*This post contains affiliate links.
Updated August 2020
Taking responsibility for a Girl Scout troop, no matter what age you lead, is a big job. I have been leading my girls since October 2008, and I still have to do a lot of prep work before each and every meeting. As a teacher for the past 28 33 years, lesson planning comes naturally to me, and I truly enjoy putting all of the elements together to create a meaningful learning experience. I find it a personal challenge to come up with the right activities for our badges, and make sure they are fun and engaging. My younger daughter, whose troop I lead, likes to help me get things together. I just have to make her promise not to tell her friends in school about what we are doing!
Over the years, I have developed a list of resources that I use to plan my meetings. There are books I use and websites I go to whenever I need to jumpstart my brain and find an activity, and I am going to share them with you.
Image created on Canva
Girl Scout Leader Resources-Books
Books are a hands-on way to get focused and organized for your meeting. They answer many questions that you have about planning and what activities are needed to earn a required badge. They are a resource that you can keep in your Girl Scout leader bag or when you are waiting for practice to end. Keep a pen and sticky notes handy for ideas that come to mind as you are reading.
Daisy Girl Scout Leader-Tips for Running a Successful Troop
I updated this book in June 2017 with new chapters and information for those who are beginning their journey as a Girl Scout leader. After receiving numerous emails over the years from Daisy leaders, I wrote this book to help brand new leaders get off on the right foot. From your initial parent contact to starting your first meeting, this guide will start you on your way. It does not discuss the Journeys program.
Games for Girl Scouts
Games for Girl Scouts
This is a must have book for all leaders. It has games for girls at all levels of scouting, so it is an investment. You can use it every year. Mine has been in my leader bag for seven years!
Girl Scout Leader Resources-Websites
The internet has really changed the face of everything, including Girl Scouts. Information is easily shared on the information highway. Here are some of the websites I have used over the years that have helped me a great deal.
All links have been tested and these sites are up and running!
- Daisy Girl Scout ActivitiesGirl Scout leader blog especially for Daisy Scout leaders.
- How to Earn Daisy Badges This site has each Daisy badge planned for leaders
- How to Earn Brownie Badges This site has each Brownie badge planned for leaders
- How to Earn Junior Badges This site has each Junior Badge planned for leaders
- Cadette Journey Resources This site has each Cadette Journey planned for leaders.
- Activities for Daisy Girl Scout, Brownies, Juniors and MoreGirl Scout Leader is a blog devoted to sharing activities for earning Daisy petals, Brownie Try Its and badges, Junior badges and more.
- Girl Scouts | For GirlsOfficial GSUSA website section for the girls to use.
- Girl Scout Moms – BabyCenterThis is a group for moms who are Girl Scout Leaders, Girl Scout troop volunteers, Girl Scout cookie moms. We can share ideas, talk about the challenges of managing a group of busy girls, etc.
- Apples4theteacher.com – Elementary Education Teacher Resources Apples4theteacher.com is an elementary education resource site for teachers and homeschoolers. Educational activities are categorized by subject and or holiday – Language Arts and Literacy, Spanish, ESL, Science, Social Studies, Math activities, Fore
- DLTK’s Crafts for KidsFree, easy and cheap craft ideas for leaders to use.
- Making Friends
Kids craft projects supplies for Girl Scout leaders, Class Moms, Homeschoolers, Librarians and Parents - Leaders Connecting Leaders This site is for all levels of scouts. It is written by an woman with over 25 years of Girl Scout experience.
- Girl Scout Leader 101 This blog has another leader with years and years of experience sharing what she does with her troop. All levels are covered.
- Troop Leader Mom-While it has not been active since 2016, the blog has a few years of great meeting ideas you can still use.
- Council’s Own-This website has directions on how to complete Council’s Own badges
I own 2 sweetFrog frozen yogurt stores. Our corporate office has rolled out a program for us to help scouts earn the financial literacy badges. I am looking for a pamplet, handout, syllabus, or any pre-packaged set of requirements for these badges to make sure we are covering what is needed.
The boy scouts have merit badge pamphlets that list the requirements, worksheets, and stories/background/etc to help teach the material.
Is there something similar for girl scouts and if so would you point me in the right direction?
Thank you
Every level of Girl Scouts has a handbook with the steps to earn financial literacy badges. You can find Daisy, Brownie and Junior handbooks here (these are my affiliate links) http://amzn.to/1qHaZjd Cadette level guidebook is here http://amzn.to/1SC7KWZ Seniors here http://amzn.to/1SC7NCh and Ambassador here http://amzn.to/1SC7PtU I hope this helps!