Whether you are a veteran leader with years of experience under your belt or a newbie wondering how to get started, here are 5 truths about being a Girl Scout leader.
*This post contains affiliate links.
Being a Girl Scout leader was one of the most wonderful things that I did with my daughter for the 13 years that she was in scouts. I have memories with her that I cherish. We did many wonderful things as a troop for our community, had great adventures, and built a sisterhood of friends that was her soft place to fall during the difficult times of adolescence.
Was it always fairy dust, rainbows, unicorns and glitter?
Nope. Not at all.
While at times it was stressful, the good times far outweighed the difficult ones.
Whether you are a brand new leader, one with a few years under her belt, or one that is contemplating walking away from scouting, here are 10 truths about being a Girl Scout leader.
Here are 5 truths about being a Girl Scout leader.
Being a Girl Scout Leader is Work-The Good Kind!
Anything worth doing is not easy, plain and simple. Taking on a group of girls you may or may not know and creating a sisterhood full of learning, service and adventure is not a task for the weak of heart. If you do not have a background in education, you will need to learn troop management skills, how to organize a meeting, and how to create a successful meeting. My TpT shop, Leadership Made SImple, is full of meeting plans for all levels, troop management ideas, games and more.
Being a Girl Scout Leader is Time Consuming if You Do It Right
(and you need to learn how to delegate)
I read in one of the Girl Scout Facebook groups that a leader was told that it should only take about one hour to plan a meeting.
I almost spit out my coffee when I read that!
Learning anything new takes time. You don’t have one piano lesson and play a concerto. I remember when I first started my career in education. The way I taught my first class has a faint resemblance to how I teach today. (SIde note-I am now teaching the children of my students whom I taught in my first several years as an educator!) Back then, I stayed one day ahead of my class. It wasn’t until my third year that I got into a groove on how to do things.
Planning a meeting, if you have not done it before, is a learned skill. That takes time.
Buying craft materials, ordering badges, planning a field trip-it all takes time.
It is important to have a team of volunteers to help and not do it all yourself. Ask for specific help and then delegate. Can a parent plan the trip? Can a parent go to the craft store and buy the supplies? Learn to ask for help.
Parents Will Frustrate You (If You Let Them)
One of the biggest frustrations for many leaders is the lack of response from parents. Not telling the leader that her daughter is missing a meeting (and the leader bought the supplies and prepped). Not RSVPing to an event, or saying that the child will be at the event and not show up. Calling or texting 24/7 over something “important” that is not really important. Parents trying to tell you how to run the troop.
Here are two things that are true…
- You have no control over their behavior, but you can control how you react to their behavior.
- You can set up boundaries and rules so these behaviors will cease.
People will treat you how you let them treat you. As women, we are taught to be nice and not make waves. I am here to tell you to put your foot down. If a parent misses the deadline to register for an event, her child misses out. If a parent tries to pick up cookies at a non-designated time, do not answer the door.
Girls Will Come and Go…
(and it’s not about you!)
During the elementary school years, I had a few girls come in and out of my troop. The door was always open, and when they left, it was on good terms. I never took their quitting scouts personally, as every child is different and Girl Scouts is not a lifelong commitment for most. Part of childhood and life itself is trying new things and seeing what you like to do.
Girls move, their schedules change, parents schedules change…there are many things that are not in your control. As long as you are doing your best, then don’t take the lack of interest personally.
In fact, when my troop were seventh grade Cadettes, I shared how our numbers dropped from 11 to 5, and neither the other leader or I minded. There are so many benefits to having a smaller troop.
Stop Comparing Yourself to Other Leaders
(and run your troop your way!)
Recently, my 21 year old daughter and I were discussing ways for her to spend her free time, and the topic of volunteering came up. I asked her what she thought of being an Adult Volunteer in a local Girl Scout troop. She has worked with kids her entire life and she was a 13 year scout.
She looked at me and said, “I don’t know if I could deal with a different kind of leader. Ours was such a laid back troop.”
I took that as a compliment.
We sold cookies only three times and camped when we were older. We stopped doing badge work and earned only four badges from Cadettes to Ambassadors. Our meetings were chill and for the girls who remained after elementary school, our troop was a soft place to fall. Our focus was on sisterhood and service.
One of the beautiful things about being a Girl Scout leader is that you can run your troop your way. Every leader does things differently, and your way is what works for you. Don’t compare yourself to others, as comparison is the thief of joy. Most of the women I started with as leaders did not finish, even though their troops sold cookies, marched in parades, and did other things my troop did not do. Their troops had their own adventure, which were different than mine.
And that is okay!
What are some other truths about being a Girl Scout leader?
