Parent FAQs

How much does it cost to be in Girl Scouts?
  • Registration Fee: $10 annual national membership dues (includes Girl Scout activity insurance).
  • Troop Dues: The amount of dues is decided upon by each troop based on upcoming plans and activities. (Usually under $1 per meeting)
  • Uniform Fee: Uniforms are optional. We are a uniform agency but we do not require them of girls or adults. Girls need a sash or vest to showcase badges earned. These are available for purchase from our Council Shop. See Council Shop for location and hours of operation.
  • Books: Girl handbooks are helpful but not required. These are available for purchase from our Council Shop. See Council Shop for location and hours of operation.

When and where do the Troops meet?
Troop Leaders choose to meet weekly, every other week or monthly at a time that is convenient to them (after school, in the afternoons, or on the weekend). Troops may meet in schools, churches, civic centers, businesses, etc.

Does my daughter have to be in a troop?
No. She may be registered as an Individual (referred to as a "Juliette"). These registered girl members may not have time to participate in troop meetings or may have other activities that conflict with troop meeting times. Juliettes receive support that is geared to their needs. A "Juliette" may attend council events, area events, and work on badges. She will receive information related to her program level and registration information.

Why is an All-Girl Environment Important?
The Girl Scout program is designed for girls to develop critical life skills. Girl Scouts encourage girls to try new things, experiment with new ideas, make decisions and be leaders. The all-girl environment increases female performance, achievement, and leadership. That's why former Girl Scouts make up half the women in Congress and two thirds of the women listed in Who's Who. Troop Leaders serve as female role models. They can help girls develop the skills and self-confidence they will need to succeed in tomorrow's world. They can get this in Girl Scouts. Having positive adult role models helps girls move from girlhood to adulthood.

Are there any parent/daughter events?
Yes. There are several events throughout the year designed especially for parents and their daughters. See the Calendar of Events. 		 

  1. SPONSOR a troop through your business, church, school or civic organization. Sponsors can provide almost anything, from a meeting place, money, or a van for a field trip.
  2. ATTEND one or two field trips and help with the transportation.
  3. BUY groceries for camp outings or agree to bring a meeting snack once a year. Talk the other parents into doing the same.
  4. OFFER to do the troop phone calls, copy or translate materials. Any skills you have can help the troop!
  5. HELP with a cookie booth sale.
  6. BE a parent helper at one or two meetings a year. You can help provide activities, serve as a consultant on Try-Its or badges, or volunteer to be a program resource for the troop and broaden the girl's experience with your expertise.
  7. ATTEND all parent meetings.
  8. HELP by being the cookie parent (a job many dads enjoy!), treasurer, or take the council's outdoor training and be the camp-certified person for your daughter's troop.
  9. TALK to your troop leader and let her know you're willing to help and find out how you can contribute to the troop (for example, offer special skills you may have such as first-aider or lifeguard).
  10. JUST DO IT. Join the troop leadership team! Take an hour a week and get
  11. nd will enjoy watching her grow as a leader, as a member of the team, and as a girl. Sure, the girl comes first in Girl Scouting, but as the adult members can attest, there is a lot of fun in it for grown ups, too


What type of activities will my daughter get to do in Girl Scouts?
The choices of activities are endless but the troop program is determined by the girls in partnership with their leaders.

What can you say to persuade me that Girl Scouts would offer my daughter as much as piano class, soccer team and/or ballet?
Think of the Girl Scouts as the crown of your daughter’s activities. Within Girl Scouts they can certainly pursue music, sports and other activities. But Girl Scouts adds an extra dimension. This is an organization by girls, for girls, devoted to building self esteem, strong values and social conscience. The inner strength and sense of self assuredness they gain through Girl Scouts will stay with them long after they have hung up their ballet slippers or soccer spikes.

What can you say to reassure me that my daughter will be in a safe environment?
Girl Scouts is the one place that has been synonymous with the word safety. And we do not take this reputation for granted. Girl Scout troop leaders undergo comprehensive training to enable them not only to conduct activities in a safe manner, but make each girl feel safe and secure in the troop environment. And we place emphasis on encouraging girls to make the right choices for themselves.

Does my daughter have to wear a uniform?
Although we are proud of the identity and sense of team that can come from wearing a uniform, the uniforms are optional and it is up to the troops and girls themselves to choose what to wear. There are many ways for girls to identify themselves--from t-shirts and stretch pants to vests and accessories. But the point of the uniform is that it says they are a member of this great team committed to girls, the number one girl’s organization in the world. What’s the bottom line? That Girl Scouts are ALWAYS in style!

Why is Girl Scouts worth my daughter’s time and my money?
At Girl Scouts, we develop leaders through dedication to and development of character, conduct and community service. At a time of increasing demands and diminishing dollars at schools, Girl Scouts continues to be a major player in character development. With all the social pressures on girls today, it’s vital to have a haven for our daughters to go to learn, earn and turn into strong women of tomorrow.

Do Girl Scouts have a particular religious affiliation?
We are nonsectarian. In fact, we welcome Girl Scouts from diverse backgrounds. Diversity truly is the fabric that helps weave the rich tapestry known worldwide as the Girl Scouts.

How proactive do you go out and recruit girls from all ethnic, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds?
Our mission is to make Girl Scouting available to every girl, everywhere. Just about anywhere you find girls, you’ll find Girl Scouts, whether it is in neighborhood troops and schools or on the Internet. We serve girls who live in foster homes and whose mothers are in prison. We’re reaching out to girls in migrant communities and homeless shelters. And though we are proud of our progress, we are still not satisfied; we’re constantly seeking new ways to reach out and meet the needs of all of today’s girls.

How do I register my daughter in Girl Scouts?
Click here.

How can I assist her troop leader?
There are many ways to help such as by taking first aid or outdoor orientation trainings. Click here.