Daises are a young group of Girl Scouts.Daisies are committed to exploring nature, selling cookies, making friends, and earning petals, which are the equivalent of badges for a Daisy Troop.The process of starting a Daisy Girl Scout troop can be rewarding.To operate a troop, you will need to register with Girls Scouts of USA, pass a background check, and undergo basic training.You can establish your organization from there.Make sure to network with other troop leaders in your area and plan a lot of fun meetings for your members as you move forward.
Step 1: You can register as a member of the Girl Scouts.
You can't get a background check or have your training linked to your name until you register as an adult member of the GSUSA.If you were a Girl Scout when the new system was put into place, you can register as an adult member through the MyGS account.Most people don't have an account and can register online.Go to the main Girl Scout website and click the "Volunteer Now" button on the For Adults page.The link to that specific page is referenced in the foot note.You will have to answer a few questions about why you are joining Girl Scouts from here.If you have a Troop number assigned to you, make sure you register so your name can be linked to that troop.If you don't see the Troop Leader opening when you register, you will need to call your local council and have them set it up manually.You will have to pay a $25 registration fee if you want to find your local council here.Start-and-manage-a-Daisy- Girl-Scout-T-roop-Step-4-Version-2.jpg
Step 2: Go for a criminal background check.
Daisy Troop leaders must pass a test.You will get an email requesting you start the process if you register as a leader volunteer.You will need to contact your local Girl Scout Council if you are not assigned a Troop number yet.You are fit to supervise young children if you are checked by the CBC.If you have a question, contact the Girl Scout Council.Most of the time, they will give you an option not to pay.The Girl Scout Council will foot the bill if you don't pay.Start-and-manage-a-Daisy- Girl-Scout-Troop-Step-2.jpg
Step 3: If necessary, choose a co- leader.
Any size of troop requires two GSUSA registered adults.Larger troops need more GSUSA registered adults.It is not required to have a co-leader.If you are the only leader and there are several parents that will be GSUSA registered, they can come and be the second adult without being a leader.If you are ever sick, the meetings would be canceled.It is recommended that you get a second adult.The parents of the girls of your troop should have a parent meeting with you.If you don't have one at the start, you can ask if a parent is interested in taking the steps to become a co-leader.It's important to make sure you can work well with someone on a semi-professional basis.Start-and-manage-a-Daisy- Girl-Scout-Troop-Step-5-Version-2.
Step 4: You have to complete online training.
GSUSA members that are involved with the girls should complete an online training program.The training takes 45 minutes.The basics of Girl Scouts are covered in this program.There is a link to the Volunteer training page of GSUSA.Links to what can be done online can often be found on their website.If you have a question about training, you can reach out to your local Girl Scout Council.During the online training session, pay close attention.When managing your own troop, you may want to take notes throughout the training session.If you can, take any training in person, as it often focuses helpful information, while not wasting a lot of time on less important topics.You can ask questions from people who have been through the training.That is priceless.The training introduces you to the basics of managing a troop.The values of Girl Scouts are discussed and how to open a bank account is explained.It shows how to order materials for your troop and where to find information on planning troop activities.What are you going to need to run your troop?Logistical information for cookie sales may be available.Start-and-manage-a-Daisy- Girl-Scout-Troop-Step-1-Version-2.
Step 5: Do you know how big your troop will be?
You don't want to recruit more girls than you can lead.GSUSA members with a valid Criminal Background Check are required to have 2 unrelated adults with them for every 12 girls.Each additional 6 girls need an adult GSUSA member with a valid CBC.You will need three adult members at every meeting if you have 13 girls.Start-and-manage-a-Daisy- Girl-Scout-T-Step-7-Version-2.jpg
Step 6: Pick a location to meet.
It's important to know if you want to meet at your home, a school gymnasium, or a church.All adults in the home must be registered as adult members of GSUSA with a Criminal Background Check if they are helping at the meeting.Girl Scouts takes the safety of girls very seriously.Any private residence where Girl Scouts meet or attend private meetings can only have an adult that has been verified by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.Meeting at your home is not an option if you want a large troop.There are churches, schools, and community centers where troops can meet.Ask the local meeting areas if it is possible and if there is a cost to meet there.It might affect how often you meet.Before you pay any fees or finalize any meeting location plans, talk to your Girl Scout Council.They need to allow you to meet there.
Step 7: Do you have a choice when you will hold your meetings?
