Troop Leader Experience: A Podcast about Girl Scouts for Troop Leaders and other Girl Scout Volunteers

A couple of weeks ago I answered the question "What are some of your best tips for a new Brownie leader?" Buuuuut I confess that my answer is probably not what the person who asked the question expected to get. So, in part 1 a few weeks ago I answered honestly about where I would start as a brand new leader. And in this episode, part 2, I focused more on some tips about how to get started planning...

My guest in this episode is Roya Dedeaux, a licensed therapist who specializes ins creative teen therapy, art groups, parenting courses, and more for better mental health. We are specifically talking about how to connect with teens in our troops, but if you have littles in your troop, I know there is a lot of value in this conversation for you, too. Connect with Roya: https://www.royadedeaux.com/...

If you're new to Girl Scouts like April, this is my best checklist of items to take care of to get started. RSVP for our upcoming New Leaders Circle: https://subscribepage.io/NfeamT Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, my go-to returning guest Sheryl Robinson is back and we are talking about Adult Recognitions and Appreciation. Breezing through some of the awards that are available both nationwide and council-specific, we’re talking about the formal methods of adult appreciation in Girl Scouts as well as the other ways we can recognize each other.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/...

TRIGGER WARNING: This week’s episode is about the sensitive topic and themes around youth suicide awareness & prevention.  The number one cause of death of youth today is suicide. And although boys may have a higher death rate from suicide attempts, girls have a higher attempt rate. As adults who work closely with girls in K-12, we have a special role in recognizing warning signs and helping girls...

This week I’m here inspired by a question asked in the Facebook group by Christin. She wanted to know:  Our Council is pushing for a spring enrollment campaign.  What community service-unit level recruitment events have you seen work well? In this episode, I shared some basics about recruitment in general (because even though that’s not what I set out to record today, it felt necessary to establis...

April is the Month of the Military Child and my guest this week, Tiffany, is a troop leader on a military base in Western Ohio. We are talking all about her experience as a troop leader of a smaller troop, but also about the significance and impact that Girl Scouting can have for military kids in particular. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I’m joined by ANOTHER guest! I know how much you love these episodes. My guest this week is Maggie, multi-level troop leader in Northern California. She runs a Daisy/Brownie troop, but not in the typical way you might be thinking. If you sometimes feel like all you want to talk about is Girl Scouts and it’s become your entire personality, you’re going to love this interview. Learn more a...

My guest today is Betsaida Lebron from ImprovEQ. Her framework for corporate leadership about infusing play, empathy, and bravery fits right into Girl Scouts, so I knew she would be a great guest with incredible insights to share and she does not disappoint in this episode. You are going to love her explanation about what emotional intelligence means and why it’s important for girls, tips and sugg...

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to run a troop of 60+ girls? Ashley from Middle TN is sharing some insight into her experience as an "01" for a supersized troop, plus some great insights from her special education background about cultivating a truly inclusive and accessible troop for all girls. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It can be disheartening when we put so much love and effort into Girl Scouts - especially Cookie Season - and the families in our troop don't prioritize Girl Scouts like they do other activities. Have you ever felt like this, too? That's what today's episode is all about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the podcast, we have Ashley Rogers, a life coach who works with tween and teen girls, to discuss some of the challenges facing young women today. I know you will find this conversation informative and as enlightening and thoughtful as I did!  https://www.instagram.com/ashleyrogerslifecoaching/ https://ashleyrogerslifecoaching.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...

I asked you a couple of weeks ago if it would still be helpful to do an episode about a parent/guardian meeting even though it's a little late in the season and most of you have probably already done them. I heard a resounding YES PLEASE from several of you so here it is! I really hope this is helpful :) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I have a LOT of experience with cookie season: as a girl selling, as staff managing cookie inventory and distribution, and of course as a troop leader. I gathered some of my best practices for cookie season to help you have a smooth experience. Do you have some best practices and tips you want to share? Jump into the Facebook group at facebook.com/girlscoutpodcast and share with all of us! Learn m...

Everyone wants to know about: Requiring/mandating participation in the cookie program How to distribute sales (especially from booths!) per girl How the money distribution works per girl (and can we give girls more credit who put in more hustle) These are THE 3 questions I get the most often about cookies and the questions I see asked most often in other Facebook groups, etc. Here are my thoughts!...

Tis the season to talk about cookies, sooo... here are my best top 3 tips for this year's cookie season. I really hope these tips help with perspective, creativity, and innovation. Cheers to a great season! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is one of those podcasts where we use outside sources to talk about the bigger picture of ~the movement.~ Today, I'm looking back at the past year for girls and children around the world and looking forward to how this connects to our focus areas for 2024. Here are some sources I refer to or directly read from in this episode: https://www.wagggs.org/en/resources/ https://www.unicefusa.org/sto...

We’re back with one of our favorite return guests, Sheryl! We’ve talked about so many topics from gold awards to silver awards to older girl retention and today we are talking about preparing to attend convention as an adult attendee, a national delegate, or as a chaperone for girls (or all of the above!).  Sheryl is the host of the Hearts of Gold podcast, where she interviews Gold Award Girl Scou...

If you're thinking about or planning a holiday/Christmas party for your troop, this replay episode will give you some things to consider to ensure you are cultivating an inclusive troop environment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I'm answering your questions again! Thanks to Donna and Tabatha for this week's questions. Want to ask a question? Join the Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/girlscoutpodcast) or send me an e-mail (girlscoutpodcast@gmail.com) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, I'm interviewing my friend Niki, who is a troop leader, service team member, and board member for my council, Girl Scouts Arizona Cactus-Pine. In addition to sharing her own Troop Leader story, she's also shedding light on what the board does and how to get involved in the movement at a higher level.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest is my friend and former GSACPC colleague, Amber R. She currently works for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa & Western Illinois council. Her experience is in conflict resolution, recruitment, and volunteer support and in today's episode, she's sharing some stories about her own Girl Scout experiences, some advice for troop leaders about conflict resolution, and some insight into the fo...

The national convention recently happened in Orlando, FL and a lot of you have been wondering, what is it like to go to convention? I brought on a guest who traveled across the country with her daughter to attend for the first time. In this interview, Vanessa and I chatted about her expectations beforehand (what was met, what was exceeded, and what was a bit of a letdown), how she was personally i...

Happy Founders Day TODAY, October 31. Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of Girl Scouts in the USA, was born on October 31, 1860. In honor of her birthday, this week, we are talking about Juliette Low! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we are catching up with Merana Cadorette, a lifetime Girl Scout who is focused today on history, archives, and art. Join her Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/FLGirlScoutCollection Check out the Juliette Low book she refers to here: https://www.amazon.com/Stacy-A.-Cordery/e/B001H6L8HU You can find the 2nd edition of the Collector's Guide here: https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Degen...