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Volunteer Toolkit (VTK)

The Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) is a comprehensive digital tool accessible via the web on your home computers, smartphones, and tablets that provides troop leaders, service unit volunteers, parents, and Juliettes/individually registered members with access to Girl Scout programming, badge and award requirements, meeting plans, resources, and more! 

Need help logging in? Contact our Member Services team at info@gsnorcal.org or 800-447-4475, ext. 0.

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Who Has Access to the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK)

Service Unit Volunteers

Service unit volunteers are adults who hold a service unit role and support troop leaders and families in their respective geographical area.

Volunteer Toolkit Access

  • Service unit volunteers who are currently registered and background cleared, and assigned these roles in our online registration system have access to the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK):    
    • Leader Support Manager (LSM)
    • Membership Support Manager (MSM)
    • Program Support Manager (PSM)  
  • If you are in one of these roles and don't have access, contact our Member Services team at info@gsnorcal.org or 800-447-4475, ext. 0. Our hours are Monday–Friday 9AM–5PM.

The Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) gives service unit volunteers access to Girl Scout program which they can use to provide program activities and events to the girls and troops in their service unit. VTK access helps service units support troop leaders with VTK functions.

What you’ll see:

  • Year, Meeting, and Resources Tabs will display with all functionality
  • Explore Tab to access badge and Journey requirements for all program levels
  • Finance Tab available for demonstrative purposes 
  • Drop-down will allow navigation between roles (SU, Troop Leader, Juliette/IRM)

Resources for Service Unit Volunteers:

  • VTK User Guide: Service Unit Volunteers | PDF
  • VTK Video: Service Unit Volunteers—The Meeting Plan Tab | Video
  • VTK Video: Service Unit Volunteers—The Explore Tab | Video 
  • VTK Video: Service Unit Volunteers—Customizing Your Plan | Video
Troop Leaders

Volunteer Toolkit Access

  • Troop leaders who are currently registered and background cleared, and assigned the Troop Leader role in our online registration system have access to the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK).
  • Troops may designate more than one adult in the Troop Leader role to gain shared access to the VTK for co-management of the troop.
  • If you are a Troop Leader and don't have access or would like to add this role to your membership contact our Member Services team at info@gsnorcal.org or 800-447-4475, ext. 0. Our hours are Monday–Friday 9AM–5PM.

The Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) gives troop leaders access to Girl Scout program, badge requirements, and other resources to manage your troop planning all year long—and keep it going smoothly! 

Here's how it will save you time and help you plan:

  • Plan, track, and share your Girl Scout calendar year
  • View, download, or print Daisy through Ambassador Journeys and badges (to plan for troop meetings)
  • Access and customize individual meeting plans that show a breakdown of every meeting, including a list of materials needed and editable time allotments for planning each activity within a meeting
  • Email and share plans, resources, and materials with troop adults, parents and girls from within the VTK

You can also: 

  • View your troop roster, renew memberships for the troop, and update troop members contact information
  • Add custom troop activities or events to the troop’s calendar
  • Track girls' attendance and achievements
  • Manage troop finances 
  • Easily locate resources both national and local council resources, such as Safety Activity Checkpoints

Resources for Troop Leaders:

  • VTK User Guide: Troop Leader | PDF
  • VTK FAQs | PDF
  • VTK Video: Troop Leader—Setting Up Your Year Plan | Video
  • VTK Video: Troop Leader—Meeting Plan Overview | Video
  • VTK Video: Troop Leader—Setting Meeting Dates and Locations | Video
  • VTK Video: Troop Leader—Customizing Your Year Plan | Video
Parents and Caregivers of Girl Scouts in a Troop

Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) Access

Each parent or primary caregiver of a girl in a troop has access to their troop’s VTK account. They have read-only permission for the meeting schedule and agendas, troop finances, plus additional resources.

NOTE: Caregiver accounts can only be accessed if the troop leader has set up a year plan.

The Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) is your digital key to all the amazing things your girls will experience this year! Stay up to date with your girl’s achievements and discover how you can help her make an impact! 

