Q & A About Troop Leadership

Where do the troop leaders come from?

All our troop leaders are adult volunteers. They come from

the local community. They are parents, grandparents,

married and single adults who have a heart for girls and

their future. They are women and men. They are full-time

employed, part-time employed, and stay-at-home parents.

Who can be a troop leader?

Anyone who is over the age of 18, who becomes an adult

member of Girl Scouts of the USA, is willing to have a

Background Check, and to complete the required online

training components.

What skills does it take to be a troop leader?

Organizational skills, good communication skills, flexibility, a good sense of humor, kindness and respect for every girl and her family are essential to being a troop leader. The

ability to delegate jobs to others and to handle things when they don't go just right are very helpful as well.

A troop leader does not need to be the expert of all things. She/he needs to find others who can share their knowledge, talents and skills with the girls. Being willing to learn and

experience new things makes for a great troop leader.

How much time does it take to be a troop leader?

That's a difficult question to answer. The length of a troop meeting can be from 1 hour (typical for a Daisy troop) to 2+ hours (for older girls). Add in the planning and preparation for the meeting -- that's where the time can be spent! GSUSA has listened to troop leaders and is continually working on an online tool called the Volunteer Tool Kit (VTK), which can help leaders plan their troop meetings for earning badges, Journeys, scheduling field trips, sending emails, and keeping track of troop finances. Some troop leaders are finding the VTK to be very helpful. Others still like to do it 'by hand'.

Many troop leaders use online sites such as Pinterest for researching how to earn badges, craft ideas, links to YouTube songs, etc.

Trainings for our troop leaders can take some time as well.

It is not realistic to take every applicable training in the first

year of leadership, however, we encourage our leaders to

take the level training for the level the girls are in at the time.

Enrichment trainings are available throughout the year at

council events such as the Fall Volunteer Conference, held at

Camp Agnes Arnold in Conroe. It is a weekend event with a

Saturday-only option for attending. Registration is a must

through GSSJC.

What are the advantages of being a troop leader?

The troop leadership team makes the decisions about when the troop will meet. What day, what time, and how often (we highly recommend twice a month). They also decide on where the troop will meet, and how many girls will be in the troop. Being a troop leader ensures a place for her/his daughter in a troop!

Are there men Girl Scout troop leaders?

Yes! Men can be a part of a troop leadership team. There must be an unrelated female member of the troop leadership team present at troop meetings and activities.