General Membership Policies | Girl Scouts of North East Ohio

These policies cover basic information about Girl Scouting and being a volunteer, such as training, age levels, and uniforms.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging toggle arrow

Diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging are core values of Girl Scouts of North East Ohio (GSNEO). We aim to empower every Girl Scout to make the world a better place.

GSNEO and Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) value diversity in all its forms and do not discriminate on race, ethnicity, creed, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, parental status, family structure, pregnancy status, disability, family medical history or genetic information, socioeconomic background, political affiliation, military or veteran status, or any other category protected by law. When scheduling, helping plan, and carrying out activities, carefully consider the needs of all Girl Scouts involved (e.g., financial constraints, religious holidays, accessibility of appropriate transportation, and meeting places). GSNEO does not tolerate discrimination by its staff, volunteers, members, partners, or participants.

GSNEO is committed to recruiting and retaining members with diverse identities and backgrounds that are reflective of the communities that we serve and creating an environment where all Girl Scouts have the opportunity to participate in a Movement that encourages them to overcome barriers and become leaders in their community and world.

Membership toggle arrow

All Girl Scouts and adults participating in the Girl Scout Movement must be registered as members with GSUSA and pay membership dues as outlined by GSUSA. At times there are adults who are working on a short-term project, such as cookie delivery, or in a temporary advisory or consultative capacity, who do not work with Girl Scouts or Girl Scout funds directly, in which membership is not a requirement.

Girl Scouts does not permit members to have multiple profiles, memberships, or registrations in our system. GSNEO requires either permission from the current primary caregiver listed on the child’s Girl Scout account or documentation showing a change in custody in order to make changes to a household.

Typically, Girl Scouts participate in one troop. Some scenarios when a Girl Scout may participate in multiple troops include:

Travel Groups
High Adventure Groups
Troops which meet during school days as a partnership with GSNEO
Other partner programs
Split residency*
Shared custody arrangements*

*Approval from GSNEO’s Volunteer Relations Team is required if families wish for a girl to participate in more than one troop/group (e.g., troops that meet on day(s) when each parent/caregiver has custody and can participate). Families in these situations should work together with troop/group leaders to ensure an optimal Girl Scout Leadership Experience and should consider the following:

Duplicity of program experiences; both troops/groups may be working on the same badges, leadership awards, or highest awards.
Clarity about the Fall Product and Cookie Program; dividing up the orders and efforts of the Girl Scout so that it is clear prior to the start of the programs.
Troop number on vest
Program expenses

Additionally, Individually Registered Girls (also known as Juliettes) may not participate as an Individually Registered Girl and as a troop or group member concurrently. In these situations, the troop or group participation would override the Individually Registered Girl (Juliette) participation.

Volunteer Role toggle arrow

A volunteer is any adult (18 years of age or older) who, without compensation or expectation of compensation, performs a task on behalf of the council. A volunteer should be appointed prior to performing the task. Volunteers must be at least two years older than the Girl Scouts they are supervising.

All adults accompanying troop/group meetings or activities on a regular basis, or attending any overnight activity or who at any time assume care, custody, or control of girl members and/or Girl Scout money/merchandise must be both a registered adult member of GSUSA and an approved, appointed volunteer of GSNEO. For many adult volunteers that attend troop/group meetings that includes a Criminal Background Check and a Motor Vehicle Records Check.

Volunteer eligibility is determined, and acceptance is completed online. Prior to applying for the position, it is the responsibility of the prospective volunteer to review the Volunteer Position Description for the role for which they are applying. Volunteers agree to follow the Girl Scout Promise and Law, as well as any responsibilities and commitments identified in the position description for their role(s).

A volunteer in good standing with the council is someone who maintains active Girl Scout membership, has a current and clear Criminal Background and Motor Vehicle Records Check (when required for their role), and consistently follows all GSNEO and GSUSA policies, standards, and expectations. A volunteer may be considered not in good standing for reasons such as outstanding debts (current or past), misappropriation or mishandling of funds, administrative restrictions, behavior concerns, or violations of council or national policies.

If a Volunteer moves to a GSNEO staff role, you may qualify to serve in select volunteer roles as detailed in the GSNEO staff policies, please note that any misconduct or noncompliance as an employee may impact on your volunteer status and vice versa.

Volunteers are appointed on an individual basis and must renew their role annually by visiting the online myGS member community, including lifetime members. Some positions have term limits or a maximum number of roles, as stated in Volunteer Position Descriptions. A volunteer may be released at any time due to failure to fulfill the requirements of the position or a change in the needs of the council.

All volunteers must be thoroughly familiar with the information in the Safety Activity Checkpoints and be responsible for ensuring that all Girl Scout activities meet required safety standards.

All troops/groups must have at least two registered, approved, adult volunteers, including at least two of whom are unrelated (i.e., not a sibling, spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, or anyone who would be considered a family member), and who do not live in the same residence, with a minimum of one who identifies as female, present with Girl Scouts at all times.

LGBTQ+ Inclusion toggle arrow

Girl Scouts is a girl-centered space, and we expect our members to be a sister to every Girl Scout. Girl Scouts welcomes all girls to join the Girl Scout Movement, regardless of sexual orientation, diverse gender identity, and regardless of sex assigned at birth (meaning we include both cisgender and transgender girls). Non-binary and youth (except for cisgender male youth) who are comfortable in spaces that focus on and are driven by the experience of girls are welcome to participate. Some members may begin to question or explore their gender identity after joining. Girl Scouts support these members and act in their best interests. If after joining, a child comes to a new understanding of their gender identity and still feels that Girl Scouts is the right place for them, that child is welcome to continue with Girl Scouts.

