Girl Scout Service Centers - Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta

Taking Advantage of Volunteer Learning Opportunities
Learning opportunities ensure that you have the support you need in Girl Scouting. The Volunteer Development department will
provide you with the instruction and guidance necessary to ful�ll your role successfully as a Girl Scout volunteer—learning that
will not only help you work more e�ectively with Girl Scouts but also may introduce new skills and behaviors into your work life,
relationships, and personal development. In the end, your service will be recognized and evident to all the girls you help become
con�dent, courageous, and character-driven young women. And that’s the greatest reward of all!
Currently, through GSGATL, you’ll �nd online learning modules that you can complete on your own schedule and at your own pace,
as well as face-to-face training opportunities that allow for immediate feedback on the skills learned and knowledge gained. You also
have resources—like this Volunteer Essentials handbook and the Journey adult guides—to use as a reference during the next year. If
you are pursuing a leadership role, you may soon be scheduled for New Leader Basic Training and Pro�ciency Badges and Journeys
(PB&J), which will provide in-depth focus on delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience—the outcomes/bene�ts we’re striving
to achieve for girls, the processes (girl-led, learning by doing, and cooperative learning), and the three leadership keys (discover,
connect, and take action). These classes give you information about the resources available to support your success as a volunteer.
Before your troop has an overnight activity away from the regular meeting place, an adult with the troop should take the Cabins, Lodges
& S’mores course. The leader and any adult serving as a treasurer should take our Money Management course, also available online.
Each troop should have a �rst-aider who has taken First Aid and Adult and Child CPR/AED through the American Red Cross, National
Safety Council, EMP America, or American Heart Association (Heartsaver course). Professions that are approved to be �rst-aiders
include physician, physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, paramedic, military medic, and
emergency medical technician. First aid and CPR/AED skills must be current. A troop can begin meeting before a �rst-aider is in place
as long as they stay at the meeting place and do not engage in physically demanding or potentially dangerous activities.
Workshops speci�c to your program level will further support you in working with the girls. A wealth of learning opportunities –
including outdoor skills, songs and games, planning events, storytelling, ceremonies and many other topics – are o�ered at various
locations throughout GSGATL’s area for your convenience.
16 Volunteer Essentials