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Ways to Participate

At Girl Scouts, it’s our mission to provide you with fun, social, and unique opportunities so that you can do Girl Scouts the way you want. Along the way, you’ll see just how awesome you are at being yourself, being a leader, and making the world a better place!

Joining a troop is one way of participating in Girl Scouts. You’ll get together with your friends to seek adventure, learn together, take the lead, and explore the outdoors. With support from your Girl Scout sisters and troop leader, your inner G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ is sure to shine through!

Start a Girl Scout Troop

Parents/guardians and community members make a key difference in the lives of girls by guiding them through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Leading a traditional troop is an incredible way to help girls empower themselves to make the world a better place! To get started, select the “I want to lead her troop” option when you join Girl Scouts.

Lead Her Troop

Join an Existing Group

When you join Girl Scouts, you get options! From a traditional troop of your peers to going solo as a summer camper, you’re sure to find a place here.

Volunteer-Led Troops

Volunteer-led troops are led by a volunteer troop leader—usually a parent or guardian of one of the girls in the troop. You and your troop sisters decide what to do, and work together with your troop leader to make it happen. Whether you get together once a week or once a month, you’ll find yourself counting the days until your next troop meeting starts!

You’ll try new lots of new things—like camping, designing a robot, making jewelry, geocaching, helping your community, conducting science experiments, planting gardens, and oh, so much more.

Join Girl Scouts

Camp & Outdoors

Camping is a great way for girls to explore leadership, build skills, and develop a deep appreciation for nature. Whether for a day, a week, or longer, Girl Scout camp gives girls an opportunity to grow, explore, and have fun under the guidance of caring, trained adults. As a bonus, you don't need to be part of a Volunteer-Led Troop to enjoy our camp and outdoor experiences!

Here are just a few Girl Scout camp experiences for you to check out:

  • Try out Day Camp »

    Day camp is the perfect foray into getting outdoors! Day camp is for girls in kindergarten and up, with activities on three or more consecutive days for four hours or more. The occasional overnight camp may be offered.

  • Explore Weekend Camp »

    Weekend camp is for girls in kindergarten and up, and typically lasts for two days and one overnight. We offer council-run weekend camp experiences both during the school year and summer.

  • Find a Resident Camp »

    Resident camp is for girls who have finished kindergarten. Girls camp for three to fourteen days and nights (the average is five nights). They plan activities with their counselors, taking advantage of the resources available at the campsite.

Travel

You can experience all that our country and world has to offer, whether you’re “blasting off” at space camp in Alabama, taking in a Broadway show in New York City, or visiting the birthplace of Girl Scouts’ founder, Juliette Gordon Low, in Savannah, Georgia. And you can plan even bigger adventures around the world, traveling with other Girl Scouts who share your love of adventure.

Check out Girl Scout Destinations, the ultimate adventure program for girls ages 11 and older. With a ton of different trips to apply for every year—from surfing camp on the east coast and breathtaking hikes out west, to the crazy-cool wonder of new cultures abroad—there’s something amazing for everyone to experience. 

Make friends from all over the country as you travel with Girl Scouts from different states, see and learn new things, and pack your bags full of inspiring, life-changing experiences and memories.  Find your trip today!

How far will your Girl Scout experience take you? That’s up to you!

  • Council-Organized Travel  »

    Girl Scouts of Northern California offers annual trips for girls in their Cadette, Senior and Ambassador levels from around the council to travel together and experience new adventures. 

  • GSUSA Destinations »

    If girls are looking for more adventure and are interested in meeting Girl Scouts from around the USA, girls can apply for a GSUSA Destination!

  • High Adventure »

    From white water rafting to rock climbing, GSNorCal has more approved vendors than any other council in the US, which means more places to try new activities.

Interest Groups

Interest Groups provide girls the unique opportunity to do a deep dive into an area they’re interested through volunteer-run groups. These groups can be joined in addition to, or even in place of, a traditional troop and give girls an outlet to explore their own interests with like-minded girls. Whether your girl is interested in learning more about space or wants to sail the high seas, we have a group for her! Learn more about our interest groups.

Join Girl Scouts

Individual Girl Members

Individual Registered Members (IRMs) are girl members in grades K–12 who are not affiliated with a troop or troop leader. Instead, you’ll have flexibility to try all the experiences Girl Scouts has to offer, on your own time, guided by a mentor, such as a family member or a Girl Scout volunteer in your community! You’ll participate in our program grade levels (Daisies, Brownies, etc.), earn badges and awards, sell cookies, and much more—all with personal guidance from an important adult in your life.

Whether you travel the world or meet new friends at Girl Scout events, your independence and passion will lead you to success both in Girl Scouts and in your life!

Join Girl Scouts

 

No matter how you choose to participate, with Girl Scouts she can: