As a volunteer, you’ll become part of a vibrant community of dedicated individuals supporting youth across Northern California, and across the country!
To get started, all volunteers must Volunteers must be at least 18 years old, and those who plan to drive Girl Scouts must be at least 21. They also need to complete the following steps:
- Register as a member of Girl Scouts of Northern California
- Complete a fingerprint screening, which includes a criminal background check
- Complete Mandated Reporter training and any additional training required for your specific role
These steps must be completed before supporting youth troop members in any capacity.
Please note:
Registration is completed at MyGS. You’ll need to register as a member before you can begin the fingerprinting screening/background check process. Additionally, access to our online training portal is only available once your fingerprint clearance is on file with the council and you’ve assigned yourself a volunteer role in the MyGS system.
There may be an additional fee for the background check. Volunteers may request financial assistance to help with the annual registration fee.
For detailed descriptions of each role please click here. Troop Leadership is encouraged to download and print or share these resources with caregivers, so they can choose how they’d like to support their Girl Scout.
Girl Scouts of Northern California offers two troop models.
| Traditional Troop | Co-Op Troop Model |
| Two designated leaders take the lead, while caregivers are encouraged to support them by taking on roles to help create a stronger, more successful troop experience. Required Roles: Troop Leader Assistant leader Treasurer | A small group of adult volunteers share leadership responsibilities, while other caregivers are required to support the troop by taking Required Roles: Troop Leader Assistant leader Treasurer |
Additional roles offered under each model:
| Entrepreneurship Roles | Troop Helpers |
| Troops participating in entrepreneurship programs need trained volunteers in specific roles, which are seasonal and only required during the duration of the program. Seasonal Entrepreneurship Roles include: Troop Fall Program Chair Troop Cookie Chair | A Troop Helper is a flexible role, allowing volunteers to support the troop based on their skills and interests. This can include assisting troop leadership with activities, organizing events, or managing logistics to help the troop run smoothly. While Troop Helpers are strongly recommended in traditional troops, they are required for caregivers in co-op troops. Additionally, please note that some tasks require additional training. Troop Helper Tasks that require training include: Taking Girl Scouts on trips Providing first aid Camping Taking Girl Scouts to events |
Last updated on June 23, 2025