That time of year is finally upon us! As we prepare for our girls to go back to school, it is also time to begin planning your 2023-24 Girl Scouting season.

Here is a checklist to use when you are getting ready for the next troop year in September and October each troop year:

• First and foremost, renew yourself and your girls, if you haven’t already: https://www.gsgcf.org/en/members/renew-membership-youth-volunteer.html
• Make sure you are subscribed to the council newsletter, S’more News, to keep up to date with council happenings, announcements, and upcoming events.
• Follow us on social media to stay up to date with council happenings, announcements, and upcoming events. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
• Connect with Service Unit Managers

Once you have taken care of the brass tacks, it is time to begin planning your year of Girl Scouting. We already know it is going to be filled with fun, friendship, creativity, adventure, and wonder… But how do we make it happen?

In Girl Scouts, we talk a lot about why it’s so important for girls to take the lead in troop life, and for good reason! But for many new troop leaders, the idea of letting their girls take charge might sound a little crazy. How do you let little girls who can barely sit through snack time plan a year of activities? What does girl-led planning actually look like?

Girl-Led Planning for Younger Girls

If you’ll be planning activities for your younger girls, get a clear picture of what they’re most excited about.

Once you know what the girls in your troop are most excited about, it will be easier to plan activities and badges around their personal interests. Many Daisy and Brownie leaders find that asking girls to vote on two or three options keeps the girls engaged and keeps the meeting moving. This strategy gives the girls agency while also keeping your troop’s planning realistic and mission-aligned.

As your girls bridge to Juniors, they’ll be ready to take on more responsibilities in charting their troop year.

Girl-Led Planning for Older Girls

Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors have the skills they need to develop realistic plans and make them a reality! Though they won’t need the same level of support as younger girls, be ready with guiding questions or key information that will help them make informed decisions about the year ahead.

The most supportive thing you can do for older girls is to listen to them and create effective systems for them to turn their dreams into a reality.