We can't do it without you.

Volunteer learning is offered in varied methods to best meet your unique learning styles: written resources, face-to-face learning and interactive online learning.

One of our favorite volunteer development series are IGNITE leadership retreats. These are half-day, full-day, or weekend-long conferences that offer a variety of workshops to enhance your leadership skills. Each IGNITE offers different workshops for new and experienced leaders so that you can keep coming back year after year. Check out our events and activities to see the latest volunteer training opportunities and IGNITE retreats.

Trainings on gsLearn

gsLearn is an online training platform for troop leaders. Access courses on-the-go, track your progress and more by signing into your MyGS account and clicking on the gsLearn button.

The 536 GSKH New Leader Onboarding Learning Path includes eight modules designed by GSUSA and a module of GSKH specific financial guidelines. Five of these modules are required for first time troop leaders. In addition, volunteers will be able to upload certifications from external providers such as First Aid/CPR, Lifeguard and others.

There is a plethora of training topics available on gsLearn. All trainings are available to all members and some are designated to be taken by volunteers serving in specific roles in the council. Details are provided in the training descriptions.

Should a module not appear, click on the screen to initiate. If you do not see a gsLearn option after logging into MyGS, please contact Customer Care at 1 (888) 686-6468 or info@gskh.org for assistance.

Safety Activity Checkpoints

Each checkpoint provides information about Girl Scout activities, a list of safety gear and more!

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Required Trainings for Troop Leaders

Trainings marked with an asterisk (*) below are required for new troop leaders. The majority can be found in our 536 GSKH New Leader Onboarding Learning Path on gsLearn while Heartland Essentials is a virtual/in-person workshop. For technical help or other questions, email us or call 1 (888) 686-6468. For an overview of required trainings, check out these trainings at a glance.

GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: The Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) * toggle arrow

What sets Girl Scouts apart from other organizations? The framework we use to grow future leaders, also known as The Girl Scout Leadership Experience. In this course you will learn how to facilitate the Girl Scout Leadership Experience with your troop in an age-appropriate way. Throughout the course we provide lots of real-world examples. That way, you can apply the framework as your troop ages through the Girl Scout program.

GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: What Girl Scouts Do toggle arrow

Thank you for being a Girl Scout volunteer. In this course, you will learn about What Girl Scouts Do at each level. The course is broken out by Program Level. You only need to take the levels represented in your troop, although you are welcome to explore them all. To complete the course, there is a required Knowledge Check.

GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: Family Engagement - The Key to Success toggle arrow

Engaging families in their Girl Scout's experience benefits troop leaders, Girl Scouts and families too. This course illuminates the value of family engagement and provides practical strategies for how to enlist family support. It also equips you with an agenda to plan a parent/caregiver meeting to set the tone for family engagement for the year. This course has two required parts. Part I takes approximately 20 minutes to complete and Part II takes 10 minutes to complete.

GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: Funding the Fun - Managing Girl Scout Troop Finances * toggle arrow

In this course, you will learn the basics of managing your troop’s funds. We will highlight how troops fund meetings and activities. We will also review how troops manage and report their finances to their councils.

536 GSKH Financial Requirements * toggle arrow

Through GSUSA's course module "Funding the Fun" you've learned a lot about managing troop finances. In this course, you'll learn about aspects that are specific to the Kansas Heartland council.

GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: Your First Troop Meeting toggle arrow

This course provides new troop leaders the structure and tools to plan a successful first troop meeting (and beyond!) with their Girl Scouts. The course takes approximately 20-30 minutes to complete.

GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: Troop Safety * toggle arrow

This course equips you with the fundamentals to keep your troop safe in meetings and on field trips. You also will learn about a “go-to” guide that helps your troop stay safe no matter where your adventures take you!

GSUSA Girl Scouts Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Course * toggle arrow

Child abuse and neglect are difficult subjects to think about, yet the prevention of abuse is a topic Girl Scouts takes very seriously. This training prepares supervising adults of Girl Scout youth to recognize, respond to, and report concerns of child abuse and neglect. Additionally, supervising adults will be empowered to prevent abuse by learning Girl Scout recommended practices, policies and procedures. Girl Scout practices, policies and procedures are proactive measures designed to prevent abusers from interacting with Girl Scouts to foster a safe space for children to thrive.

GSUSA New Leader Onboarding: The Girl Scout Cookie Program toggle arrow

In this course, you will learn the basics of the Girl Scout Cookie program. We will review how and why Girl Scouts sell cookies, who the bakers are that make the cookies, and how to utilize your cookie proceeds with your troop. We’ll also review all the exciting program options you can explore with your troop as you build their entrepreneurial skills. Finally, we’ll go over cookie selling safety, and important ways to bring families and caregivers along in your troop’s cookie business adventure.

Heartland Essentials * toggle arrow

New troop leaders must complete this virtual/in-person workshop within 3 months of taking on a leadership role. The course prepares new troop leaders for their next step in the leadership experience, diving into policies, procedures and guidelines that are specific to Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland. A pre-requisite to this course is the gsLearn: 536 GSKH New Leader Onboarding Learning Path.