It is easier to recruit when you have a clear meeting time and place.60-90 minutes is how long meetings can be.Most of the official Girl Scout Meeting plans are for 90 minutes, but Kindergarten Daisies only meet for 60 minutes as their attention span is shorter.Pick a meeting time that is convenient for children and parents when working with school-aged children.Meeting times need to occur after school.Many parents work a 9 to 5 job.Parents can pick up their kids after work if you meet in the school at the end of the day.Families can grab a bite to eat before you start your meeting if the evening works better.The easiest place to host a meeting is a school.It is easy to get to for most parents if the meeting is in the evening.Girl Scouts can be accommodated without a fee at most schools.Start-and-manage-a-Daisy- Girl-Scout-T-Step-3-Version-2.jpg
Step 8: A troop bank account is needed.
Girl scout troops are required to have a bank account.The funds raised through troop dues, cookie sales, and other activities will be stored here.Girl Scout Councils have their own rules regarding establishing a bank account.For more information, contact them.The forms will vary by location, but you will usually put down your troop number, your name, the address of your meetings, and other basic contact information.Girl Scouts troop leaders in your area can answer any questions you have.During your training, rules about establishing a bank account are covered.Decide how much your troop dues will be.The $25 membership fee goes to the GSUSA, but the Troop Dues fee is paid by the parents.Troop dues are used to get materials for the activities.The cost of the badges the girls will earn during the year will be taken into account by some troops.Parents will be asked to purchase the badges.It's helpful to have a good idea of the cost during the year, even though you can't decide a hard number in the Parent Meeting.Start-and-manage-a-Daisy- Girl-Scout-Troop-Step10
Step 9: They should recruit troops.
You should have all the knowledge you need to start your troop after completing training.You should begin by recruiting members from your community.Daisies are kindergarten and first grade students.The Service Unit is the first place you should look.You can find out what Service Unit is over the area you live in by contacting your local Girl Scout Council.You can go to recruitment drives to get new members.Where does your daughter meet other girls?School, Church, play groups, etc.Ask your daughter's teacher if you can speak to the class about Girl Scouts.You can give the girls flyers to take home and talk to their parents.If there is a Back to School night in your school, you can set up a table to let parents know about Girl Scouts.You can place flyers around schools, daycares and community centers.They can be advertised to both children and parents.You may be able to get flyers from your service unit.Girl Scouts have positive aspects when it comes to recruiting members.Talk about the commitment to service and responsibility.Talk to your child's parents about the benefits of joining Girl Scouts, such as boosting her self-esteem, making lifelong friends, and developing basic skills like responsibility.Let parents know if their child is eligible to be a girl scout.Some parents may wonder if their daughters are allowed in Girl Scouts.Let these parents know that Girl Scouts is open to girls who are identified as female by their families and communities.You should make it clear that Girl Scouts is open to all religions.Start-and-manage-a-Daisy- Girl-Scout-Troop-Step6-Version-2.
Step 10: Have a meeting with your parent.
A parent/guardian meeting is required before you can have an official Girl Scouts meeting.You meet with parents and potential troop members at this event.This will allow you to answer questions about Daisy Troop.You can ask adult volunteers for things your troop needs right away.If you need them to leave their kids at home, make sure you tell them at the Parent Meeting.You can focus more on the details that are relevant to the parents.If you allow kids to come, make sure there is an activity for them to do.One leader can run the kids activity while the other runs the adult meeting if you choose to have a co-leader before this meeting.You will need to inform parents about the values of the Girl Scouts.Mention what your troop is focused on this year.You can do the Daisy Petals, go on a Daisy Journey and let the girls earn their petals on their own, or focus on more fun activities that don't have an official Badge attached.There are a variety of forms the parents have to fill out before the first Troop Meeting.You can explain them at the meeting.They may not be able to fill out the Health History Form at the meeting.For more information on the forms, see the next step.It's important to plan your first parent/guardian meeting.It's important that parents and guardians leave the meeting excited about their daughters joining a Daisy Troop.Daisy Troop success depends on supportive, active parents and guardians.Start-and-manage-a-Daisy- Girl-Scout-Troop-Step-8.jpg
Step 11: All your forms need to be returned.
There are specific rules for the local Girl Scout Council.The forms can be handed out at the parent/guardian meeting.The Permission Form is the one that dictates how the girls will go home, who is authorized to pick them up, and emergency contact numbers.There is only one form that needs to be filled out for all Troop Meetings, but additional forms are required for any day long outing, overnight activity, or anything that requires the troop to travel a significant distance.A Health History or Health Examination form allows you to know what allergies a troop member may have and what medications you are allowed to give them from your troop First Aid kit.If you ever need to call for a medical emergency or take a girl to the ER, you can give it to an EMT.
