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  1. Members
  2. For Volunteers
  3. Online Support for Volunteers

Online Support for Volunteers

troop leaders talking

Online Support for Volunteers

Welcome volunteers! Whether you are a new or returning leader, this online support page will help you guide your troop through a safe, fun, and organized year. 

The resources below are for your reference. No need to read the whole guide, but when you have a question look here.

GSNI Volunteer Policies, Procedures, and How Tos  

Safety Activity Checkpoints

Click here for a demo of this page.

If you have any questions call us at 1-844-GSNI-4-ME (1-844-476-4463) or send us an email. We'd be happy to help! 

Certificates of Insurance

Certificate of Insurance for Outside Facilities and Activities toggle arrow

When planning an event, there may be times where we need to obtain a Certificate of Insurance and have it on file 2 weeks prior to when your event is scheduled.

Please consult Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois’ Safety Activity Checkpoints to determine if the facility offering the activity your troop would like to do requires GSNI to have a copy of the facility’s Certificate of Insurance on file. Please consult our current Certificates of Insurance List to check if we already have a Certificate of Insurance on file for the organization you will be working with.                                                

If the facility your troop is planning to use is listed, then you only need to complete the necessary GSNI Permission Slips, the facility’s waiver (if applicable), and the GSNI Troop Trip & Overnight Approval Form (if your field trip is further than 60 miles from your normal meeting space or any overnight event).

If the facility is not listed, the troop leader needs to request a Certificate of Insurance from the facility. To do this, simply call the facility and ask for a current Certificate of Insurance with GSNI listed as a Certificate Holder, including the information below:

Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois
353 Randall Rd
South Elgin, IL 60177

The certificate can be emailed to customercare@girlscoutsni.org with “Certificate of Insurance” in the subject line, or U.S. mailed to the above address, or faxed to 847-741-5667.

Requesting Certificate of Insurance from GSNI toggle arrow

If a facility is requesting a copy of Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois’ Certificate of Insurance, please use the following form. To minimize delays in the process, please complete the form with as much information as possible about the facility requesting a Certificate of Insurance.

After this form is submitted, please allow 2-3 weeks for processing.

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In order to create a COI in a timely and correct manner, this information is needed of the venue requesting the COI. Please list the FULL address for the venue, including town and zip code. 0/0
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Forms and Information

Banking Documents Request Form toggle arrow

Girl Scout troops, service units, groups and volunteer led day camps can submit the form below to request bank documents for their Girl Scout bank account. 

Type of Account

New or Change of Signer

Please complete the following:

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Please list the volunteers being removed from the bank account (if applicable)

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For Change of Signer Requests Only:

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Banking and Financial toggle arrow
  • Banking Documents Request Form
  • Financial Report Forms
    • Annual Troop Financial Report Form
    • Annual Service Unit Financial Report Form
    • Final Financial Report Form
  • Financial Assistance
  • GSNI E-Code Reimbursement for Renewal Membership Form
  • GSNI Tax Exempt Form
  • Money Earning Activities for Troops
  • Ledger template
  • Printing Discount with FedEx
  • Third Party Payment Apps Guidance (Venmo, Digital Cookie, etc)
  • Wintrust Patch
Behavior, Health, and Safety toggle arrow

1. Behavior Guide

2. Code of Conduct

3. Challenging Conversations

    GSUSA has created resources to help guide leaders and volunteers with challenging conversations with girls. 

  • Leading Difficult Converstaions with Confidence
  • Conversations About Current Events
  • Conversations About Bullying

4. Emergency Card

    Emergency Card in Spanish

5. Girl Information Form

6. Incident Reporting Guide

        A. Incident Report Form A (Accident)
        B. Incident Report Form B (Behavior)   
        
7. Mental and Behavioral Health

Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois is an advocate for mental health for girls, women, and communities. We collaborate with experts in the field of mental/behavioral health to access high-quality resources and align with best practices. Positive mental health encourages girls to fully embrace our mission and grow into their leadership potential. Our goal is for all members (girls, volunteers, alumnae, and staff) to embrace mental health wellness. 

Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois is proud to introduce our “Flourish” initiative, part of an ongoing strategy to embrace positive mental and behavioral health.

GSNI continues to expand on our "Flourish" resources for Leaders, Troops and Parents. You can find many resources on our Mental and Behavioral Health page. 

Troop Leaders who want to track their Flourish trainings in gsLearn can find all available trainings in the 415 Flourish Learning Path in the Content Library. 

8. Outdoor Progression Chart
 
9. Troop Size/Adult to Girl Ratio (on page 6)
 
10. Safety Activity Checkpoints
 

 

 

Belonging and Diversity toggle arrow

  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resource Page

  • LGBTQ 

Disbandment/Retirement Form toggle arrow

Troop Disbandment/Retirement Form

Please review the Disbanding Process 

NOTE: Leaders of disbanding and retiring troops should reference the Volunteer Policies, Procedures, and How-Tos manual for the official policies and procedures: page 38 (Financial Implications due to Troop Changes) and page 59 (Considering Disbanding the Troop).

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Have the families been notified that the troop is disbanding/retiring?

Please indicate the reason(s) the troop is disbanding/retiring.

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Troop Funds

Annual Finance Form for Troops

Final Financial Form

Financial Instructions

All disbanding troops must submit their annual financial documents by June 30th. 

Disbanding troops continuing after June 30th must also submit the Final Finance report and supporting documentation by September 30th.  Please reference Disbanding Process document.

REMINDER troop funds should be spent on Girl Scout related activities such as field trips, going on an overnight, donating to a charity, another troop, the service unit, the service unit's camp, or GSNI. Funds cannot be spent on gift cards, savings for college, tuition reimbursement, or personal expenses.

Has the troop bank account been closed?

Is there anything else council should be made aware of regarding the disbandment/retirement of your troop? 

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Thank you for completing the form.  We appreciate all you have done for your troop and Girl Scouts. 

Field Trips, Overnights, and Travel toggle arrow

Any overnight trip requires either Lodge Training or Outdoor Overnight Training. Review the following resources to determine what is needed to take your troop on their next adventure! 

  • International Trip Intent to Travel Form (for all trips outside of the US, including cruises) 

  • Progression Chart

  • Safety Activity Checkpoints

  • Troop Travel and Overnight Form (for camping, domestic trips, field trips, and sleepovers at venues)

  • Troop Trip Qualifications

First Year Troop Leader Resources toggle arrow

  • First Aid/CPR Requirements

 

  • Girl Scout Experience Box
    • How to order Girl Scout Experience Box

 

  • New Volunteer Checklists

    • New Troop Leader Checklist
    • New Troop Leader Checklist in Spanish
    • New Volunteer Checklist
    • New Volunteer Checklist in Spanish
  • Tips for Troop Leader Videos
    • Controlling the Room
    • Girl Scout Experience Box
    • Leader Daughter Dynamic
    • Positive Troop Enviroment
    • Troop Safety
    • Start-up Activities
    • Welcoming New Girls

  • Troop Year Plans

 

Money Earning Activities for Troops toggle arrow

Money Earning Activity Requirements for Troops


Troops should review all requirements for Money Earning Activities, including blackout dates and Product Program requirements, before filling out the form below. 

Troops should keep the following in mind: 

• Money earning activities should be Girl Scout-led, with Girl Scouts doing the planning and implementation.

• While troops can donate a portion of their troop funds (earned through Girl Scout product programs or money earning activity) to a cause important to them, they cannot directly raise money for outside organizations or causes.

• Requests for money earning projects must be submitted at least two weeks before beginning (or publicizing) a money earning activity.

• Daisy troops may not participate in any money earning activities beyond GSNI's Fall Product Program and Girl Scout Cookie Program.

• All troops/groups/Girl Scouts requesting permission to hold money earning activities must participate in GSNI's Fall Product Program and Girl Scout Cookie Program.

