Adult Training and Resources
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: 
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!
Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois offers lots of online training and resources for our volunteers. From 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 in gsLearn, our online training platform
- A range of evening and weekend virtual classrooms to expand upon the learning achieved from the online training courses and the opportunity to connect with new leaders
- Resources to help you quickly and easily prepare for meetings and organize your communications with your troop teams, like our Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) and Rallyhood
- Individual guidance from our council’s Community Engagement and Adult Education 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. Let’s get connected! A council team member will email you a welcome letter introducing our New Leader Onboarding program along with other pertinent links and resources to help you acclimate to this important role. You can also expect other email invitations to help launch you into the online training in gsLearn, to welcome you to our online community in Rallyhood and to coordinate a one-on-one phone call to discuss other important details of the onboarding experience, like how to earn rewards for your troop and how to progress through the training program.
Shortly thereafter, a welcome package will be mailed to you to provide all other necessary training guides, materials and resources to best support your learning throughout your first year.
During your learning experience and growth as a leader, your council staff support team will be there for you along the way by phone, virtual & in-person training sessions and Rallyhood. You will also become an important part of your Service Unit and can expect additional support from the volunteers in your local area.
If you are eager to launch your training before we've connected with you, we love your go-getter Girl Scout spirit! Log into your MY GS account and navigate to gsLearn to begin the assigned learning paths. You can also visit our Event Calendar to register for the upcoming virtual classrooms that will be sure to take your understanding to the next level!
We are proud to offer our new leaders a comprehensive training program filled with a variety of quality information designed to progress with the leader’s experience over the course of their first twelve months. Check out the New Leader Onboarding Map below.
New Leaders, we've got you covered! Here's what you can expect with your onboarding training:
LEARNING PATH 1 - Before Your First Meeting
(gsLearn Prerequisites: Illinois Mandated Reporter, Understanding Your Role)
- Troop Safety
- Girl Scout Levels and Your Role as a Troop Leader
- Money Management
- Delivering Inclusive Program
- Family Engagement – The Key to Success
Optional for All:
- Managing My Troops from My Account
- Volunteer Toolkit – Troop Leader View
- Introduction to Rallyhood
- Girl Scouts Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Course
LEARNING PATH 2 - First Troop Meeting & Year Plan
(gsLearn Prerequisites: LEARNING PATH 1 – Before Your First Meeting)
- What Girl Scouts Do
- The Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE)
- Ceremonies & Traditions
- Your First Troop Meeting
- Behavior Management for Girl Scouts
Optional for All:
- Navigating Conflict with Confidence
- Daisy Troop Leader Basics
- Brownie Troop Leader Basics
- Junior Troop Leader Basics
- Cadette Troop Leader Basics
- Senior Troop Leader Basics
- Ambassador Troop Leader Basics
- Multi-Level Troop Leader Basics
- Mental Wellness 101
- Sparking Girl Scout Interest in STEM
Register for the New Leader Onboarding Virtual Classroom - Welcome to the Basics: Part 1 & 2 to supplement your online learning.
LEARNING PATH 3 - Troop Finances & Money Earning
(gsLearn Prerequisites: LEARNING PATH 1 – Before Your First Meeting, LEARNING PATH 2 – First Troop Meeting & Year Plan)
- Budgeting Your Dreams
- Funding the Fun - Managing Girl Scout Troop Finances
- Earning Money
- Auxiliary Income
- Financial Reporting
- The Girl Scout Cookie Program
Optional for All:
- Cheddar Up: Digital Payments Made Easy
LEARNING PATH 4 - Field Trips, Camping & Travel Plan
(gsLearn Prerequisites: LEARNING PATH 1 – Before Your First Meeting, LEARNING PATH 2 – First Troop Meeting & Year Plan, LEARNING PATH 3 – Troop Finances & Money Earning
- Field Trips & Travel
- Traveling with Troops
- Girl Scouts in the Outdoors
- Camping In Certification
* Optional for All:
- Adult Outdoor Experience – Camping Out Introduction
- Part 1 – Getting Ready to Camp
- Part 2 – Essential Outdoor Skills
- Part 3 – The Adventure
*These courses are part of the Camping Out blended learning program and do not, by themselves, fulfill the Camping Out certification requirements. Contact Customer Care for certification information.
Register for the New Leader Onboarding Virtual Classroom - Welcome to the Basics: Part 3 & 4 to supplement your online learning.
CONGRATULATIONS! You are now a trained Troop Leader!
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. Adult Education has also created a series of Virtual Classrooms to support you through your onboarding process. The New Leader Onboarding Virtual Classroom Series: Welcome to the Basics is designed to supplement the gsLearn coursework required for New Leaders. The series is broken down into five parts and will be offered throughout your first year of being a New Leader. You do not have to be a New Leader to register. Please visit the Event Calendar for more information on the Five Part Series.
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
