Special Interest Volunteers

Special Interest Volunteers (SPIN Volunteers) share their knowledge, interests, experience and talents while developing skills for personal and professional growth.

Role + Responsibilities

A SPIN volunteer may customize her/his time commitment to a single session or a series of sessions depending on the host troop’s/group’s needs and the SPIN volunteer’s availability. Volunteers receive ongoing support, guidance, evaluation and recognition of efforts from the Volunteer Services department.

This volunteer opportunity introduces more adults to the benefits of Girl Scouting, helping to increase our community partners and support. Special Interest Volunteers are a great resource for staff and volunteers, allowing groups to engage in new opportunities or have an extra hand for events and projects. Group leaders receive support, and girls benefit from interacting with other positive adult role models.

SPIN volunteers agree to share their time and talent with Girl Scouts groups for no charge. However, you may discuss covering the cost of any supplies with the host troop for activities, if applicable.

Position Responsibilities

Provide Quality Girl Scout Leadership Experience:

• Complete Girl Scouting 101, available online.
• Partner with host group’s adults and girls to plan, carry out and evaluate programming based on the SPIN volunteer’s area of expertise.
• Use Safety-Wise to provide for safety and security of girls
• Follow Girl Scouts’ volunteer Policies and Practices.
• Support or Lead Skilled Activities
• SPIN volunteers can assist at an event, lead an activity with a specific skill, mentor girls for a Girl Scout Gold, Silver or Bronze Award project, as well as assist on a field trip or camping trip. Browse the list of skills offered by our other SPIN volunteers in the Special Interest Volunteer Database to find program and project ideas.
• SPIN volunteering is flexible, and you choose how frequently to accept invitations from host groups/troops and for what duration. Some examples of a SPIN volunteer opportunity include:
• One Session: a SPIN volunteer with pottery skills may assist a troop with its Ceramics and Clay badge for several hours.
• Multi-day Session: a SPIN volunteer certified in canoeing may accompany a troop on a canoeing trip.
• Multiple Sessions: a SPIN volunteer skilled in photography may lead multiple sessions with a group of older girls interested in photography.

Administration

• Be part of the SPIN Volunteer skills database. Provide current contact information and respond with your availability for invitations to share your skill. A SPIN volunteer may choose the frequency with which they accept invitations from host groups/troops.
• Special interest volunteers may not be able to accept every invitation extended to them, but they are asked to reply to all requests, even if they are not available or interested in the opportunity. This allows the host group to make alternate plans.

Qualifications

• Currently registered member of Girl Scouts.
• Willing to participate in volunteer application and screening process including background check.
• Practice welcoming and inclusive behavior toward people of all ages, races, religions, cultures, abilities, sexual orientation, gender, education and economic backgrounds.
• Committed to speak and act in a manner consistent with the Girl Scout Mission, Promise and Law.
• Demonstrate effective group and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to organize materials and accurately maintain records.
• Enjoy being with girls and embrace the three learning processes: Girl Led, Learning by Doing, and Cooperative Learning.

Contact

• To protect the privacy of our volunteers, only first names and last initials are included in the website version of SPIN volunteer availability. When a troop or group wants to contact you about sharing your interest with their group, the group’s adult will contact River Valleys’ Volunteer Services Department to obtain additional contact information. Phone numbers and emails are primary contact methods.
• River Valleys does not provide addresses. The host group will contact you via one of the primary methods, and you may choose whether the opportunity is a good fit.