Resources for Parents and Caregivers:

  • VTK User Guide: Caregiver/Parent  | PDF
  • VTK Video: Parents—Caregiver Dashboard | Video
Parents and Caregivers of Girl Scouts Not in A Troop (Juliettes/Individually Registered Members)

Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) Access

  • Parents or Caregivers of girls not in a troop and who are registered as Juliettes or Individually Registered Members (IRM) have access to the Volunteer Toolkit.
  • If you are a parent or caregiver of a Juliette or Individually Registered Member and don't have access to the VTK contact our Member Services team at info@gsnorcal.org or 800-447-4475, ext. 0. Our hours are Monday–Friday 9AM–5PM.

The Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) is your digital portal for easy, fun, Girl Scout activities year-round!  With the VTK, you’ll discover how you can help your girl take her Girl Scout experience to the next level!

With the VTK you can:

  • Plan your own Girl Scout year with the badges, and activities that you want to do!
  • Access the badge, Journey, and award requirements for all program levels

Resources for Parents and Caregivers of Juliettes or Independently Registered Girls Not In A Troop:

  • VTK User Guide: Juliette/ Individually Registered Girls | PDF
  • VTK Video: Caregivers to Juliettes or Individually Registered Members - The Year Plan Tab | Video
  • VTK Video: Caregivers to Julettes or Individually Registered Members- The Explore Tab | Video
  • VTK Video: Caregivers to Juliettes or Individually Registered Members - Meeting Plan Overview | Video
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Finance Tab

The VTK Finance Tab is live on April 28 and is the new way for troops to submit the Annual Troop Finance Report. Learn more below!
The Finance Tab is New. What Does It Do?

Troop Leaders will use the VTK Finance Tab to submit their Annual Troop Financial Report to GSNorCal by May 15 each year (Extended in 2020 to May 31). Here are some of the features of the VTK Finance Tab.

  • Access instructions and links to helpful council financial documents
  • Enter your troop's income and expenses in detailed categories
  • View your troop's finance summary (automatically calculated)
  • Add detailed notes on your troop's finances
  • Timestamp and autosave information, so troop leaders and co-leaders can both work on the financial report and see who last saved the information
  • Add your troop's bank information, including the bank name, branch, last four digits of the account number, and authorized signers for the troop's checking account
  • Preview before submitting the troop financial report
  • Indicate your troop's status for the next year (returning, merging, disbanding, or unsure)
  • Indicate your service unit name and number
  • Attach any documents you wish to send (such as supporting bank statements and receipts)
  • Easily view archived past reports.

Once submitted, troop parents will have "view only" access of the troop's finances.

Who Can Access the VTK Finance Tab?

Troop Leaders:

Active volunteers registered in the troop leader role for the current Girl Scout membership year with a current background check on file with GSNorCal have full access to the VTK which includes access to the VTK Finance Tab. Troop Leaders will be able to enter their year end annual troop income and expenses and submit their Annual Troop Finance Report through the VTK.

Service Unit Volunteers:

Active volunteers registered in the Leadership Support Manager (LSM), Membership Support Manager (MSM), or Program Support Manager (PSM) roles will have access to the VTK and will have demonstrative access to the VTK to help and support troop leaders to complete and submit their annual troop finance report through the VTK. Service Unit Finance Reports are still due in September through the paper form.

Parents and Caregivers of Girls in the Troop:

Parents and caregivers of girls in the troop will have access to the VTK Finance Tab and will have "view only" access to the troop's annual troop financial reports.

 

How Do I Access the VTK Finance Tab

You can access the VTK using any internet enabled computer or mobile device. If you experience any difficulty, first try using a different browser or clearing your browser cache. If you need help or don't have the right access, reach out to Member Services team at info@gsnorcal.org or 800-447-4475, ext. 0. Our hours are Monday–Friday 9AM–5PM.

1. From the GSNorCal website www.gsnorcal.org click MyGS

2. Log in using the same username and password that you use to access your “My GS Member Community”. 

3. Once logged in, you will see two options “Volunteer Toolkit” or “Member Profile”. Click on Volunteer Toolkit.

4.  Within the VTK, click the Finances Tab 

How Do I Prepare To Complete My Annual Troop Finance Report?

In April and May do the following in preparation to submit your Troop Finance Report by May 31, 2020 (normally May 15).

1. Learn About The VTK Finance Tab.
The VTK Finance Tab will be activated for the first time on April 28, 2020 and will be the new and ongoing process for troops to complete and Submit their Annual Troop Finance Report to GSNorCal.

Learn more with these  resources:

  • VTK Finance Tab Notice of Activation | PDF
  • VTK Finance Tab FAQs | PDF
  • VTK Finance Report Tracking Sheet | Excel
  • VTK FInance Tab Instructions | PDF
  • VTK FInance Tab: Completing Your Annual Troop Finance Report | Video  (COMING SOON!)

2. Verify Your VTK Access.

It is important for troop leaders to verify they have the proper access to manage the Volunteer Toolkit Finance Tab. To verify access, follow these steps.

  • Go to www.gsnorcal.org and click on MyGS
  • Log in using your username and password
  • Once logged in, select Volunteer Toolkit
  • Within the Volunteer Toolkit verify that you can see the activated Finance tab 
  • Troop leader's with proper permission will be able to edit the financial fields in the Finance Tab and will see the Submit button.

 If you are a Troop Leader and are having trouble logging in or are not seeing the editable financial fields in the Finance Tab, please contact our member services team right away via email at info@gsnorcal.org or call 800-447-4475, ext. 0. Our hours are Monday–Friday 9AM–5PM.

3. Gather Financial Documentation and Reconcile Troop Financials.

  • Troop treasurer’s troop leaders, and other bank account signers should work together to gather all troop income and expense documentation which means gathering all receipts, reconciling your check register, and totaling income and expense categories. 

  • We recommend that troops use the Troop Finance Report Worksheet to assist you in calculating your troop income and expenses which will make it easy for you to enter your troop financials into the VTK Finance tab for submission.

4. Download a Copy of Your April 2020 Bank Statement.
Save a copy of your April Bank Statement to your local computer or device for easy uploading as an attachment with your VTK Finance tab submission.

5.  Enter Your End of Year Financial Totals in the VTK Finance Tab

NOTE: You will only be able to submit your troop financial information in the VTK Finance Tab once for each membership year! It is important that you have all your income and expense totals ready to enter and that your ending balance matches your April Bank statement BEFORE you enter your final financials and submit your report to GSNorCal. 

  • Troop leaders, troop treasurers, and other bank account signers will need to work together to reconcile their end of year income and expenses and to agree on the end of year financial totals that will be submitted to GSNorCal.
  • When you are ready, the troop leader will login to the VTK FInance Tab, complete all the required fields and upload a copy of the April Bank Statement before the due date of May 31, 2020. 
  • Once submitted, you can download or print a copy of your report for your records using the Download or Print icons at the top of the page. A copy is also saved within the Finance Tab, and can be viewed at any time.
  • Once submitted, troop parents will have “View Only” access to view the troop’s financial information through the VTK Finance tab. You can also choose to email troop parents the downloaded copy or give them a printed copy when sharing year end financials.
  • Make sure to share the troop finances with girls and involve girls in regular discussions on their troop finances and when planning money earning and money spending activities. 
Finance Tab Resources
VTK Finance Tab Instructions VTK Finance Tab FAQs VTK Finance Tab Activation Notification VTK Finance Tab Video: Completing Your Annual Troop Finance Report Troop Finance Tracking Sheet
 
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What Can Troop Leaders Do in the VTK?

What's New In 2021?
  • The VTK Finance Tab will go live on April 28, 2020 in time for troops to submit the Annual Troop Finance Report to GSNorCal. 
  • New Badges and Journeys and other VTK Enhancements are added each July. 

The following badges and awards have been added to the VTK in 2020. 

Manage Your Troop Roster

In the VTK, managing your troop roster is a breeze! You can:

  • View, download, and print your troop roster
  • Update troop members' contact information
  • Renew girl and adult memberships
  • Track meeting attendance and girl achievements

Learn More With These Resources:

  • VTK User Guide: Troop Leaders | PDF
Manage Troop Communications

The VTK makes it easy for you to easily communicate with troop parents and older Girl Scouts with a built in email function so you can email and communicate with troop members while you are in the VTK! You can:

  • Easily email parents and older Girl Scouts information and reminders
  • Attach important permission forms or other documents to your email
  • Attach meeting plans, agendas, resources, troop financial reports, or any other important information.

