Volunteer Training

Welcome to your one-stop training spot! Here you will find a breakdown of all training—both essential (required) and enrichment learning courses!

If you'd like to take an in-person training that you don't see on the schedule, please email info@gswcf.org. Be sure to include the name of the training that you would like to take.

Webinars: In order to best serve volunteer training record needs, webinars are now available by registration through gsLearn. Go to the "MyAccount" tab, and enter "gsLearn," where you will find webinars listed in the “Content Library.” You will be able to view the webinar and print your certificate of training completion from within gsLearn. It will also appear in your member records.

Different options for training courses that fit into your busy schedule

On-Demand Training Webinars: These are available anytime; you can take them at your leisure. Many are listed on this page, but you can find them all in gsLearn.

Training Sessions: We offer a variety of in-person, hands-on trainings to enrich your Girl Scout experience and knowledge. Register for in-person training through our events page.

In-Person Training Overview

Required (Core) Training to be a Troop Leader or Co-Leader

If you want to be a troop leader or co-leader toggle arrow

320 New Leader Learning Path (New as of October 1, 2024):

GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: The Girl Scout Leadership Experience

GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: What Girl Scouts Do

GSUSA Girl Scouts Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Course

GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: Your First Troop Meeting

GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: Family Engagement – The Key to Success

GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: Troop Safety

GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: Funding the Fun – Managing Girl Scout Troop Finances

GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: The Girl Scout Cookie Program

If you want to leave your meeting place with your troop toggle arrow

320 Traveling Troops Webinar: Troop travel is defined as anytime the troop meets outside of the usual meeting location. A minimum of one adult member per troop needs this training while on the trip. In this webinar, you will learn progression in Girl Scout travel, girl and adult roles in planning trips, required documents and basics on finances and budgeting, as well as guidance on how to respond to emergencies. Please note: Traveling Troops training taken before January 2021 is no longer current. The updated course is a requirement for existing and new troops beginning June 2021.

CPR/FA Certification: This in-person training provides knowledge and skills for emergency life-saving techniques involving infants, children and adults. This is the required certification needed for troop First Aider role. The troop First Aider is an adult background-checked member who is certified in first aid / CPR and accompanies the troop / group on activities. Highly suggested for troop leader and troop helper roles.

If you want a First Aider for troop activities toggle arrow

If you want to be a troop helper toggle arrow

GSUSA Girl Scout Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention: This webinar prepares supervising adults of Girl Scout youth to recognize, respond to, and report concerns of child abuse and neglect. Additionally, supervising adults will be empowered to prevent abuse by learning Girl Scout recommended practices, policies and procedures. (Required)

GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: The Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE): What sets Girl Scouts apart from other organizations? The framework we use to grow future leaders, also known as The Girl Scout Leadership Experience. In this webinar you will learn how to facilitate the Girl Scout Leadership Experience with your troop in an age-appropriate way. (Optional)

GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: Troop Safety: This webinar equips you with the fundamentals to keep your troop safe in meetings and on field trips. You also will learn about a “go-to” guide that helps your troop stay safe no matter where your adventures take you! (Optional)

CPR/FA Certification: This in-person training provides knowledge and skills for emergency life-saving techniques involving infants, children and adults. This is the required certification needed for Troop First Aider role. The Troop First Aider is an adult background-checked member who is certified in first aid / CPR and accompanies the troop / group on activities. Highly suggested for Troop Leader and Troop Helper roles. (Optional, but highly suggested).

Additional resources for leaders & troop helpers toggle arrow

GSUSA Managing My Troops from My Account: This course demonstrates how troop leaders can manage troop and troop member information from their MYGS account. It also demonstrates how leaders can complete registration activities for troop members.

GSUSA Delivering Inclusive Program: In this webinar, you will practice using inclusive and equitable language to support the identities of all Girl Scouts and foster a cohesive troop environment.

GSUSA Mental Wellness 101: In this webinar, you will learn what mental health is and how to recognize the signs of mental health challenges. You will explore different scenarios that young people may experience, and learn how you can promote an environment within Girl Scouts for you and others to thrive and grow. 

Outdoor Training

If you want to your troop cabin camping toggle arrow

CPR/FA Certification: This in-person training provides knowledge and skills for emergency life-saving techniques involving infants, children and adults. This is the required certification needed for Troop First Aider role. The Troop First Aider is an adult background-checked member who is certified in first aid / CPR and accompanies the troop / group on activities. Highly suggested for Troop Leader and Troop Helper roles.

GSUSA Girl Scouts in the Outdoors: Getting outside is for a girl's overall well-being and growth and it can be an amazing part of the Girl Scout experience. This module will introduce troop leaders what they can do to begin sharing the outdoors with their troop. This training is a prerequisite for BOLT. 

