Early Bird Membership Renewal—Don’t Miss Out

Connecting. New adventures. Making a difference. Girl Scouts are already on the way to becoming their best selves. Whether they dream of being an artist or an astronaut, we can help them get there.

Early Bird is an opportunity for you, your girl, or your troop to commit to another year of Girl Scouting in the beginning of spring. A Girl Scout is always prepared, so be prepared and renew for the upcoming year!

Don’t miss out. Take the next step on your Girl Scout journey by renewing your membership during Early Bird from April 1 to June 30. PLUS! The earlier you renew, the more incentives you’ll receive:

ALL GIRLS

RENEW ON APRIL 1

Girl Scout Hat
Access to Earliest Bird Patch Program + Patch
Access to attend the virtual event, Kristen Bell and Girl Scouts: Paint Your World Purple!
Early Bird Patch

RENEW BY APRIL 15

Access to Earliest Bird Patch Program + Patch
Access to attend the virtual event, Kristen Bell and Girl Scouts: Paint Your World Purple!
Early Bird Patch

RENEW BY MAY 13

Access to attend the virtual event, Kristen Bell and Girl Scouts: Paint Your World Purple!
Early Bird Patch

RENEW BY JUNE 30

Early Bird Patch

TROOP CO-LEADERS

shirt

RENEW BY JUNE 30

Exclusive Girl Scout T-shirt

NEW! All members registered for the 2022-23 Girl Scout year have access to purchase this T-shirt. See question 9 below for more information.

Early Bird Renewal FAQs

1. What is Early Bird?

Early Bird is the time for your family or Girl Scout troop to get a head start on the 2022-2023 year by renewing your memberships and earning incentives. Early Bird runs from April 1 to June 30, 2022.

2. Why should I renew my membership early?

Incentives! We’re excited to offer additional incentives this year! See Questions 4-9 below for more details.

No chasing down registrations next fall! We all know how busy fall gets with a new school year, fall sports, and getting back into the swing of things. Why not make it easier on yourself and have your Girl Scout troop all ready to go?

TBH, it’s just easier! Renewing memberships of girls and adults in your troop is simpler if you do it before the Girl Scout membership year ends on September 30, 2022. Can it be done after the new year starts? Of course! But why not save yourself some time and energy?

Access to the Volunteer Toolkit! The Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) is a handy online resource that helps with meeting planning, badge requirements, and organizing your troop year. Troop co-leaders who renew during Early Bird can begin planning their next Girl Scout year in the VTK starting July 1. NOTE: Co-leaders that do not renew their membership can only start using the VTK after they renew for the 2022-2023 Girl Scout membership year.

Cookie proceeds can cover the cost. Using proceeds from the Girl Scout Cookie Program to renew the girls in your troop gives them the satisfaction of being self-sufficient. They worked hard to earn that money, and this is an immediate result. And you can jump right into the Fall Product Program! Start your year off right by earning funds for girls to use toward even more fun.

3. I need to apply for Financial Aid. Do I still qualify for Early Bird incentives?

Yes. To qualify for the incentives, you must register or renew your membership through our online registration system by 11:59 p.m. on April 1, 2022, (for the girl hat); by 11:59 p.m. on April 15, 2022, (for the Earliest Bird Patch Program); or by 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2022 (for co-leader T-shirt and/or Early Bird patch); and then submit the required Financial Aid application online on or before:

April 7, 2022, for the girl hat
April 21, 2022, for the Earliest Bird Patch Program
July 6, 2022, for the Early Bird patch and/or troop co-leader T-shirt

4. Tell me more about the baseball hat for girls!

ONLY ON APRIL 1! Girls who register or renew their membership through our online registration system before 11:59 p.m. on April 1, 2022, the first day membership renewal is available, will receive an exclusive girl baseball hat.

hat

Hats will be available in both youth and adult sizes. When you pick up her hat, please let us know which size you prefer.

How/when will my girl get her hat? Girl baseball hats can be picked up by the troop co-leader or parent—please coordinate this ahead of time—at your local service center starting in May, or during a council-sponsored program or event with prior arrangement. Hats will not be mailed.

5. Tell me more about the Earliest Bird Patch Program!

Girls who register or renew their membership through our online registration system before 11:59 p.m. on April 15, 2022, will receive access to an exclusive Earliest Bird Patch Program with a corresponding patch about giving back!

patch

Why a Patch Program? Similar to our Programs on Demand, the Patch Program includes easy-to-execute activities for girls and troops. It’s great for a virtual or in-person troop meetings! This patch program gets you thinking ahead to our 2022-2023 theme which is all about the long-standing tradition of Girl Scouts giving back-to their communities, for the environment, on a global level, and more!

How will my girl receive the Patch Program? A digital copy of the Patch Program will be emailed by May 1 to troop co-leaders of qualifying troops and parents/guardians of qualifying Individual Girl Members.

How will my girl receive her patch? For qualifying girls in troops, the Earliest Bird Patch Program patches will be mailed to a troop co-leader in May. For qualifying Individual Girl Members, the Earliest Bird Patch Program patch will be mailed to their home address in May.

