Welcome to the Redwood City Girl Scouts
Thank you for giving your time and energy as a Redwood City Girl Scout Leader / Volunteer! RWCGS is a community full of wonderful, caring and supportive people who are always ready to help new leaders with tried and true ideas, suggestions and a sense of humor. If you haven't yet done so, please join our Yahoo Group. There you will find all of the latest information about specific Service Unit events, as well as a great way to communicate with fellow Leaders and Volunteers throughout Redwood City.
Important Info for Troop Leaders / Volunteers
Troop Representative Meetings:
Troop Representative Meetings are usually held on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7pm. Locations rotate, usually between the Community Activities Building, the Veterans Memorial Senior Center, and Peninsula Covenant Church.
Who attends: Leaders, Co-Leaders, Troop Parents. At least one person from each troop should attend each month.
What happens: Info on upcoming events, new programs and service opportunities. Training for Cookies, Fall Sales, and Camporee.
Why go: Get the very latest information! Meet other leaders! Get ideas for activities and time fillers! Find out how other leaders make it all work and have a great time doing it. Pick up registration packets and product sale info. Find out what is happening in Redwood City Girl Scouts as well as Girl Scouts of Northern California.
Volunteer Screening Process and Forms
All volunteers who work directly with girls must complete the volunteer screening packet. You can download the Adult Screening Packet here.
Volunteer Screening Checklist
Be sure to complete the following:
- For All Applicants:
- Completed Volunteer Application Form
- Three completed Volunteer Reference Inquiry Form
- These should be completed by persons 18 years of age or over not related to the applicant, and returned directly to the council. They must be completed in full. Do not leave any fields blank or the reference form will be returned.
- For Applicants who are willing to drive girls other than his/her own daughter: (Return these to the troop leader)
- Troop Driver Information
- Photo copy of current driver’s license and proof of insurance
Please note: In general, any changes in your name or residence should be reported to the council. A person who registers as “Jane Family-Name” in 2004, is screened and approved, may not be recognized in the system in 2006 when she registers as “Jane Married-Name.”
For questions about the adult screening process, or to check if all of your volunteer paperwork is currently on file, email the Service Unit Directors at serviceunit@redwoodcitygirlscouts.org
Girl Scout Levels, Troop Size and Adult Ratios
As of the current (2008-2009) year the Girl Scout age levels have changed. However, there is some flexibility in this for troops who existed before this year. If, for example, your troop needs an extra year as Juniors to finish your Bronze Award, that is no problem! The current age levels, grade, minimum and maximum troop size, and new safety-wise adult/girl ratios are:
Daisy
- girls are in grades: K-1
- Minimum Troop Size: 5 girls
- Optimal Maximum troop size: 15
- Adult/Girl ratio for general group meetings: 2 non-related adults, (at least one of whom is female), for every 12 girls, plus one adult for each additional 6 girls.
- Adult/Girl ration for events, trips, and group camping: 2 non-related adults, (at least one of whom is female), for every 6 girls, plus one adult for each additional 4 girls.
Brownie
- girls are in grades: 2-3
- Minimum Troop Size: 5 girls
- Optimal Maximum troop size: 25
- Adult/Girl ratio for general group meetings: 2 non-related adults, (at least one of whom is female), for every 20 girls, plus one adult for each additional 8 girls.
- Adult/Girl ration for events, trips, and group camping: 2 non-related adults, (at least one of whom is female), for every 12 girls, plus one adult for each additional 6 girls
Junior
- girls are in grades: 4-5
- Minimum Troop Size: 5 girls
- Optimal Maximum troop size: 30
- Adult/Girl ratio for general group meetings: 2 non-related adults, (at least one of whom is female), for every 25 girls, plus one adult for each additional 10 girls.
- Adult/Girl ration for events, trips, and group camping: 2 non-related adults, (at least one of whom is female), for every 16 girls, plus one adult for each additional 8 girls.
Cadette
- girls are in grades: 6-8
- Minimum Troop Size: 5 girls
- Optimal Maximum troop size: 30
- Adult/Girl ratio for general group meetings: 2 non-related adults, (at least one of whom is female), for every 25 girls, plus one adult for each additional 12 girls.
- Adult/Girl ration for events, trips, and group camping: 2 non-related adults, (at least one of whom is female), for every 20 girls, plus one adult for each additional 10 girls.
Senior
- girls are in grades: 9-10
- Minimum Troop Size: 5 girls
- Optimal Maximum troop size: 30
- Adult/Girl ratio for general group meetings: 2 non-related adults, (at least one of whom is female), for every 30 girls, plus one adult for each additional 15 girls.
- Adult/Girl ration for events, trips, and group camping: 2 non-related adults, (at least one of whom is female), for every 24 girls, plus one adult for each additional 12 girls.
Ambassador
- girls are in grades: 11-12
- Minimum Troop Size: 5 girls
- Optimal Maximum troop size: 30
- Adult/Girl ratio for general group meetings: 2 non-related adults, (at least one of whom is female), for every 30 girls, plus one adult for each additional 15 girls.
- Adult/Girl ration for events, trips, and group camping: 2 non-related adults, (at least one of whom is female), for every 24 girls, plus one adult for each additional 12 girls.
Field Trip Info
Click this link above to find out which forms you need and when, as well as info regarding additional Girl Scout insurance. Want to notify the Field Trip Approval Coordinator of a simple one day local trip or meeting location, change? Click above to do it online!
Trips and Outdoor Activities Training
When planning a trip with Girl Scouts, you are encouraged to attend the appropriate training (dependent upon the type of trip) prior to the outing. In addition to training, it is required that you always use Safety Wise and the Council Resource Book when planning trips.
Volunteer Training
For more info about the required training courses, and other available trainings please view our training page.
Online leadership Training E-Council Training and Event Calendar and Registrations More info can be found in the Council Resource Guide p. 13
Girl Scout Insurance
Certain activities require the purchase of additional insurance. For more info, click this link.
Crisis Team
Whenever you are going on a trip with Girl Scouts, make sure each adult has a copy of the Crisis Management Team card with them. Make sure you have read and are familiar with the Emergency Management section of the Council Resource Guide!
Product Sales
Fall Sales start Sept 25th (for pre-orders) and go through Nov. 30th, 2008. Cookie sales info will be out before you know it! For more info regarding your Redwood City Troop’s sales, email our Product Sales Manager.Girl Scout Northern California Retail Stores are located in San Jose, Oakland, Santa Rosa, Fairfield, Chico, Redding and Eureka. Visit www.girlscoutsnorcal.org/stores for more information.
Girl Scout Badge Depots and Equipment Retailers
- Goetz Brothers - 2629 Broadway, Redwood City 650 366-4082
- The Merry Mart – 33 Washington St, Santa Clara 408 296-0423
- Talbot;s Toyland – 445 South B Street, San Mateo 650 931-8100
Shop online at http://store.GirlScoutsNorcal.org
RWCGS Lending Resources
“Black Box”- RWCGS keeps a resource box full of written materials for leaders to check out and use, including songbooks, handbook and badge books for all levels, several program aides, and even the new “Girl Scout Journeys” series.
"The Shed"
- We also keep a storage shed, which contains items that can be used for events such as traffic cones, canopies, a small tent, paper goods, flags, sashes and an instruction binder on flag ceremonies, walkie talkies, a large first aid kit, and more.
To find out more about what is in the black box or the shed, and how you can check these items out for your troop or Service Unit event, please email resources@redwoodcitygirlscouts.org.
Financial Aid
The Redwood City Service Unit is proud to be able to provide limited financial aid to those who need it for troop or Service Unit events. For more information please email treasurer@redwoodcitygirlscouts.org with the specifics of the event and cost, the circumstances which make the financial aid necessary, along with the amount that the girl and/or troop is able to contribute.
Other Important Forms
For security purposes, some forms may require you to log in or join our members only yahoo groups page.- 2008-2009 Council Resource Guide
- Banking Procedures and Forms
- Troop Disband Procedures
- Troop Finances (reimbursement form for Service Unit events and TFR form and instructions).
- Insurance Certificate request form
- Troop Sponsorship Agreement
- Yahoo Group Instructions
- Patches, Programs and other GS stuff
- Redwood City Event Registration Packets and other info
- Alphabetical Listing of all forms (from Girl Scouts of Northern California website)
Ongoing Projects & Ideas
Collect items for soldiers through Blue Star Moms
Start a recycling center at your school
Do a food drive for Second Harvest Food Banks
Collect needed items for animals at the Peninsula Humane Society
Go holiday caroling for seniors
Donate GS cookies to a local shelter
