Getting Started

You're doing something amazing by volunteering with Girl Scouts.

Throughout the year, you'll introduce Girl Scouts to new experiences and watch their confidence and skills grow! We've compiled resources to help new volunteers get started. You'll also receive continued support from dedicated staff members to guide you through your first year.

Questions? Email Customer Care or call us at 406-252-0488.

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Follow these steps below to make your role official and get started with the fun!

Register online as an adult member of Girl Scouts.
Complete a criminal background check. You will receive email invite from noreply@Asurint.com

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Before you begin:

Review the Troop Guide
Review the Checklist for New Troop Co-Leaders

Complete the Volunteer Trainings:

Your next step is to complete two required trainings in gsLearn.

Log in to MyGS (or click the Start Orientation button).
Select My Account if you do not see "Welcome..." and your name.
Click on gsLearn to activate your account.
NOTE: The training will not appear at your first log-in. Please log out, wait at least an hour, and then log in again.
Log back in and on your dashboard you will see the trainings needed.
First, complete the required Troop Leadership and Volunteer Orientation (45 minutes).
Next, complete the required Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Course (50 minutes).
Once you complete these two trainings, we will be in touch to discuss next steps.

Helpful Tips

Watch this helpful video for help logging into gsLearn for the first time.
gsLearn works best on a computer with Google Chrome browser. gsLearn may not work in other browsers and will only work on mobile devices in the Chrome browser.
Having trouble? Email customercare@gsmw.org for assistance.

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Meet with your co-leader to get to know each other and plan how you will work together.
Review your Troop Roster in the Volunteer Toolkit located in MyGS. You can also view the Volunteer Toolkit Training Guide for additional information.
Complete Family Engagement Training* (optional).
Hold a Caregiver Meeting and request caregivers complete the Involvement Form. Don't forget to ask adults for help throughout the year.
Schedule regular troop meetings. Use the Volunteer Toolkit to plan your year with ready to go meeting plans!
Take a minute to look through the Girl Scout Calendar and the Troop Year Planner.
Connect with your service unit.
Identify an unrelated, background checked troop volunteer to be the second bank signer and open a new troop bank account.
Have fun! Don’t forget to relax and enjoy the experience! You are creating memories and cultivating friendships that will last a lifetime.

*Trouble logging in? Check out the My Account Tip Sheet: gsLearn for help.

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New Troop Leaders - Daisy & Brownie (Provided by GSUSA)

Complimentary Girl Scout Experience Boxes for new Daisy and Brownie troops are here to support you every step of the way!

As the leader of a new Girl Scout Daisy (k-1) or Brownie (2-3) troop in participating councils, you’ll receive monthly complimentary supply boxes. Filled with step-by-step instructions, ready-to-go supplies, and thoughtful script suggestions, meeting planning just got easier!

New Troop Leaders - Other Levels (Provided by GSMW)

Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming is excited to announce a benefit to new Girl Scout troop leaders. Our Troop Welcome Box and Meeting in a Minute box will provide troop leaders with step-by-step instructions and supplies to lead with confidence, help their girls grow, and have the best year ever!

Each box contains all the primary supplies you need to conduct a successful troop meeting:

Creative, fun, and age-appropriate activities
Detailed instructions
Activity supplies*
And snacks!

*Basic supplies may be required.

Complimentary new troop support boxes are here to help get your troop started!

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Benefits of Participating

Girl Scouts participating in the Product Programs will learn key skills that will help them in business and life.

These include:

Goal setting
Decision making
Money management
People skills
Business ethics

Not only do girls develop skills during these programs, they earn fun rewards for themselves and proceeds for their troop!  Girls set their goals to earn the fun, theme-based rewards such as plush animals, camping gear and the latest technology. Proceeds are earned by the troop based on girl participation. These proceeds can be used to purchase memberships, uniforms, badges, troop supplies, camp registrations and so much more! This gives girls the power to fund their own adventures and decide what is most important to them. More proceeds earned means less funds needed from families!

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Girl Scout Terms | Print View >

The following words are used frequently in Girl Scouting. In addition to definitions, note capitalization, usage and acronyms.

A - F

ABC Bakers: One of two bakeries licensed by Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) to provide cookies for the annual Girl Scout Cookie Program.

Ashdon Farms: One of two candy and nut vendors licensed by Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) to provide product for the Fall Product Program.

Badges vs Patches: Badges are awards given to girls once they've completed all badge requirements and vary for each age level. Badges are to be placed on the front of the girls' vests or sashes. Patches, often referred to as "fun patches" represent fun activities that troops can participate in that are not designated as official GSUSA activities or requirements. Patches are placed on the back of the girls' vests or sashes.

Bridging: When girls move from one program grade level to the next; may include an award for the girls completing the bridging award requirements, and likely will include a ceremony.

Bronze Award: The highest award Girl Scout Juniors can earn. Earned by girls in the 4th-5th grades. It recognizes efforts in a wide range of Girl Scout experiences and a commitment to working to better ones life and the lives of others.

