Volunteer Zone

New Bridging Award Requirements

Bridging awards mark a girl's transition from one leadership level to the next. An exciting time in a Girl Scout's life, the earning of the award and completion of the activities are designed to emphasize the continuity of one Girl Scout program and to welcome girls to an anticipated "next level."

To find the new Bridging Award requirements, go to http://www.girlscouts.org/program/gs_central/insignia/bridging_awards/.
Click on the name (Daisy, Brownie, etc.) above the award patch for the requirements, which replace those in grade-level handbooks.

Celebrating this change with a bridging ceremony should be fun, personalized, and memorable for everyone involved. And most of all, it should be designed by the girls in true partnership with adults.

Bridging ceremonies usually take place at the beginning or end of the Girl Scout year and can have three parts:

• Opening: guests are welcomed and the tone is set
• Main Section: the ceremony is explained and the girls celebrate moving from one level to the next
• Closing: girls can participate in friendship circles and thank their guests

Each of the ceremony's parts offers plenty of room for the girls' creativity and individuality. And whether the ceremony includes an actual bridge or a symbolic one, or if it includes props like candles, flowers, or flags, it should always focus on paying tribute to the girls as they move forward.

Contact your nearest Girl Scout Service Center to find out about props that your troop may checkout.

Whether you are a Girl Scout leader, advisor, trainer or "helper," the Volunteer Zone is here to help you!

Visit here often for local, national and international Girl Scout news announcements, tips from other volunteers, information on disabilities and disability awareness, council forms and publications and all kinds of resources to help you make Girl Scouting fun and exciting for the girls – and easier for you!

And if you are a new volunteer, check out this section is especially for newly registered Girl Scout adult volunteers. Visit here often for news announcements, tips, "how to" check lists, frequently asked questions and all different kinds of resources available to aid you in your new journey.

• Haven't joined yet? Go to How to Join - Adults.
• Have a question about Girl Scouting? Go to Volunteer Voice!
• Need a form or other resource? Click here!
• Want to get our monthly newsletter? Sign up here! Sign up here!

Girl Scout Roundup Reunion: Think Vermont 2012

Details for “Countdown To 2012 Roundup Reunion” will be coming soon at http://www.girlscoutroundupreunion.com/. Go to the Web site now to watch a  YouTube video of the actual 1959 Roundup! Keep checking for videos of the other Roundups as well.

If you are new to Roundup Reunions...then welcome!  There’s no better place to reconnect with friends from Roundup days than through a Roundup Reunion, and you’re in for an incredible time.  If you attended one of the three previous reunions at Button Bay, Vermont, or the most recent reunion in Colorado Springs, you already know what a terrific experience awaits you.  Our time together has been a great opportunity to renew friendships, sing together, and bask in the shared memory of Girl Scout days.

We look forward to seeing you in Vermont in two+ years!  Start contacting everyone you know who went to any of the Roundups!

Spring Registration 2010

The council encourages girls and their families to participate in Spring Registration. Troop leaders and Girl Scout families that participate in spring registration are helping to keep girls in Girl Scouting another year where their growth and development can continue. Girls will also enjoy another year of wonderful program opportunities, camping fun and much more.

Top Five Reasons to Participate in Spring Registration

1. Replace your legacy council flag. You will receive a new troop flag with Girls Scouts of Greater Atlanta imprinted if your troop participates and meets the criteria.
2. GSUSA is unveiling some new marketing materials. The new flag will reflect the new look of Girl Scouts of the USA.
3. By signing the troop up now, girls and parents can go ahead and plan for troop activities in the fall.
4. Girls can begin working on their leadership awards over the summer – rather than waiting until the fall.
5. Troop proceeds from the cookie sale or troop treasury can be used to pay for girls’ registration fee. You can carry on Juliette Gordon Low’s idea of troops being self sustaining and the parents will appreciate the good financial stewardship.

For more information click on this Spring Incentive Plan flyer.

Add-A-Girl Troop Incentive Patch Program 2009-10

Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta encourages troops to provide the Girl Scout experience to all girls in your community. Dedicated volunteers like you, play a key role in ensuring our success in offering the opportunity to as many girls as possible to participate in the Girl Scout program. When you add new girls, you extend the opportunity to build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.

Tips for recruiting new girls

• Contact your service unit director to add a girl from the waiting list in your area
• Ask the girls and parents in your troop to ask a friend to join
• Ask a church in your community to make an announcement that spaces are available in your troop 

Download the request form to find out how to qualify for the
2009-10 Add-A-Member patch!

Volunteer Essentials 2010 and Safety Activity Checkpoints

Everything you need to know as a Girl Scout volunteer!

No matter why and how you choose to spend your time with Girl Scouts, your investment in time and energy will pay back ten-fold. Little can compare to the satisfaction you’ll feel as you help girls grow in self-confidence, discover their genuine selves, connect with the people and community around them, and take action to make a difference in the world.

Volunteer Essentials

The 2010 Volunteer Essentials handbook will guide you through everything you need to know as a Girl Scout volunteer. From taking trips and staying safe, to managing finances and program materials, your questions are answered! Download it now!

Our mission defines who we are and what we do: Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place!

Safety Activity Checkpoints

For the last several years GSUSA has been working to make changes to Safety-Wise to make it more user-friendly, concise and clear. Much of the information that was previously contained in Safety-Wise has been included in the new Volunteer Essentials 2010 which was released in early summer and is now available for immediate use.

The Safety Activity Checkpoints that were previously located in Safety-Wise have been completely updated and revised and can now be found on our website under the Events and Things to Do tab. Each checkpoint includes the same basic safety and qualifying information that was previously available, along with more specific steps to help you and the girls prepare for the activity, web links, and activity specific jargon. This new format allows you or the girls to download and print the safety checkpoints specific to the girl’s interests and can be easily shared by email with parents and guardians as needed. Additionally our council has included in the Volunteer Essentials 2010 an appendix with the safety checkpoints for the top most requested and participated in activities as a quick reference.

Effective August 1, 2010 our council will no longer be using the 2009 Edition of Safety-Wise as a tool for volunteers. Please be green and recycle your copy!

Download and View Safety Activity Checkpoints

All in one PDF | All in one PDF portfolio

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In-kind donations

Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta gratefully accepts gifts-in-kind from individuals and organizations to help meet the needs of our program. If you would like to donate items from our wish list or if you know of someone who woud like to provide funds to purchase items from our wish list, please contact the Fund Development Coordinator at (770) 702-9173 or by e-mail.

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