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Volunteer Training

 

Welcome! We're thrilled to have adults like you who are willing to give their hearts, energy, and time to serve our girls. Check out the information below to learn about our volunteer training opportunities. If you have any questions about volunteer training, please email us . The Training and Support team is here to help!

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What's New

NEW! Steps 1-4: New Leader Start-Up

Pre-requisites: None
Fee: Free

We are thrilled to offer a quick start-up opportunity for new leaders! Come and engage with other new leaders, while taking all the required New Leader Trainings! 

  1. Jump start your role as a troop leader
  2. Same training as the online option
  3. Ask an experienced trainer questions
  4. Experience some Girl Scout traditions 

                                               

New Leader Training

GSEP's New Leader Training is a three-step process that is required for all leaders and co-leaders, and must be completed within three months of your volunteer placement. All three steps are available online and are free! 

NEW! Steps 1-4: New Leader Start-Up

Pre-requisites: None
Fee: Free

We are thrilled to offer a quick start-up opportunity for new leaders! Come and engage with other new leaders, while taking all the required New Leader Trainings! 

  1. Jump start your role as a troop leader
  2. Same training as the online option
  3. Ask an experienced trainer questions
  4. Experience some Girl Scout traditions 

Step 1: GS101

Required
Pre-requisites: None
Fee: Free

This 45 minute online introduction to the Girl Scout program provides background information on Girl Scouts of the USA and talks about the program goals. It is only offered online. You can take this training here. 

Steps:

  1. Visit GS101 course site
  2. Enter your contact information
  3. Select "Council Name" as Eastern Pennsylvania 
  4. Watch video modules 

Take GS101 Now

Step 2: Volunteer Essentials 

Required
Pre-requisites: Step 1
Fee: Free

This 50 minute online workshop introduces new volunteers to their roles and responsibilities as troop leaders. The goal of this training is to familiarize new leaders with the Volunteer Essentials (VE) manual, which is our comprehensive volunteer guide, published on our Volunteer Resources page. 

Note: This training is a series of three videos and a short quiz. You must take and submit the quiz to receive credit for the training. After completing Step 1 please register for Step 2 through the Program/Event Registration portal (see the Quick Guide above if need instructions).

Step 3: New Leader Training - Grade Level Essentials

Required
Pre-requisites: Step 1 and Step 2
Fee: Free

This 30 minute online workshop will build on core leadership knowledge you gained in the first two steps of New Leader Training. Step 3 will introduce you to age specific factors that directly affect your girls and your group and dive into the Journeys and the Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting. 

Note: This training is a video and a short quiz. You must take and submit the quiz to receive credit for the training. After completing Step 2 please register for Step 3 through the Program/Event Registration portal (see the Quick Guide above if you need instructions).

Step 4: Jump Into Leading

Highly Recommended
Pre-requisites: None
Fee: Free

This 2-hour hands-on training is a follow-up to the required New Leader trainings, and supports all grade levels of Girl Scouts. This course will provide new leader with the opportunity to: 

  1. Engage with other new leaders
  2. Ask questions to an experienced trainer
  3. Experience some Girl Scout traditions
Step 5: Supplemental Trainings

Volunteer Toolkit Video Tutorial

Recommended
Pre-requisites: None
Fee: Free

The Volunteer Toolkit is a troop management tool that allows leaders to access badge and Journey requirements, create year plans, and manage troop communications. This resource can save you lots of time and effort! Learn where to find the VTK, and see an overview of the VTK functions, followed by a demo on how you can use it. 

Troop Finance Basics

Recommended
Pre-requisites: None
Fee: Free

This 1-hour webinar will help you to take charge of your Troop's finances! In Troop Finance Basics, leaders will: 

  1. Review the responsibilities of the Troop Treasurer role
  2. Develop an understanding of GSEP's financial policies and procedures
  3. Explore best practices for troop money management

Troop Travel Basics

Recommended
Pre-requisites: None
Fee: Free

This 1-hour webinar is a crash course in troop travel! In Troop Travel Basics, leaders will: 

  1. Define progression and readiness factors for girls as related to trips
  2. Learn the troop trip approval process
  3. Learn the steps to plan, implement, and evaluate a trip ot overnight with girls
Overnight & Outdoor Training
Indoor Overnight Skills

Required
Pre-requisites: None
Fee: Free

This 2-hour course is required to take girls on an overnight trip where they will stay indoors at a modern facility (i.e. hotels, resorts, or museums).

  1. Learn progression and guidelines of overnight experiences
  2. Understand how to incorporate the Girl Scout Leadership Experience
  3. Be able to instruct girls and adults on appropriate gear
  4. Learn how to pack accordingly

We offer a 2-hour in-person session, scheduled throughout our council or a 2-hour Webinar available from your own computer. 

Indoor Overnight Skills is a pre-requisite for Basic Outdoor Skills. 

Basic Outdoor Skills

Required
Pre-requisites: Indoor Overnight Skills
Fee: $35

This course is required to take girls on an outdoor overnight trip, to do camping activities like fire-building, or to stay at a GSEP property. Held at one of the GSEP camp properties, this course will prepare volunteers to: 

  1. Work cooperatively with girls to plan and carry out a camping trip
  2. Apply the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to outdoor programs
  3. Learn proper fire-starting methods and fire safety
  4. Learn how to prepare a meal outdoors

Due to both seasonal weather conditions and summer camp occupancy at our properties, this course is typically scheduled in April, May, September, and October. Basic Outdoor Skills is a 20-hour, hands-on overnight course. Certification is valid for 5 years. 

