Adult Learning

The New Volunteer Orientation above is for all Girl Scout Volunteers.

Leadership Essentials will prepare you to facilitate the Girl Scout Leadership Experience; required for all volunteers working directly with girls. Click on the icon above to get started (no password required).

Girl Scouts of West Central Florida provides training to currently registered adult members as part of its commitment to adult volunteers. Volunteers have the opportunity to develop their skills, increase their knowledge of the Girl Scout program and help girls discover, connect, and take action in their communities and their world.

All volunteers must complete training for their appointed position within six (6) months of appointment. Volunteers who provide direct service to girls are required to complete the new Leadership Essentials course. Leadership Essentials will replace all age-level trainings (i.e. Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette/Senior Leadership courses). Through Leadership Essentials, volunteers will explore the three keys of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, the new Journeys, inner-leadership practices and the processes that promote the fun.

The first step for all new Girl Scout volunteers is an online orientation. The website and access code for online orientation is included in the welcome packet sent to new volunteers. New leaders are then required to complete Leadership Essentials and Traveling Troops. Leadership Essentials and Traveling Troops are offered in a live classroom setting as well as online. To complete Leadership Essentials online, visit www.onlinelearning.girlscouts.org. Online Traveling Troops courses are offered in a webinar format, and you sign up just like you would for a live course.

To find courses in your area and to register online, please visit our Upcoming Learning Opportunities page. Online registration is available by visiting the Upcoming Learning Opportunities page or the GSWCF calendar.

Evaluating Volunteers – Learning Clip

A review of performance assessments with GSWCF’s volunteer records manager. Questions or comments? Please contact our volunteer records manager.

Adult Learning Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I register for an adult learning course?
Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, and participants can register for courses on our website (www.gswcf.org). GSWCF cannot “save spaces” or take registrations over the phone. Registration for adult learning courses closes two weeks prior to the course/event or when the maximum number of registrations has been received.

Real-Time Registration
When you register for adult learning courses online, you will be able to see, real time, exactly how many available spots are remaining for each course. Each course has a minimum and maximum number of participants, and you will be able to see what the current capacities are before you register. If the capacity is met or exceeded, the online system will not allow any more participants to register for that course.

When will I receive confirmations?
You will receive an automated registration receipt via e-mail immediately after your space has been reserved and confirmed. Confirmation with details on what to bring, address and other important information will be e-mailed one – two weeks prior to the course or event. If a course or event is cancelled, participants will be notified one – two weeks prior to the date of the course.

Why are webinars more expensive than classroom trainings?
Webinars are a very convenient way to complete your training, but the technology does have a significant cost. Webinar courses are more expensive because of the technology costs involved.

Are refunds available for course fees?
Adult learning course fees are non-refundable, unless a course is filled or cancelled. Courses will be cancelled when minimum registration is not reached two weeks before the course.

Can children accompany their parents to adult learning courses?
Child care is not available during adult learning courses, so bringing children is strongly discouraged.

Who can attend an adult learning course?
Adult learning courses are available for all adult members of GSWCF. Not a member yet? No problem! Adults can register and pay to be a member of Girl Scouts when they register for an adult learning course online.

For registration information or questions, please contact the systems support specialist: (813) 262-1824 or pjohnson@gswcf.org. For additional training information, please contact the adult learning manager: (813) 262-1768 or jhalladay@gswcf.org.

Course Listings

Leadership Essentials
Discover, connect and take action on your own inner leadership journey! This course prepares volunteers to effectively facilitate the new Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Participants will explore the meaning of the three keys to the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and girl-led, learning by doing and cooperative learning processes. Leadership Essentials replaces all age-level training.
Course Length: 3 hours
Fee: FREE!

Traveling Troops
Get ready to travel with girls on day trips, overnight trips, or wherever your troop adventure may take you! Participants will discuss progression, troop budgeting, money-earning projects and Safety Activity Checkpoints. This course is required before planning any troop trip.
Note: This course does not prepare volunteers for camping.
Course Length: 2 hours
Fee: FREE!

First Aid and CPR
CPR and First Aid certification and re-certification courses are offered through community organizations like EMP America and the American Safety & Health Institute as a convenience to our Girl Scout volunteers. Please note that it is acceptable to complete CPR or First Aid certification through any of the approved organizations listed in in Chapter 4 of Volunteer Essentials.

