Volunteers A very quick resource for the new and “not-so-new” volunteer!
Every day, we hear of amazing things our volunteers do to guide and support their Girl Scouts. Girl Scout volunteers look forward to teaching girls something new, showing them what’s possible, being their role models and helping them shine. If you’re brand new to Girl Scouts and you’re considering becoming a volunteer – or if you’ve been an active volunteer for 20 years, there’s always something new to learn – and there are tons of ways to share your time and talents in Girl Scouts! Whether you want to take girls camping to share your love of the great outdoors, impart your passion during a half-day or oneday Girl Scout event, hold dance lessons on four consecutive Sundays or travel with girls to see the world, you’ll be making a positive and lasting impact on the lives of young girls. We’ll give you all the support that you need to ensure you’ll have a fun and rewarding experience. And since this issue of S’more is your companion for this Girl Scout year, here are some opportunities we’ve gathered to help you all year.
Where can I find Volunteer Trainings? Get the training you need to be a GSWPA volunteer by visiting gswpa.org/volunteer. We also list trainings in our quarterly e-newsletter, Lead On, distributed in September, December, March and July. You can also check out trainings in your area on our Things to Do calendar at gswpa.org/things-to-do.
Don’t miss our annual Adult Fall Enrichment! Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013; 9 a.m. -3 p.m. Location: Christ United Methodist Church, 44 Highland Road, Bethel Park, PA – Allegheny County Topics: Grade-levels, Journeys, Take Action projects, team-building, crafts, Outdoor 101 and much more! Cost: $30
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Don’t forget to check out our Pinterest board for great grade level ideas! Dates to Remember: • April 6-13 — National Volunteer Week • April 22 — Girl Scouts Leader’s Day
Adults can Earn Awards Too! Girls love earning badges and awards. After all, what would sashes be like without them? But did you know that adults can be recognized in Girl Scouting too? It’s a great way to thank our volunteers for their hard work and dedication. Anyone can nominate a volunteer for an award, and there are a variety of Adult Awards with categories that make sense for new volunteers and longtime volunteers alike. Deadlines vary depending upon the award (with most falling on August 10 or February 1 each year). For a detailed list of the awards and applications, please visit gswpa.org/volunteers/adult-awards or contact AdultAward@gswpa.org or 800-248-3355 x1214.
Journeys Made Easy Many of the programs throughout this publication are what we’re calling “Journey Jumpstarts.” Look for the Journey icon (at right) throughout S’more to help you find them. These programs help earn parts of Journey awards. We hope it makes working on Journeys easier Did you know? for you as a volunteer. (Lots of programs The Journey Series also focus on badge work, so make sure and Girls Guide to to check them out as the girls decide Girl Scouting books the badges they want to earn.) The keys to making Girl Scout Journeys or badges leap off the page, instead of feeling flat or school-like, are what we call the Three Processes. That might sound like schoolwork in its own right, but trust us, it’s the key to making Girl Scouting great:
were designed to be keepsakes for the girls. The MagNut Program is a great way for girls to earn proceeds to pay for these important resources.
1. Girl Led 2. Learning by Doing, and 3. Cooperative Learning. Here’s a link to a six-minute cartoon on the Three Processes: gswpa.org/volunteers. You can also check out some examples of how other Girl Scouts have had fun with a purpose through Journeys on the same page. Tip: After you check out the video, spend an hour or two on your Journey Adult Guide. Then, set it aside and start to guide the girls on the Journey’s theme. Remember – the books are the ticket to the Journey … and the Journey is what girls create! Have a Journey question? Need more advice? Contact ProgramAdmin@gswpa.org. series
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