Brownie: A Girl Scout Brownie is a Girl Scout in 2nd or 3rd grade. One of six levels of Girl Scouting.

Cadette: A Girl Scout Cadette is a Girl Scout in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade. One of six levels of Girl Scouting.

Campout: Overnight camping with outdoor trained and experienced volunteer leaders.

Clover Go App: A payment processing app that can be used by Troops or Caregivers/Girls during the Fall or Cookie Program to collect payments via credit cards from customers. Once the Troop is signed up to use this app, they will need to add the Caregiver’s email to create a user profile to allow access to this tool. Customer payments accepted through Clover Go are deposited straight into the Troop Bank Account.

Color Guard: Girl Scouts who carry, guard, raise, and/or lower the flag.

Cookie Program: An entrepreneurial program for Girl Scouts that takes place annually each February - April with the sale of our iconic Girl Scout Cookies.

Cookie Program Business Skills: These are the 5 skills every girl learns by participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program. It's not just a way to earn proceeds for their troop, it's financial empowerment: (1) Goal Setting; (2) Decision Making; (3) Money Management; (4) People Skills; and (5) Business Ethics.

Council: One of Girl Scouts of the USA's local affiliates, with authority over Girl Scouting in a specific section of the country. Currently, there are 111 Girl Scout Councils in the USA.

Counselor in Training (CIT): Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador who has taken a training course to learn camp counselor skills.

Daisy: A Girl Scout Daisy is a Girl Scout in kindergarten or 1st grade. One of six levels of Girl Scouting.

Day Camp: Program conducted within a 12-hour period for a minimum of 2 days. Girls register as individual participants and are placed in temporary units for program activities.

Destinations: Trip or event beyond girls' own troops and councils. Destinations fall into one of five different categories: international, outdoor, science, people, or getaways. All destination events provide an opportunity for individual members to broaden their perspectives and give Girl Scouting enhanced visibility.

Digital Cookie: A digital platform providing girls with a fun, safe, and interactive space for selling cookies to customers online. Girls send emails to customers to invite them to purchase and then track their progress in Digital Cookie.

Fall Product Program: An entrepreneurial program for Girl Scouts that takes place annually each fall from September - November with the sale of nuts, candy, magazine subscriptions, and more.

Founder’s Day: The birthday of Juliette Gordon Low, founder of Girl Scouts, October 31st.

Friendship Circle: Symbolic gesture in which Girl Scouts form a circle by clasping each other's hands, right arm over the left arm and sing a song. Often used as a closing ceremony.

G - I

Girl Led: Girls play an active role in planning activities, while adults provide guidance, ensuring that planning, organization, and set-up are age-appropriate. Evaluation of all activities is done jointly with girls and is integral to a high-quality Girl Scout experience.

Girl Scout: A member of Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) or another country's national Girl Scout organization. The U.S. organization grants membership to any girl who has:

Made the Girl Scout Promise
Accepted the Girl Scout Law
Paid the annual dues
Met applicable grade level requirements

Girl Scout Adult: An adult member of Girl Scouts of the USA. The organization grants membership as a Girl Scout adult to any person who has:

Accepted its principles and beliefs, as stated in the preamble of its constitution.
Paid the annual or lifetime dues.
Met applicable age/education standards. A Girl Scout adult must be 18 or older or have a high school diploma or the equivalent.

Girl Scout Birthday: The official birthday of Girl Scouting is March 12, 1912. This is when the first meeting was held.

Girl Scout Grade Levels: Also known as program age levels.

Daisy (Grades K-1)
Brownie (Grades 2-3)
Junior (Grades 4-5)
Cadette (Grades 6-8)
Senior (Grades 9-10)
Ambassador (Grades 11-12)

Girl Scout Handshake: Formal way of greeting other Girl Scouts by shaking with the left hand, while giving the Girl Scout sign with the right hand.

Girl Scout Leader: A registered Girl Scout adult, background checked and trained volunteer who meets regularly with girls to help them achieve the purposes of Girl Scouting.

Girl Scouts Leader’s Day: A day of appreciation for adult volunteers in Girl Scouting held on April 22nd every year.

Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE): The engine for everything girls do in Girl Scouting. The experience identifies all the elements that need to be in place for Girl Scouting to achieve its mission; Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. When Discover, Connect, and Take Action activities are combined with the Girl Scout Processes of Girl Led, Learning by Doing, and Cooperative Learning, girls achieve the desired and expected short-term leadership outcomes, ultimately resulting in Girl Scouting achieving its mission.

Girl Scout Troop: Basic unit in Girl Scouting consisting of girls, adult leaders, and troop committee members. One of six pathways for girls to participate in Girl Scouting.

This group of girls and adults (minimum of 5 girls and 2 adults) that meet on a regular basis to engage in Girl Scout Program activities. Troops are organized according to “Grade Level” which places girls together with others in the same social/developmental stage.

