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Girl Scout Volunteering


Night Elf
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Do I want to get back into Girl Scout volunteering? I was a leader of a Brownie troop about 15 years ago. I lasted two years. My co-leader did nothing and the parents drove me nuts. The girls, for the most part, had a good time and were fairly well behaved. I didn't take them anywhere though. We just met at a church once a week for one hour.

 

So in my second year, I got railroaded into being the coordinator of troop assignments. As new girls came into our group, I had to assign them to troops. That also meant calling parents trying to work out when a time would work for them. It was a little stressful.

 

So I've been extremely bored this year. I've been wondering what to do with my time and I figure volunteering at something would be good for me. I love children so working with them is my first preference. The only other thing I can think to do with children is volunteer at the Girls and Boys Club but that is really far away, and I still pick up youngest dd from school. I wouldn't be available to her if I had to drive that far to work. So what else could I do?

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It's a very, very customizable program, so you can make of it what you want.  There is not a set curriculum (well there is, but it's optional).  I think it's a great way to be creative and share adventures with girls.

 

As for assigning girls to troops- I do that - I most definitely have not called parents to align schedules.  Girl registers, is assigned, the TROOP leader gets in touch with her.  If the girl can't join that troop due to a conflict, I see if there is another for her age group. I think it should be between leaders and girls only...... not ONLY because I don't like talking on the phone :)

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The first time around I assume you were doing it and your dd was involved and you had other stuff you were trying to juggle with your other kids.

 

Some things that bothered you before won't bother you now because your stage in life is different and your dd is not involved. It's just about you enjoying sharing your talents now and that makes it different.

 

Oh and since you are a straight up volunteer, I think it's easier for you to set the schedule. My youngest is in a special needs BSA troop. The leader is a volunteer with no child in scouts. He just tells us when he's available and that's when we have a meeting or activity.

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Actually, I didn't have a dd in a nearby troop. Oldest dd was in her stepmom's troop in a different council. It just sounded like fun, so I volunteered. It didn't interfere with anything else I was doing so my meetings were mostly fun. It was just a few parents that made things difficult. I don't even remember what their problem was. Also, I was very laid back during cookie sales. My troop wasn't competitive at all. I worry about getting involved in a troop that wants to go cookie crazy. I dread sitting in front of a store and trying to sell them, for example. I wouldn't want to do that.

 

I filled out an application a couple of years ago and no one called me. I figured they didn't need anymore volunteers in my area. So I went in to complete another one but it said it had received mine already. I emailed the volunteer help line and explained the problem. I got an email that day saying they would make sure someone called me. The next day I got an email from a co-director of my local council. She asked for my phone number. I waited a day, wondering if I should do this. I finally emailed her back. I guess I'll see what happens when she calls. She's going to ask me what I want to do, and I don't have a clear example. Can I tell her I just want to volunteer with the youngest group? They don't sell cookies, right?

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I don't think that girl scouts handles the volunteer applications very well on their website.  Over a year ago I was checking out if a Daisy troop was in my area.  It wasn't.  I loved girl scouts, and I was willing to lead a troop.  So, I filled out the form, but it kept wanting to know the troop I wanted to volunteer for.  Which I obviously didn't have.  So, I sent in a request.  I got back a generic We have this lovely website for you to use.  Use it.  I replied why that didn't work for me.  I got a reply back that they'd forward my request to the local person and will get back to me soon.  Nine months later I got a nice email.   When I asked her what took so long, she said she'd just started.  I don't blame her, but really, what kind of organization lets something like that sit for months  Daughter will be joining the AHG troop.  (rant over)

 

Since you don't have a child in the troop, I would think that any volunteering would be gravy for them.  You could just say "I don't want anything to do with cookie sales"  

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If it's been fifteen years, make sure you customize the Journeys to the girls interests. DD just had a horrible experience doing the Brownie Journeys by the book (Including the leader guide activities). I took over teaching the Journeys and made sure the girls were playing games, giving presentations, and having fun while still learning the key parts of the Journey.

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SKIP the journeys, remember they are completely optional.

 

 


 

I filled out an application a couple of years ago and no one called me. I figured they didn't need anymore volunteers in my area. So I went in to complete another one but it said it had received mine already. I emailed the volunteer help line and explained the problem. I got an email that day saying they would make sure someone called me. The next day I got an email from a co-director of my local council. She asked for my phone number. I waited a day, wondering if I should do this. I finally emailed her back. I guess I'll see what happens when she calls. She's going to ask me what I want to do, and I don't have a clear example. Can I tell her I just want to volunteer with the youngest group? They don't sell cookies, right?

 

Intake for volunteers is AWFUL. It is confusing and takes too long.  Once you have your troop, you get to be the boss and it's all good.

 

The youngest Scouts are in Kindergarten.  They can sell cookies if they wish.  Some local troops just gave girls order forms, didn't do any booths, and raised a few hundred dollars that way.  It is nice to have some money beyond dues.

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Well, 

 

This may sound harsh.....but if you do not get a call back, then I would consider them too disorganized to volunteer for.  If the organization is too disorganized then I would head someplace else.  Maybe try volunteering at a hospital?

 

If they do call back then all is good.  I wish you the best.

 

 

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Well, 

 

This may sound harsh.....but if you do not get a call back, then I would consider them too disorganized to volunteer for.  If the organization is too disorganized then I would head someplace else.  Maybe try volunteering at a hospital?

 

If they do call back then all is good.  I wish you the best.

 

That thought did cross my mind. I didn't pursue it at the original time I did the application because I honestly thought they must not need volunteers. But now I wonder. I'll wait and see what the co-director has to say when she calls. I'm hoping I get a feel for what the local group is like. I may need to attend a meeting though. I don't know if I want to be a leader or a co-leader though. I'll have to see where she needs help. I would think it's harder to find leaders. My co-leader was a parent and I'm sure she did it just to get the troop going. But she was a super nice person. She just didn't plan anything. I did it all, including going to the store to get badges. We didn't have Journeys when I was leading though. I think the curriculum must have been changing as I left.

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I was a co-owner for a while, then transitioned into being a trainer, which I loved. In my council trainers volunteered through adult services to make sure leaders knew what they needed to know - leadership basics, outdoor skills, first aid, etc.

 

I spent a day at a "train the trainer" class, and then shadowed someone for a few sessions. The council provided everything, making it So Much Easier than being a leader.

 

(Alas, I moved, and the new local council was much smaller and not as organized. Then they had a bunch of layoffs and got more disorganized. After a year of trying to volunteer, I gave up).

 

I still have my Trainer shirts, and would do it again if they had a place for me.

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