6. Tell me more about the special event!

Members who register or renew their membership through our online registration system before 11:59 p.m. on May 13, 2022, will have access to attend the virtual event, Kristen Bell and Girl Scouts: Paint Your World Purple! Registration is required.

Tell me more about the program. If you’ve ever asked how tall the world’s tallest rainbow is, laughed until your sides hurt, or helped a friend speak up for themselves, guess what? You’re a Purple Person! It sounds like you’re a Girl Scout, too. Girl Scout alum Kristen Bell, co-author of The World Needs More Purple People, will join us for a members-only virtual event to share more on May 19.

This event is on May 19, 2022 at two times, 5:30 p.m. CST or 8:30 p.m. CST. The registration deadline is May 13, 2022.

Click here for all details. Need assistance? Please contact our Member Support team at 402.558.8189 or by email.

7. Tell me more about the Early Bird patch!

Girls who register or renew their membership through our online registration system before 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2022, will receive a free Early Bird patch, featuring the Australian Fairy Wren, a bird that helps and works together with other bird species to forage for food and protect their habitats (does that remind you of Girl Scouts giving back to their own communities?).

patch

How will patches be distributed? For qualifying girls in troops, the troop support specialist will give Early Bird patches to troop co-leaders starting in August to distribute. For qualifying Individual Girl Members, patches will be mailed to their home address in August.

8. Tell me more about the troop co-leader incentive!

Co-leaders of troops that have at least two co-leaders who register or renew their memberships and the memberships of the majority of the girls in their troop through our online registration system before 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2022, will receive a free Girl Scout co-leader T-shirt!

t-shirt

How do I order my incentive? Once a qualifying troop co-leader registers for the 2022-2023 Girl Scout year, they can order their T-shirt here. Use the discount code EarlyBirdLeader2022 to get this T-shirt for free (shipping not included). Co-leaders must order their T-shirt by June 30. Need assistance? Please contact our Member Support team at 402.558.8189 or by email.

How will the co-leader incentive be distributed? Your troop support specialist will begin distributing T-shirts in August. T-shirts can be mailed for a $5 shipping charge, collected when you order your T-shirt.

Who is that on the T-shirt? This year’s T-shirt features our founder, Juliette Gordon Low. She imagined a movement where all girls could come together and embrace their unique strengths and passions—and as Girl Scouts has done since, she made that dream a reality. We hope this T-shirt reminds those who wear it, and those around us, to be changemakers in our communities and in our world.

9. Is the T-shirt available if I’m not a troop co-leader?

Yes! We heard you loud and clear last year. You told us you wanted the same shirt for girls and volunteers so it can be used as your troop T-shirt, and we’re delivering! T-shirts will be available for purchase ONLY for those that have registered for the 2022-2023 Girl Scout year.

To order your T-shirt, go to the My Events tab of your MY GS account and search “Early Bird T-Shirt” in Upcoming Events. Add girls and adults to the order (like you do for programs) and add their shirt sizes individually. Co-leaders can get the shirt for free using the discount code EarlyBirdLeader2022. Otherwise, girl T-shirts are $10 each, with an additional $5 if they are shipped, and adult T-shirts are $12 each, with an additional $5 if they are shipped. T-shirts must be ordered by June 30. Need assistance? Please contact our Member Support team at 402.558.8189 or by email.

Council staff will start distributing T-shirts (shipping or pick up) in August.

10. Do I have to be a current member to register during Early Bird?

No. Anyone can register for the 2022-2023 Girl Scout year starting April 1, 2022.

11. Who can renew my girl’s membership?

Parents and guardians can register and/or renew memberships for anyone in their family. Co-leaders can renew past and current troop members.

12. How do I register or renew my membership for the 2022-2023 year?

New to Girl Scouts? Get started here.

Returning to Girl Scouts? Click on “MY GS” from the menu to get started. If you need help along the way, contact our Member Support team at 402.558.8189 or by email.

13. What if I have trouble registering or renewing my membership?

Our Member Support center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Central Time) Monday through Friday. Call 402.558.8189 or email us. We are happy to help!

14. How much are membership fees for the 2022-2023 membership year?

Membership fees for the 2022-2023 year are $25 and are sent to our national organization, Girl Scouts of the USA. None of the fee stays in our local council.

15. Who pays for my girl’s membership?

If she participated in the Cookie Program or Fall Product Program, her troop may cover her membership fee using product sale proceeds. Check with your troop co-leader! Financial assistance is also available for those in need.

16. Is BOGO available during Early Bird?

While BOGO is not available for those that are renewing their Girl Scout membership for the 2022-2023 Girl Scout year, you CAN use BOGO if you want to register a new Girl Scout member! Invite your friends, neighbors, aunts, grandmas, cousins, and more to enjoy all that Girl Scouting offers.

Need help? Contact Member Support by email or call 402.558.8189.

Need help? Contact Member Support by email or call 800.695.6690.