For many Girl Scouts, the Girl Scout Experience all starts with the generous adults that volunteer to start new troops. Though starting a Girl Scout troop can seem daunting, it’s actually both an easy and simple process. Here we’ve broken down the steps to form your own troop so you can get started learning new skills, seeing new sites, and having fun this fall faster

1. Request a Troop Number. At Girl Scouts of Wisconsin-Badgerland, getting a brand-new troop all starts with the troop number and we have made it easy to get one. All you need to do is fill out this form, and a staff member will reach out to you with your troop number and more information about getting your troop going. You can get started requesting your troop number here.

2. Find Adult Co-leaders. Every Girl Scout Troop needs at least 2 adult co-leaders to complete registration, background checks, and training. Every troop has a different amount of parent involvement, but the more volunteers each troop has, the more successful that troop is.

3. Complete Registration, Background Check, and Training. Having our adults registered, background checked, and trained not only helps ensure the safety of our girls, but also helps our volunteers feel prepared and sets troops up for success. Our staff is here to help.

4. Recruit and Register Girls. Every Girl Scout Troop needs girls, and we recommend getting started with at least 8 girls. This will give girls opportunities to lead in the group, and also leaves space in the troop for new girls to join. Up to 12 girls are able to join a troop with two adult co-leaders, but more girls are able to join if more volunteers are willing to help with the troop.

5. Find a Meeting Time/Space. Every Girl Scout Troop is different, some meet weekly, while others meet monthly. Determining the time, day and locations of your meetings is completely up to you and we are here to support you. Each community is different, but has great spaces your troop can meet in. Some meet in schools, churches, community centers, or banks. The flexibility of time, day, and location allows you to volunteer as often as you want, when you want, and where you choose.

6. Change Lives. By starting a Girl Scout troop, you are giving the girls in your community access to the wealth of opportunities Girl Scouts can provide, so thank you! Girl Scouts offers once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to girls (and volunteers) of all ages. We’re excited to see the impact you have on your community by starting a troop, and hope you are too.

Learn more about getting involved with Girl Scouts and starting a troop at our website gsbadgerland.org