Outdoor Training

Experiencing the outdoors is a big part of Girl Scouting. These are adventures that girls will remember forever!

We offer a series of training experiences to prepare you to take girls to an outdoor camp setting and incorporate the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

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!

Outdoor Training Progression

STEP 1 "EXPLORE OUT"	STEP 2 "GIRL SCOUTS IN THE OUTDOORS"	STEP 3 "CAMP OUT (BASIC)"	STEP 4 "CAMP OUT (PLUS)"
ONLINE (REQUIRED)	ONLINE (OPTIONAL)	IN-PERSON (REQUIRED)	ONLINE (OPTIONAL)
Before traveling away from the typical troop meeting location.	Online modules from GSUSA to introduce sharing the outdoors with your troop.	Before taking your girls on an outdoor adventure that includes fire building and/or outdoor cooking. "Explore Out" is a prerequisite.	Online webinars and videos to enhance your camp out adventure.

Step 1: Explore Out: Required Reading

Read this guide to learn the essentials for safely taking girls outside of their typical troop meeting place, the benefits of being outdoors, how to use Safety Activity Checkpoints, emergency preparedness, the appropriate paperwork and girl-readiness in the outdoors. Please be sure to review the quizzes at the end of each section.

To receive credit for completing the above required reading, please fill out the Volunteer Online Training Report.

Want to learn more? Watch Venture Out! It’s a fun, free, interactive “outdoor” adventure made possible by the National Park Service's Girl Scout Ranger Program.
Step 2: Girl Scouts in the Outdoors: Optional Online Modules

Watch these short modules from GSUSA to get an introduction on how to introduce your troop to the outdoors.
Step 3: Camp Out (Basic): Required In-Person Course

Prepare to safely take girls to a camp setting during this 6-hour, $15/person session. Topics include “leave no trace” principles, girl-led experiences, fire building, and outdoor cooking. It is required before taking girls on a camp outing that includes fire building and/or outdoor cooking. This session must be renewed every five years. Here is a checklist of essentials to bring.

Optional Online Recertification

Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska is now offering the opportunity for volunteers that have completed in-person Girl Scout Outdoor Training to test out of Camp Out (Basic), if they have regularly used the principles they learned during in-person training with their troop in the last five years. The test out is an online quiz, for experienced outdoor volunteers only. If volunteers haven’t practiced the outdoor training skills they learned, they will need to take the in-person training again.

Complete the Outdoor Training Test Out Application to see if you are eligible to complete the Outdoor Training Test Out Quiz.
Step 4: Camp Out (Plus): Optional Online Course

Watch these short webinars to learn more about taking your girls on outdoor adventures and to enhance your Camp Out (Basic) skills.

Hiking Skills

Learn how to safely hike with girls in the outdoors.

Nighttime Activities

Things to think about when entertaining girls in the outdoors at night.

Knot Skills

Learn the importance of knots and their uses in the outdoors. We will also offer a helpful resource for practicing common knots.

Adult Still Water Canoe Training Will Be Back Spring 2022!

Interested in taking girls canoeing? Girl Scouts of the USA and the American Red Cross have teamed up to develop a training course to be utilized by Girl Scout councils. This training is not considered a certification and is tailored for flat water canoeing only. Participants who complete this course will be able to meet the standards as set out in the Girl Scout Safety Activity Checkpoints.

Check back in spring 2022 for a training schedule.

Skill Building Videos

Refresh skills learned in Camp Out (Basic) with these videos - give girls a sense of empowerment in the outdoors, show them how to use natural resources more wisely (including respecting our environment and wildlife), and help them become lifelong stewards of the land and our natural resources.

Developing Outdoor Skills in Girls: At Girl Scouts, we work to build girls’ outdoor skills and inspire girls to care for the environment as they grow. The Girl Scout Outdoor Progression Chart is a tool you can use as you advance girls’ skills in an age-appropriate way.

Step by Step- Developing Outdoor Skills in Girls from GirlScoutsUSA on Vimeo.
Taking the Journeys Outside: It’s easy to take a Girl Scout Journey outside. Each Journey is full of fun, interactive activities that can easily go outdoors and inspire girls to love and protect the planet. Watch this video to find out how!

Taking the Journeys Outside from GirlScoutsUSA on Vimeo.
Planning Your Troop’s First Campout: In order to have a great campout, you need to plan ahead—and be prepared. This video will give you plenty to think about as you plan your next outdoor adventure with Girl Scouts.

Planning Your Troop’s First Campout from GirlScoutsUSA on Vimeo.
Introduction to Campsite Set-Up: A safe, efficient campsite is important when camping. Watch and learn how to set up a proper camp!

Introduction to Campsite Set-up from GirlScoutsUSA on Vimeo.
Introduction to Cooking Outdoors: Propane, charcoal, box ovens—there are so many choices when cooking outside. This video shares ideas about the delicious possibilities. Tasty!

Introduction to Cooking Outdoors from GirlScoutsUSA on Vimeo.
How to Leave No Trace Outdoors: A Girl Scout always leaves an area better than she found it. Throughout this video, girls will learn the importance of caring for the land, and how to easily “Leave No Trace” when exploring and enjoying the outdoors.

How to Leave No Trace Outdoors from GirlScoutsUSA on Vimeo.
Introduction to Fire Building: To ensure a fun campfire experience and help minimize impact on the environment, this video provides basic skills on Leave No Trace ethics, wood gathering, types of fire building methods, and how to start and extinguish a campfire.

Introduction to Fire Building from GirlScoutsUSA on Vimeo.
Outdoors Songs and Games: This video provides fun tips on how to teach songs and games to girls to do in the outdoors, and resources available to learn more about Girl Scout songs and games.

Outdoors Songs and Games from GirlScoutsUSA on Vimeo.