-leader or a parent/caregiver will plan and organize troop trips, and it is a great foundation for future Girl Scout travel opportunities!
Before embarking on troop trips, Spirit of Nebraska requires all troop co-leaders to complete the following paperwork:
With council-sponsored trips, you’ll journey to destinations across the country and beyond, and you’ll Discover, Connect, and Take Action all along the way! We offer many different experiences, so you’re sure to find a trip that is just right for you!
For a list of upcoming council-sponsored trips, please view our Event Calendar.
If you have some travel experience and are comfortable exploring new places, you may be ready for an independent-level trip. To encourage independence, these trips are only open to girl participants under the careful guidance of our Trip Advisors.
Adults interested in guiding girls through the travel process and serving as chaperones on independent-level trips are encouraged to apply as Trip Advisors.
Total Trip Cost (Girl or Adult) |
Non-Refundable Deposit* | Payment Due In Full | No Refunds After‡ |
---|---|---|---|
$500 (or less) | $50 | 30 days prior to departure | 30 days prior to departure |
$501 - $1000 | $100 | 60 days prior to departure | 60 days prior to departure |
$1001 - $2000 | $200 | 90 days prior to departure | 90 days prior to departure |
$2000 (or more) | $500 | 120 days prior to departure | 120 days prior to departure |
*Cookie Dough, Nut Bucks, Travel Bucks, and Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska Program Credits may not be used for program deposits.
‡Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska is often required to pay non-refundable deposits or even full payments early to reserve flights, buses, lodging, and other expenses for council-sponsored trips. Because of this, partial refunds, minus deposits and any expenses already incurred, are granted only if the cancellation request is received by the deadlines indicated in the table above.
For girls ready for the most independent travel experiences, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) offers dozens of national and international Destinations each year. Girl Scout Destinations are the ultimate adventure for individual Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Girl Scouts. Push past your comfort zone by applying for a trip on your own, and make friends from all over the country as you travel with new Girl Scout friends. There’s a unique, life-changing experience for everyone.
Each Destinations trip is facilitated and planned by a Girl Scout council or a Girl Scout partner and is exclusively for Girl Scouts. Girls must apply individually and be selected. If chosen, you will participate with other Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from across the globe.
Apply early as popular trips fill fast! After November 15, applications are open on a rolling basis until each Destinations trip is full.
GSUSA provides D-Pass Travelship Grants to councils for distribution to girls selected for Destinations. Girls from Spirit of Nebraska may apply for D-Pass funding to help pay for their Destinations costs, including transportation to and from the location where the trip originates. Applications for D-Pass funding will be sent to girls selected for Destinations.
The Tyler Cherrington Travel Scholarship is awarded annually to a current girl member of Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska, to support participation in council-sponsored travel opportunities (excluding Girl Scout Destinations trips). Total funds available each year are $500. To apply, the following requirements must be met:
Parents may request financial aid for up to 50% of program fees for girls. This includes council-sponsored trips and Girl Scout Destinations. Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska financial aid is not available for troop/group trips or other trips not sponsored by Spirit of Nebraska or GSUSA.
To request financial aid, register for the program online, select “Financial Aid” as the payment type, pay the deposit (if applicable), and then complete the Financial Aid Application. For financial aid guidelines, FAQs, applications, and additional information, visit our Financial Aid page.
Girls receive many benefits from participating in Product Programs, including the opportunity to earn Cookie Dough and Nut Bucks, which may be used as payment for program fees—including council-sponsored trips and Girl Scouts of the USA Destinations.
Save for a future Girl Scout trip by converting your Cookie Dough and Nut Bucks to Travel Bucks by completing this online form. Please allow up to two weeks for your request to be processed.
Travel Bucks Terms and Conditions