Girl Scouting is an adventure-filled journey. There is a trail for everyone, connecting us all with places to explore, lessons to learn and friends to have fun with along the way.
WHAT IS LEADERFEST?
It's one-day of fun, casual and relaxing learning for Girl Scout volunteers. It is a chance to gather and enjoy all the best things about Girl Scouting. We offer you the opportunity to take certification courses such as Basic Camping Skills License and First Aid/CPR. You can also choose from a wide assortment of enrichment classes in troop leadership, traditions, badge work as well as arts and crafts. Throughout the day, you’ll meet and learn from other volunteers, make new friends and go home inspired and energized to lead your troop wherever they want to go.
Leaderfest offers an optional children's program for school age children (boys and girls in grades K-5) from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. While you enjoy adult company at Leaderfest, your kids will gather in a separate building where they will have their own adventure full of crafts, games and fun. Cost for the children’s program is $15 per child and includes lunch and two snacks, which they will be preparing. Parents have the option to send their campers a lunch. Please note that children will need to wear shoes and socks (no sandals, Crocs, heels or open toes) and bring a jacket as we will be spending time outside.
REGISTRATION PROCESS:
Register online at www.girlscoutsp2p.org. Expect an immediate e-mail response telling you that your registration has been processed.
Important Note: Some classes are limited in size. Assignment is made on a first come, first served basis. If a class/training requires more than one session to complete, you must register for each session to meet the requirements.
CONFIRMATIONS:
About two weeks before the event, you will receive a confirmation packet with directions to the church, emergency phone numbers, what to bring, when to arrive and more! If you do not receive, an e-mail, please contact Kris Stewart at kidsstewart@yahoo.com.
REFUNDS:
A refund, minus the registration fee, will be granted until March 5, 2026. A full refund is granted if GSCP2P cancels the event. A medical exemption will grant a refund, minus the registration fee, if cancellation is submitted prior to the first day of the event and a doctor’s statement of the participant’s inability to participate is submitted.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
Financial Assistance through the Ed Whitmire Scholarship Fund is applied to every Leaderfest participant, helping keep registration costs low, support our volunteers and ensure Girl Scouts have the well-prepared leaders they deserve. This day-long training event has a value of $30–$65 per participant, depending on what classes you choose.
Due to limited space and in an effort to provide an equitable experience for all troops, only one volunteer per troop may participate in the First Aid/CPR and Basic Camp License classes.
SERVICE PROJECT:
Leaderfest also offers you an opportunity to give back to the community through our annual service project. This year, we are collecting food for The Backpack Program. The Backpack Program serves children in over forty local schools who face hunger on the weekends in Catawba and Alexander County. Each week school is in session, over 1,500 children receive a bag full of food weighing up to 7 lbs. Please bring canned veggies, breakfast bars, pop tarts, small cereals, soups, small cans of chicken, ravioli, peanut butter crackers or any kind of snack.
GIRL SCOUT SHOP:
The Girl Scout mobile shop will be open from 2:30 - 5 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall for those looking to stock up on Girl Scout goodies from the GSCP2P council shop. The shop will have limited merchandise, so if you know of certain items you need to purchase you can order them at bit.ly/3OoDO15. You can also call the council shop at 800-672-2148 and place orders over the phone. Please submit your request by March 1, 2026 in order to receive your items at the event.
SWAPS:
Interested in swapping small mementos at Leaderfest? Check out YouTube, Pinterest and other social media sites for ideas. GSCP2P has a Pinterest board just for SWAPS! 50 - 75 SWAPS should be adequate.
DOLLAR TABLE AND AUCTIONS:
Over the years, we have raised thousands of dollars for Adult Financial Assistance through our Dollar table and Silent and Live Auction.
Our Dollar Table is a great place to get deals on craft items as well as other cool things. Please feel free to bring your surplus Girl Scout items (extra patches, badges, books, etc.), craft supplies or other items that you would like to donate.
The Silent Auction will be stocked up with lots of goodies. If you have handcrafted items to donate to the Silent Auction, please contact Kris Stewart at kidsstewart@yahoo.com.
After the last class we will gather in the Fellowship Hall at 4:30 when the Silent Auction will end and we will have a Live Auction for a weekend at camp.
Be sure to bring your cash, cards and checkbooks to the event!
WHAT CLASSES SHOULD I CHOOSE?
There really is no “should” when it comes to course selection - you are free to select as many or as few as you like. We encourage you to take classes that interest you as well as impact your troop in a positive way. The icons below will appear beside the course descriptions to help clarify requirements for completing licenses.
