Planning Community Events

Planning Community Events

Communities should plan events that will bring girls together to learn new skills, earn badges or awards, and have fun! This article is for community leaders or other involved volunteers outlines how to plan and get approval for Girl Scout events.

Establish a Committee of Volunteers to Assist with an Event toggle arrow

This committee should be made up of event coordinators, the community/area leader and treasurer. Event coordinators should work with their community/area leader to recruit volunteers to help plan, implement, and evaluate community/area events. community/area treasurers should be involved in all financial aspects of events.

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A crucial part of planning community/area events is to ensure your event supports the Girl Scout Leadership Experience by planning an event around badges, Journeys, awards, or other aspects central to Girl Scouts. Choosing one of our event guides (see below) ensures you develop a plan around these standards.

Accessibility

Be sure your event date, time, and locations are open and accessible to all Girl Scouts.

Budget

You’ll want to determine any necessary supplies and other event costs to develop a budget. If you need to earn funds for your event or if you plan to collect fees—see our Managing Community/Area Money article.

Our full Event Guide (see below) has a PDF budget worksheet, or you can use the Event Budget Excel Worksheet (XLS) to help you create your event budget.

Safety

Be sure to reference our Health, Safety, and Using Safety Activity Checkpoints article to ensure girl-to-adult ratios and safety activity checkpoints are followed.

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If you are planning a travel event, see the Trip/Travel Planning and Progression and article, as there is considerable planning and approval needed.

If you would like a language interpreter present at your event, complete the American Sign Language Interpreter Request Form at least one week prior to the date the interpreter is needed.

Complete your Supplemental Insurance Request Form. For more information review Incident, Claims, Insurance Form

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Property Rentals

Consider renting one of our camps at Camp.GirlScoutsRV.org/Rentals for your community/area event.

Approved Bus Companies

We also have a list of approved bus companies where you can find companies that meet our safety and activity standards.

PayAnywhere

PayAnywhere is a free credit card reader for smartphones that Girl Scouts River Valleys approves for community/area to collect fees. Download the PayAnywhere for Events Handbook for instructions to set up a PayAnywhere account. Also, see our Community/Area Event Electronic Registration and Payment Policy.

Event Guides

Use our event guides to plan fun and safe community events.

EVENT GUIDE	RELATED BADGES & AWARDS	GRADE(S)	DURATION
Brownie First Aid Badge Day (PDF) This guide helps you plan an event where Brownies learn to be prepared when the unexpected happens.	Brownie: First Aid	2–3	2.5 Hours
Brownie Friendship (PDF) Host an event that teaches Brownies what makes a good friend and why friends are important.	Brownie: World of Girls Journey	2–3	2 Hours
Home Scientist Badge Day (PDF) Use this guide to plan an event for Brownies to bring chemistry to the kitchen.	Brownie: Home Scientist	2–3	2 Hours
Entertainment Technology Badge Day (PDF) Use this guide to plan an event where Juniors discover the science behind the world of entertainment.	Junior: Entertainment Technology	4–5	2 Hours
Junior First Aid Badge Day (PDF) Help Juniors advance their first aid skills and find out how to come to the rescue when people are ill or injured.	Junior: First Aid	4–5	3 Hours
Playing the Past Badge Day (PDF) Let girls design their costumes, experience life in a different time, and have some old-fashioned fun!	Junior: Playing the Past	4–5	2 Hours
Practice with Purpose Badge Day (PDF) Inspire girls to make themselves into a great athlete by working hard at this event.	Junior: Practice with Purpose	4–5	3 Hours
Wizardly Science PDF Plan a magical day of experiments, potions, and wands for Harry Potter fans and wishful wizards!	Junior: Get Moving! Journey Junior: Flowers Junior: Detective	4–5	3 Hours
Finding Common Ground Badge Day (PDF) Help Cadettes learn about differences and uncover strategies for bringing people together.	Cadette: Finding Common Ground	6–8	2 Hours
Cookie Rally Event Guide (PDF) In this event guide, you'll find ideas for planning a cookie sale rallies.	N/A	All	N/A
Kitchen Manual and Group Cooking Guidelines (PDF) If your event involves cooking, follow this guide for information about cooking at Girl Scout facilities and guidelines for safe cooking practices.	N/A	All	N/A
Community/Area Court of Awards Event Guide (PDF) At the end of the year, community/area can hold Bridging or Court of Awards ceremonies to celebrate Girl Scouts—this guide will help you do it!	N/A	All	N/A
Community/Area World Thinking Day Event Guide (PDF) In this guide, you'll find ideas for celebrating World Thinking Day within your community/area.	N/A	All	N/A

Summary of Resources

Event Guides – Use our guides to plan fun and safe community/area events.

Managing Community/Area Money – This article guides you through money earning and management.

Event Budget Excel Worksheet (XLS) – Use this to help create your event budget.

Health, Safety, and Using Safety Activity Checkpoints – Reference this article for girl-to-adult ratios, safety activity checkpoints, and insurance forms.

Trip/Travel Planning and Progression – This article outlines the planning and approval needed for trips.

Supplemental Insurance Request Form – Use this online form if you planning an activity that will last longer than two consecutive nights.

American Sign Language Interpreter Request form – Complete this form at least one week prior to the date the interpreter is needed.

Rental Our Camps – Learn about renting our camps for your community/area event.

Approved Bus Companies – Find companies that meet the standards of Girl Scouts River Valleys for transporting Girl Scouts for trips, activities, and events.

Equipment Check-Out – Use this form to reserve items from our council offices free of charge.