Learn More With These Resources:

  • VTK User Guide: Troop Leaders | PDF
Manage Your Troop's Calendar Year

With the VTK, you can set up and manage your Girl Scout Calendar for the entire troop year.

  • Set up your meeting dates, frequency and locations.
  • Use the Explore Tab to have the girls choose a pre-populated track or customize their own.
  • Add in additional badges and Journey Awards that they are interested in earning
  • Add in activities, special events, field trips and adventures.
  • Watch your entire year populate into your Year Plan Tab
  • Easily move/change dates, or combine, add, or delete meetings.
  • The VTK is fully customizable and easy to use!

Make sure to check out the tips for involving girls in VTK planning in the Girl-Led Planning tab.

Learn More With These Resources:

  • VTK User Guide: Troop Leaders | PDF
  • VTK Video: Troop Leader—Setting Up Your Year Plan | Video
  • VTK Video: Troop Leader—Meeting Plan Overview | Video
  • VTK Video: Troop Leader—Setting Meeting Dates and Locations | Video
  • VTK Video: Troop Leader—Customizing Your Year Plan | Video
Manage Troop Meetings

With the VTK you planning and managing meetings is a snap!

  • Digitally access pre-populated meeting plans to plan your troop year
  • Access meeting plans for for all program levels, perfect option for multi-level troops and older girls troops mentoring younger girls—great way for Cadettes to earn their LIA!
  • Access exclusive badge and Journey criteria only available in the VTK
  • Customize meetings with your upcoming troop activities.

Learn More With These Resources:

  • VTK User Guide: Troop Leaders | PDF
  • VTK Video: Troop Leader—Setting Up Your Year Plan | Video
  • VTK Video: Troop Leader—Meeting Plan Overview | Video
  • VTK Video: Troop Leader—Setting Meeting Dates and Locations | Video
  • VTK Video: Troop Leader—Customizing Your Year Plan | Video
Access Badge and Journey Requirements

The VTK is the most comprehensive place to access all badge and Journey requirements for all program levels.

Did you know?  Some badges and Journeys are only available in the Volunteer Toolkit! It's true!

Resources:
Check out these resources to learn how to access badge and Journey Requrements

  • VTK User Guide: Troop Leader | PDF
  • VTK User Guide: Service Unit Volunteer | PDF
  • VTK User Guide: Parents and Caregivers of Girls Not In A Troop (Juliettes or Individually Registered Members ) | PDF
  • VTK Tip Sheet: Choosing and Customizing Your Year Plan | PDF
  • VTK Tip Sheet: 2021 What's New | PDF
Track Badges and Awards that Girls Earn

In the VTK, troop leaders can track girl's attendance and achievements right in the VTK and you can download and print girl attendance and achievements for your records. 

Girls may like to keep track of their own achievements with these handy awards logs, which have been updated with the newest Journeys and badges. These logs replace the previous versions in your Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting.

The age level logs and charts are best printed on 11x17 paper but can be printed on any size paper by adjusting your print option. Details may be hard to read on 8.5x11.

View Important Resources

With the Resources Tab in VTK you will have access to resources from GSUSA and GSNorCal at your fingertips while you are in the VTK!

Imagine how easy it will be to send troop communication emails through VTK and add attachments or links to important resources like health history forms, permission forms, Safety Activity Checkpoints, and more!

  • Make sure to view the Note From the council
  • Resources are categorized by program level and topic so you can find just what you need.
  • Make sure to click the More> link to see more resources in each category.
Involve Girls in Planning and Decision Making

Deciding which badges and Journeys to work on and planning your Girl Scout year should be a troop decision. Keep it girl-led by involving girls in the planning and decision-making process.

Step 1: Review the Year Plan options with the girls.
Girls can choose from Pre-selected Tracks for Badges, Journeys, or they can Select Their Own and customize their year!

Step 2: Make A Troop Decision

  • Ask girls to vote on their favorite badges and Journeys.
  • Find a track that most closely matches the interests of the girls, select that track and customize it or start from scratch and "Select Your Own".

Step 3: Customize Your Year Plan

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