Register for Heartland Essentials here >>

Supplemental & Advanced Learning Opportunities

Badge Explorer toggle arrow

Get all the latest details and shop links for every topic and grade level.

Visit the Badge Explorer >>

Badge Resource Kits toggle arrow

There are Badge Resource Kits to help Girl Scouts explore new badges, topics or to use just for fun!

Look through this guide and request a kit through our online form for pick-up at your nearest council office. It may take up to 3 weeks to transfer kits between offices. Kits have suggested levels and badges, but feel free to get creative with them! Some kits require a refundable deposit of $100 per kit.

Request a kit here >>

IGNITE: Leadership Retreat toggle arrow

Held annually on the first weekend of June, the IGNITE: Leadership Retreat weekend is a great opportunity for all volunteers to become campers while gaining an abundance of quality Girl Scout knowledge. This retreat is held at the Starwoods Girl Scout Center in Clearwater and begins on a Friday evening with workshops and lots of fun throughout the weekend.

Volunteers who register to attend participate in a variety of camp experiences such as waterfront activities, shooting sports, the Adventure Course and workshops covering topics relevant to their roles with Girl Scouts. Each IGNITE session is unique, containing something new to learn and experience so volunteers can keep coming back year after year.

Volunteer Toolkit toggle arrow

The Volunteer Toolkit is your official source for delivering fun, easy troop meetings year-round! You will find video trainings on gsLearn as well as handy step-by-step instructions in the Volunteer Toolkit User Guide.

Watch these videos to learn more >>

Outdoor & Adventure Learning Opportunities

Outdoor Basics: Home Study toggle arrow

This online course is a prerequisite to the Outdoor Camping, Cabin Camping and Backpacking courses. It is also required for a troop leader who wants to take Girl Scouts into nature for hikes, walks in the park and exploring nature without building a fire. For grilling hotdogs, s’mores, etc., you will need to take either Cabin Camping or Outdoor Camping.

Find the Outdoor Basics – Home Study course in the gsLearn environment. An assessment must be completed before eligible for live sessions.

Cabin Camping toggle arrow

This day-long course is for volunteers planning an overnight stay with girls in a walled facility such as Starwoods Girl Scout Center, KOA Cabins and State Park Cabins. (If pitching a tent and participating in more in-depth wilderness type activities, you’ll need to take the Outdoor Camping course.)

Cabin Camping will prepare volunteers to introduce youth to outside adventures. At the end of this course, participants will know how to cabin camp, use a propane stove, cook over charcoal and will have gained knowledge of many outdoor skills including health and safety, meal planning, troop and individual packing, Kaper Charts, knot tying, knife safety and protection of the natural world. All of these activities are part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

Ambassador Girl Scouts may take this course. Prerequisite to this course is Outdoor Basics.

Outdoor Camping toggle arrow

This overnight course combines the Cabin Camping course curriculum with a deeper knowledge of outdoor camping experiences. This is required for any camping experiences outside of a cabin/walled facility.

After completing this course, volunteers will be able to take their Girl Scouts on a camping trip. You’ll learn about health and safety procedures, how to set up a campsite and the equipment needed, tent pitching, troop and individual packing, Kaper Charts, meal planning and preparation, multiple methods of cooking, dishwashing, starting a woodfire, compass and trail signs, Leave No Trace principles and tying these experiences to the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

Ambassador Girl Scouts may take this course. Prerequisite to this course is Outdoor Basics.

Small Craft Safety toggle arrow

The Small Craft Safety (canoeing and kayaking) course is offered a couple of times per year. This course will allow you to be able to facilitate a canoeing or kayaking experience course for Girl Scouts.

Check out the events calendar for more information on upcoming Small Craft Safety courses.

Starwoods Girl Scout Center Activities toggle arrow

Challenge Course (low ropes), Traverse Wall & Telescopes

Starwoods Girl Scout Center has much to offer! Training for the Challenge Course (low ropes), Traverse Wall and Telescopes is required before facilitating these activities during a troop campout. These trainings are often included in IGNITE workshops or retreats that take place at Starwoods Girl Scout Center. Groups of 5-15 volunteers may also request a training date by emailing info@gskh.org.

USA Archery toggle arrow

The Level 1 Archery Instructor Certification Course provides graduates the necessary tools to maintain a high level of safety both on and off the archery range and ensures that minimum standards for archery instruction are consistently taught to provide for the safety and enjoyment of the participants, instructors and spectators. Level 1 Instructors are well prepared to teach beginner archery programs to people of all ages and abilities in a variety of both indoor and outdoor settings in the disciplines of target, field or 3D archery. The Level 1 Instructor will learn about range safety, range setup, the steps of shooting, equipment and repair, programs and lesson plans. Prerequisites: USA Archery membership and range pass.

Check out the events calendar for upcoming courses hosted by GSKH.

Find a course directly with USA Archery >>

Have a training request or want to become a trainer? Contact us at info@gskh.org.

Council Finder

Training & Development

We can't do it without you.

Trainings on gsLearn

Required Trainings for Troop Leaders

Supplemental & Advanced Learning Opportunities

Outdoor & Adventure Learning Opportunities