Girls have more fun when they can shape their own experience, do hands-on activities, and work together as teams. Girl Scout volunteers have more fun when they have easy access to resources that help them spend less time planning and coordinating and more time with their girls. They can try new things, make friends, and explore the world of opportunities available to Girl Scouts!

Our Volunteer Toolkit, which GSUSA launched last spring, is one of those critical resources. It allows girls and leaders to explore meeting topics and program activities together, and follow the fun as they plan their Girl Scout year. A digital planning tool, it gives volunteers (and girls) resources and program content to get the year started—and keep it going smoothly!

But it can do so much more than that and we love its versatility. Here are some of our favorite reasons to love this new resource!

It’s Everywhere

As a digital resource volunteers can plan and prepare practically anywhere with their smartphone, tablet, laptop, or computer!

Stuck in the waiting room at the doctor’s office and need to email the troop a quick reminder not to forget their rain boots for Saturday’s creek stomping trip? Pull out your smart phone, click on the My Troop tab, and send out your reminder!

It’s Evolving

GSUSA is updating content, adding functions, and improving this tool based on feedback from the councils and volunteers using this resource.

The My Troop tab went live this fall, a parent view was added in October, and new badge content was added for Brownies (Computer Expert, Brownie Sense, Outdoor Adventurer) and Juniors (Entertainment Technology, Social Butterfly, Horseback Riding)!

As the years go by, more content will be added and features will be upgraded/altered based on input from volunteers across the nation.

It’s Customizable

K-5 troop leaders can choose from pre-populated (out-of-the-box) year plans from the Year Plan Library or create your own customized plan by dragging and dropping meetings into your customized Year Plan track.

All leaders (K-12) can use the “Create Your Own” Year Plan to add custom activities, trips, and council activities/events to their Year Plan!

It Tracks Important Things

Through the  My Troop and Meeting Plan tabs you can keep track of who’s registered in your troop, their meeting attendance and achievements like badges/Journey awards earned, and their guardian’s contact information.

Then, when the Finance tab goes live, you can track troop income and expenses! You’ll even be able to use it to electronically submit your finance report. All of these things, in one digital resource!

It Keeps Parents Informed

Primary caregivers have the ability to view their girls’ troop year. Features include: read only views of My Troop Tab (no contact info), Year Plan, Meeting Plan, and Financial Tab.

For tech-savvy parents, that means less need to call troop leaders to ask what’s on the packing list for the annual camp out, when the next meeting is, or what the troop spent their money on this year!

It’s like a digital Girl Scout parent planner/calendar that instantly updates when changes are made.

It’s Green

This resource will replace the Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting and the Journeys as the primary resource for Girl Scout volunteers for badge and Journey requirements.

While girls can still enjoy having their own Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting and the Journey girl books, volunteers will be able to find the content in those resources through this digital resource. Less books to buy, store, and lug around with your troop materials! Let the trees rejoice!

So now that you know our favorite things about the Volunteer Toolkit, what are you waiting for? Try it out yourself and join the digital Girl Scout age!