Council Trainings & Certifications
You want to see girls happy, confident, strong, and ready to succeed. We want the same things for you as a volunteer! We know you’ve got a lot of questions about Girl Scouts and we’re ready to help you along the way. We offer personal coaching, online learning, peer mentoring, and a searchable website to find what you need when you need it. When you’re ready, join us for volunteer training.
Register online from the Events calendar.
Here’s an alphabetical list.
Archery Training This USA Archery Level 1 course certifies volunteers to take Girl Scouts onto archery ranges for target sports practice. Who: Any interested volunteer. Length: 8 hours (4 online and 4 in person). Location: Rotates between GSNWGL camp properties. Valid: 3 years. Required: For hosting archery activity.
Badge and Patch Program Previews Watch and listen to a showcase of new program content, badge advice, Daisy petals overview, and several engaging patch programs. Who: Any volunteer. Length: Varies. Location: gsLearn. Valid: No expiration date.
Cookie Program Training Attend each January to prepare to guide girls in the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world! Who: Troop Cookie Managers and Troop Leaders. Length: 60-90 minutes. Location: Local service area meetings. Valid: 1 year. Required: For participating in the Cookie Program.
Council Updates Council staff and volunteers seek to stay connected and share the excitement of our program by highlighting news, achievements, changes, plans and activity coaching with Q&A from volunteers. Who: Any interested volunteer. Length: 1 hour. Location: Zoom. Valid: No expiration date.
| Council Updates: Save the dates for these virtual conversations to hear and see the latest and greatest council updates. All volunteers in all roles are welcome to attend. | ||
| Monday, September 11, 2023 | 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. CST | Zoom meeting |
| Monday, November 6, 2023 | 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. CST | Zoom meeting |
| Wednesday, March 6, 2024 | 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. CST | Zoom meeting |
| Monday, May 6, 2024 | 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. CST | Zoom meeting |
First Aider Training Secure your Adult & Pediatric CPR/First Aid/AED certification from the American Red Cross, which is the foundational safety course for all troop activity beyond the troop meeting room. Who: Any interested volunteer. Length: 6 hours (3 online and 3 in-person). Location: Rotates between GSNWGL service centers and properties. Valid: 2 years. Required: For most Girl Scout activities, if not provided by others at your activity destination.
(Please see the First Aid section of Safety Activity Checkpoints for the list of GSUSA-approved training organizations. GSNWGL partners with the American Red Cross to host safety training. If you miss a council-hosted training, search here https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class for course options near you. Search for: Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED-BL-r.21 (blended learning with both online content and classroom time)
Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED-R.21 (all classroom time). More advanced courses may also be reviewed and accepted. Online-only courses are not accepted.)
Fall Product Program Training This friends-and-family sale of nuts and chocolates provides troop start-up funds every autumn. Who: Troop Fall Product Program Managers. Length: 60-90 minutes. Location: Zoom or local service area meetings. Valid: 1 year. Required: For participating in the Fall Product Program.
Grade Level Essentials Be ready for the next age and stage of Girl Scouts with this review of age-appropriate activity and behaviors (Daisy, Brownie, Junior). Who: Any volunteer. Length: 45-60 minutes. Location: gsLearn. Valid: No expiration date.
Highest Awards Training Learn the steps of earning Girl Scouting’s prestigious Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards. Who: Junior, Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador volunteers, parents, and girls. Length: 60-90 minutes. Location: Zoom. Valid: No expiration date. Required: For aspiring Gold Award Girl Scouts.
Low Ropes Course Training Get instruction on how to lead low ropes course challenge activities for girls. Who: Any interested volunteer. Length: TBD. Location: Rotates between GSNWGL camp properties. Valid: TBD. Required: For hosting low ropes course activity.
New Leader Orientation Get ready to lead! Discover what Girl Scouts is all about and what Girl Scouts do. Then plan your six steps to start or restart a troop. Who: new Troop Leaders and Assistant Troop Leaders who are starting a troop or continuing a troop. Length: 2-3 hours (2 hours online, 1 hour virtual live meeting). Location: gsLearn and Zoom. Valid: No expiration date. Required: For volunteers newly placed in a troop leader or assistant troop leader role, before hosting the first troop meeting.
| New Leader Orientation and Onboarding: Discover what Girl Scouts is all about, what Girl Scouts do, and how to start a troop before leading your first troop meeting. Independently complete some gsLearn courses then attend a live virtual training with a demonstration of the digital planning tools available to leaders and other popular resources. | ||
| Coach & Confirm sessions | August 1 – November 30, every week 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays and 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays CST | Zoom meeting |
New Leader Topic Trainings From field trips to troop finances, new leaders appreciate direct support and advice on troop management and program activity how-to. Who: new Troop Leaders and Assistant Troop Leaders. Length: 45-60 minute monthly meetings. Location: Zoom. Valid: No expiration date.
