Ways to Volunteer
Ways to Volunteer
Be the troop leader that supports her every week—the one that watches her smile get bigger as she grows more confident. Mentor a Girl Scout Cookie Professional during cookie season so she can earn enough to reach the goals she and her troop set. Or work with other adults to provide the kind of behind-the-scenes support that makes it possible for her to make amazing new memories at Girl Scouts.
Whether you can give a few hours, a few weeks, or a few months, volunteering with Girl Scouts is flexible and fun.
Volunteer Enrollment Process and Application
STEP 1: Volunteer Enrollment
STEP 2: Background Clearance
STEP 3: Training & Support
STEP 4: Start Volunteering!
Step 1: Volunteer Enrollment — For New Volunteers
- Go to MY GS and register as an adult member for the current Membership Year*
- Browse the volunteer opportunity catalog and choose the volunteer role you'd like
- Check your email for confirmation and next steps for how to complete your Criminal Background Check (be sure to check your Spam folder!)
*If you have "Requested Aid" for financial assistance to cover the cost of your membership, you will receive an email with instructions to complete the FA process.
Have a question about which volunteer role best suits you? Email us! We’d love to chat about how you can help girls change the world —there’s an option for everyone!
Step 2: Background Clearance
In compliance with PA State Law 153, GSEP requires all volunteers to complete our CBC background check process. Prospective volunteers have 30 days to complete the CBC process once they select a volunteer role. Once a role is approved, selection of any additional volunteer roles will re-trigger the approval process.
Begin the background clearance process by following the instructions in the Volunteer CBC Processing Packet.
**GSEP has a new updated Disclosure Affidavit web form which can be completed and submitted online—eliminating the need to upload this form to DropBox. Once you submit the web form, it will be attached to your contact record in Volunteer Systems.
Note: Due to high volume of clearance submissions, you may expect to receive a response within 7-10 business days. In order to fulfill clearance processing with the quickest turnaround, please submit the 3-4 required documents in their entirety. Partial submissions will cause a delay in processing.
Click here to submit/upload your documents. *Please note: If you submit your clearances without completing the enrollment process, your documents may not be processed within the 7-10 business day time frame. In order to be cleared to volunteer, you must complete all steps above.
Click the links below to view examples of accepted clearance documents:
- Pa State Police Ex. 1 – Volunteers
- Pa State Police Ex. 2 – Employee
- Child Abuse Clearance Ex. 1 – New
- Child Abuse Clearance Ex. 2 – Old
- FBI Clearance Ex. 1 – Dept Human Resources
- FBI Clearance Ex. 2 – Dept Education
Please email memberservices@gsep.org with any questions. In the subject line, type ”CBC” and a couple key words to indicate the main point of your question or issue.
Volunteers are no longer required to complete Mandated Reporter training. As always, if you witness or suspect child abuse or neglect, follow GSEP’s guidelines for reporting your concerns to the proper agency. For more information regarding reporting abuse, consult Volunteer Essentials.
Step 3: Training & Support
New leaders will receive a Welcome New Leader email with connections to your local service unit volunteers, important resources and links, and required training information.
Want to get a jump on training? Go to your MYGS account and select gsLearn from the menu on the left. You’ll be directed to your gsLearn dashboard. From there, click “Content Library” from the green menu on the left. 253 GSEP’s New Leader Learning Path is the required new leader training that you can complete while you’re waiting for your clearances to be processed!
If you have any questions specific to training, contact us at memberservices@gsep.org with “training questions” in the subject line.
*Please note: While new leaders are welcome to start on their New Leader Training before their clearances are fully processed, volunteers must have completed the CBC process two weeks before attending a Basic Outdoor Skills training.
Step 3: Start Volunteering
If you have any questions about becoming a volunteer, please email us and put "Help Me Volunteer" as the subject line.
