A lot of people equate leadership with “being in charge” or having a title. In reality, anyone can be a leader. It’s about recognizing that you are part of a team and understanding that team’s needs and interests. Here’s how you’ll do that with your troop!
Your Role as a Girl Scout Volunteer 
Your Responsibilities as a Girl Scout Volunteer
Planning for Your First Troop Meeting
Girl Scout Troop Size
The troop size “sweet spot” is large enough to support an interactive and cooperative learning environment and small enough to encourage individual development. Though the ideal troop size is 12 Girl Scouts, we recommend that group membership falls within the below ranges—no smaller than the low end, and no larger than the high end.
- Girl Scout Daisies: 5–12 members
- Girl Scout Brownies: 10–20 members
- Girl Scout Juniors 10–25 members
- Girl Scout Cadettes: 5–25 members
- Girl Scout Seniors: 5–30 members
- Girl Scout Ambassadors: 5–30 members
A Girl Scout troop/group must have a minimum of five Girl Scout youth and two approved adult volunteers. Be sure to double-check the volunteer-to-youth ratio table to make sure you have the right number of adults present for group meetings, events, travel, and camping.
Adults and youth registering in groups of fewer than five Girl Scout youth and two approved adult volunteers who are not related to each other or in a relationship, at least one of whom is female, will be registered as individual Girl Scouts to accurately reflect their status and program experience. Individual members are always welcome to participate in Girl Scout activities and events.
GSHNJ also offers live trainings that allow you to take your girls on wider experiences, such as:
- Outdoors and Overnights series
- First AID/CPR
- Product Program trainings
Visit our website or contact training@gshnj.org for more information.
Knowing How Many Volunteers You Need
Girl Scout groups gathering in person or virtually must follow these guidelines:
- At least two unrelated, registered, background-checked adults must be present and actively supervising. Youth leaders cannot take their place.
- At least one of the adults must be female.
- The two required adults must not be related or live in the same household.
Adult supervision rules apply to all Girl Scout activities, including meetings, trip/travel, camps, events, and activities. There are no exceptions. Report any deviation from this policy to your council.
Note: Invited or additional participating adults can be related, but they cannot replace the two unrelated leaders.
Determine the minimum number of adult chaperones needed:
- Adult-to-youth ratios vary based on participants’ ages and the type of activity.
- Group meetings require fewer adults; refer to the “Group Meetings” column in the table below.
- Outings, activities, camping, and travel require more supervision. Refer to the “Events, Travel, and Camping” column in the table.
Count all children (Girl Scouts or not) in supervision ratios unless they’re under the constant care of their own parent/guardian who is not acting as a chaperone.
GSHNJ proudly honors our outstanding volunteers by celebrating their accomplishments and bestowing Adult Achievement Awards at our annual Volunteer Recognition Ceremony.
Safety in Girl Scouting
Registering Girls and Adults in Girl Scouting
Creating an Atmosphere of Acceptance and Inclusion
Getting Support for Your Troop
Troop Management Tools and Resources
Take Advantage of Learning Opportunities
Required New Leader Onboarding Courses
Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey requires new troop leaders to complete the following trainings in gsLearn prior to meeting with Girl Scouts:
New Leader Fundamentals
Learn the basics of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience in this 110-minute course.
GSHNJ Age Level Training - for your troop’s current age level(s)
This 10-minute course reviews your Girl Scouts’ unique age-appropriate abilities and needs, including tips for working with their age group. This course must be taken each time your troop ages up.
Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Course
This 50-minute training prepares adults to recognize, respond to, and report concerns of child abuse and neglect.
Supplemental Courses
GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: The Girl Scout Cookie Program
In this 20-minute course, you will learn the basics of the Girl Scout Cookie program. You’ll discover how and why Girl Scouts sell cookies, who the bakers are that make the cookies, and how to utilize your cookie proceeds with your troop. A review of all the exciting program options you can explore with your troop as you build their entrepreneurial skills is also included. Cookie selling safety and important ways to bring families and caregivers along in your troop’s cookie business adventure are also part of the course.
Delivering Inclusive Program
In this course, you will practice using inclusive and equitable language to support the identities of all Girl Scouts and foster a cohesive troop environment.
Outdoor and Overnights Training
Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey offers a series of trainings for volunteers heading out with their troop on outdoor adventures.
Outdoors and Overnights Step 1 is self-guided online course available in gsLearn. The course covers the basics of outdoor safety and preparedness, and making sure your troop is ready for an outdoor event.
Outdoors and Overnights Steps 2 and 3 are in-person courses that teach basic outdoor skills such as tent building, knife safety, and outdoor cooking. Check our online events calendar for upcoming sessions.
First Aid and CPR Training
Any time you leave your regular troop meeting location, you must have an adult certified in both First Aid and CPR present. Certification trainings are offered through council; you can also find trainings through American Heart Association and American Red Cross. Trainings conducted entirely online are not acceptable. Blended trainings are acceptable provided the skills testing portion of the course is conducted in-person, and under the guidance of a certified instructor.
Questions about training? Contact training@gshnj.org.
© Copyright 2009–2026 Girl Scouts of the United States of America. All rights reserved. All information and material contained in Girl Scouts’ Volunteer Essentials guide (“Material”) is provided by Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA) and is intended to be educational material solely to be used by Girl Scout volunteers and council staff. Reproduction, distribution, compiling, or creating derivative works of any portion of the Material or any use other than noncommercial uses as permitted by copyright law is prohibited, unless explicit, prior authorization by GSUSA in writing was granted. GSUSA reserves its exclusive right in its sole discretion to alter, limit, or discontinue the Material at any time without notice.