Basic Camping Skills License
Primitive Camping License
First Aid and CPR
Required five-year license that covers useful outdoor skills like fire building, simple cooking over a fire, knots and tents.
Prerequisites: Overnight and Activity License (online)
Prerequisites: Overnight and Activity License (online) and Basic Camping Skills License (formerly Camping License)
Required two-year license for many activities outside of troop meetings including camping and travel.
ONLINE SAFETY COURSES:
An Overnight and Activity License is required for all field trips and overnight events with your troop. You can complete your license online in gsLearn. Simply log into gsLearn through your MyGS account and go to the Content Library. Use the search bar and search “Overnight” or browse and look for the Blue Owl. The Overnight and Activity License is a prerequisite for all camping courses and should be completed two weeks prior to attending Leaderfest.
EVENT SCHEDULE:
Saturday, March 21
8 - 8:45 a.m.
Saturday Check-in
9 - 10:30 a.m.
Session 1
10:40 a.m. - 12:10 p.m.
Session 2
12:15 - 1 p.m. Lunch
1:10 - 2:40 p.m.
Session 3
2:50 - 4:20 p.m.
Session 4
4:30 - 5 p.m.
Closing (silent auction ends at 4:35, live aution for camp weekend and dollar table)
If you are taking Basic Camping Skills License you will not need to purchase lunch.
All other participants are welcome to bring their own lunch or purchase a lunch during registration. We will be catering from Apple City BBQ: Beef BBQ, Slaw, hush puppies, Mac and cheese, slaw and corn nuggets. Tea or Lemonade.
SESSION 1 CLASSES
9 - 10:30 a.m.
Some workshops are limited in size. Assignment is made on a first come, first served basis. If a workshop/training requires more than one session to complete, you must register for all sessions.
LF 1.1 Free Time/ Instructing
Instructing this session or want some free time? Select this so we know your mind! The lobby is available for networking if you’d like to meet with other volunteers.
LF 1.2 Basic Camping Skills License, part 1
The Basic Camp Skills License is required for camping with girls, covers basic skills such as fire building, Leave No Trace principles, safe knife use, planning and preparation of outdoor meals, sanitation, tent use and care. We'll also cover useful knots and methods to teach these camping activities to girls.
Prerequisite: Must complete Overnight and Activity License online before the class. Bring test results to class.
Postrequisite: You must also select LF 2.2 and 3.2
Bring: Pocketknife, water bottle, eating utensils/plate/ bowl/cup in a mesh bag and wear appropriate clothing for an outdoor class
Cost: $15
Min/Max: 6/12
LF 1.3 First Aid/ CPR, part 1
Learn basic first aid and lifesaving skills to earn First Aid/CPR certification. Participants can use those skills to provide and teach basic first aid to their girls. A First Aider is required for activities outside your troop meeting place.
Postrequisite: You must also select LF 2.3 to complete this course.
Bring: Pencil
Cost: $15
Min/Max: 4/12
LF 1.4 VTK
Discover how the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) can help you manage your troop, lessen the paperwork and create an open line of communication with parents. The VTK is a comprehensive digital tool accessible on your computer, smartphone or tablet. The VTK is designed to help cut down the amount of time it takes for you to manage your troops by planning meetings (in partnership with the girls), communicating with parents and finding support resources. The VTK puts all of this at your fingertips!
Bring: Computer, tablet or smart phone
Cost: $2
Min/Max: 4/12
LF 1.5 Math, Art and Numbers
Don’t let the “math” scare you! Learn some fun, easy ways to help your Girl Scout Daisies, Brownies and Juniors earn these badges.
Bring: Pencil and paper
Cost: $5
Min/Max: 5/10
LF 1.6 Oldies but Goodies
Want to learn how to make some old traditional Girl Scout camping items for next to nothing? Join us in making some fun items for your troop to add to their camping equipment. A few of the items we will make are dunk bags, heavy duty sit upons and buddy burners. We will have directions for these and others.
Cost: $8
Min/Max: 4/12
SESSION 2 CLASSES
10:40 a.m. - 12:10 p.m.
Some workshops are limited in size. Assignment is made on a first come, first served basis. If a workshop/training requires more than one session to complete, you must register for all sessions.
LF 2.1 Free Time/ Instructing
Instructing this session or want some free time? Select this so we know your mind! The lobby is available for networking if you’d like to meet with other volunteers.
LF 2.2 Basic Camping Skills
License, part 2
You must also register for LF 1.2 and 3.2.
Cost: Covered in LF 1.2
LF 2.3 First Aid/ CPR,
part 2
You must also register for LF 1.3.
Cost: Covered in LF 1.3
LF 2.4 Badges Through the Levels
Learning how to plan progression for mixed level troops and troops with bridging girls can be difficult. This class will discuss how skill building badges progress with each age level. It will teach progressive training techniques to use as your troop grows and provide problem solving techniques for troop planning.
Cost: $2
Min/Max: 3/12
LF 2.5 Stepping Stones to Success
This activity will allow leaders to reflect on the key steps to a successful troop while creating a collaborative piece of art.
Cost: $2
Min/Max: 1/10
LF 2.6 SWAPS
Tiny crafts called SWAPS have long been made and traded among Girl Scouts when they meet new friends. We’ll make several SWAPS and share ideas for many more in this fun, hands-on class.
Cost: $4
Min/Max: 2/12
SESSION 3 CLASSES
1:10 - 2:40 p.m.
Some workshops are limited in size. Assignment is made on a first come, first served basis. If a workshop/training requires more than one session to complete, you must register for all sessions.
LF 3.1 Free Time/ Instructing
Instructing this session or want some free time? Select this so we know your mind! The lobby is available for networking if you’d like to meet with other volunteers.
LF 3.2 Basic Camping Skills License, part 3
You must also register for LF 1.2 and 2.2.
Cost: Covered in LF 1.2
LF 3.3 Primitive Camping License, part 1
Take your skills to the next level to help your older Girl Scouts earn the Outdoor badges and Journeys. You will learn about camping lanterns, maps and compasses, bow saws, hatchets, tarps and water purification.
Prerequisite: Current Basic
Camping Skills License
Postrequisite: You must also select LF 4.2.
Bring: Wear weather appropriate clothing
Cost: $5
Min/Max: 4/18
LF 3.4 Outdoor Games
Need help with ideas for last minute meetings and fillers for your troop? Learn some easy outdoor games and team building activities for troops large and small. Find simple and low-cost activities to use for those last-minute troop planning needs.
Bring: Wear weather appropriate clothing
Cost: $2
Min/Max: 6/12
LF 3.5 SCI Starters:
Be
a Citizen Scientist
Have you heard of Sci-Starter? This is a way for the public to participate in Citizen Science. Come join an expert to learn how to get your troop involved with the Girl Scout x SciStarter partnership.
Bring: Phone, tablet or computer
Cost: $5
Min/Max: 5/20
LF 3.6 Highest Awards
The Highest Awards class will discuss the changes to the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. We will also discuss how to assist your girls in writing up these awards and the process for completing each step.
Cost: $2
Min/Max: 3/12
SESSION 4 CLASSES
2:50 - 4:20 p.m.
Some workshops are limited in size. Assignment is made on a first come, first served basis. If a workshop/training requires more than one session to complete, you must register for all sessions.
LF 4.1 Free Time/ Instructing
Instructing this session or want some free time? Select this so we know your mind! The lobby is available for networking if you’d like to meet with other volunteers.
LF 4.2 Primitive
Camping License, part 2
You must also register for LF 3.3.
Cost: Covered in LF 3.3
LF 4.3 Adult Recognitions
Every day, Girl Scout volunteers make it possible for girls to benefit from adventures that are skill-building, leadtaking and life-changing. Without your commitment to unleashing the potential in every girl, we would not be the largest girl leadership organization in the world. Learn about the Adult Awards and recognitions that are a great way to say thank you and pay tribute to volunteers.
Cost: $2
Min/Max: 3/12
LF 4.4 Ceremonies
Have you ever wondered how to find out how to do a flag ceremony? What is a Scouts Own Ceremony? How do I do a Bridging Ceremony? If you have these questions, this course will be for you. We will be learning about ceremonies and writing up some of our own.
Cost: $2
Min/Max: 3/12
LF 4.5 Beyond the Troop Meeting
Girl Scouting is not just troop meetings - there is so much more! Troop travel, travel with a group with similar interests and goals, GSUSA destinations, and more. Get a chance to explore these awesome options for our girls and learn the procedures to make them happen.
Cost: $2
Min/Max: 4/24
LF 4.6 Coding for Good –Basics and Game Design
This class will help instructors of all computer skill levels teach Girl Scout Daisies-Cadettes the basics of computer coding, memes, functions, arguments, avatars, images and digital game design.
Bring: Computer (optional)
Cost: $2
Min/Max: 2/12
