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2025 October Volunteer Newsletter
Kick Off the New Girl Scout Year with Volunteer Training and Fun!
Join us at Camp Torqua on October 25-26 for Leaderpalooza! Get all of your certification training done in a single day or weekend. Certification trainings include: CPR/AED/First Aid, Camping Out, and Archery. Come learn with us-fun included!
Plus, we're hosting a Volunteer Appreciation night that Saturday! Enjoy food, friends, fun, and the opportunity to stay the night at camp. We'll make a fun SWAP and watch a movie under the stars.
The deadline for all of these events is October 13! Follow the button below to learn more or sign up.
Adult Award nominations are open until November 1! These awards recognize the service of our incredible volunteers. Each year, volunteers are nominated by their peers for Girl Scouts of the USA awards or special council-specific honors. There is also an opportunity to recognize a volunteer informally each month with our Spotlight Award, and a Service Unit team through the Standout Service Unit Award.
Our upcoming Adult Awards Office Hours can help you find the right award for a fellow volunteer you'd like to honor! Office Hours will be October 22 from 6-8 p.m.We'll explain the various national and council awards and help provide support for nomination and endorsement paperwork.
With the start of a new Girl Scout year, it is important to complete safety training to ensure your adventures are as safe as they are fun! Please note that volunteers should complete the Illinois Mandated Reporter Training every three years.
In addition, the Understanding Your Role training is assigned annually to each volunteer. It provides a position description and an overview of all volunteer responsibilities. Log into your MYGS account to complete these trainings in gsLearn.
New Leader Onboarding is being enhanced to connect each new troop leader and co-leader to the training path. GSUSA has reorganized the training path to support the new leader throughout their first 12 months instead of their first 90 days. Follow the button below to see a snapshot of enhancements that will be available and find new information!
Girl Scout Daisy (K–1) and Girl Scout Brownie (2-3) troop leaders with at least four new Daisies or Brownies are eligible to receive Girl Scout Experience Boxes!
Each monthly supply box includes step-by-step instructions, ready-to-go supplies, and thoughtful script suggestions. These complimentary resources follow the Daisy First Year Troop Plan and Brownie First Year Plan and can be shipped directly to troop leaders.
Celebrate Juliette Gordon Low's Birthday with a Special Gift
Girl Scouts' founder has a birthday in October! We're giving away a FREE Juliette Gordon Low Birthday fun patch with any purchase of $25 or more between October 20–31! Purchases can be made in store, online, or by phone while supplies last. This patch is part of our new line of Girl Scout-branded fun patches, which retail for just $2 each. The collection is continually growing, so be sure to check them out!
Build-A-Bear Workshop Halloween Treats
Don't miss the Halloween items in our Build-A-Bear Workshop! You can get the new Ghost Kitty, or dress up your furry friends with the new Skeleton Suit or Witch Hat and Broom Set. We also have Halloween MystFurry Friends. These mystery stuffed animals, hidden inside an egg-shaped enclosure, are sure to make a boo-tiful buddy for kids of all ages. Hurry while supplies last!
Shop Hours
Did you know? Customers can shop with us in-person on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Wednesdays, our hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. We are also open the second and fourth Saturdays of the month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. - except in November, when our Shop team will be on the road at various programs!
Shop online at any time! Follow the button below to visit our shop webpage for more details, to browse our exciting inventory, or to learn more about our Build-a-Bear Workshop!
Free Shipping
We are happy to announce that the GSofSI Online Shop will offer free shipping on orders over $50 for the new Girl Scout year once again. The code is MEMBER26 and must be entered prior to payment. This offer is valid thru September 30, 2026.
Women in STEM Webinar
Daisies-Ambassadors
November 7
Virtual or Satellite Location in Edwardsville
Deadline: November 3
Be inspired by professional women in STEM fields! Explore the endless possibilities found in STEM with first-hand experience to ask questions and gain advice.
Fall Fest
Daisies-Ambassadors; Families & Friends
November 8
Edwardsville, IL
Deadline: October 13
Girl Scouts, along with their families and friends, are invited out for a day of fall fun at Camp Torqua! Plus, there is an overnight event for Cadettes-Ambassadors who volunteer at the program!
Set off on a bus trip to a mystery location in our council area. Explore, discover, and make unforgettable memories while enjoying a day of excitement planned by our Older Girl Advisory Board.
These are just a few of the exciting opportunities coming soon! Follow the button below to see more.
