Training

Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore is here to help you succeed as a volunteer! We offer in-person and online training so you can learn the best ways to support Girl Scouts at your convenience. A great resource is Volunteer Essentials, which will guide you through everything there is to know about Girl Scouts.

Training Basics

Becoming A Leader toggle arrow

Becoming a new leader is simple and you’ll be supported by our volunteer development system throughout your involvement. Each component will help make your volunteer experience more meaningful.

The first step is to register yourself as an adult member. The cost to do so is $30 and we offer financial assistance if needed. You can register on our website here.
The second step is to complete the criminal background check which will come to you in an email from ApplicantDirect@Asurint.com. Do not send an email directly to this address.
Once your membership and background check are complete, please reach out to council and let us know you'd like to be a leader. You will be assigned the GSUSA Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Course. Once that is complete, they'll schedule a New Leader Oreintation.

There are other trainings to help you learn the basics of troop leadership and how to work with girls of your troop's level. These are either available in person or online and will be discussed at the orientation.

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We have improved our volunteer screening process. Now volunteers will move directly from Online Registration to Online Background Screening, simplifying the volunteer enrollment process while ensuring that volunteers are carefully screened.

The following Girl Scout volunteers will be asked to complete a background check (see below) every two years and the GSUSA Girl Scout Child Abuse and Neglet Prevention Course:

Troop Leaders
Troop Chaperones
Troop Treasurers
Troop Product Sales Coordinators
Troop Helpers

If you are a new or current volunteer, please complete an adult registration. Be sure to check "I want to join as a Volunteer." If you do not see a troop listed when you search, please click Unsure and a box will pop up where you can type in the level and school of the troop you are leading.

You will then receive a Background Check Request from the vendor Asurint from the email address applicantdirect@asurint.com. Follow the link provided in the email to fill out the background check. (It is not mandatory to attach any supporting documentation, skip that step). If you did a background check within the previous two years, you will not be asked to complete a new one until the current one expires.

Training

Training is provided to assist each volunteer in successfully accomplishing their volunteer responsibilities, including:

competency and skills
principles of Girl Scouting
fundamentals of the Girl Scout program.

Training courses are available online in the gsLearn though your MYGS portal.

All girl facing volunteers are required to complete the GSUSA Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Course.

Leaders are required to complete the following:

Have membership
Pass a standard background check
Complete 2 additional required trainings (many more are available)
- GSUSA Girl Scout Levels and Your Role As A Troop Leadre
- GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: The Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE)

Training Registration toggle arrow

Registration is a must for all courses and will be confirmed upon receipt. You cannot attend a training unless you register prior to the date of the class. In the interest of providing a valuable learning experience for volunteer leaders and volunteer trainers, the council may cancel a course if:

Less than five participants are registered for a course.
The council closes one/both service centers and/or Monmouth and Ocean County schools are closed.

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Please call the Service Center at 800-785-2090 to inform us of any special training needs. We will attempt to meet your needs.

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You must register for classes prior to the scheduled date. No walk-ins will be accepted. Trainers only bring supplies for those who have pre-registered. Click here for CPR training dates.

CPR and First Aid Recertification

You must be certified through an agency approved certification. Please refer to the safety activity check points. In-person/hybrid trainings only, per GSUSA. You must register for classes prior to the scheduled date. No walk-ins will be accepted. Trainers only bring supplies for those who have pre-registered.

Basic Outdoor Skills toggle arrow

Outdoor Basics is experiential training focused on how volunteers will train girl members in skills such as cooking on charcoal, campfire, or with a propane stove, the safe handling and use of knives, basic knots, and sanitation for hands and dishes. Information is provided about trip planning, our camp facilities, and menu planning. The packing of clothing, personal gear, and group gear is demonstrated and handouts provided listing items needed. All volunteers who work with girls are welcome to attend.

An overnight option is available. Participants will continue with an overnight with volunteer trainers in our camp. This can be taken together on the same weekend with Outdoor Basics or separately at a later date following completion of a previous an Outdoor Basics day. As part of our overnight experience, we share outdoor program ideas of songs, games, compass, outdoor flag ceremony, and an evening campfire.

GSJS Basic Outdoor Skills trainings are offered each fall, in January and in the spring.

Click Here for Basic Outdoor Skills Dates

Please note that the lead trainer will arrange community trainings for any community that has a minimum of 8 people willing to attend. This will be very helpful with the Encampments coming up!!

Troop Product Sale Manager Training toggle arrow

The Troop Product Sales Manager in your troop is the adult who has volunteered to handle the Nut/QSP and/or Cookie Sale for you troop. GSJS has designed a training to help organize the troop's sale. This course is required for all new Troop Product Sales Managers.

Click Here for Product Sale Training Dates

Quick Quarterlies Training toggle arrow

There is an optional training each quarter based on volunteer needs and chosen by the Volunteer Support Committee. Please click here to view upcoming trainings. Questions: Pshank@gsfun.org

Online Support for Volunteers

The Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) is a digital resource that supports troop leaders and co-leaders, making the process of running a troop easier and more efficient. Check out some of the toolkit’s top features below. Then watch the video playlist below for a detailed walk-through.

Through the VTK, troop leaders can:

Plan the troop’s calendar year
Email parents with one click.
View the troop roster, renew girls’ membership, and update their contact information.
View Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Journeys and badges to plan for troop meetings. There are three prepopulated year plans in the VTK for Daisy, Brownie, and Junior leaders, with 15 meetings each.
Customize meetings by troop year with other badge and Journey options.
NEW! Access the VTK as a multilevel troop (troops with a mix of girls in Daisy, Brownie, and Junior levels).
Explore individual meeting plans that show a breakdown of every meeting, including a list of the materials needed, and editable time allotments for each activity within a meeting.
Record girls’ attendance at meetings and their badge and Journey achievements.
Add council or custom troop events to the troop’s calendar
Enter the troop’s finances (depending on the council’s process).
Easily locate resources, such as Safety Activity Checkpoints.
NEW! Access 18 activities that now include a “Get Outside” option, which provides alternative outdoor options.

What About Parents?

Parents can now access the VTK to see what their girl’s troop or group is doing (e.g, meeting information and which badges and Journeys she is working on).
Parents can also view the troop’s finances (depending on the council’s process).

Council Finder

Adult Training

Training

Training Basics

Online Support for Volunteers

Volunteer Toolkit

For Care Givers