Certifications offered by American Safety & Health Institute, EMP America, and the American Red Cross vary by county and chapter, and additional trainings at various prices may be available. Fees for the courses listed below include both CPR and First Aid certification. For more information and additional trainings, please visit www.ashinstitute.org, www.empamerica.org, or www.redcross.org.
Fee: $38 – NO REFUNDS

Basic Outdoor Leadership Training
This training provides basic outdoor instruction for getting girls outside and interacting with nature. You’ll receive lots of helpful hints for their first outdoor experiences and avoid some common pitfalls. This course is required for at least one adult who will accompany the troop on a camping trip and who will be involved in the planning process with the girls. It includes what to bring, how to pack and what to pack, easy meals and simple programs to enhance girls’ outdoor experience. Overnight stay is required.
Course runs from 10 a.m. on Saturday morning until 9 a.m. on Sunday morning. Overnight stay is required.
Fee: $17

Wilderness Camp Training
Take the next big step in camping! Experience the planning process for taking the girls deeper into the wilderness. Learn about base camp basics, lightweight backpacking techniques, back country cooking and safety management in the wilderness. This course is required for taking girls primitive backpacking camping in wilderness areas with no facilities available, including the Appalachian Trail.
Course runs in four parts:
Part 1: Planning session to review equipment/clothing needs, packing, meal planning, back country cooking and safety on the trail. This part of the course runs 9am-4pm on a Saturday.
Part 2: Overnight back packing trip, starting with a review of each participant’s pack, hike into camp site and set up camp, cooking dinner and breakfast and packing out the following morning. This part of the course takes place on a Saturday a few weeks after the original planning date and will start at 12:00 noon and run through 12:00 noon the following day, Sunday.
Part 3: Three hour planning session for the final trip during an evening from 6-9pm.
Part 4: Final session is a trip to a wilderness area. Destination will be decided by group and will be 1-2 nights. Group will hike and sleep in a primitive setting.
Fee: $10

Service Team Training
Position specific training for Service Team positions including Service Unit Manager/Assistant Manager, Organizer, Registrar, Consultant, Treasurer, Interviewer, Family Partnership Coordinator, Product Sale Manager and PR Liaison.
Course Length: Each training is approximately 2 hours.
Fee: FREE!

Event/Encampment Director Training
Learn the responsibilities and mechanics of planning and directing an event or an encampment. Participants will practice goal-setting, setting SMART objectives and creating safety management plans. Learn to use Girl Scout resources to incorporate pluralism, special needs and girl/adult planning.
Course Length: 3 hours
Fee: FREE!

Service Unit Delegate/Alternate
Delegates and Alternate Delegates play a vital role in influencing the policies of our council. New Delegates and Alternates will learn about their roles and responsibilities, our council structure, policy-influencing and Council by-laws.
Course Length: 1 hour
Fee: FREE!

Aquatics -American Red Cross certification in core skills for small craft safety and canoe, sailing and kayaking skills.
Develop the skills to self-rescue and assist others, and practice small craft safety emergencies. These courses are for adults who are swimmers and are skilled in canoe, sailboat, or kayak handling techniques. This certification meets Safety Activity checkpoint requirements for adults teaching and/or supervising boating activities. Participants are required to purchase a book if they do not already have one.
Course Length: 7 hours
Fee: $25 – no refunds; $10 additional for participant book

Archery Certification
Learn proper techniques and etiquette for using the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida archery ranges with girls. Explore Safety Activity checkpoints and practice proper use and care of archery equipment.
Course Length: 7 hours
Fee: $20

Kiln Certification
Learn the stages of ceramics from greenware to glazed pieces. Pour molds, fire kilns and explore the Safety Activity checkpoints. This certification course is required for anyone using the kiln facilities at Girl Scouts of West Central Florida camps.
Course Length: This is a two-day course that begins at 9am on Saturday and ends at 1pm on Sunday. Overnight stay at camp is not required, but lodging is provided for those who want to stay at camp. Meals are not provided.
Fee: $20

FAQs

How do I know when and where classes are being offered, and how do I sign up?

• A complete schedule of courses can be found on the council website (Upcoming Learning Opportunities link), and participants should register for all trainings via the website. Courses close two weeks prior to the course date, and e-mail confirmations will be sent 1-2 weeks prior to the course date.
• Training locations, including full addresses, will be sent in the confirmation e-mail.

What should I do if I don’t see the course I need being offered in my area?

• Contact your service unit manager so your service unit can request a training in your area.
• Contact the adult learning manager at jhalladay@gswcf.org or (813) 281-4475, ext. 1768 to set up a training at a location and time that is convenient for you.

Subscribe to GS Express

GS Express is a monthly e-newsletter designed to provide timely news and updates about programs, events, registration and other issues pertinent to girl and adult members as well as staff in a Web-friendly format. Subscribe