New Troop Leaders | Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania

New Leader Resources

Welcome to Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania!

Ready to get started as a leader or thinking about becoming one? You have come to the right place! This page will guide you through everything you will need for your first year of adventures in Girl Scouting.

We are here to support you! Have questions? Contact us at customercare@gswpa.org or 800-248-3355.

Begin Your Adventure

New Leader Checklist
Walking you through your first year as a troop leader from how to be a leader to what occurs throughout your first-year journey

Accessing gsLearn
How to access gsLearn and New Leader Training on your desktop or mobile device

Volunteer Position Description - Troop Leader
What you do as a troop leader

Welcome to Girl Scouts
A guide for new leaders

Monthly Council Updates for Volunteers
This monthly email newsletter sent to volunteers includes key dates, important information, and new activities and opportunities for volunteers and Girl Scouts.

Tips for Troop Leaders
Girl Scouts of the USA's tips for troop leaders

Year Plans for Troops
Map out your year

Your First Year

Before You Take Off toggle arrow

Register as a volunteer.
Complete required clearances.
Connect with your member success advisor. They can help you find a co-leader, set up your troop, recruit girls to your troop, and even find a meeting space. Need help connecting? Contact customer care at customercare@gswpa.org or 800-248-3355.
Review the troop leader role.
Invite girls to join the troop. You’ll need five girls to launch your troop.
Complete your training in gsLearn. An email will be sent to you by the new troop leader coordinator within seven days after being approved as a troop leader. This email will include instructions on how to start.

Launching Your Troop: The First 30 Days toggle arrow

Welcome new girls and their families as they register:
- Your troop will remain open on the Opportunity Catalog for new girls to join until you reach 12 girls (standard troop size). Interested in more girls? Complete our Troop Catalog Update Form.
- Need help with recruitment? Let us know, and your membership engagement specialist can support you.
Review the Welcome to Girl Scouts guide.
Check out the Volunteer Toolkit, a customizable planning tool for your troop. You’ll find the Volunteer Toolkit via the left menu bar of MyGS in My Account. It’s accessible on any desktop, tablet, or mobile device.
Connect with your service unit to find out about meetings for leaders and events in your local community.
Attend a required Explore Your Year session within three months of your onboarding as a new leader.
Attend one of our Volunteer Open Houses, an optional opportunity to get your questions answered and learn about relevant Girl Scout topics.

In Flight: The First Three Months toggle arrow

Hold your first parent meeting. Use the Welcoming Girls to Join Girl Scouts: Key Messages for Volunteers for guidance on how to talk about Girl Scouts.
Plan your first troop meeting. Use the Volunteer Toolkit to guide you, or check out these helpful resources.
Attend your first service unit meeting to network with your fellow Girl Scout volunteers. The volunteers in your community have a wealth of knowledge to share.
Open your troop bank account. Get started.

Reaching For the Stars: The First Year toggle arrow

Submit an Annual Finance Report, due yearly on June 15.
Let your girls guide you to the additional trainings you will take:
- Let's Travel the USA
- First Aid/CPR/AED (recommended for meetings, required for trips and high adventure activities)
- Let’s Go Camping (for overnights and camping activities)
Troops will participate in and learn about our product programs: the Gifts & Goodies program and the Girl Scout Cookie Program.
Learn about Girl Scout traditions.
Check out additional volunteer resources available to you.
Ready for troop adventures? Check out Volunteer Essentials to guide you.
Visit our Forms and Documents page.

Important Resources for Your First Year

Helpful New Leader Resources toggle arrow

Troop Newsletter Templates toggle arrow

Health & Safety toggle arrow

Managing Finances toggle arrow

Helpful gsLearn Courses toggle arrow

Volunteer Open Houses toggle arrow

The Volunteer Open House is a free virtual event that provides volunteers the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about what’s right around the corner in Girl Scouting! Each session will have a timely special topic:

Check out our line-up:
6:30-6:45 p.m. – Introductions
6:45-7:15 p.m. – Special Topics
7:15-8 p.m. – Volunteer Support Topics and Q&A

Volunteer Open Houses will be held on the following dates with the following special topics. Register today!

Sept. 9, 2026: Registration + Tour the Laurel Highlands Office
Sept. 21, 2026: Gifts & Goodies, Cookies
Oct. 5, 2026: Adult Development, Highest Awards, Girl Program, Retail
Nov. 10, 2026: Adult Development
Dec. 3, 2026: Retail
Jan. 13, 2027: Cookies, Highest Awards
Feb. 16, 2027: Cookie Booth Sales
March 8, 2027: Girl Program
April 8, 2027: Volunteer Appreciation
May 5, 2027: Annual Finance Reports
Sept. 14, 2027: Gifts & Goodies

Looking for Additional Support?

Reach out to our Troop Mentor Network
Attend one of our Volunteer Open Houses to get your questions answered and learn about relevant Girl Scout topics.
Receive important messages and date reminders via text message. Opt-in by texting troopleader to 800-248-3355.
Contact customer care: customercare@gswpa.org
Contact the new troop leader coordinator, Janelle Friend: jfriend@gswpa.org

group of junior girl scouts in uniform green vest with patches and badges with arms around each other smiling

Troop Year Plans

Get the tools you need to help your troop thrive. Download our simplemonth-by-month guides to make this your best year yet.

GET STARTED