Primary Courses

GSUSA Volunteer Orientation
Approximate Session Length: 1 hour

Fee: None

Required volunteers: All new, registered GSNWGL volunteers are required to complete this course.

Course Overview: This engaging online session acquaints new volunteers with Girl Scouting and the many rewarding opportunities it offers girls and adults.

Session Components:

• Introduction and Welcome: provides easy to follow instructions on how to navigate the orientation course.
• About Girl Scouts: presents Girl Scout Promise and Law, history and membership requirements.
• Girl Scout Pathways: illustrates various ways that members can participate.
• Support for Volunteers: provides information and resources available to volunteers.
• Program: presents the three keys to leadership (Discover-Connect-Take Action) and the targeted outcomes, as well as the three processes: girl-led, learning by doing and cooperative learning.
• Learning Log and Conclusion: learners answer questions related to orientation materials and receive appreciation for participation.

Access Options: In an effort to provide a nationally consistent introduction to Girl Scouts, this course will be offered only in an online format. If you need assistance with computer access, or require an alternate method, please contact the Adult Development Department or your Membership Manager.

Steps to complete the online orientation:

1. Visit http://training.girlscouts.org
2. Choose language - click on either English or Spanish
3. Enter password: discover; click Login
4. Read and critically think about each section in the table of contents
5. When you have completed all sections, click on the Learning Log link at the bottom of the screen (center) or, to access separately go to https://eventsreg.girlscouts.org/getdemo.ei?id=16&s=_3200MSPDB
6. Fill in your personal contact information.
   IMPORTANT! After filling in your personal e-mail, please add the Adult Development Department e-mail (training@gsnwgl.org), with e-mails separated by a semi-colon (example of correct e-mail input: janedoe@hotmail.com; training@gsnwgl.org). This will send your learning log responses to the Adult Development Department for review. We cannot grant credit for completion without this step.
7. Complete the eight Learning Log questions and submit via website.
8. Adult Development staff will send you a confirmation e-mail when your materials have been received and reviewed.

Council 101: Welcome to Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes Inc.!
Approximate Session Length: 30 minutes

Required Volunteers: All new and experienced Leaders (01), Assistant Leaders (02), Service Area Team Members (11), and Trainers (12) must complete this course.

Course Overview: This course introduces volunteers to the structure, goals, policies and processes of Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes, Inc.

Access Options: This course is intended to be self-directed and available in PDF format to download by section below. To ensure completion, volunteers are asked to complete and submit a short learning log via email. Volunteers with limited computer access may request a packet by contacting the Adult Development Department or their Membership Manager.

Council 101
You will need Adobe Reader, version 8 or higher, to type-in, save and email Section 5 quiz. You may download it here.
Section 1 - About Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes, Inc.
Section 2 - Council Policies
Section 3 - Volunteering and Operational Volunteer Policies
Section 4 - Troop Management Basics and Council Contact Information
Section 5 - Learning Log/Quiz

Leadership Essentials
Approximate Session Length: 3 hours

Prerequisite: Please complete the GSUSA Volunteer Orientation (new volunteers only) and Council 101 (all new and experienced volunteers) sessions before attending Leadership Essentials.

Items Needed: Girl's Journey Book and Adult Guide for the grade level you are working with, paper and pen or pencil

Fee: None

Required volunteers: All new and experienced Leaders (01), Assistant Leaders (02), Service Area Team Members (11), and Trainers (12) must complete this course.

Course Overview: Leadership Essentials prepares volunteers working directly with girls to effectively facilitate the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. This course replaces all basic leader and age-level trainings. Additional grade level trainings will not be needed as volunteers bridge to new levels.

Session Components:

• Overview of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience
• Exploration of new grade level Journey Books and Adult Guides
• Incorporating other Girl Scout resources into leadership pathways
• Progression/differentiation
• Outcomes
• Meaningful challenges, awards, and recognition
• Personal reflections on leadership
• Traditional Girl Scout activities (new volunteers only)

Access Options: This course will be available in face-to-face sessions throughout the Council. Leadership Essentials is also available in a self-directed format below. However, this module is highly discussion-oriented, and most volunteers benefit most through the face-to-face group sessions. Self-directed sessions should be utilized only if group sessions are not accessible due to the volunteer’s location or other scheduling commitments. For more information, contact the Adult Development Department or your Membership Manager.

