Volunteer Scoop: May
5/22/2025
News & Updates
Spring Renewal EXTENDED
Be sure your troop members are renewed so your troop is ready to go in the fall! All girls renewed by June 15 will receive a Juliette Gordon Low Commemorative Quarter and Patch and a ticket to the BIG Event in the fall. Troop co-leaders can claim a free badge for every girl renewed by June 15.
Troop co-leaders or caregivers can renew girls online in MyGS. Visit the Renew Page of our website to find details about incentives and refer to our convenient Troop and Caregiver Renewal Guides with step-by-step instructions.
2025 Fall Product Program & 2026 Cookie Program Theme and Mascots Announced
We’re thrilled to unveil the theme for our upcoming product programs: Brave. Fierce. Fun.
This bold and spirited theme will guide both the 2025 Fall Product Program and the 2026 Cookie Program.
Meet the mascots leading the way:
🐻 Grizzly Bear – the fearless face of our 2025 Fall Product Program
🦦 Black-footed Ferret – the energetic ambassador of our 2026 Cookie Program
Get ready for a season full of excitement, adventure, and fun!
Honoring Excellence
She's shown the world and herself, that if she can dream it, she can do it – and the future is hers. Now, it's time to celebrate! Join us at Honoring Excellence to recognize Girl Scouts who have earned their Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards this past year. Adult volunteers who have made a significant impact and received an Adult Achievement Award will also be recognized.
Honoring Excellence will be held at the Armory Event Center in Moorhead, MN, on Sunday, June 8th. View all of our 2025 Award Recipients and join us in the celebration! Purchase your tickets by May 30.
🌸 Spring Troop Wrap-Up: Reflect & Plan Ahead
As the school year comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to celebrate your troop’s achievements and start thinking ahead to the next Girl Scout year.
The Spring Troop Wrap-Up Guide is here to help! It includes a simple checklist to:
- Review your troop’s accomplishments
- Complete important end-of-year tasks
- Prepare for Back to Troop in the fall
📌 Attention Troop and Service Unit Account Signers
All authorized signers are expected to follow the GSDH Troop and Service Unit Funds Policies as well as the Troop/Service Unit Authorized Account Signer Responsibilities
Annual Finance Report Due by June 15
Every troop and service unit with an open bank account is required to submit a finance report by June 15.
How to Submit:
Use the 2024-25 GSDH Check Register and follow the steps in the Just in Time: Finance Reports to complete and submit your report.
Volunteer Years of Service Pins – Request Yours
We’re so grateful for the time, energy, and heart our volunteers give to Girl Scouts year after year. To thank you for your dedication, we are pleased to offer Volunteer Years of Service Pins to those who have served for 5 years or more.
Been a volunteer for 5+ years? You can now request your pin and we’ll mail it directly to you!
Bridging this Year? We’ve Got You Covered
Are your girls bridging to a new level this year? Celebrate this exciting milestone with confidence and style!
Check out the Bridging Guide for everything you need to know about awards and planning a ceremony!
Order your Bridging Kits, which include the bridge award, certificate, membership star, fun patch, and pencil, through the GSUSA Online or GSDH Retail Stores.
1912 Club Patch Program
Don’t miss out on celebrating your troop’s amazing year of adventure and tradition!
Girl Scouts and co-leaders can earn a FREE 1912 Club Patch by completing all ten exciting requirements throughout the year — things like going on a troop field trip and learning a classic Girl Scout tradition.
Review the 1912 Club Patch Program Requirements and complete the 1912 Club Patch Program Survey by June 15. Patches will be mailed to troop co-leaders in August.
Summer Camps & Events – Register Now
Keep the Girl Scout fun going all summer long! Whether as a troop or individually, girls can join in on exciting summer camps and events happening across our council.
Why should you bring your girls to camp?
- Outdoor experiences prepare girls for adventure, inspire environmental stewardship, and instill natural curiosity
- Build new skills, learn camp traditions and songs, and make new friends!
Camps are filling fast, so don’t wait—check out the Event List and register today!
Badge Booklets are Now Available in the Volunteer Toolkit
You can now download FREE Badge Booklets straight from the VTK! These helpful guides are designed to support fun, organized, and engaging troop meetings—whether you’re following meeting plans or creating your own unique Girl Scout adventures.
Learn more about how the Volunteer Toolkit makes planning easier and more exciting with the Volunteer Toolkit Troop Co-Leader Guide and get started by logging into MyGS.
S’more Fun Outdoor Skills Patch Program for Volunteers
Explore the outdoors with your Girl Scouts and earn the S’more Fun Outdoor Skills Patch! This program is designed for volunteers of all experience levels to guide you through the Girl Scout Outdoor Progression, helping you and your girls build confidence, learn essential outdoor skills, and develop a love for nature.
Complete the steps with your girls to earn the main patch, then continue the adventure by adding logs to your fire for even more outdoor fun!
Reserve a GSDH Camp Property
We welcome you to take your troop camping, get away for a few days, plan a special event, or participate in a team-building experience at a GSDH Camp Property. Council schedules Girl Scout camps throughout the summer, but there are plenty of rental dates available for troops looking to book their next adventure. Camp properties are available for rent from May (depending on the weather) through September.
Member Services
Member Services is your first-stop help center and can answer most questions on your first contact with the council office! Contact Member Services at 800.666.2141 or help@gsdakotahorizons.org.