GSNEO also welcomes all adults who are champions of this girl-centered mission. Adults of all sexes, sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions are welcomed and encouraged to participate.

Volunteers are invited to complete GSNEO’s LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Girl Scouts training on gsLearn to learn more.

Representing Girl Scouts toggle arrow

While in uniform or representing Girl Scouts, both Girl Scouts and adults must behave in an appropriate, mature manner that embodies the Girl Scout Movement and aligns with the Girl Scout Mission. Volunteers must act in the best interest of GSNEO by conducting themselves professionally and in accordance with the Girl Scout Promise and Law.

GSNEO volunteers are permitted to serve on community boards that are in alignment with Girl Scout values (Self-expression, Community, Inclusion, Integrity, and Discovery) through their affiliation with GSNEO. These individuals must represent themselves accurately as a volunteer for GSNEO, and may not commit GSNEO resources (e.g., staff/volunteer time, finances, property) without prior approval from the Chief Executive Officer or their designee.

Training

To ensure volunteers are prepared to deliver high-quality programming and leadership, they need to complete training for their role. Volunteers are encouraged to continually enhance and develop their skills throughout their leadership volunteer experience.

All volunteers who work with Girl Scouts or adults and deliver the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) are required to complete basic leadership training. Additional required training expectations are outlined on each volunteers’ position description and in Safety Activity Checkpoints.

Volunteer training is offered in a variety of ways to best meet varied and unique learning styles: written resources, face-to-face learning, and interactive online learning. Volunteers who are in need of accommodations in order to be successful in the training process are encouraged to reach out to Customer Care to request assistance. GSNEO is committed to providing an equitable and successful training experience for all volunteers.

Training records are kept on file by GSNEO. Volunteers should also keep personal records of their training history.

Troops may decide to cover the cost for volunteer training as a troop expense.

Recognition toggle arrow

GSNEO will create a culture of appreciation that includes both formal and informal methods to recognize volunteers for their time, talent, and impact. This system will include service unit, council, and national level Volunteer Recognition Awards. Awardees must be current members in good standing and meet the required criteria in order to be eligible for consideration. Council and national level awardees are selected by the Volunteer Recognition Committee and approved by the GSNEO Board of Directors. Service Unit level awardees are selected and approved by the local service unit team.

Size of Groups toggle arrow

Girl Scout groups are large enough to provide a cooperative learning environment and small enough to encourage individual development. Group sizes will vary based on the method of program delivery (i.e. virtual, in-person).

Girl Scouts’ volunteer-to-youth ratios show the minimum number of adults needed to supervise a specific number of Girl Scouts (council may also establish maximums due to size or cost restrictions). These supervision ratios were devised to ensure the safety and health of the Girl Scouts—for example, if one adult must respond to an emergency, a second adult is always on hand for the rest of the group.

Multi-level troops should follow volunteer-to-youth ratios for youngest Girl Scout in troop.

During the summer in-between program years, troops must use younger ratio even if troop bridges in spring (e.g., a Daisy troop that bridges to Brownies in May still needs to use Daisy ratios until the start of the new program year on October 1).

See Volunteer Essentials for volunteer-to-youth ratio chart.

Troops must have a minimum of five (5) Girl Scouts to remain active, except for troops meeting the following criteria:

2-4 unrelated Girl Scouts
2 unrelated, approved volunteers, at least one of whom is in a Troop Leader volunteer role, and at least one of whom identifies as female
Open bank account
Open on the Participation Catalog to a total of 5+ Girl Scouts

Troops who do not meet these criteria as determined by GSNEO will be retired and the Girl Scouts will be transferred to Juliette, or Individually Registered Girl, status. Exceptions can be made at GSNEO discretion. Some groups may require additional adults if there are younger tagalongs or children with special needs. Contact Customer Care for additional guidance, if needed.

Appropriate Age Level Troops/Groups toggle arrow

Girl Scouts participate in the Girl Scout Leadership Experience in groups or independently, in these program age-levels:

Girl Scout Daisies: Grade K-1
Girl Scout Brownies: Grade 2-3
Girl Scout Juniors: Grade 4-5
Girl Scout Cadettes: Grade 6-8
Girl Scout Seniors: Grade 9-10
Girl Scout Ambassadors: Grade 11-12

Any girl in K-12 grades can join Girl Scouts. Following Ohio state law, to join a girl must be at least five (5) years old and in Kindergarten.

Certain situations, such as a troop leader with multiple children close in age, may lead to the creation of a multiage-level troop. For guiding principles on multiage-level troops, and to ensure that all Girl Scouts are receiving a Girl Scout experience appropriate for their age level, explore the Volunteer Toolkit which includes prepopulated tracks for younger and older multi-level troops (K-5 and 6-12).

Parents/caregivers may choose to send Girl Scouts to GSNEO summer programming designated for the Girl Scouts’ previous or upcoming grade level (e.g., a Girl Scout going into second grade could attend either Daisy or Brownie camps). GSNEO encourages Girl Scouts to register for the grade they will be going into as a best practice but also acknowledges that parents/caregivers are the best judges of whether their Girl Scout is socially/emotionally ready and may register her for the younger program if they feel it would be a better fit. Pre-K Girl Scouts entering Kindergarten in the fall who purchase the extended-year membership may participate in Girl Scouts starting May 1, but are not eligible to attend Girl Scout camp.

Girl Scouts with cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities should be registered as closely as possible to their chronological age. Girl Scouts with these disabilities may choose to retain their girl membership at ages 19, 20, and 21, and then move into an adult membership category at age 22.

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