Girl Scout Council of the Mid-South is committed to providing opportunities for volunteers to grow in competency and skills, as well as their overall understanding of the Mission and guiding principles of Girl Scouting and the fundamentals of the Girl Scout program.

A wide range of training opportunities are provided in an effort to meet the needs of our volunteers. These opportunities are published in LeaderLine and posted here. Training opportunities are designed to be flexible, engage adults in active participation conflict resolution and cooperative learning experiences.

Orientation and training provide volunteers with an overview of the organization as well as the knowledge, skills and information needed to prepare them for accomplishing an assignment.

 If there is a course fee, it is mentioned in the description. You may check with your field executive about financial assistance if the fee prevents you from taking a course related to your position.

New leaders should plan to complete both Leader Orientation and the appropriate Age Level Training, as soon as possible, and preferably before the troop begins to meet. Please bring your Council Guide for Volunteers, Safety-Wise, Leader�s Guide, Age-Level Handbook and Training Card to each training session.

All volunteers should register for training courses. The registration form is available at the Girl Scout Service Center, in the LeaderLine or here in pdf format. Registration deadline is one week prior to the date of the training. For additional information contact Deenean Wilson-Henderson or  see links below:

Training Dates

Training Course Descriptions

Don't see what your need?

Cancellation Procedures

Training Dates               (return to top)

The training dates are available in LeaderLine or the council calendar (click here). All council events are listed in date order when you open the council calendar. If you click on "training," you will go to a listing of all trainings in alpha order by course name.

Training Course Descriptions             (return to top)

Leader Orientation

Leader Orientation is needed before a new Girl Scout leader takes Age Level Training. A Leader Orientation Check-List, provided to new leaders by a member of the service team, helps new leaders and their service team contact(s) monitor progress through the subject matter, and when finished serves as documentation of completion. The checklist is especially helpful because the subjects may be covered by one or several people, in a group or one-on-one. Completion may take place all at once or in several shorter sessions. Check with your service unit manager for local options or attend one of the sessions noted in the council calendar.

Age Level Training

Age Level Training is for new Girl Scout leaders/advisors and leaders/advisors changing levels. These trainings are divided by age level � Daisy, Brownie, Junior, and STUDIO 2B (Cadette and Senior). At least one adult from each troop should attend the appropriate Age Level Training as soon as possible and preferably before the troop begins to meet. In the Age Level Training, participants learn about age level characteristics, girl/adult partnership and planning of troop activities, as well as age appropriate activities, troop budgeting and ways that families and the community can support the troop. 

Arts & Crafts Tidbits

This is a great opportunity to learn from an arts and crafts expert and get some "make it and take it" hands-on experience. You will leave with handouts, resources and plenty of age appropriate project ideas to share with your troop! Adults, Program Aides and Leaders-in-Training are welcome to attend.

Financial Fitness

Financial Fitness is an important responsibility that should be shared by girls and adults. This informative, user-friendly course is designed to prepare leaders for the challenge of managing troop funds during the Girl Scout program year. You will learn how to plan and successfully involve girls and their families in earning and spending their funds to carry out the troop's activities. Safety-Wise policies, standards and guidelines will be used to provide guidance on basic money management.

Girl Scouts Go Green - NEW

Did you know?

• For every ton of paper that is recycled, the following is saved: 7,000 gallons of water; 380 gallons of oil; and enough electricity to power an average house for six months.

• You can run a TV for six hours on the amount of electricity that is saved by recycling one aluminum can.

• By recycling just one glass bottle, you save enough electricity to power a 100-watt bulb for four hours.

Beginning in January with the help of our friends at Lichterman Nature Center, Girl Scouts will offer Go Green enrichment training to provide Girl Scouts with simple, practical ways to adopt a greener way of life.  This new enrichment training will help you help girls acquire new habits that have a direct and positive effect on the way we choose to recycle, reuse, reduce and restore our natural resources.  It�s easy to be green! 

Group Camping 101

This session is for those who are ready to take their girls to an indoor camping facility that has a kitchen and stove. You will learn how to give girls a taste of having fun in the out of doors with some comforts of home. This is ideal for those who are beginning campers. This three-hour training covers basic outdoor skills, but does not include fire building and outdoor cooking. So if your troop will want to do any fire building (indoor or out) or outdoor cooking, you will need to sign up for Camping 102 or 105.

Group Camping 102

This session is designed for those who want to take their troop/group to an indoor camping facility, like one of our lodges, but also want to be qualified to make campfires and/or cook some meals outside over an open fire. This eight-hour training is ideal for those who already have some experience in the out-of-doors to build on.

You may be able to demonstrate that you have comparable experience and training to be qualified to teach and supervise your group�s camping trip. Each person will need comfortable clothing and shoes suitable for camping, $5 (to pay for the food you will cook) and a mess kit.

Group Camping 105

This training has been designed for leaders that want to learn by experience before leading their troop through all phases of the planning, preparations and actual camping experience. This deluxe course will give you the knowledge and skills needed for either lodge, cabin, or tent camping and will include cooking most meals for the weekend over an open fire. This training includes all basic outdoor skills and is for all levels of leaders. It includes one or two preplanning sessions and a weekend. There is no prerequisite for this course.

Level I First Aid

Level I First Aid is required for the adult acting as the primary "first-aider" for the Girl Scout group carrying out any of the activities indicated in the activity check points in Safety-Wise. Program Aides, Leaders In Training and Teen Girl Scouts are welcome to attend.

In order to be certified, you must take both CPR and First Aid. CPR must be completed first. CPR certification is renewable every year and First Aid certification is renewable every three years.

