Older Troops

The lives of high schoolers are busier than ever. Their days are filled with mid-terms and finals, extracurricular activities like sports and performing arts, college prep, family obligations and part-time jobs. Yet, they still find time for Girl Scouts! There are moments and times when you as the troop leader may wonder and ask yourself, “What is it about our troop that keeps them coming back (and preventing us adults from throwing in the towel)?” It’s often the little tricks that make activities engaging and the troop running smoothly!

Here are some tips troop leaders found helpful and have gathered as their girls have gotten older and bridged throughout their Girl Scout journey. A few of these suggestions are geared towards Girl Scout Cadettes and older, while others could apply to any troop, regardless of age. Perhaps you’ll find one or two that help you and your girls come back year after year.

Find a Meeting Date and Time That Works

Many teenagers today don’t participate in just one sport or activity; they are involved in EVERYTHING. Sports, theater, music lessons, clubs…you name it! When troop meeting times conflict with other school or sport activities, Girl Scouts is often the first thing to go. So, what can you do to find a schedule that works for everyone?

As your troop gets older, have them help plan the troop schedule. Ask them to bring their calendars (most are on their phones anyway) to a planning meeting and have them coordinate which meeting dates work best. Not only is it a great way for them to practice real-life skills, but it keeps the planning Girl Scout-led!

Furthermore, one thing troop leaders struggle with is getting the troop up and running at the start of each school year. Consider having a meeting in the summer where the troop plans the first few dates for the fall. As one troop leader has shared, “Our troop did that for the first time this year and it was so helpful! We scheduled meetings and overnights through October. When school started, it was much easier to plan out the rest of the year because we were already up and running. Funny that it only took eleven years to figure that one out.”

Be Flexible with Your Expectations toggle arrow

Change up your expectations for the troop. How might you think differently about meeting frequency, activity structure, and attendance? You may meet less often. As meetings become more Girl Scout-led, they may feel less organized. A Girl Scout may decide not to attend a meeting. This is all okay. It’s also important not to take it personally when a Girl Scout chooses something else over a troop meeting. Maybe she has a homework assignment to complete for school or doesn’t want to miss a family event. Learning to make choices and prioritize tasks and activities is an important skill for them to learn too. Pay attention to what Girl Scouts get out of the meeting when they are there—if they’re having a good time, then you’re still doing it right.

Even with a set meeting date, conflicts may come up. As a troop leader shares, “One of our troop members learned that her new cheer practice would be at the same time as our troop meetings. I had two options: tell the family “tough luck, she can’t be in the troop,” or I could be flexible and say, “come when you can, participate in cookies, and attend field trips if you can make it.” I went with the latter and guess what, two years later, she’s still in our troop.” A simple reminder that a Girl Scout can miss a meeting; she doesn’t have to earn every badge or patch the troop works on. It will be okay.

Create a Group Chat toggle arrow

This one is so simple, yet so effective. Set up a group chat via text with the leaders and Girl Scouts in the troop. A quick text the day of a meeting to see who will attend can be very helpful. Plus, it’s an easy way to send that last-minute reminder to bring _____ (fill in the blank). To kick off your troop’s group chat, you can make it fun and begin establishing group morale by having everyone share their name and favorite emoji to ensure everyone knows who’s who.

Also, keep in mind teenagers like to chat and hang out, that’s been a constant across generations. One of the great things about Girl Scouts is that you can build real-life social networking right into your troop meetings. It will be very impactful if you find some downtime when everyone can simply chat and hang out. You can make this a routine with your troop at the beginning of meetings, as Girl Scouts arrive before formally starting the meeting. Simple, yet effective.

Travel – You Define Adventure toggle arrow

What does adventure mean to your troop? It could be snowshoeing on a local trail or taking a backpacking trip on the North Shore. Maybe it’s spending a weekend out at camp or planning a trip far, far, away. Have your troop plan experiences that are new to them or ones that push them further. You get to define what adventure means to you. When your troop gets outdoors and faces new challenges, they’re more likely to stay engaged in Girl Scouts.

You may be thinking, “Planning a trip for a group of teenagers, that sounds overwhelming and even exhausting!” Yes, it takes some time. Yes, it may take a lot of work. Yes, it may be intimidating taking a group of middle or high school students hundreds or thousands of miles away from home, but the payoff is totally worth it! Trip planning with the troop can take one or two years, and what better way to keep them engaged than the anticipation of a fun adventure down the road? Check out our full travel planning article to get started.

Incorporating travel and adventure is a lucrative way to retaining your Girl Scouts, but also remember, not every individual will be able to participate. Girl Scouts might not be able to join due to personal reasons and commitments or families may not be in a financially fit place to attend. If that’s the case, try out the idea of an overnight troop experience. As a troop leader expressed, “One way we were able to include her more often was by having a weekend overnight. Instead of our typically twice-a-month troop meetings, we picked two months out of the year and held an overnight instead. We’ve done backyard campouts and stayed at a council property. The troop works on a few badges or awards, cooks their meals, and has time to chat with friends. Think of it as two meetings built into one, plus the added bonus of hangout time and a sleepover! Ask any Girl Scout in our troop, they’ll be sure to let you know that this has become one of their favorite troop traditions.”

Prizes

It’s no surprise that prizes make everyone happy and excited, even tweens and teens! As a troop leader commented, “I tried something new last year and created a prize bag. Nothing fancy, just a few simple giveaway items like candy bars, Girl Scout swag, trinkets from the shop (check out the clearance table!), or items from the dollar section of a certain local big-box retailer. I occasionally bring out the prize bag for various activities or challenges (ex: who completed their kaper the fastest, which group had the funniest skit, who completed the relay races, you get the idea). It is a small way for me to say, ‘thanks for having fun and sticking with our troop.’

Be Patient with Yourself toggle arrow

Every troop meeting does not have to be picture-perfect and Pinterest-worthy. Ask for help when you need it. Be kind to yourself when you need to cancel a meeting or rearrange an activity—whether you come down with a cold, a winter storm is approaching, or just need a day off. There will be times when you send out troop communication later than you originally planned- that’s okay, and it doesn’t make you a “bad” troop leader. Sometimes that’s how it goes, and you’ve got to learn to give yourself grace. Find ways you can be patient with yourself, and practice self-care as you find needed—you may pull a few ideas from GSUSA’s Tips for Troop Leaders and NAMI Taking Care of Yourself.