Adult Training and Resources
Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois has lots of training opportunities for new and existing volunteers. Check out everything we have to offer! Interested in something and don’t see it on our website? Let us know! Be sure to also check out our Event Calendar for any scheduled trainings and our Forms section for any training forms we have available. We also have lots of online trainings and resources available that you can access when it fits in YOUR schedule. We’re committed to giving you the tools you need to provide the best possible Girl Scout Leadership Experience!
Training by Request Form & Rules
You can access the form by clicking here.
Follow these 6 simple steps/requirements to bring a training to your area:
- To fill out this form, you need to be a Service Unit Manager.
- Check the Events Calendar to ensure the training you are requesting isn't already scheduled nearby.
- Round up a minimum of 6 participants that will take the training before submitting the TBR.
- Provide one or more possible training locations.
- Provide different dates/time (this includes evenings and weekends).
- Submit the form a minimum of 4 weeks prior to the first training date option.
*Please note that due to equipment delivery, facility rental, and other potential costs incurred by the requested training, the training cost per participant may increase which will result in higher costs than council planned trainings.
- Have you recently completed a training? If you have recently participated in a training session and haven't completed the Course Evaluation, please share your experience with us! We love feedback!
- Online Training and Resources
Check out our new Guide to gsLearn to access the latest & greatest trainings!
Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois offers lots of online training and resources for our volunteers. From Journey Resources to Girl Scout Songs to Waterfront Safety Training - we’ve got you covered!
New Leader Onboarding
Congratulations! We are excited you’ve decided to become a Girl Scout Troop Leader. You are well on your way to transforming the lives of girls by guiding them through the Girl Scout experience. Troop leaders work with council staff and other volunteers to help girls learn new skills, explore new adventures, make new friends and create memories that will last a lifetime. Check out our training resources, including our New Leader Onboarding Map, in the drop down below.
New Troop Leader Training 
You will have all the support you need from us, including:
- Convenient, online trainings on a range of topics, available to view and review on your schedule
- Resources to help you quickly and easily prepare for meetings, like our Volunteer Toolkit (VTK)
- Individual guidance from our council’s Community Engagement and Volunteer Resources teams, as well as experienced Girl Scout volunteers in your local community helping you along the way.
We have a few simple steps to follow to get you started after your registration and role designation has been completed.
1. Watch your inbox for our New Leader Welcome Series to support you through your onboarding and as you begin to take charge with your administrative functions and Girl Scout programming for your troop. These emails will also remind you to stay up-to-date with your New Leader Orientation training path available in our e-learning system, gsLearn.
Ready to start your online training? Log into your MY GS account and go to gsLearn.
We are proud to offer our new leaders a comprehensive training program filled with over 5 hours of quality information designed to progress with the leader’s experience over the course of their first 90 days. The training topics will help move each volunteer through introductions of Girl Scout concepts to useful information to set up and manage their troop and volunteer team as well as the know-how to lead successful troop meetings and outings.
Check out the New Leader Onboarding Map below & the resources linked within it!
New Leaders, we've got you covered! Here's what you can expect with your onboarding training:
WELCOME
- Register as an adult member of Girl
Scouts
- Select the role of Leader or Co-Leader in MYGS
-
Complete background check and wait for approval
- Email from
Adult Education
LEARNING PATH 1
- New Leaders Guide to Success
-
Illinois Mandated Reporter Training
- Understanding Your Role
- What Girl Scouts Do
- Troop Leader Expectations
LEARNING PATH 2
- Your First Troop Meeting
- Family Engagement: The Key to Success
- Volunteer Toolkit: Troop Leader View
- The
Girl Scout Leadership Experience
Check out the optional GSUSA Foundations 1-4 in your gsLearn
Content Library to expand your knowledge!
LEARNING PATH 3
- Budgeting Your Dreams
- Making it Happen: Money Management
- Cheddar Up: Digital Payments Made Easy
-
Earning Money
- Auxillary Income
-
Financial Reporting
- GSofSI Product Sales (when
applicable)
- The Girl Scout Cookie Program
LEARNING PATH 4
- Girl Scouts in the
Outdoors
- Ceremonies and Traditions
- Traveling with Troops
CONGRATULATIONS
You are now
a trained Troop Leader!
Consider these
additional trainings:
- Adult and Child/Pediatric CPR/AED &
First Aid
- Camping In Training
- Camping Out Training
2. Connect with your service unit team and attend monthly service unit meetings as early as your first month as a new leader to gain valuable information on how integrate your girls into service unit functions and to build relationships with volunteers in your area who can help you along your troop leader journey.
3. Check out the Event Calendar on our website often for upcoming programs to explore with your troop or other in-person adult training, like CPR/AED/First Aid or our outdoor trainings.
Check out these Troop Leadership Support Videos:
Onboarding Resources
Troop Management Training
Guide to gsLearn
IL Mandated Reporter Training
Volunteer Essentials
Understanding Your Role
Delivering GS Programs Resources
Outdoor Training
CPR Training
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Traveling with Troops
Traditions and Ceremonies
Short and Snappy
Volunteer Toolkit (VTK)
The Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) is a comprehensive digital tool accessible via the web on your home computers, smartphones, and tablets to help you have a fun and successful year with your Troop!
Login to the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) »
To access the VTK you must have an active account in the Member Community.
Who Has Access to the Volunteer Toolkit
Service Unit/Administration Volunteers
Troop Leaders and Co-Leaders
Parent and Caregiver of Girl Scouts in a Troop
Parent and Caregiver of Girl Scouts not in a Troop (Juliettes/IRGs)
Administrative Resources
Publications
Role Selection in MyGS
Looker