Girl Scout Week: The week containing March 12, the Girl Scout birthday, the anniversary of the first Girl Scout troop meeting in the United States in 1912. This observance is celebrated each year, starting with the Sunday on or preceding the 12th.

Gold Award: The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest and most prestigious award that Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors can earn. This award recognizes the leadership, efforts, and impact girls have had on their communities. Requires at least 80 hours of planning and service, as well as one Journey completed. (Two Journeys completed if the Girl Scout Silver Award was not previously earned.)

gsLearn: Accessed through myGS (the top right corner of the website), gsLearn is a place for volunteers to find training courses and resources. It will be pre-populated with items that should be viewed.

GSMW: Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming; The name of your geographically assigned Girl Scout council.

Help Clips: Short videos that are provided to show volunteers and caregivers how to effectively complete steps of the Fall and Cookie Product Programs.

Highest Awards: Consists of the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards. Awarded to Girl Scouts who complete a Take Action project in their community.

J - Z

Juliettes: Individually Registered Girl Scouts (IRGs) who are not part of the traditional troop program. These girls still work towards the same badges and activities, they simply do not belong to a troop. They can join other girls at council-wide events and can participate in all that Girl Scouts has to offer.

Journeys: Girl Scout Journeys are multi-session experiences in which girls dig deeper into their interests and use the skills they gain along the way to make a difference in their community. While badges show the world you’ve learned a new skill, Journey awards say, “I found a way to make a difference.” During a Journey, Girl Scouts do hands-on activities, connect with experts, and take the lead on a Take Action project with their community. And once a Junior, Cadette, Senior, or Ambassador completes their Journey, they’re ready to drive lasting change in their communities by going for their Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award.

Juliette Gordon Low: The founder of the Girl Scout Movement in the United States. Also known as Daisy.

Juliette Gordon Low’s Birthday: Special Girl Scout day celebrating Juliette's birthday on October 31st.

Junior: A Girl Scout Junior is a Girl Scout in 4th or 5th grade. One of six levels of Girl Scouting.

M2 Media Group: Our magazines and more partner who provides products for girls to sell during the Fall Product Program.

M2 Online System (M2OS): A digital platform providing girls with a fun, safe, and interactive space for selling candy, nuts, magazines and more to customers online during the Fall Product Program. Also platform volunteers use to manages orders, sales reports, and messages during the Fall Product Program.

Member Experience Manager (MEM): A regional team member of GSMW dedicated to providing volunteers, girls, and caregivers with excellence in customer service by responding to inquiries on any topic related to Girl Scouting. Customer Care is available Monday through Friday from 8:30am-5:00pm and can be reached by calling 406-252-0488, emailing customercare@gsmw.org, or through the Contact Us page on the website.

Membership Year: October 1st through September 30th.

National Headquarters: The Girl Scout national organization's center of operations. In July 1992, GSUSA moved its national headquarters to 420 Fifth Avenue in New York City.

Patches: Also known as "fun patches." Supplementary insignia received by girls for simply participating in an event or activity. Girls wear participation patches and pins on the back of their Girl Scout uniform.

Resident Camp: Sessions where girls stay overnight at a GSMW Camp location and are generally there for at least five days (and four nights). The program is operated and staffed by council, and the campers are supervised by camp counselors under the direction of our Camp Director.

Senior: A Girl Scout Senior is a Girl Scout in 9th or 10th grade. One of six levels of Girl Scouting.

Service Unit: Geographic unit of troops/groups within a region which facilitates delivery of services and the Girl Scout program to girls and adults.

Silver Award: Highest award earned by Girl Scout Cadettes. It recognizes efforts in a wide range of Girl Scout experiences and a commitment to working to better ones life and the lives of others.

Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM): Girl Scouts introduces girls of every age to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) experiences relevant to everyday life. Whether they're discovering how a car engine runs, how to manage finances, or exploring careers in STEM fields, girls are fast-forwarding into the future.

Smart Cookies: An online platform that volunteers use to manages orders, sales reports, and booth selections during the Cookie Program.

SWAPS: The tradition of Girl Scouts exchanging handmade or purchased small keepsakes. Referred to as " Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere."

Tag-Along: Child who is not a registered Girl Scout or a registered Girl Scout not of the grade level for the specific program or event.

Trefoil: International symbol of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting. The trefoil represents the three parts of the Girl Scout promise.

Volunteer Essentials: An online repository (accessed through the website) available to volunteers with valuable resources and important information related to volunteering including safety, finances, and product program details.

Volunteer Tool Kit (VTK): Accessed through myGS (the top right corner of the website), VTK is a place for volunteers to customize meeting plans, access badge plans, send messages to caregivers and track attendance and what badges girls have earned.

World Thinking Day: February 22nd, the birthday of both Lady Baden-Powell, World Chief Guide, and her husband, Lord Baden-Powell, founder of Boy Scouts. First celebrated in 1927, the day was renamed at the 1999 Girl Guide/Girl Scout World Conference. Girl Guides and Girl Scouts all over the world use the day to think of each other and exchange greetings, learn about other countries, and give to the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund.