Roles and Resources

What you need to help power Girl Scouts.

The resources you’ll find here make it easy to keep your troop running smoothly and support your community/area team, enabling you to spend more time fueling your Girl Scouts’ imaginations, encouraging them to reach their goals, and making lasting memories together.

Bookmark the NEW Cookie Central for Troop Fall Product Manager resources and training information: Troop Fall Product Managers - Girl Scouts River Valleys Cookie Central

Forms and Documents

All the necessary forms and helpful documents you need to be successful.

gsLearn

Continue your learning with GSRV’s online on-demand training platform.

Rallyhood

Stay connected with troops and volunteers in your area using this online group platform.

Troop Leader Resources

We’ve got the tools to support you as your troop grows and learns together.

Awards and Recognition

Learn about award opportunities and how you can show recognition for fellow volunteers.

Cookie Central

An online hub for all Cookie Program resources.

Troop Volunteer Roles

Troop Leader and Juliette Mentor toggle arrow

Role Description

Troop leaders serve as role models, friends, and guiding stars for their Girl Scouts. Through regular troop meetings once or twice a month, they guide their troop through a variety of fun activities, like earning badges, exploring their community, or running their own business through the Girl Scout Cookie Program.

Juliette Girl Scouts are paired with a Juliette Mentor—a caring adult (often a parent or caregiver) who supports them on their Girl Scout journey. Girl Scouts River Valleys provides all Juliette Mentors with training, resources, and opportunities to connect with other volunteers.

Training

See upcoming New Leader Cohort training dates.

Resources

Troop Leader Resources

Troop Cookie Manager toggle arrow

Role Description

As a troop cookie manager, you facilitate the Girl Scout Cookie Program within your troop, so Girl Scouts have a fun and successful selling season. Your efforts are integral to the Cookie Program’s big picture—helping Girl Scouts develop essential life skills such as goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics.

Training

Community Product Leaders will reach out to you with in-person training details. If your Community does not have in-person or virtual training or you missed your training, you are required to complete the Girl Scouts River Valleys online/virtual training.
- Self-Serve Online Training - gsLearn
- In-Person/Virtual Training - Contact your local Community Product Leader to find out when and where your in-person or virtual training will take place.

Resources

Troop Fall Product Manager toggle arrow

Role Description

As a troop fall product manager, you facilitate the Fall FUNDraiser (previously Snacks & Magazines) sale, our fall product program, within a troop. By helping your troop have a successful season, they’ll earn start-up funds for the Girl Scout year and develop life skills such as goal-setting, decision-making, teamwork, people skills, and business ethics.

Bookmark the NEW Cookie Central for Troop Fall Product Manager resources and training information: Troop Fall Product Managers - Girl Scouts River Valleys Cookie Central

Troop Volunteers toggle arrow

Troop volunteers are integral to a troop’s success! As a troop volunteer, you will support the troop leader with a variety of tasks. This role has ample flexibility to make volunteering work with your schedule, while still having a positive impact on the Girl Scout experience! You may be facilitating a badge activity, acting as the troop photographer, organizing a field trip, or making sure the troop has healthy snacks at each meeting. There’s a role for any caring adult as a troop volunteer.

Community and Area Volunteer Roles

Community volunteers serve as local leaders to a geographic section of the Girl Scouts River Valleys council. They provide local leadership for troops and Girl Scouts by providing support, training, guidance, programming, and more!

Each Girl Scouts River Valleys area is made up of a group of communities. Area volunteers provide local support and leadership to community volunteers, troops, and Girl Scouts through training, events, programming, volunteer recruitment and more.

Find training resources and additional learnings specific to your community or area volunteer role below. Area volunteers can review any community volunteer training and resources. Need support or have additional questions? Contact us and we can help you get what you need.

Community/Area Leader

Community/Area Membership Leader

Community/Area Product Leader

Community/Area Program Leader

Community/Area Outdoor Leader

Community/Area Troop Support Leader

Community/Area Treasurer

Community/Area Team Member

Additional Volunteer Opportunities

Council Committee and Advisory Group Opportunities toggle arrow

Learn more about council committee and advisory group volunteer opportunities by connecting with the appropriate staff liaison or complete the Committee and Advisory Group Interest Form.

