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New Leader Q&A Welcome to Girl Scouts! Here are some commonly asked questions from new leaders. If you still don't find an answer you're looking for, please don't hesitate to call us at 1.800.692.7816. |
For More Information To have someone contact you about Girl Scouts in your area, or to volunteer, click on your county below. |
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General Questions and Answers What are the council hours? Monday-Friday What are the council's toll-free numbers? 1.800.692.7816 Harrisburg Where are the council offices located? There are eight council service centers located in Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Hazleton, Lancaster, Montoursville, Scranton, State College and York. Click here for directions. What is the toll-free number for GSUSA? 1.800.478.7248 Where is the National Girl Scout Headquarters? New York City (GSUSA Web site) When was Girl Scouts started? Girl Scouts was founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low. When is World Thinking Day? February 22nd of each year. (Click here for more information on World Thinking Day.) When is Girl Scouts' Birthday? March 12th of each year. When is Girl Scout Sunday? The Sunday before March 12th of each year. When is Girl Scout week? The week beginning with Girl Scout Sunday through the following Saturday. When is Girl Scout Sabbath? The Saturday of Girl Scout week. Membership Who should I contact if I'm interested in starting a troop? Contact your nearest service center which will direct you to the Membership Specialist who serves your area. Who should I contact regarding troop issues? Leaders should contact the Service Unit Manager or Troop Organizer or Troop Consultant regarding troop issues. How long does it take to place my daughter in a troop? There is not a set answer to this because of the different variables in each Service Unit. But rest assured, our volunteers and staff work to make sure every girl who wants to be a Girl Scout, becomes one. Who decides how many girls are in a troop? Is there a minimum requirement? GSHPA follows the standard guidelines in the Safety-Wise book from GSUSA. A group consists of at least 5 girls from more than one family. It is recommended group sizes be as follows:
The ratios of girls to adults provide appropriate adult leadership. It is recommended for meetings, two adults to every:
Plus, one adult to each additional:
What happens to troop funds if a leader decides not to return? If new leadership is established, the money stays with the troop. If the troop disbands, remaining money in disbanded troops does not belong to individual girls and should not be returned to them. Money should not be disbursed to another organization or charity at any time in order to empty the treasury. The procedure for troops which are about to disband is as follows:
Can girls of different age levels be in the same troop? Yes. Girls are grouped by age level, so there could be girls of several ages in one troop. Girl Scouts of the USA will phase in some exciting program changes beginning fall of 2008, one being a change in age groups. The new grade levels are: Adult Training What training classes are necessary as a new leader? New Leaders/Advisors participate in Welcome to Girl Scouting Orientation, Girl Scout Basics Training, and the appropriate age-level training (i.e. Daisy Girl Scout Leader, Brownie Girl Scout Leader, Junior Girl Scout Leader, or Teen Girl Scout Advisor). Also, if troops/groups plan to travel or camp, other training specific to the trip or camping experience may be necessary. GSHPA training requirements are listed in the Volunteer Resource Guide. Click here for a link. Where can I get a list of training courses? You will find a list of training opportunities in our Volunteer Resources section of the Web site. The GSHPA Volunteer Resource Guide features an Adult Learning Opportunities section. Additional trainings are added to the Web site all the time. Check back frequently for courses you need. Where do I get a training registration form? You can obtain a training registration form by clicking here or visiting our Forms section of the Web site. How can I find out if I'm registered for a training course? Anyone registering for a course will receive a confirmation either by email or mail, depending upon how they registered for the course. If you do not receive confirmation for some reason, please contact the council training registrar at 717.233.1656 or 800.692.7816 to check the status of your registration. Is there a charge for the training courses? Typically there is no charge for training courses. However, some courses such as first-aid and outdoor courses charge a fee to cover the cost of training supplies. Please refer to each individual course listing for specifics as to whether a fee is charged for the course you are interested in attending. Can I attend a training if I'm not registered? No. Please register for any course you are interested in attending. Also, training offered by GSHPA is for registered Girl Scout members. Do I really have to take training to become a leader? GSHPA is committed to providing quality, position related training for all volunteers. Through training, volunteers not only learn how best to work with the girls they serve, but also gain skills and knowledge that are transferable to one's personal development. When adults decide to volunteer to provide Girl Scout programs, be it through a troop or a group, they agree to take the required training for their position(s). How can I become a trainer? Those interested in applying to be considered as a council trainer may contact the Adult Development Director, Jennifer Stolte at 717.757.3561 or 800.673.2561 for an application. How do I require a user name and password for online registration? You will need a valid email account to acquire a username and password for online registration. Click “Online Registration” under the Quick Links section of the home page. Then click Login. Under the username and password, it says click reset my password to change it. If you registered a valid email account with GSHPA and you don’t have a password, one will be sent to you at that email address. If you don’t have a valid email address associated with your information on file at GSHPA, you need to set one up with our database coordinator, Wendy Derr. Her email address is wderr@gshpa.org. Programs Does a girl have to earn the Silver Award before she earns the Gold Award? No. But the Girl Scout Gold Award, Girl Scout Silver Award and the Girl Scout Bronze Award all have their own specific requirements. Please click here for more information. Where should recognitions be placed on the vest or sash? Girl Scout badges, patches, awards, and other insignia should be presented, worn, or displayed only after Girl Scouts have completed the requirements outlined in the appropriate program materials. Click here for correct placement for all age levels. How can I find out if a camp site is available for a particular date? To give council troops/groups equal opportunity to reserve a site, a lottery system is conducted three times a year. Troops/groups should submit the entire rental fee with the application. To have the best change of obtaining your first choice of units, submit your application by the following schedule:
Complete an application with up to three choices of dates or units and forward to reservations@gshpa.org or mail the application to: Camp Resources |
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Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania | 350 Hale Avenue | PO Box 2837 | Harrisburg, PA 17105-2837 | T: 717.233.1656 or 800.692.7816 | F: 717.234.5097 |
Copyright © 2007 www.gshpa.org. All rights reserved. The Girl Scout name, mark and all associated trademarks and logotypes, including the Trefoil Design, are owned by GSUSA. |
