All your volunteer essentials, all in one place.
Volunteer Resources is where you will find trainings, information, and materials for your role as volunteer. Increase your competence and confidence with our wide variety of courses, designed to equip, empower, and enlighten you on your Girl Scout journey. We have also included other information you may find relevant and useful. Check back as we update this page frequently with new resources!
Co-Leader Training
Thank you for volunteering your time as a troop co-leader! We’re excited you want to build girls of courage, confidence, and character. It will be an incredible and rewarding journey. As a Girl Scout volunteer, you have the opportunity to share new adventures and make wonderful memories together with the girls in your troop.
Getting Started as a Co-Leader 
Required Co-Leader Trainings
The first three training courses listed below are required for all troop co-leaders before meeting with girls. The remaining courses must be completed within the first month of starting your troop. Training is offered in ways that best meet your unique learning style: written resources, face-to-face learning, and interactive online learning.
However, these trainings are not just for co-leaders—they contain helpful information and are recommended for all Girl Scout volunteers!
Course 1: Welcome to Spirit of Nebraska
Course 2: Co-Leader Basics
Course 3: Troop Start-Up Meeting
Course 4: New Co-Leader Orientation
Course 5: Explore Out
Course 6: Volunteer Toolkit (VTK)
Course 7: Troop Finance
Course 8: Girl Scout Outcomes
Outdoor Training
Field trips and experiencing the outdoors are fundamental to Girl Scouting. These are adventures that girls will remember forever! We offer a series of training experiences to prepare you for safely taking girls outside of their typical troop meeting place and incorporate the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.
For the safety and well-being of all, we require troops have a First Aid/CPR-certified adult present for any activity that is beyond a regular meeting site, including overnight trips, and/or physically demanding.
Outdoor Training Courses
Take girls outside! Progressive classes provide resources and skill-development in cabin camping, tent camping, outdoor fire-building, and outdoor cooking.
Check out this Troop Outdoor Progression Chart to help you plan and build your troop's mastery of outdoor skills. Not sure if you have the “right stuff?” Take this Outdoor Readiness Quiz!
Course 1: Explore Out
Course 2: Girl Scouts in the Outdoors
Course 3: Camp Out (Basic)
Course 4: Camp Out (Plus)
Bonus Skill Building Videos
First Aid and CPR Courses
Essential Resources
We've collected more materials that will be useful on your volunteer journey with Girl Scouts. Please also review and bookmark the following important items:
- Event Calendar (Link)
- Forms and Documents (Link)
- Publications (Link)
- Send Us Photos and Stories (Link)
Co-Leader Learning and Tools
gsLearn
Opportunity Catalog
Reap the benefits of having a full troop! Do you currently have less than 12 girls in your troop? If so, you can welcome new members by including your troop in the Opportunity Catalog!
The Opportunity Catalog allows girls and their families to browse and join available troops in their area. It’s so easy. When a new girl joins your troop, we’ll let you know by email. Then, all you have to do is contact her and invite her to your next meeting.
The Opportunity Catalog is also a GREAT way for your girls to invite their friends to join your troop. You can send a link directly to a parent or girl allowing them to easily join your troop.
- Log into your MY GS account.
- Click on “My Troop(s)”.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page.
- Click on “Invite Friends to join your troop.”
- Enter email addresses of friends you want to invite to join your troop.
Do you need to update your troop information in the Opportunity Catalog? You can also customize your troop information or choose from preset descriptions.
Staff and volunteers are here to support you and give you the tools you need to make your troop a super success. Remember, when you add new girls, you are also creating more opportunities for adult volunteers to support you and your growing troop!
The catalog will display only your troop number, general meeting area (i.e. cross streets, areas served), meeting time and day of the week. We will never share private contact information on the Opportunity Catalog. You can customize your troop description or choose from preset descriptions.
Opportunity Catalog FAQs
Have questions or want more information about the Opportunity Catalog? Please contact Member Support via email or call 402.558.8189.
Troop Year Planner
Volunteer Toolkit (VTK)
Your newest time-saver! We have launched the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK)—a digital tool you can access on your computer, smartphone or tablet!
The VTK will save you precious time as you and your girls plan, organize, and manage troop activities. It allows you to spend more time doing the things you imagined when you stepped into your volunteer role—changing girls’ lives through amazing experiences! Get started today!
Here’s are step-by-step guides that will walk you through the VTK. Want to know what you’ll find inside the VTK? View the Journeys and badges by program level available to you by logging into the VTK.
VTK FAQs
Have questions or want more information about the Volunteer Toolkit? Please contact the Member Support team via email or by calling 402.558.8189.
Program Level Support
Progression Charts
The Girl Scout program is reflecting the ever-changing needs and interests of today’s Girl Scouts. As a Girl Scout volunteer you will help Girl Scouts develop their full potential. Use the following Progression Charts to incorporate the Girl Scout Leadership Experience into your troop meetings in age-appropriate ways.
Girl Scout Foundation
Pillars of the Girl Scout Program
Bridging Resources
Bridging is a special tradition when a Girl Scout graduates from one program level to the next. This transition is an opportunity to progress as well as experience more adventures with your troop, learn new skills, and seek new challenges!
Traditions give Girl Scouts a sense of history and inspire them to be the best they can be. Remember to include your Girl Scouts in the planning—a bridging ceremony is a great opportunity for a Girl Scout-led activity.
Bridging Ceremonies
Bridging Kits
Additional Bridging Tips
Girl Scout Characteristics
Every Girl Scout is unique with different needs, interests, and levels of development. When working with any Girl Scout level, it is important to keep in mind the difference in their emotional, social, physical, and intellectual characteristics. Understanding the developmental characteristics of your Girl Scout level will help you in your role as a troop co-leader. You will be able to appreciate why Girl Scouts do what they do.
NOTE: These are broad, general characteristics. Each Girl Scout will grow at their own pace.
Daisy (K-1)
Brownie (2-3)
Junior (4-5)
Cadette (6-8)
Senior (9-10)
Ambassador (11-12)
If you need assistance or more information about working with a certain program level, please complete this short questionnaire.
Safety Activity Checkpoints
Miscellaneous Resources
Additional Documents
Girl Scout Branding
Templates and Social Media Toolkits
Volunteer Meetings
Let us know if you can’t find something or have suggestions for how we can improve your experience. Thank you for all you do for girls and for our council and Nebraska girls!