320 Basic Outdoor Leadership Training (BOLT): This in-person training provides basic outdoor instruction for taking Girl Scouts cabin camping on and off GSWCF properties. Skills covered in this training include camping progression, fire safety and fire building, pocket knife safety, outdoor cooking, and more. The Girl Scouts in the Outdoors webinar (listed above) is a prerequisite for BOLT.

If you want to take your troop tent camping toggle arrow

CPR/FA Certification: This in-person training provides knowledge and skills for emergency life-saving techniques involving infants, children and adults. This is the required certification needed for Troop First Aider role. The Troop First Aider is an adult background-checked member who is certified in first aid / CPR and accompanies the troop / group on activities. Highly suggested for Troop Leader and Troop Helper roles.

320 Advanced Camp Training: Take your camping experience one step further. This in-person training covers tent camping, girl/adult partnerships, advanced outdoor cooking skills and planning and preparedness skills, and gain an understanding of the Leave No Trace principles. BOLT is a prerequisite for Advanced Camp Training.

If you want to take girls primitive camping, hiking or backpacking toggle arrow

320 Wilderness Training I, II & III Series: This in-person training is made up of three training sessions that can each be taken separately from each other but in consecutive order. Requires the completion of all three. Basic Outdoor Leadership Training and Advanced Camp Training is a prerequisite for Wilderness Training.

If you will be less than 30 minutes from EMS, you'll need: 

CPR/FA Certification: This in-person training provides knowledge and skills for emergency life-saving techniques involving infants, children and adults. This is the required certification needed for Troop First Aider role. The Troop First Aider is an adult background-checked member who is certified in first aid / CPR and accompanies the troop / group on activities. Highly suggested for Troop Leader and Troop Helper roles.

If you will be more than 30 minutes from EMS, you'll need: 

Wilderness First Aid Certification: Wilderness first aid focuses on prevention, assessment, and treatment for an ill or injured person in a remote environment where definitive care by a physician and/or rapid transport is not readily available. This in-person training prepares participants to identify and address medical issues that can arise in the backcountry. This course meets the requirements of an Advanced First Aider, as outlined in Volunteer Essentials and Safety Activity Checkpoints.  

If you want to try archery with your troop toggle arrow

CPR/FA Certification: This in-person training provides knowledge and skills for emergency life-saving techniques involving infants, children and adults. This is the required certification needed for Troop First Aider role. The Troop First Aider is an adult background-checked member who is certified in first aid / CPR and accompanies the troop / group on activities. Highly suggested for Troop Leader and Troop Helper roles.

Archery Level 1 Certification - Blended Learning: Get certified to bring the love of archery to your troop or service unit. This training is a blended learning course, with a 4 hour prerequisite online course before attending the in-person portion. Access to the online portion is provided to registered participants two weeks out from the training via email.

If you want to take your troop swimming toggle arrow

Lifeguard Certification: This 3 day course provides certification by the American Red Cross to serve as a lifeguard. You will learn teamwork, rescue and surveillance skills. First Aid/CPR/AED are a part of this class. Participants must complete the two pre-requisite swimming skill evaluations:

1. Complete a swim-tread-swim sequence without stopping to rest:

Jump into the water and totally submerge, resurface then swim 150 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both. (Swimming on the back or side is not permitted. Swim goggles are allowed)
Maintain position at the surface of the water for 2 minutes by treading water using only the legs
Swim 50 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both

2. Complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds:

Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. (The face may be in or out of the water. Swim goggles are not allowed).

Submerge to a depth of 7 - 10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object.

Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on the back to return to the starting point, holding the object at the surface with both hands and keeping the face out at or near the surface.

Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.

[If you want to take your troop canoeing, kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding toggle arrow

Paddling 101: This is a beginner’s course for paddling skills. Learn how to correctly paddle for canoeing, and kayaking, and learn how to teach girls to paddle correctly using fun games! Please note this is not a replacement for Small Craft Safety.

Small Craft Safety (Canoe, Kayak, SUP) Training: This training qualifies troop leaders to take Girl Scouts canoeing, kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding at Camp Indian Echo or on small lakes in Florida. Participants should have prior experience with canoeing, kayaking and paddleboards.

Open Water (Canoe, Kayak, SUP) Training: This in-person training covers how to safely use the canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards at Camp Wai Lani. Please note this training does not qualify volunteers to take their girls canoeing, kayaking, or stand-up paddle boarding on open or coastal waters off GSWCF property. Small Craft Safety is a prerequisite for Open Water Training.