Leadership Essentials
You will need Adobe Reader, version 8 or higher, to type-in, save and email the Worksheets Packet. You may download it here.
Section 1 - Leadership Essentials and Basic Information
Section 2 - The Girl Scout Leadership Experience
Section 3 - Activities and Resources
Section 4 - Progression and Authentic Leadership
Section 5 - Leadership Outcomes
Section 6 - Recognitions, Support Resources, FAQs and Completing the Course
Leadership Essentials Worksheets Packet

Fees: Vary, depending on specific offering

Required volunteers: One or more adults certified in First Aid/CPR are required to accompany all troops on any overnight trips or camping activities.

Overview of Course: First Aid, CPR and AED programs contain step-by-step, hands-on training that will allow participants to respond effectively in emergency and life-threatening situations.

Access Options: Approved First Aid, CPR and AED courses are offered by community providers throughout our Council. Contact your local American Red Cross or health providers for details on courses near you. Refer to Safety-Wise to make sure that the community course you have selected is an approved option. GSNWGL sponsored courses will also be scheduled periodically throughout the Council.

Proof of Course Completion: If taking First Aid/CPR/AED through a community provider, please send a copy of your completion certificate to the Adult Development Department.

Outdoor Education: Troop Activities in the Outdoors
Approximate Session Length: 8 hours

Fee: $20 (Includes Outdoor Education in Girl Scouting resource book)

Required Volunteers: One or more adults who have successfully completed the Outdoor Education course are required to accompany troops on any overnight camping activities at an established site (cabins/lodges/yurts/tents etc., Council or non-Council) and/or before any activities involving campfire building or outdoor cooking. It is not required for attending Council facilitated events or using Service Centers for non-outdoor themed overnight programs.

Course Overview: Basic, hands-on training course, designed to equip volunteers to teach age-appropriate outdoor skills such as knot tying, knife safety, fire building, outdoor cooking, kaper charts, cleanup methods, and fun activity ideas.

Legacy Council Equivalent Courses: Outdoor Skills (Birch Trails), Troop Events in the Outdoors and Camping (Fox River Area), Basic Outdoor Awareness/Cooking Out/Camping Out (Woodland), Basic Outdoor Awareness/Cooking in the Outdoors/ Tent Camping (Peninsula Waters), Outdoor Basics (Indian Waters), and Basic Outdoor Camping and Cooking (Lac Baie). Volunteers who have successfully completed equivalent courses will not have to complete this session.

Other Outdoor Education requirements: To lead overnight trips to non-established sites, volunteers must complete an advanced camping course. Before leading canoeing activities, volunteers must complete a canoeing course. Contact the Adult Development Department for further information.

Enrichment Programs
GSNWGL will offer a variety of enrichment learning opportunities throughout the membership year. Topics will include a wide array of courses, designed to provide the resources, knowledge and skills necessary to meet the needs of today’s Girl Scouts!

Additional sessions may include:

• Exploring Trips
• Advanced Outdoor Education (see Tent, Trip and Travel Camping below)
• Wilderness Camping
• Badge Basics
• Age-Level Idea Sharing
• Games and Songs

Fees, times and access options will vary. Check our Training Calendar frequently to see which Enrichment Programs are currently being offered.

Tent, Trip and Travel Camping
Approximate Session Length: Overnight

Fee: $20

Prerequisite: Outdoor Education

Course Overview: This course builds on the skills learned in Outdoor Education, and includes hands-on instruction on establishing a campsite, pitching a tent, Leave-No-Trace principles, and more. Participants will spend the night in a tent. A list of items to bring will be emailed/mailed to attendees upon registration.

For additional training information, please choose a category below.