| New Leader Topic Trainings: New leaders don’t need to be an expert from the start. Learn about one thing every month throughout your first year of leading Girl Scouts. Join other new leaders where you can give and get advice. Zoom link invitations are emailed to new leaders. | ||
| Build Troop Teams and Girl-Led Safe Spaces | Wednesday, September 20, 2023, 6:30 p.m. CST | Zoom meeting |
| How to Earn a Badge and Make a Year Plan | Wednesday, October 18, 2023, 6:30 p.m. CST | Zoom meeting |
| Community Service and “Take Action” Project Opportunities | Wednesday, November 15, 2023, 6:30 p.m. CST | Zoom meeting |
| Cookie Bosses and Entrepreneurs | Wednesday, January 17, 2023, 6:30 p.m. CST | Zoom meeting |
| Troop Finances to Fund Daydreams and Goals | Wednesday, February 21, 2023, 6:30 p.m. CST | Zoom meeting |
| Field Trips and Fun Plans | Wednesday, March 20, 2023, 6:30 p.m. CST | Zoom meeting |
| Spring Reporting and Celebrating | Wednesday, April 17, 2023, 6:30 p.m. CST | Zoom meeting |
Outdoor Champion Training A train-the-trainer course for volunteers excited to champion the value of outdoor experiences and teach outdoor skills to volunteers and girls in their service areas. Who: Any volunteer with interest and lots of camp out experience. Length: 8 hours. Location: Rotates between GSNWGL camp properties. Valid: No expiration date. Required: For outdoor enthusiast volunteers who wish to host Outdoor Education training events in their service area.
Outdoor Education Training This hands-on course prepares volunteers to teach girls “The Girl Scout Way” of outdoor skills, including campfire safety, campfire cooking, outdoor dishwashing, basic knots, basic knife skills, and basic site safety. Who: Any interested volunteer. Length: 6 hours. Location: Rotates between GSNWGL camp properties. Valid: No expiration date. Required: For outdoor campfire or outdoor camping activity.
Service Area Team Member Meetings Leadership volunteers who help organize service area events, support troop volunteers, and keep Girl Scouts visible in their community come together for idea sharing and planning. Who: Service Area Team Members. Length: 90 minutes. Location: Zoom. Valid: No expiration date.
| Service Area Team Member Meetings: Get advance information on council news and plans to help you organize local Girl Scout activity for both girls and volunteers. | ||
| Tuesday, July 25, 2023 | 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. CST | Zoom meeting |
| Monday, November 13, 2023 | 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. CST | Zoom meeting |
| Monday, February 5, 2024 | 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. CST | Zoom meeting |
Service Unit Training Build a strong service unit of dedicated volunteers who work together to support the success of Girl Scouts in local communities. Who: Service Area Team Members. Length: 1-2 hours. Location: gsLearn. Valid: No expiration date.
Travel with Girl Scouts Information Sessions Discover multiple travel opportunities for Girl Scouts. Who: Volunteers, Parents, Girl Scouts age 11 and up. Length: 1 hour. Location: Zoom. Valid: No expiration date.
Various topics Find a wealth of information, advice, and encouragement in gsLearn. Who: Any volunteer. Length: Varies. Location: gsLearn. Valid: Varies.
- Digital tools training, like Managing My Troops from My Account, Zoom for Girl Scouts, Volunteer Toolkit
- Conflict education, like Navigating Conflict with Confidence, Productive Conflict Resolution for Adults
- Girl Scout Holidays
- Inclusion topics, like Delivering Inclusive Programs, IDEA for Volunteers
- Mental health advice, like Mental Wellness 101, Youth Mental Health & Wellness
- Troop Finances
Wilderness First Aid Learn advanced skills from the American Red Cross to be used in emergencies when help from professional first responders may be far away. Who: Any volunteer. Length: 16 hours. Location: Rotates between GSNWGL camp properties. Valid: 2 years.
Youth Mental Health First Aid Identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among children and adolescents ages 12 – 18 in this respected national curriculum. Who: Any volunteer or parent. Length: 8 hours (3 hours online, 5 hours in-person OR live virtual). Location: Rotates between GSNWGL service centers OR Zoom. Valid: 3 years.
Need leadership tips for working with girls and the activities they want to do?
Find upcoming training events at gsnwgl.org/activities and check the Volunteer Collective at http://www.vc.gsnwgl.org for volunteer-focused support and direction. Explore girlscouts.org for national news and resources and gsnwgl.org for council news and resources. Read our national blog, Tips for Troop Leaders. Reference our two national standards documents, Volunteer Essentials and Safety Activity Checkpoints. Use the six program grade level handbooks. Learn from other volunteers at your local Service Area Meetings. Access the MyGS portal on gsnwgl.org for digital tools, including: My Troops for troop rosters, Volunteer Toolkit for creating troop meeting plans, and gsLearn for online courses. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please ask! Contact us at info@gsnwgl.org or 888.747.6945.
Look in gsLearn
Log into MyGS and find gsLearn to review the Content Library for topics of interest. Check out the courses focused on working with girls like mental health, diversity and inclusion, navigating conflict, and celebrating Girl Scout holidays, plus the Volunteer Toolkit tutorials to help you plan and organize Girl Scout meetings and activities.
Check Events
Check the Events calendar on gsnwgl.org to register for training events. Thank you to our volunteer trainers who generously share their time and experience and to our staff trainers who love to share Girl Scout program opportunities.