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Have you consulted our Safety Activity Checkpoints, GSUSA’s Volunteer Essentials, and GSNI’s Volunteer Policies and Procedures? NOTE: When conducting money-earning activities, troops/Girl Scouts should have an emergency plan that includes the GSNI Emergency Card and a first-aid kit. www.girlscoutsni.org

Have you consulted our Safety Activity Checkpoints, GSUSA’s Volunteer Essentials, and GSNI’s Volunteer Policies and Procedures? NOTE: When conducting money-earning activities, troops/Girl Scouts should have an emergency plan that includes the GSNI Emergency Card and a first-aid kit. www.girlscoutsni.org.

Have you read GSNI's Money-Earning Requirements document?
Have Girl Scouts participated in setting goals and creating the budget?

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Troop End of Year toggle arrow

  • Annual Troop Financial Report Form

  • Bridging

  • Disbanding/Retiring Troops

  • End of Year Packet

  • GSNI E-Code Reimbursement for Renewal Membership Form

  • Next Level Training - gsLearn

  • Renewal

  • Troop Update Form

Troop Start of Year toggle arrow

  • Add-A-Friend Patch Program

  • Behavior, Health, and Safety

  • Caregiver/Parent Involvement Form

  • Girl Scout ANNUAL Activity Permission Slip       Spanish
  • Girl Scout INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY Permission Slip
  • Girl Scout Annual Activity Sign up Sheet 
  • Girl Information Form

  • Honor Troop

    Looking for a great way to provide the best troop experience for your Girl Scouts? Look no further! GSNI's Honor Troop program is a roadmap for your Girl Scout year to make sure your troop is getting the best experience!

    • Daisy Honor Troop Requirements
    • Brownie Honor Troop Requirements
    • Junior Honor Troop Requirements
    • Cadette Honor Troop Requirements
    • Senior Honor Troop Requirements
    • Ambassador Honor Troop Requirements 
    • Multi-Level (Daisy, Brownie, Junior) Requirements
    • Multi-Level (Cadette, Senior, Amabassdor) Requirements

 

  • Juliette STAR K-5
  • Juliette STAR 6-12
  • Photo Release - Minor

 

  • Photo Release - Adult

  • Product Program Financial Responsibility Form (Spanish)

  • Troop Update form

  • Troop Year Plans

  • Year at a Glance

Troop Position Descriptions toggle arrow

Volunteers are the backbone of the Girl Scout Movement! 

Girl Scout volunteer opportunities range from leadership roles like troop leader to specialized positions such as Troop Cookie Chair. You can also volunteer with your service unit, mentor other adults, or assist at volunteer led camps. Opportunities exist for different time commitments, from regular troop leadership to short-term support.  

 

Troop Position Descriptions 

Troop Leader 

Troop Volunteer

Troop Fall Product Chair 

Troop Cookie Chair

Troop Bank Signer

Girl Scout Info and Traditions

 
  • Flag Ceremony
  • Friendship Circle demo and explanation
  • Make New Friends song
  • Promise and Law
  • Uniform Insignia, Pin, and Badge Placement


Service Unit Positions

Service Unit Position Descriptions and Guides toggle arrow

Service Unit Manager Position Description and Guide

Service Unit Treasurer Position Description and Guide

Service Unit Juliette Mentor Position Description and Guide

Service Unit Communication Liasion Position Description and Guide

Service Unit Girl Scout Organizer Position Description and Guide

Service Unit Recognition Chair Position Description and Guide

Service Unit Event Coordinator Position Description and Guide

Service Unit Registrar Position Description and Guide

Service Unit Volunteer Position Description and Guide

Service Unit Volunteer Mentor Position Description and Guide

Service Unit Fall Product Coordinator Position Description

Service Unit Cookie Coordinator Position Description

Resources

gsLearn toggle arrow

gsLearn is Girl Scouts’ official online and on demand training platform. Confident leaders are prepared leaders, and these online learnings will give you all the info you need to be a great troop leader.

gsLearn isn’t just for volunteers! All adult members have access to this great tool. Click on MYGS in the upper right-hand corner to login and check it out.

We invite you to log into your MYGS Community account and click on gsLearn to start learning more about how YOU can be the best Girl Scout Volunteer you can be! 

For Step by Step instructions on how to log into gsLearn click here.