Step 12: Host your first meeting.
If you hosted your first parents meeting and got all the paperwork out of the way, you can host the first troop meeting at your chosen location.The first meetings should focus on getting to know each other and what it means to be a Girl Scout.It's up to the leaders to decide if they earn a Badge during the first meeting.The first meeting should start with any opening or closing routines you have in place.At the beginning of the meeting, many will recite the Girl Scouts Promise, Girl Scout Law, and Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a girl scout song and a friendship circle.You should include these in your training.The Girl Scout Law is long for kindergarteners because they are learning how to read.Many first graders will memorize it before the school year ends.Determine what works best for your age group.The opening day craft activities can be found on the Girl Scout website.Ice breaking can be done with a craft that promotes communication.The girls can draw pictures of their favorite things.They can compare and contrast their tastes by exchanging pictures.The meeting can start with your troops in a circle.They can introduce themselves.You could play a game to help with introductions.Some Daisy Troop leaders play a game."Daisy, daisy, petals!"The basics of a Daisy meeting should be introduced to you.You should have received a variety of handouts during your training for Daisy.The girls will go on a road trip with Daisy Petals and Flower Friends.Daisy Journeys are guided by fictional characters who appear in literature and pamphlets throughout the year.You can learn a lot about these characters on your first day.Start-and-manage-a-Daisy- Girl-Scout-T-roop-Step-9.jpg
Step 13: There are a lot of activities for meetings.
In the course of the year, the Daisy Troops follow a specific journey through a garden.If you do one meeting for the Promise Center and one for each meeting, Daisy Petals will explore the different aspects of the Girl Scout Law.The "Take Action Project" is a service project if you choose to do a Journey, which takes nine to 12 meetings.Depending on the interests of your troop, this project can take a variety of directions.A variety of activities should be included in each meeting to build towards the larger project.The goal of the "Take Action" project is to make a difference in the community.The girls can help plant a garden.If you have small planting projects each week, you can work up to the larger project.For one week, your girls can plant a small seed.They can take it home and watch it grow.When working in a community garden, this will teach them basic gardening techniques.A sample trajectory of a Daisy Troop can be found in the Girl Scouts of the USA handbook.You can refer to this handbook as you plan your meetings, but you can deviate from the rules to suit your own troop's needs.Start-and-manage-a-Daisy- Girl-Scout-T-roop-Step-11.jpg
Step 14: You should plan trips.
A variety of trips can be taken by your troop.They can learn about the environment at an organic farm.Girl Scout Councils have different regulations for planning trips.Training can be anything from a 20 minute online class to a 4 hour in-class training session.You can plan as many or as few trips as you want.Trips should relate to your "Take Action" project.Start-and-manage-a-Daisy- Girl-Scout-Troop-Step-12.jpg
Step 15: Consider taking a camping trip.
The Girl Scouts don't have a set age limit for camping trips, but your local Girl Scout Council may have specific regulations for Daisy's camping.It might take a while to get the right training and requirements met if you want to do an overnight trip.Even if you don't have the right training, you can still attend a Girl Scout official Resident Camp.The Resident Camps only require 2 GSUSA adult members for night time supervision and to chaperone the kids from station to station during the day.Depending on where you are staying, a variety of activities can be included in a Troop Led camping trip.If you have a friend who owns a farm, you can camp there and teach the girls about farming and animal care.If you are camping near water, you can teach the girls how to swim.Make sure to hire a professional lifeguard if you are planning water activities.It is not uncommon for girls in the Daisy age range to be nervous about camping for the first time.Going over the schedule ahead of time will help your girls feel less nervous.The girl's don't go in without knowing where they are staying, so you can visit the campgrounds before the overnight stay.All mothers must be GSUSA members with a valid Criminal Background Check in order to attend a Mother-Daughter Campout.Start-and-manage-a-Daisy- Girl-Scout-T-roop-Step-13.jpg
Step 16: Group with other troop leaders.
Girl Scouts are a community.You can take advantage of the community in your area.The Service Unit meetings are where you can network with other troop leaders.You can work with other Daisy Troops.Older Girl Scouts can help you network.When your Daisies are ready to bridge to Brownies themselves, it can make it feel extra special.Allowing your girls to see the projects and activities older Girl Scouts are doing may give them incentive to stay in Girl Scouting.Start-and-manage-a-Daisy- Girl-Scout-T-roop-Step-14.jpg