Adult Development and Training Advisory Group:
Kiana Erickson

Council Scholarship Committee:
Scholarship@girlscoutsrv.org

Day Camp Advisory Committee:
Pam Wurster
Highest Award Committee:
Girl Experience Team
Outdoor Champions Advisory Committee:
Pam Wurster
Product Program Advisory Committee:
Susan Andersson

Volunteer Recognition Award Committee:
Volunteer Engagement Team

Volunteer-Led Day Camp Directors toggle arrow

Role Description

Communities and Areas can host volunteer-led day camps locally. Day Camp Directors lead planning, execution, and promotion of their day camp in collaboration with other local volunteers, like the community or area outdoor leader.

Resources

Volunteer-Led Day Camp – Learn more about volunteer-led day camp requirements, best practices, and additional volunteer led day camp roles.

Delegates

There are three types of delegates: community delegates (elected by local communities), national delegates (elected by Girl Scout River Valleys voting members), and delegates-at-large (appointed by the Board of Directors). Delegates serve as voting members of our council providing input to our Board of Directors and attend Girl Scouts River Valleys' annual meeting.

Resources

Electing Community Delegates

Governance Volunteer Opportunities toggle arrow

Board of Directors: Composed of members from across our council and spanning the private and nonprofit sector, our board of directors guides the direction of Girl Scouts River Valleys. These five executive officers and twenty directors at-large are volunteers and members of Girl Scouts of the USA.

Board of Directors, Board Committee, and Board Development Committee Application

Board Development Committee: The Board Development Committee is responsible for the selection, training, and evaluation of the Board of Directors. This committee is always interested in maintaining a highly qualified, diverse pool of candidates for openings as they become available.

Board of Directors, Board Committee, and Board Development Committee Application

Audit Committee: The Audit Committee oversees the annual audit process and meets at least four times per year. The committee recommends to the board an independent public accounting firm, meets with the external auditors prior to the audit examination, and at its conclusion reviews all auditor reports and other tax and informational filings. The committee provides oversight of improving organizational structure and operations, including internal controls and procedures relating to computerized information systems and disaster recovery plans.

Finance Committee: The Finance Committee has the responsibility for making recommendations to the board regarding proposed operating, capital, and investment budgets, as well as reviewing quarterly financial statements. It provides guidance for all policy decisions pertaining to financial plans and business investment as it reviews the broad short-term and long-term financial plans, annual benchmarks, the annual operating, and capital budgets. The committee provides oversight of the Investment Sub-Committee (Susanna Gibbons, chair) as well as guidance on the acquisition, disposition, development, management, and maintenance of the council’s assets and properties.

Investment Sub-Committee: The Investment Sub-Committee provides guidance to the Board and Finance Committee for all policy decisions pertaining to prudent management of the Council’s investments. They comply with all applicable fiduciary, prudence, and due diligence requirements experienced investment professionals would utilize, and with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations from various local, state, federal, and international political entities that may impact the Investment Portfolio, which may include, but not be limited to, investment managers, investment consultants, custodians, attorneys, and accountants.

Executive Talent and Compensation Committee: The Executive Talent and Compensation Committee ensures that the council’s executive compensation program is in compliance with governmental regulations and in harmony with the council’s mission and operating budget, as well as its overall philosophy on human resources and employee compensation. This working group is accountable to the board. The committee is primarily focused on establishing an executive compensation philosophy and ensuring that the executive compensation program and its respective elements are developed and administered in accordance with that philosophy and applicable governmental regulations. The scope of work may also include providing support and guidance to the CEO in matters regarding compensation design and benchmarking, talent acquisition and development, retention, and succession planning.

National Delegates: National delegates serve for three years and attend the National Council Session, a meeting of Girl Scouts nationwide which happens every three years, where they vote on measures as representatives of our council. They also generally meet ahead of the National Council Session in order to better represent Girl Scouts River Valleys. See National Delegate Information and Application for more info.

Volunteer-Led Committee Opportunities toggle arrow

Each volunteer-led special group or committee is centered around a common interest or shared experience. Contact us or refer to the volunteer group’s website to learn more and join.

Order of the Trefoils

Order of the Trefoils, or more fondly known as OOTTs (pronounced oo-ts), is a volunteer-led group of Girl Scouts River Valleys community/area leaders. This group meets regularly to connect and support one another, share information about upcoming events and activities, bounce ideas off one another, and more. Check out the OOTTs website or the volunteer events calendar for upcoming OOTTs meetings.

Heritage Committee

The Heritage Committee collects, organizes, and preserves the historical records of the council including photos, memorabilia, uniforms, books, and oral histories. This committee displays and provides information to community historical centers and at the North Star Museum. They also work to maintain Girl Scouts River Valleys’ collection with Minnesota Reflections.

Spookamaga Crew

Members of the Spookamaga Witches Crew join the fun in creating the Spook-tacular extras that add to the excitement of fright sites built by Girl Scouts in the fall. Crew members are needed before, during, and after the event. Learn more.

Lakamaga Adult Education Conference

The Lakamaga Adult Education Conference is an opportunity for Girl Scout volunteers to enrich their volunteering experience and connect with one another while soaking up the outdoors at Camp Lakamaga. This event is hosted by the volunteer-led Adult Enrichment Committee. Learn more and register for the conference on their website.

Connections Retreat

Adult volunteers and alums come together to engage in various Girl Scout activities and create connections with their peers. For more information on the next Connections Retreat, request an invite to access the secured retreat website or email connectionsretreat@gmail.com.

Second Winds

Second Winds promotes all things outdoors within Girl Scouts. They provide assistance in outdoor skills and programs including planning, implementing, and volunteering at outdoor events like encampments and field days. They chair three older girl encampments each year and award scholarships to girls who have been accepted to the Destinations travel program. They meet three times per year in April, September, and December.

Tuesday Group and Troop 1976

These alum volunteers meet the second Tuesday of the month from 9 am–12 pm at the Brooklyn Center Service Center to provide administrative volunteer support to the council. Troop 1976 alums started meeting after the 1976 National Convention in Seattle and continue to meet over four decades later.

Volunteer resources available on MyGS

Many of your must-have tools, like gsLearn and the Volunteer Toolkit, are accessible when you log in to MyGS —always accessible via the icon on the upper right corner of our website.

Volunteer Toolkit toggle arrow

The Volunteer Toolkit is a customizable planning tool where you can find suggested meeting plans for most badges, access activity guides and badge requirements, track your Girl Scouts’ achievements, and so much more. It’s the digital planning assistant that will help you power a fun-filled—and organized—Girl Scout year.

You’ll find the Volunteer Toolkit via the left menu bar of MyGS in My Account. It’s accessible on any desktop, tablet, or mobile device.

gsLearn

gsLearn is full of essential volunteer trainings and courses, like how to lead activities the Girl Scout way, safety procedures, and advice for guiding Girl Scouts at every grade level.

You’ll find gsLearn via the left menu bar of MyGS in My Account. It’s accessible on any desktop, tablet, or mobile device, and it will be populated with any trainings you should view.

Additional Resources

Volunteer Essentials toggle arrow

Girl Scouts of the USA Guidelines

Volunteer Essentials (PDF) outlines guidelines for Girl Scout activities and information about the Girl Scout program and experience. Girl Scouts River Valleys’ policies take precedent over Volunteer Essentials where applicable.

Community and Area Maps toggle arrow

Girl Scouts River Valleys is divided into 208 communities and 57 areas led by experienced, dedicated volunteers who support and serve local Girl Scouts, troops, and volunteers.

Regional Area Map (PDF)

Metro Area Map (PDF)

Community and Area Roster toggle arrow

To search use Control+F" (or "Command+F" on a Mac).

Service Unit Directory toggle arrow

To search use Control+F" (or "Command+F" on a Mac).

Training Events

Browse and register for in-person training opportunities.

Girl Scout Finances

Learn more about Girl Scout money earning and troop banking.

Policies

Learn more about policies and best practices

What you need to help power Girl Scouts.

The resources you’ll find here make it easy to keep your troop running smoothly and support your community/area team, enabling you to spend more time fueling your Girl Scouts’ imaginations, encouraging them to reach their goals, and making lasting memories together.

Bookmark the NEW Cookie Central for Troop Fall Product Manager resources and training information: Troop Fall Product Managers - Girl Scouts River Valleys Cookie Central

Troop Volunteer Roles

Role Description

Juliette Girl Scouts are paired with a Juliette Mentor—a caring adult (often a parent or caregiver) who supports them on their Girl Scout journey. Girl Scouts River Valleys provides all Juliette Mentors with training, resources, and opportunities to connect with other volunteers.

Training

See upcoming New Leader Cohort training dates.

Resources

Role Description

Training

Community Product Leaders will reach out to you with in-person training details. If your Community does not have in-person or virtual training or you missed your training, you are required to complete the Girl Scouts River Valleys online/virtual training.

Self-Serve Online Training - gsLearn

In-Person/Virtual Training - Contact your local Community Product Leader to find out when and where your in-person or virtual training will take place.

Resources

Role Description

Bookmark the NEW Cookie Central for Troop Fall Product Manager resources and training information: Troop Fall Product Managers - Girl Scouts River Valleys Cookie Central

Community and Area Volunteer Roles

Community volunteers serve as local leaders to a geographic section of the Girl Scouts River Valleys council. They provide local leadership for troops and Girl Scouts by providing support, training, guidance, programming, and more!

Each Girl Scouts River Valleys area is made up of a group of communities. Area volunteers provide local support and leadership to community volunteers, troops, and Girl Scouts through training, events, programming, volunteer recruitment and more.

Find training resources and additional learnings specific to your community or area volunteer role below. Area volunteers can review any community volunteer training and resources. Need support or have additional questions? Contact us and we can help you get what you need.

Additional Volunteer Opportunities

Learn more about council committee and advisory group volunteer opportunities by connecting with the appropriate staff liaison or complete the Committee and Advisory Group Interest Form.

Adult Development and Training Advisory Group: Kiana Erickson

Council Scholarship Committee: Scholarship@girlscoutsrv.org

Day Camp Advisory Committee: Pam Wurster

Highest Award Committee: Girl Experience Team

Outdoor Champions Advisory Committee: Pam Wurster

Product Program Advisory Committee: Susan Andersson

Volunteer Recognition Award Committee: Volunteer Engagement Team

Role Description

Communities and Areas can host volunteer-led day camps locally. Day Camp Directors lead planning, execution, and promotion of their day camp in collaboration with other local volunteers, like the community or area outdoor leader.

Resources

Volunteer-Led Day Camp – Learn more about volunteer-led day camp requirements, best practices, and additional volunteer led day camp roles.

Resources

Board of Directors: Composed of members from across our council and spanning the private and nonprofit sector, our board of directors guides the direction of Girl Scouts River Valleys. These five executive officers and twenty directors at-large are volunteers and members of Girl Scouts of the USA.

Board Development Committee: The Board Development Committee is responsible for the selection, training, and evaluation of the Board of Directors. This committee is always interested in maintaining a highly qualified, diverse pool of candidates for openings as they become available.

Each volunteer-led special group or committee is centered around a common interest or shared experience. Contact us or refer to the volunteer group’s website to learn more and join.

Order of the Trefoils

Heritage Committee

Spookamaga Crew

Members of the Spookamaga Witches Crew join the fun in creating the Spook-tacular extras that add to the excitement of fright sites built by Girl Scouts in the fall. Crew members are needed before, during, and after the event. Learn more.

Lakamaga Adult Education Conference

Connections Retreat

Adult volunteers and alums come together to engage in various Girl Scout activities and create connections with their peers. For more information on the next Connections Retreat, request an invite to access the secured retreat website or email connectionsretreat@gmail.com.

Second Winds

Tuesday Group and Troop 1976

These alum volunteers meet the second Tuesday of the month from 9 am–12 pm at the Brooklyn Center Service Center to provide administrative volunteer support to the council. Troop 1976 alums started meeting after the 1976 National Convention in Seattle and continue to meet over four decades later.

Volunteer resources available on MyGS

Many of your must-have tools, like gsLearn and the Volunteer Toolkit, are accessible when you log in to MyGS —always accessible via the icon on the upper right corner of our website.

You’ll find the Volunteer Toolkit via the left menu bar of MyGS in My Account. It’s accessible on any desktop, tablet, or mobile device.

gsLearn is full of essential volunteer trainings and courses, like how to lead activities the Girl Scout way, safety procedures, and advice for guiding Girl Scouts at every grade level.

You’ll find gsLearn via the left menu bar of MyGS in My Account. It’s accessible on any desktop, tablet, or mobile device, and it will be populated with any trainings you should view.

Additional Resources

Girl Scouts of the USA Guidelines

Volunteer Essentials (PDF) outlines guidelines for Girl Scout activities and information about the Girl Scout program and experience. Girl Scouts River Valleys’ policies take precedent over Volunteer Essentials where applicable.

Girl Scouts River Valleys is divided into 208 communities and 57 areas led by experienced, dedicated volunteers who support and serve local Girl Scouts, troops, and volunteers.

To search use Control+F" (or "Command+F" on a Mac).

To search use Control+F" (or "Command+F" on a Mac).

Need support or have questions about volunteer resources or training? Contact us.

Adult Development and Training Advisory Group:
Kiana Erickson

Council Scholarship Committee:
Scholarship@girlscoutsrv.org

Day Camp Advisory Committee:
Pam Wurster

Highest Award Committee:
Girl Experience Team

Outdoor Champions Advisory Committee:
Pam Wurster

Product Program Advisory Committee:
Susan Andersson

Volunteer Recognition Award Committee:
Volunteer Engagement Team