My GS toggle arrow

MYGS is your Girl Scout home base and how you access other great tools to manage the Girl Scout experience for your family and troop! By logging into My GS in the upper right-hand corner you can:

  • Manage your Girl Scout membership and all the memberships in your household and troop(s).
  • Find exciting in-person and virtual events for your Girl Scout, your family, or your troop to attend.
  • Maintain your contact information, preferences and manage any changes within your troop.
  • Access essential tools like the Volunteer Toolkit and gsLearn to make your Girl Scout volunteer experience a breeze!
Rallyhood toggle arrow

Rallyhood is an all-in-one platform for Girl Scout communication and collaboration. Rallyhood combines many of the tools Girl Scout service units and troop leaders use to communicate with other volunteers and families; manage event promotion, registration, and payment; share photos; post, respond, and collaborate with other volunteers and parents and more.

Visit GSNI Rallyhood

Download: GSNI Rallyhood Admin & Member User Guide

Council Wide Position Descriptions toggle arrow

Council Wide Position Descriptions 

Council Trainer

Volunteer Cookie Cupboard Manager

 

 

 

Volunteer Essentials toggle arrow

Volunteer Essentials

Here, you will discover essential information that is easy to access and even easier to come back to. We recommend you begin by browsing the sections and return throughout the year to find answers to your questions as they arise. 

Volunteer Toolkit toggle arrow

The Volunteer Toolkit is your official source for delivering easy, fun troop meetings year-round! This fully customizable digital planning tool is accessible on any computer, tablet, or mobile device and provides you with Girl Scout program content, award requirements, and other resources.

Through the Volunteer Toolkit, troop leaders can:

  • Plan the troop’s calendar year.
  • View the troop roster and email families with one click.
  • View badges, Journeys and awards for all program levels including prepopulated tracks for younger and older Multi-Level troop groups (K–5 and 6–12).
  • Explore meeting plans that show a breakdown of every meeting, including a list of materials needed and editable time allotments for each activity within a meeting.
  • Record girls’ attendance at meetings and their badge and Journey achievements.
  • Add council or custom troop events to the troop’s calendar.
  • Enter the troop’s finances (depending on the council’s process).
  • Easily locate resources both national and local council resources, such as Safety Activity Checkpoints.

The Volunteer Toolkit isn’t just for troop leaders!
Caregivers and administrative volunteers can have access too.

  • Caregivers of Girl Scouts in a troop can see troop financial reports, download their attendance and achievement record and stay up-to-date on the great things the troop is doing throughout the year.
  • Individually registered Girl Scouts and their caregivers can access badges, Journeys and awards to take charge of their experience individually.
  • Administrative volunteers can see a demo version of the Volunteer Tookit to see all the programming available to troops and families, as well as provide support and training to their local volunteers.
Service Unit Resources toggle arrow

Service Unit Team Position Trainings

Each service unit team position is required to complete specfic learning path with training courses for the position in gsLearn. Once a volunteer has an active Girl Scout membership and completes a background check, then the Program Manager-Training and Development will assign within 2 weeks.

415 Service Unit Manager Training

Some positons have required annual training during specific times of the year. Those trainings are indicated below.

Fall Product Coordinator - In person through the Product Program Team

Cookie Coordinator - In person through the Product Program Team

*At this time both GSUSA and GSNI are updating Service Unit Team Position Trainings. As they become available, GSNI will assign volunteers within those roles the required training. 

 

Service Unit Manager Resources

Service Unit Manager Manual

415 Service Unit Manager Training

 

Service Unit Event Coordinator Resources

Current resources for Service Unit (SU) Event Coordinators to work with their Service Unit Team to plan local programing and ceremonies. SU Event Coordinators may team up with the Service Unit Recognition Chair to plan local Girl Scout ceremonies throughout the year.

Service Unit Recognition Ceremonies for Girl Scouts and Volunteers

Service Unit Event E-Code Reimbursement Form

 

Service Unit Forms

Annual Service Unit Financial Report Form

Incident Report Guide

    A. Incident Report Form A (Accident)

    B. Incident Report Form B (Behavior)

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