Helping Out with Girl Scouts
How Parents Can Become Involved with this Worthwhile Organization
Girl Scouts are such an important part of a girl’s life. Every Girl Scout who is actively engaged in her troop is gaining experience, learning great lessons, and building social skills which will last a lifetime. Moms and even dads often want to support their daughter in the wonderful things she is doing in the Girl Scouts, and they may even want to become more involved with their child’s troop, but they aren’t sure how to do it.
There are always opportunities for moms and dads to be a part of their daughters Girl Scout experience. Here are some quick ideas for things that you might be able to do to help your daughter’s troop, and feel more a part of her scouting life.
Ask the Troop Leader How You Can Help
Troop leaders are often overwhelmed. Many Girl Scout troops have a large number of children, and only a few adult volunteers. Don’t be afraid to ask your child’s leader if there’s anything you can do to help. In most instances the troop leader will be very thankful for your offer to do anything that could help make her job easier!
- Volunteer to be a troop helper. Provide extra adult supervision, and hands on help for the children in your daughter’s troop during activities.
- Bring snacks or treats.
- Offer to be a chaperone whenever there is an outing, event, or activity that requires an extra adult or two.
- Offer to be a driver for the next camping trip or day outing.
- Invite the troop to a learning location. If you have a job that might interest the girls in your daughter’s troop arrange for an on-site visit.
- Work on any community service projects your child’s troop is planning. Bring water bottles, or snacks. Lend an extra set of hands.
Support and Encouragement
One of the most important things a parent can do to get involved with their children’s Girl Scout experience is just be careful to listen and pay attention to the things your daughter and her troop are doing. Give her lots of attention and encouragement. Let her know that you are happy she is involved in Girl Scouts, and how proud you are that she earned that new badge, or tackled that difficult task.
Give her support and encouragement when she’s working hard on a project. Offer honest feedback on projects, but be sure to let her do things herself. That way when the project is finished she’ll be able to experience that sense of accomplishment and pride that every Girl Scout feels, when she’s completed a job well done.
