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Advice from Volunteers

Super Troop Advice from Leaders (Collected in 2024)

At the end of our Super Troop survey, volunteers optionally shared advice in response to this prompt: “New troop leaders are always looking for Super Troop opportunities for their troops. Share your recommendations.” Destination-specific field trip recommendations are in bold.

  • Local organizations
  • Work with local non-profits that serve populations or causes that your girls care about.
  • My girls love escape rooms and we had a ton of fun at Halloween events.
  • Guiding newer troops through the process. I lucked out on having some engaged parents and being proactive about making sure the girls were earning incentives. It’s really hard at the 4K level, but the girls all seem to be enjoying making friends and doing activities.
  • Snooze at the Zoo is a great beginning opportunity for young troops wanting a “camp” experience with little work.
  • Keep your eyes and ears open when talking to people, there are opportunities everywhere. Never be afraid to ask an organization or business to see if they can help offer your troop something unique, the worst you can get told as no, but it may open up another door.
  • Boogie Ballroom
  • I think this [Super Troop] was a fantastic program. The girls were able to learn so much more because of the ideas that I found. They had a blast becoming a Super Troop!
  • Learn Build Fly in Wausau, WI is amazing!! We had a tour, and our guide focused on the contributions made by WOMEN during WW2 in flight (they built the planes!!!), and the girls built flyers and worked on how to maximize their flight.
  • A great spot is the 45/90 degree marker in Athens, WI. Free and a hotel in Wausau offers a free medallion. We paired this with a visit and hike at Rib Mountain.
  • I want to thank the council The Robotics and PTI Trucks are for Girls event were two well organized, STEM centered, unique and highlight events to the year.
  • Thank you, to the community businesses.
  • The Sweet Lair in Menasha for helping the girls earn their Game Badge, offered their makeshift room as a meeting space and gave the girls permission to roam. Female owned! Owner talked to the girls about being an entrepreneur.
  • Thank you, Cre8 Lab in Neenah for assisting the girls in making a Bug Hotel.
  • Thank you, The Fire, in downtown Appleton for last minute offering an alternative outing when our outdoor outing was rained out. Even let us use their party room – and Girl Scouts gets a discount!
  • Olson Farms in Larson provided a unique trip. SO MUCH SCIENCE!
  • Took advantage of a Birthday Party discount, Urban Air, team building and end of the year celebration. Go carts, bumper cars, ropes course, wall climbing, zip lining, etc.
  • Our service area incorporates [Super Troop elements] into the monthly activities.
  • Leverage all your community resources! We got tours of a bowling alley, library, bird store, and more just by asking.
  • Camp weekend and archery are always a favorite.
  • Camping at parks, hiking Ice Age, GS camps.
  • Our service area incorporates the [Super Troop] requirements into our monthly meetings.
  • We loved getting outside for our hike and learning about the principles of leave no trace. We also had a wonderful time at the Chippewa Valley Technical College hero academy!
  • Get the girls outside the classroom. Take your troop camping, those are the best trips.
  • Community overnights (museum, kids centers) and hiking trips in the State Park system are always voted top in our troop!
  • This is a huge achievement and requires a lot of time from you and your girls. Make sure to get their input and keep the ideas girl-led. It will hold their interest and keep them moving towards their goals.
  • Do sewing classes.
  • Offer a variety of activities since not all girls like the same thing and variety keeps all the girls coming back for more.
  • Overnight at the Eau Claire Children’s Theater– we LOVED this activity, and it was so easy as a leader!
  • Our Green Bay Metro Service Area Team plans at least one outdoor day event each fall and starting a campout for Juniors and up
  • Have a welcome back fall parent meeting in September. Tie an October meeting into Halloween & Juliette Gordon Low’s Birthday. November – take a field trip to a store & use troop funds to purchase items for holiday food collections or toy drives. December – make ornaments or holiday themed crafts for seniors as a service project. January – attend Service area Cookie Rally, host parent meeting. February – get outside in the snow – go sledding, snowshoeing, or skiing; make Valentine’s for seniors. March – cookie booths, make cookie booth signs, practice cookie skills. April – field trip to a museum, police station, fire station, animal shelter. May – spring service project outside. June – Service Area campout.
  • Do not plan too much, the girls will create the fun.
  • Zip lining!
  • BlueHaven Stables have awesome horses and a nice trail ride.
  • We went to the USS Cobia for an overnight program. Really a fun and educational experience. Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center is amazing too.
  • We did on overnight at a local house camp the girls loved it.
  • NEW Zoo in Green Bay has a great program.
  • Journey in a Day is a great weekend overnight option for Girl Scout lodges.
  • We had decided what petals to work on and then reviewed where the super troop suggestions fit in best!
  • We talked with the girls on options to include each step.
  • The 911 call center was great!
  • Wild Wild West Campground
  • Blue Harbor Resort in Sheboygan was great to work with.
  • Plan AHEAD! We planned our 2024-2025 year in advance! Families have a calendar that they know at least one meeting and one outing a month; we shared this at our last meeting in May.
  • Horseback riding at Blue Haven in Merrill, Eau Claire Children’s Theater does badge and a show opportunity.
  • Packing hygiene packs
  • Tree climbing
  • Kettle Moraine State Park was nice.
  • I tried to build one step into each month.
  • Happy Joes, Board and Brush and the planetarium where awesome events for our troop
  • My girls are older and can’t always make it to every event. My recommendation is to give them as many opportunities to do all the requirements.
  • Each troop is different – some like camping, some acting, some science. They all have trouble making decisions as a group. So giving them the choices that they have is very helpful – like we couldn’t, with one cookie sale, take kids to Disney World which for us over 1000 miles away. Indecision is common but it doesn’t mean they don’t want to go or do it. Blind voting helps.
  • Also hands on activities are great for groups of differing abilities. Get the older or more skilled to help the younger ones. Also, Cadettes/Seniors/Ambassador Girl Scouts can be a great help – they can get service to Girl Scouts hours by helping at your troop, like keeping the one who just wants to dance occupied while the rest figure out what animals need to survive!
  • The troop overnight at Camp Sacajawea was great! It was easy to prepare for since the council provided the food and shelter. The girls loved all the activities. We are also very involved with our local library and American Legion; the Veterans love to visit our troop and teach the girls!
  • Look within your community for businesses to work with. We have partnered with many local places, including the local historical museum, the ju jitsu studio, and the local paper mill for examples.
  • Use the Girl Scout camps for troop meetings to get outside! And troop camp day is super affordable!
  • Mall of America
  • EAA
  • Brown County Courthouse
  • Barlow Planetarium
  • Build-a-Bear
  • State Capitol (Wisconsin)
  • MToxins
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