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
- Co-Leader Experience Map: Download this handy road map to visualize what your Girl Scout journey will look like.
- New Co-Leader Checklist: A checklist designed to help you cover the basics for a great year. By completing the checklist within your first year of volunteering, troop co-leaders earn a FREE second-year membership.
- Co-Leader Handbook: Bookmark this guide as you start training, meeting with girls, and becoming an awesome volunteer!
REQUIRED CO-LEADER TRAININGS
The first three training courses listed below are required for all troop co-leaders before meeting with girls. The remaining four 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
Bonus: Still Water Canoe Training
First Aid and CPR Courses
Essential Resources
We've collected more materials that will be useful on your volunteer journey with Girl Scouts. Information includes Opportunity Catalog, Safety Activity Checkpoints, and the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK).
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 Bridging
Bridging is a special time when a Girl Scout graduates from one program level to another. This transition to the next level in Girl Scouting—called "bridging"—is an opportunity to progress as well as experience more adventures with your troop, learn new skills, and seek new challenges!
Each of the bridging ceremony's parts offers plenty of room for Girl Scouts’ creativity and individuality. The ceremony should always focus on paying tribute to Girl Scouts as they move forward. Check out the "Girl Scout Bridging Guide" to help your troop earn the bridging award and hold a bridging ceremony.
Bridging ceremonies usually take place at the beginning or end of the Girl Scout year and can have three parts:
- Opening: Guests are welcomed and the tone is set.
- Main Section: The ceremony is explained. Girl Scouts celebrate moving from one level to the next.
- Closing: Girl Scouts can participate in friendship circles and thank their guests.
As a volunteer, you can even make it special for your troop by hosting a bridging ceremony where girls cross over a bridge—real or symbolic—to mark each girl’s advancement in Girl Scouts. Sometimes these are combined with a Court of Awards ceremony to start or end the troop year.
BRIDGING RESOURCES
Ready, Set, Bridge Events
Bridging troops and individual Girl Scouts are invited to attend a council-sponsored "Ready, Set, Bridge" program in May. At these events held across the state, girls discover what it takes to bridge from one Girl Scout level to the next, complete the bridging steps, and earn their bridging award. Graduating Girl Scouts learn about Emerging Alums, Campus Girl Scouts, summer camp counselor opportunities, and other ways to stay involved beyond high school.
Bridging Kits
Our individually packaged and pre-assembled Bridging Kits are an easy way to prepare for your troop's Bridging Ceremony! Each kit comes with:
- Bridging Certificate
- Bridge Arc Patch
- Membership Star and Disc
- Special Pencil
- Fun Patch
- Brownie Wings (Junior and Cadette Kits Only)
NOTE: Appearance of Bridging Kit items may vary by product availability and grade level. Contact Juliette's Boutique to order your kits today!
My Girl Scout Kits
Before each new program level, we recommend purchasing a "My Girl Scout Kit" to make the transition smooth. Each kit comes with the "Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting" or Level-Specific Handbook, an Insignia Tab, the American Flag Patch, the WAGGGS Trefoil Pin, and a Girl Scout Membership Pin (appearance of "My Girl Scout Kits" will vary by grade level).
Order "My Girl Scout Kits" from your local Juliette’s Boutique or contact the shop for all details.
ADDITIONAL TIPS
Traditions give Girl Scouts a sense of history—and inspire them to be the best they can be. Remember to pull your Girl Scouts into the conversation. Planning a bridging ceremony is a great opportunity for a Girl Scout-led activity. Here are some additional tips and resources to help make the most of your Girl Scout’s bridging experience:
- Use the Badge Explorer! Look ahead to all the new adventures your girls can have as they bridge and check out the Badge Explorer to learn more about all of the new badges and Journeys your Girl Scouts can earn.
- Planning Your First Girl Scout Bridging Ceremony? From bridging basics to tips from volunteer experts, check out these tips!
- Need Help Keeping Your Daisy to Brownie Bridging Ceremony Girl Scout-led? Brainstorm a few options then have your Girl Scouts vote!
- Do You Have Graduating Ambassador Girl Scouts? Even as adults, Girl Scouts make a difference. Visit our Alums page for ways your graduating Girl Scouts can stay connected to the organization after high school.
- Want to Hold Your Bridging Ceremony on an Actual Bridge? Our Council offices have small bridges available to rent for bridging ceremonies. Call your local office today to book.
Program Level Support
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.
PLEASE 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.
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
- Girl-Led Progression Chart (PDF)
- Cooperative Learning Progression Chart (PDF)
- Learn by Doing Progression Chart (PDF)
Pillars of the Girl Scout Program
Safety Activity Checkpoints
Miscellaneous Resources
Additional Documents
Girl Scout Branding
We have provided images and logos below, but please read and understand the rules governing their usage before you download. Contact our Marketing team by email or phone 402.779.8244 with questions or to request alternative file types.
USE OF GIRL SCOUT TRADEMARKS
People downloading service marks and artwork from this website agree to abide by the rules and guidelines outlined in the Graphics Use Agreement.
MEDIA SUPPORT
We encourage you to send Girl Scout stories to the media in your community. If you need help with your public relations endeavors, please contact our Marketing department by phone 402.779.8244 or email.
Monthly Troop Support Emails
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!
Looking for ways to promote Girl Scouts or grow your troop? Use the images below on your own social media pages to excite friends, family, neighbors, classmates, everyone, about the Girl Scout program.
Be sure to follow us on Facebook (@girlscoutsnebraska) and Instagram (@girlscoutsne) and tag #GSSN in your posts!