Note: The American Red Cross has revised/updated the CPR and First Aid training module and materials. Beginning September 1, we will offer the new First Aid/CPR for Schools and the Community training. Upon expiration of your current certification, you will need to take this new course.

 The cost for the First Aid/CPR training is $30, which includes the First Aid/CPR for Schools and the Community book. The cost for CPR Only or First Aid Only is $20.

CPR Review/Recertification

This two-hour refresher session is appropriate for anyone whose CPR certification has not expired. The main course material will be reviewed and a written exam be will be given to each participant. CPR certification is renewable every year. The cost for the training is $5. Please bring your First Aid/CPR for  Schools and the Community manual and Training Card.

First Aid Review/Recertification

This two-hour refresher session is appropriate for anyone whose First Aid certification has not expired. The main course material will be reviewed and a written exam be will be given to each participant. CPR certification is renewable every year. The cost for the training is $5. Please bring your First Aid/CPR for  Schools and the Community manual and Training Card.

A Pocket Full of Songs!

Here's a resource that can fit into your back pocket! The Girl Scout Pocket Songbook is your guide to songs that have been entertaining us for generations. At this training, you'll learn rounds, action songs, music for campfires and ceremonies, and international folk songs.  When you leave, you'll have your own copy of this timeless standard, and the words and music to every song you've learned here!

Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Bring a battery-operated tape recorder, so that you can take the music home with you. Adults, Program Aides and Leaders In Training are welcome to attend-no experience or musical ability necessary!

Sensitive Issues Training

This session is for troop leaders and advisors who are seeking guidance, support and direction about how to appropriately address sensitive societal issues. Using the council�s new guidelines for addressing sensitive issues, leaders and advisors will learn how to secure the necessary approvals, and select and orient presenters.

Traveling Troop

Traveling Troop training is for leaders who plan to take troops on trips that will be more than 75 miles from their meeting place. Topics covered will include how to plan with the girls and age appropriate trips and activities, traveling forms, the progression of troop travel activities, and Safety Wise.

Archery

This Level 1 course will prepare a leader to take girls to an archery range such as the one available at Girl Scout Kamp Kiwani. Teen Girl Scouts are welcome to attend. This eight�hour training course is certified by the National Archery Association. An archery training packet will be mailed after the course fee has been paid. The $20 course fee covers the cost of training materials and certification card. Participants should bring a sack lunch and beverages.

Fundamentals of Canoeing

This is a three�session course for adults and Teen Girl Scouts. The training consists of one preplanning class and two days on the lake. Participants must be an intermediate swimmer and be able to remain afloat for at least 5 minutes. Bring a towel and a swimsuit to the preplanning session.

Wilderness First Aid Basics

Wilderness First Aid Basics is an American Red Cross course designed to serve as an educational resource for those involved in activities that take them beyond the scope of traditional urban emergency medical services. In these cases, emergency care is delayed until help can be notified and rescuers can reach the intended patient. This course helps provide the knowledge and skills necessary to deal with these emergencies until more advanced care can be provided.

Participants must be at least 15 years old. There are no prerequisite courses, but prior CPR training is highly recommended. The course length is 16 hours (pre-course assignment and three sessions). Participants must attend all three sessions, demonstrate practical skills and successfully complete a written test. Wilderness First Aid Basics certification is 3 years. (A review test may be taken before certification expires.) The training manuals will be mailed after the course fee has been paid. The cost for this course is $40 for the training manuals, certification card and supplies.

Training the Trainer

This is a 12-hour course for adults interested in becoming volunteer trainers. Training consists of 1.5 days of classroom instruction and role playing. Participants will learn and utilize training methods and techniques, learn to identify group dynamics, learn how to recognize dysfunctional behavior, learn how to give positive feedback and how to plan, design and deliver a training session. To register, contact Deenean Wilson-Henderson, volunteer training manager by September 15.

Don�t see what you need?                 (return to top)

If there are trainings that you would like to see offered or trainings that you would like to see offered at different times or places, please feel free to communicate with Deenean Wilson-Henderson, volunteer training manager. The council is committed to serving the training needs of all the volunteers. Deenean can assist you with identifying additional ways to help you feel prepared and supported in presenting safe, fun and meaningful program activities.

Cancellation Procedures                   (return to top)

Cancellation by Council

Training sessions will be cancelled due to low registration, if there are not at least five volunteers pre-registered for the training session. If training has to be cancelled due to lack of adequate registrations, a volunteer trainer was not available to conduct the training, or other non-emergency situation, those who have pre-registered will receive a telephone call or E-mail three business days prior to the scheduled training. The council staff will attempt to reach all those who pre-registered by telephone or E-mail if we must cancel a training. Cancellations are also posted on the News to Note section of the council's Web site.

Should a training have to be cancelled due to an emergency situation, such as dangerous weather or a power outage, the council staff or volunteer trainer will try to contact all those who pre-registered by telephone. The council staff will also notify the council receptionist and post the cancellation on the telephone message attendant at least five hours before the start time of the training. Your training will be rescheduled or your fees will be returned. Should you be concerned that your training has been cancelled, please call the Girl Scout Service Center and ask or listen to the recorded messages for any possible cancellations.

Cancellation by Participant(s)

If you need to cancel your reserved training, please contact the Girl Scout Service Center, as soon as possible. Every effort will be made to reschedule your training for a time that is convenient to you. You may cancel your paid registration in writing up to three weeks prior to your scheduled activity and receive a full refund. In the event of a serious illness or family emergency, you may cancel with a written request received at the Girl Scout Service Center three working days prior to your scheduled training and receive a 50% refund. Cancellations with less than three days prior notice will not receive a refund.