Volunteer Training | Girl Scouts Heart of the South

Girl Scouts Heart of the South provides professional enrichment and leadership development opportunities that empower our volunteers and fuels the Girl Scout movement. GSHS is focused on offering a variety of training topics that support the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, as well as content that encourages the leader in each of us. With training options that can seamlessly fit into to your busy lifestyle and meet everyone’s unique learning styles, we’re sure that our training opportunities will provide you more than you need to grow in building girls of courage, confidence and character. Be sure to check out our in-person, live webinar and on-demand Google Classroom offerings to find the class to best serve your needs. You’ll see options around Girl Scout content, personal and professional enrichments, as well as leader labs and special speaker series.

Don’t miss out on any of the great information that Girl Scout training has to offer!

Class is in session!

Girl Scouts Heart of the South utilizes Google Classroom to house some of its various online training options. To complete a training in Google Classroom, sign in to classroom.google.com, click the “+” sign to join a class, and enter the class code listed in the training description. Once there, you will notice a few menu options across the top. To access the training, select “Classwork”. Here you will find all things related to topic, including recorded webinars, resources, forms, and more.

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Nothing is more important than the health and safety of our girls.

GSUSA's Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Course is required for all adults who work or volunteer with Girl Scouts. (You must be logged into gsLearn in your MYGS account prior to clicking the course link above.)

Child abuse and neglect are difficult subjects to think about, yet the prevention of abuse is a topic Girl Scouts takes very seriously. This training prepares supervising adults of Girl Scout youth to recognize, respond to, and report concerns of child abuse and neglect. Additionally, supervising adults will be empowered to prevent abuse by learning Girl Scout recommended practices, policies and procedures. Girl Scout practices, policies and procedures are proactive measures designed to prevent abusers from interacting with Girl Scouts to foster a safe space for children to thrive. GSUSA Abuse Prevention Policies and Procedures

First Aid/CPR training is a requirement for every troop so that everyone can be safe while enjoying fun adventures together.

New Leader Training is also required for every new troop leader.

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GSUSA offers an online learning platform, designed for consistent and convenient training of volunteers across the global Girl Scout movement. We’re excited to invite our volunteers to complete their required training through this platform called gsLearn. The New Leader Training is comprised of four modules. Get started at MYGS.

How do I access the four training modules?

The New Leader Training, the first component of gsLearn, can be easily accessed the same way leaders log in to the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK). From the council’s website, select MyGS in the upper righthand corner and then, once logged into MYGS, gsLearn will be on the left-side menu. Once you are in gsLearn, you should see the New Leader Training on the home page. If you do not immediately see it, be sure to check the learning path library.

If you are registered as a Troop Co-Leader and are still not seeing the New Leader Training as an option, please call us at 1-800-624-4185 or email us at info@girlscoutshs.org.

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The council offers a number of enrichment opportunities for volunteers. Some of these include Crafts and SWAPs, Songs and Games, Ceremonies and Traditions and enrichment for the different grade levels.

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Through this session, we’ll talk about how ceremonies and traditions are what connect us as Girl Scouts and make everything a little more special. You’ll learn what Investiture and Rededication, Court of Awards, and Bridging Ceremonies are, and how to facilitate each one. We’ll also share a few of our favorite Girl Scout traditions.

Submit a Training Request Form to request this training for your Service Unit or group - Click Here to Request Training.

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Girl Scouts Heart of the South believes that it’s important to continually cultivate and nurture our leadership skills - within our homes, our offices, our organizations, and in our social circles. Let’s Lead participants will discuss new perspectives on a variety of timeless and timely topics.

The Let's Lead experience is FREE for all currently registered GSHS volunteers and will be $50 for all non-GS-member female adults.
The Let's Lead experience is valuable for ALL adult women - not just Girl Scout leaders - so tell your friends, and Let's Lead TOGETHER!

Submit a Training Request Form to request this training for your Service Unit or group.

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Come and learn new and traditional songs and games that will bring tons of fun to your troop meeting. Did you ever need a quick game in the heat of the moment to help your troop use some extra energy? Are your girls planning on going to camp? Give them an edge by teaching them some of the popular camp songs.

You can Download our Campfire Sing-A-Long Book and sing along with our program team on this Facebook video! - The video is sideways but at least you can hear the tunes to songs you're not familiar with!

Submit a Training Request Form to request this training for your Service Unit or group - Click Here to Request Training.

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Curious about the difference between community service and Take Action projects? During this session, we’ll answer this question, and guide you through how to help girls make a lasting impact on their communities.

Submit a Training Request Form to request this training for your Service Unit or group - Click Here to Request Training.

GSUSA also has a great video with a Girl Scout Gold Award Recipient explaining the difference. Check it out!

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Traveling offers vast opportunities for girls to develop leadership skills, whether it be to the neighborhood park, a local museum or a trip cross-country. Learn how to best prepare for the adventures that come with attending events and visiting new places.

Submit a Training Request Form to request this training for your Service Unit or group - Click Here to Request Training.

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The Girl Scout Gold Award represents the highest achievement in Girl Scouting. Open only to girls in high school, this prestigious award challenges you to change the world—or at least your corner of it, and be eligible for college scholarships, too. By the time she puts the final touches on her seven-step project, she'll have solved a community problem—not only in the short term, but for years into the future.

This training will help guide girls, on their journey toward earning the Girl Scout Gold Award. Volunteers and Project Advisors are welcome to sit in with girls at no charge and learn about the requirements, the online portal, timing of projects, and deadlines.

Training is MANDATORY for any girl who wishes to pursue earning the Girl Scout Gold Award.

Cost: $5

See calendar for upcoming Girl Scout Gold Award Trainings.

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Nothing is more important than the health and safety of our girls. First Aid/CPR training is a requirement for every troop so that everyone can be safe while having the fun adventures together.

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Explore Outdoor Training
This session is designed for those who want to take their troop/group to a camporee, Service Unit camp-out or council camp-out. This training is designed for groups attending events where programming and food service are provided. You will not be trained on fire building, outdoor cooking, or programming for camping with your troop.

Take this class in Google Classroom! Use class code: j7pw5zu

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Our awesome staff and volunteers have worked together to create a blended learning opportunity for our leaders to get CAMP skills training.

This training will cover CAMPING, ACTIVITIES, MEALS, and PAPERWORK you need to know to be a certified leader to take girls camping.

Training sessions are offered throughout the year and can be found on the Events Calendar.

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Camporees are a fantastic time to gather girls from your service unit and spend the weekend at camp! They take planning, and preparation so we created a training just for them. In this training, you will learn about the parts of the planning and implementation. You will also learn about the purpose of a camporee, guidelines for the camporee coordinator, how to submit a site reservation, rules and regulations to follow, and any forms that need to be completed and returned to the council. This training will help any service unit, large or small, to create lasting memories with their girls and each other, and have a great time in the outdoors.

Take this class in Google Classroom! Use class code: dr6kqn2

Program Aide Training - Leader Guide toggle arrow

As a Program Aide, girls serve as role models for younger girls! To achieve the Program Aide Award, Girls will need to earn their Leader in Action Award and then complete the Program Aide Training. Leaders can use this council approved guide to assist their girls in achieving the award. Once complete, the girls will work with younger Girl Scouts over six activity sessions to complete the requirements for the Program Aide award.

Take this class in Google Classroom! Use class code: 4fujkcu

To complete a training in Google Classroom, sign in to classroom.google.com, click the “+” sign to join a class, and enter the class code listed in the training description. Once there, you will notice a few menu options across the top. To access the training, select “Classwork”. Here you will find all things related to topic, including recorded webinars, resources, forms, and more.

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Girl Scouts are always looking for episodic volunteers known as Program Partners who can assist with existing program or the creation of new programming for girls in skill-building badge workshops, leadership development, and STEAM activities. Program Partners provide their time and knowledge in areas they feel confident in to enhance the overall Girl Scout Experience. The Girl Scout Program Team offers resources to assist Program Partners in development of the event or workshop and girls benefit from connections in the community and mentorship from generous leaders like you!

Overview the Program Partner specifics virtually in Google Classroom! Google Classroom code: yu3wpk

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Nothing is more important than the health and safety of our girls. Having at least one adult First Aid/CPR certified is a requirement for every troop so that everyone can be safe and cared for while having fun adventures together.

First Aid/ CPR/ AED Certification

American Red Cross CPR and First Aid courses are offered to volunteers through the council at a special discount price. To serve as a "Level 1 First Aider" for a troop, a volunteer must have both certifications. CPR certification is a prerequisite for First Aid certification. The $50 cost for the First Aid/CPR training covers the manual, supplies and certification card. Certification lasts for 2 years. Please dress comfortably as skills are performed on the floor.

Visit the council calendar for scheduled classes.

Girl Scouts Heart of the South schedules a variety of training dates and locations, but we know that sometimes our volunteers may need other options. That is why we are pleased to offer you Training by Request! Please use this form to submit your request for a local First Aid/CPR certification class to council staff. Keep in mind there is a 6 person minimum/10 person maximum for First Aid/CPR classes, and the ability to fulfill the request depends on the availability of a council facilitator.

Safety First!

Through this webinar, you will gain a better understanding of girl/adult ratios, safety-related forms, Safety Activity Checkpoints, sensitive issues, troop first-aiders, and general tips for keeping girls safe during Girl Scout meetings and activities.

Take the class in Google Classroom! Google Classroom code: 5ivl6lx

Wilderness First Aid Basics

Wilderness First Aid Basics is an American Red Cross course designed to serve as an educational resource for those involved in activities that take them beyond the scope of traditional urban emergency services. In these cases, emergency care is delayed until help can be notified and rescuers can reach the intended patient.

This course helps provide the knowledge and skills necessary to deal with these emergencies until more advanced care can be provided. The training manuals will be mailed after the course fee has been paid.

Participants must be at least 16 years old.

CPR is a prerequisite for this course.

Participants that successfully complete the 16-hour course (pre-course assignment and three sessions) qualify to serve as a Level 2 First-Aider.

Participants must attend all three sessions, demonstrate practical skills and successfully complete a written test.

Wilderness First Aid Basics certification is 3 years. Cost is $85.

Visit the council calendar for scheduled classes.

Request Training

Training By Request! Girl Scouts Heart of the South schedules a variety of training dates and locations, but we know that volunteers may need other options. That is why we are pleased to offer you Training By Request! This opportunity allows service unit, troop leaders or parents who are looking to become skilled in a specific training to schedule one that fits with their busy schedules.

There is a 10 person minimum and the ability to fulfill the request depends on availability of a council facilitator.

Please submit an online Request a Training at least 4 – 6 weeks prior to requested day, based on the training requesting.

Click Here to Request Training

Please use the First Aid/CPR/AED Request Form to submit your request for a Training by Request First Aid/CPR certification class.