Volunteer Resources | Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England

Learning And Training Plan For Leaders And Adult Volunteers toggle arrow

GSSNE works to provide volunteers with training opportunities to enhance the troop experience and keep youths safe. As a part of our process to improve our adult and volunteer training and learning experiences, we have taken feedback from the last several years to create learning experiences where leaders and adult volunteers can learn a variety of skills and information that they can take back to their troops to expand on their Girl Scout experience.

We’ve created a Learning and Training Plan for Volunteers document that outlines the trainings that are available to GSSNE volunteers with descriptions, when they're required, and why you need specific trainings. Current trainings are shown in white and trainings still in development phase are in blue- we’ll update the document as more trainings are added!

gsLearn

GSSNE’s online learning platform, gsLearn (accessed via sign-on through your MYGS login), is continually updated with new volunteer trainings, documents, resources, videos, and more! Whether you’re a troop, service unit, or council volunteer, there’s something there for you.

First year as a leader? You should begin your learning with the Successful Leader Learning Series, Girl Scouts Outdoors, and Troop Finances. After that, there are lots of courses to explore as your leadership adventure continues.

Second year and beyond? After completing your first-year learning courses, you can explore opportunities for returning leaders. The menu of options continues to grow!

3 Steps to Access gsLearn

If you are a current member with a valid background check and a valid email on file with GSSNE, you can access gsLearn via instructions below:

Go to My GS: Access to gsLearn is available through the MYGS login on our council website. On larger screens, this is a MYGS icon in the upper right-hand corner of this website. On mobile, use the navigation menu on the right that looks like: ☰.
Log in: Login in using your username and password for My GS. Your username is the email address associated with your Girl Scout account. If you have not set up or forgotten your password, use the “Forgot Your Password” option.
Enter gsLearn: Select gsLearn from the column located on the left side of your account homepage on larger screens. On mobile, use the navigation menu on the right that looks like: ☰. This will automatically log you into gsLearn and bring you to your dashboard where your courses are listed.

Volunteer Toolkit (VTK): Planning Your Troop Year toggle arrow

Found in MYGS, the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) is a digital K–12 program toolkit that's your source for delivering easy, fun troop meetings year-round! This fully customizable, digital planning tool is accessible on any computer or mobile device and provides you with Girl Scout program content, award requirements, and other resources. If you’re already a registered troop leader, click MYGS to log in and get started.

Criminal Background Checks toggle arrow

To safeguard the health, safety, and general well-being of the members we serve, and prior to having any contact with youth including access to their personal information or managing Girl Scout funds, each prospective GSSNE volunteer is required to become adult member of Girl Scouts USA (“GSUSA”) and complete a thorough criminal background check (“CBC”) process. Additionally, volunteers living or volunteering in Massachusetts must register and complete a CORI. By law, a volunteer’s criminal background check expires after three (3) years.

For further information, please review our full Background Check Policy.

Monthly Updates: Emails to Volunteers toggle arrow

GSSNE sends out monthly emails to all volunteers that include important information specific to volunteers. Check out the latest Volunteer Monthly Updates below:

If you are a current GSSNE Volunteer and you are not receiving the Volunteer Monthly Updates email, please contact CustomerCare@gssne.org so we can look into your volunteer and subscription record.

Finances

Finance Tracker: Troop leaders/treasurers and service unit volunteers, to help you keep clean financial records, use the Excel spreadsheets or make a copy of the Google Sheets. Both align with the year-end Finance Report categories, which are due to GSSNE from all troops and service units annually.

Troop Finance Tracking Spreadsheet – Excel (download will begin immediately):

Troop Finance Tracking Spreadsheet - Google (please make a copy before editing)
Service Unit Finance Tracking Spreadsheet – Excel (download will begin immediately

Service Unit Finance Tracking Spreadsheet – Google (please make a copy before editing)

Additional Money Earning Activities toggle arrow

GSUSA guidelines recommend that the Cookie Program and Fall Product Program activities should be the primary way to earn money for troop programs and activities.

However, sometimes troops require additional money earning opportunities to fund "big ticket" items such as museum overnights, major trips or participation in program activities. GSSNE has set guidelines for product sale participation:

The troop should participate in council money-earning events; fall product sale and cookie sale before requesting permission for additional money earning activities.
The participation standard for 2025-2026 is:
- Fall Product Program: The per-registered girl average for the troop should be:
  - sale of any five (5) items AND submission of fifteen (15) valid online email addresses
  - OR sale of any twenty (20) items
- Cookie Program: the per-registered girl troop average should be 180 packages or more. (2025’s council average sold was 228 boxes)

Each of the applications for additional money earning activities are reviewed on an individual basis. Submit the Troop/Service Unit Money Earning Application.

Participation in the product programs not only fund troop and service unit proceeds, girl rewards, and girl camp credits but they also provide funding for council programs, camp upkeep, financial and, camperships, volunteer training, and more.

The full details can be found in the GSSNE Policies, Procedures, and Standards.

Girl Scout Conduct & Conflict: Volunteer Guidance toggle arrow

At the heart of Girl Scouting are the principles of respect, integrity, and kindness. Adult volunteers and staff are responsible for modeling these values in our interactions with each other, youth, other adults, and the wider community. By maintaining high standards of conduct and providing clear pathways for addressing conflicts, we help ensure that Girl Scouts remains a positive and safe space for all.

This guide serves as a resource to help you more calmly navigate the challenges of conduct and more fairly manage conflicts in a way that fosters growth, understanding, and resolution for everyone involved. Thank you for your dedication to empowering the next generation of leaders.

Volunteer Guidance - Girl Scout Conduct and Conflict Guide
Code of Conduct Agreement for Youth & Adults

Girl Scout Interactions with Immigration & Customs Enforcement/Law Enforcement toggle arrow

Please view our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document to learn about what to do during interactions with Immigration & Customs Enforcement/Law Enforcement if they show up at a Girl Scout event.

If you have any further questions, please contact GSSNE Customer Care at CustomerCare@gssne.org or 401-331-4500.