River 1 (Canoe, Kayak, SUP) Training: This 8-hour in-person training will train participants with content equivalent to ACA Essentials of River Canoe and Kayak. It will have 3 hours of classroom/land-based instruction and workshops/on-water training and skill development & assessment. Upon passing the course, volunteers will be ready to facilitate outings with girls in class one rivers. Small Craft Safety is a prerequisite for River 1 Training.

CPR/FA Certification: This in-person training provides knowledge and skills for emergency life-saving techniques involving infants, children and adults. This is the required certification needed for Troop First Aider role. The Troop First Aider is an adult background-checked member who is certified in first aid / CPR and accompanies the troop / group on activities. Highly suggested for Troop Leader and Troop Helper roles.

If you want to enhance your troop's outdoor experience toggle arrow

GSUSA Outdoor Videos for Volunteers: Use these videos to give girls a sense of empowerment in the outdoors, show them how to use natural resources more wisely (including respecting our environment and wildlife) and help them become lifelong stewards of the land and our natural resources. There are no certificates for these enrichments.

Step by Step: Developing Outdoor Skills in Girls
Taking the Journeys Outside
Planning Your Troop’s First Campout
Introduction to Campsite Set-up
Introduction to Cooking Outside
How to Leave No Trace Outdoors
Outdoor Songs and Games
Introduction to Fire Building

Topic-Related Learning Opportunities

If you want to guide girls through a Journey or Highest Award Project toggle arrow

320 Take Action: This training describes the roles adult leaders take when guiding girls toward earning their Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards and Journey Take Action projects. Participants will learn the benefits of Take Action projects, and we will examine the roles of volunteers, girls and the council while completing these projects.There is no certificate for this training.

Please refer to the following resources to accompany the webinar:

Take Action Webinar On Demand Booklet

If you want to engage your troop’s interest in STEM toggle arrow

GSUSA Sparking Girl Scout Interest in STEM: In this webinar, you will explore how to support Girl Scouts of all ages to engage in STEM. You will learn what STEM is, how it is a tool to make a difference, and about exciting program opportunities and resources to help you amplify what Girl Scouts do.

If you want to teach your troop about mental and physical wellness toggle arrow

GSUSA The Mental Wellness Patch Program - Why It Matters and How to Implement It: In this course, you will learn best practices for holding a Mental Wellness Patch Program to give your Girl Scouts the tools and support they need to better understand and care for their mental health. The Mental Wellness Patch Program is program level-specific, designed for Juniors (older elementary), Cadettes (middle school), and Seniors and Ambassadors (high school).

The TampaWell Wellness Warrior Patch Program: Girl Scouts of West Central Florida – get ready to follow the path of a Wellness Warrior! Care for yourself through yoga flows, discover the nutrients behind colorful food, make movement a fun addition to your daily routine, and take action in the community by joining TampaWell on this wellness journey! This patch is generously sponsored by Tampa General Hospital.

If you are a new leader looking for support throughout the year toggle arrow

New Leader Launch is a monthly webinar series created just for first-year troop leaders. Each session is a chance to connect with council staff and fellow leaders, get answers to your questions, and pick up tips and tools to make your troop experience a success. From traditions to troop finances, these fun, informative chats will help you feel confident and supported every step of the way.

Volunteer Enrichment

If you want to attend an Adult Enrichment Weekend toggle arrow

Camp Greenblood: Held in January at Camp Dorothy Thomas in Riverview, Camp Greenblood is a themed adult only enrichment weekend planned by Girl Scout volunteers. The weekend is filled with workshops and networking opportunities intended to enhance your role as a Girl Scout volunteer.

Sister’s Retreat: Held in October at Camp Wildwood in Wildwood, Sisters’ Retreat is a themed adult only enrichment weekend planned by Girl Scout volunteers. The weekend is filled with workshops and networking opportunities intended to enhance your role as a Girl Scout volunteer.

Workshops and experiences will vary between events. Email info@gswcf.org for more information on each event.

Volunteer Training Patches

Girl Scout Training Patches recognize the time, dedication, and leadership our volunteers invest in growing their skills. These exclusive patches are earned by completing approved in-person and online trainings currently offered by Girl Scouts of West Central Florida. Once you’ve completed an eligible course, simply request your patch using our online form below, and wear it proudly as a symbol of your commitment to delivering exceptional Girl Scout experiences. Training patches are commonly worn on the back of the leader vest or left hand pocket.

Not sure if you qualify for certain patches? GsLearn serves as a volunteer training record for all training completed in-person or on-demand. To view your training history, navigate to the "Achievements" tab after logging in to gsLearn from your MYGS account.

Council Finder

Volunteer Training

Different options for training courses that fit into your busy schedule

Required (Core) Training to be a Troop Leader or Co-Leader

Outdoor Training

Topic-Related Learning Opportunities

Volunteer Enrichment

Volunteer Training Patches

Resources