Recertification/Exemption

Recertification is available for volunteers who have completed Basic Outdoor Skills in the last five years and attended Indoor Overnight Skills. Click here to take the recertification test. You will be prompted to create a Smarter Select account if you don't have one already. 

Exemption is for volunteers who have extensive camping experience in the last five years. You must have completed Indoor Overnight Skills to qualify. Please submit the Basic Outdoor Skills Experience Qualifications to the Training department via email. Once approved for exemption, volunteers will be asked to complete the Recertification test. 

First Aid & CPR Training

First Aid and CPR training is required of the adult acting as the primary first-aider for a Girl Scout troop or troop activities when specified in the Safety Activity Checkpoints. 

Medic First Aid/CPR/AED

Pre-requisites: None
Fee: $50

 GSEP offers First Aid and CPR training periodically throughout the year.  The course instructs participants through topics including rescue breathing, adult, junior, and pediatric CPR, and emergency care skills for infants, children, and adults.

We offer two training options,  a 6-hour in-person training or 3-5 hours of online learning that is completed before attending a 3-hour in-person assessment.  

Certification is valid for 2 years. 

Alternative First Aid/CPR Certification Options
First Aid/CPR courses are often offered through local community providers. Prior to enrolling, be sure to verify which providers and courses are acceptable. A list of GSUSA Approved First Aid/CPR Providers can be found here. 
Note: Pricing and expiration dates differ among providers.
The following healthcare providers may also serve as First-Aiders without taking additional training: physician, physician's assistant, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, paramedic, military medic, and emergency medical technician. 

Caution: Some First Aid and CPR training is available entirely online but does not satisfy Girl Scouts’ requirements. Several of these sponsoring organizations offer a partially online course, with a face-to-face participant skills assessment. Such courses may be accepted as meeting the recommendations. Email us for support.

Add your certifications to your GSEP record

Click here to digitally submit a copy of certification cards/certificates to the GSEP training department.

Volunteer Enrichment Training

These are specialty topics which cover a wide variety of subjects. Search the title of the training or “Enrichment” using the Event/Program Registration portal for a listing of upcoming topics.

Let us know if you have any ideas for trainings!

Service Unit Manager Training

The Service Unit Manager role is vital to the success and support of service areas throughout our council. To best equip our SUMs, we've devloped a non-sequential series of trainings, offering relevant seasonal content when it matters most. 

SUM Training: Set for Success

Recommended
Pre-requisites: None
Fee: Free

This 2.5-hour in-person session is offered to service unit managers in the late summer and fall months. This beginning-of-the-year course will help you start your year off with confidence. Here is just a snapshot of some of the topics we'll cover in the training: 

  1. Seasonal expectations of the Service Unit Manager (SUM)
  2. Delegation
  3. Building your team
  4. New leader orientation
  5. Planning your year
SUM Training: Maintaining Momentum

Recommended
Pre-requisites: None
Fee: Free

This 2.5-hour in-person session is offered to service unit managers in the winter and early spring months. This mid-year course will help you tackle the end of the year with confidence. Here is just a snapshot of some of the topics we'll cover in the training: 

  1. Seasonal expectations of the Service Unit Manager (SUM)
  2. Planning effective meetings, conflict resolution, and recruitment/retention
  3. Service Unit atmosphere and volunteer retention
  4. GSEP's policies and procedures for troop support
Event Director Training

Coming soon online!

Pre-requisites: None
Fee: Free

This online course is designed for volunteers who are interested in planning and implementing events large or small for a Service Unit or Troop. Topics include: 

  1. Event design
  2. Event budgeting
  3. Planning for a range of event types and scales
Nature Enrichment: Fun and Games in the Great Outdoors

Pre-requisites: None
Fee: $3

Outside is the perfect place to experience new things and make new friends.  Learn a wide variety of outdoor (and indoor) games and activities which require little or no preparation or equipment.  Get your girls outside!

Volunteer Enrichment: Citizen Science - Backyard Bird Count

Pre-requisites: None
Fee: $3

The Great Backyard Bird Count is Feb 14-17, 2020.  Come learn how to get your troop involved!   We’ll learn the basics of bird identification, how to report your count, and make sure you are ready to get your troop involved in their own Citizen Science project.

We’ll explore some of the Journey content for Daisies- Juniors, and we’ll also discover how older girls can participate. This is a fantastic opportunity to get your troop involved in real science. 

Council Course Schedule

For a complete list of available courses, view our Council Courses Schedule. 

Online Tutorials

Volunteer Toolkit Video Tutorial - The Volunteer Toolkit is a troop management tool that allows leaders to access badge and Journey requirements, create year plans, and manage troop communications. This resource can save you lots of time and effort! Learn where to find the VTK, and see an overview of the VTK functions, followed by a demo on how you can use it. 

Troop Travel Basics Webinar - This 1-hour webinar is a crash course in troop travel! In Troop Travel Basics, leaders will: 

  1. Define progression and readiness factors for girls as related to trips
  2. Learn the troop trip approval process
  3. Learn the steps to plan, implement, and evaluate a trip ot overnight with girls

Troop Finance Webinar - This 1-hour webinar will help you to take charge of your Troop's finances! In Troop Finance Basics, leaders will: 

  1. Review the responsibilities of the Troop Treasurer role
  2. Develop an understanding of GSEP's financial policies and procedures
  3. Explore best practices for troop money management

Are you an expert in your field and feel you could teach a valuable course to Girl Scout volunteers? If so, we want to hear from you! Email memberservices@gsep.org.