Bronze, Silver & Gold at a Glance

    New! Here are the updated guidelines for girls working on their Bronze, Silver or Gold Awards: Guidelines

Wanted: Girl Scout Stories!
Is your troop doing a great community service project? We'd love to hear about it! Your Troop's news, activity or community service project may be a big INSPIRATION to other girls. Valley Lake & GSMWRV are always interested in learning about girls' news stories to promote throughout the service unit, council, or in the local media. Examples may include a gold, silver or bronze award project, your troop's contribution to the community through service projects, special troop activities, field trips or events you'd like to share.

Let's get the word out there, how we're developing young leaders with courage, confidence & character!

Arlys Thompson is Valley Lake's Communications Representative & Website Administrator and will work with you to share the Girl Scout message. Send her an email today!

Make sure to include lots of details about your troop project, plus photo(s) & any other pertinent info.

Click here for a handy format to get you started.

Helpful Tips for Working with Older Girls

If you have a troop of middle-school or older girls that have recently bridged to Cadettes, or you need some ideas on how to keep the troop challenged, engaged and interested, these helpful tips are for you! Just click here for printer-friendly list (adapted 2009 - from GS-USA Leader magazine).

Bridging Ceremonies FYI  
If your troop is planning a bridging ceremony, here is some helpful information! A sample ceremony program is also included.

  Required Training News  All new Girl Scout troop leaders must complete the GSUSA Volunteer Orientation, plus Leadership Essentials training. One leader from each troop must also attend a Fast-Start Meeting for New Leaders through the Service Unit. All three of these sessions must be completed within four months of a new leader assuming the leader position.

Did You Know? All Daisy, Brownie & Junior Troops should begin implementing Program Essentials into their troops, starting now.

Click here for more information: Program Essentials FAQ.

Just what IS Program Essentials? It is the new core plan that girls & leaders will use to implement the Girl Scout Leadership Experience in River Valleys. New Girl Scout Daisies thru Junior troops will be receiving this info via Welcome Kits and direct mail. If you are a leader of a returning Daisy, Brownie, or Junior troop and have not received the info, you can download your core plan & curriculum by clicking one of the options here:

Program Essentials guide, 2nd-year Daisies
Program Essentials guide, 2nd-year Brownies
Program Essentials guide, 2nd-year Juniors

Leaders of Girl Scout Cadette thru Ambassador troops: Program Essentials for your grade levels will not be launched until August 2010.

  Beyond New Leader Training   Each troop must have at least one registered adult trained in CPR/First Aid. Check the 2009-2010 Council Reference Guide for more information on training requirements - one copy of the guide for each Valley Lake troop will be available at monthly Leader Meetings. Additionally, if your troop is ready to pursue activities outside of troop meetings, these Beyond the Troop trainings are required:

Ready to prepare some delicious gourmet meals indoors? Take Girls Cook In.

Ready to try some yummy cooking over a campfire? Take Girls Cook Out.

Ready for an overnight in a troop house or cabin? Take Girls Sleep In.

Ready for an overnight in tents? Take Girls Sleep Out.

Ready to plan a trip to Chicago or Juliette Gordon Low’s birthplace in Savannah? Take Girls Travel—US.
More information about the Beyond the Troop sessions can be found on the Council Website Training page.

  Need Some Quick Advice About Designing A Flyer? Attention, event & project planners! Click here for a helpful document: How to Design A Better Flyer.

  IMPORTANT: Council Policy re: Troop Meeting Locations Reminder - any agreements or contracts that you are arranging for your public troop meeting spaces must be forwarded to the council office for the council CEO's signature annually. This is to prevent you (the volunteer) from being placed into a vulnerable position legally and also is a requirement of the Council's insurance policy. Please send to the attention of:
Kris Parker
GSMWRV, 400 S. Robert St., St. Paul, MN 55107
651-227-8835,   651-227-7533 fax.

  Badges, Patches, Pins & Books - Need a more convenient way to shop for Girl Scout items? Here are several options:

Basics-in-a-Bag: Everything you need, in one convenient place! Click here (includes shop info, too).

Visit the St. Paul Service Center or other area Council Shop. For hours & locations, click here: Council Shop locations/map.

Council Shop staff at any of the locations will ship items to your address for a small shipping & handling fee, just give them a call.

Shop On-Line: goshop/girlscouts.org (or call toll free 1-800-221-6707)

What Goes Where? Just click here for the new, printer-friendly, COLOR diagram to see where everything goes on girls' vests or sashes!

  Girl Scout Song Book
Here is a printer-friendly songbook Troops can use: Songbook.

  Program Aides Are Available to Help Hey Troop Leaders - our service unit has a number of Girl Scout-Cadettes who have been trained and have experience as a Program Aide. They would love to help out with planning & assisting at an upcoming event or troop meeting for your girls. Program Aides can help younger girls learn new songs or skills, or lead them in crafts, plus much more! Just click here to view the list: VLSU Program Aides

Info on Religious Awards for Girl Scouts - The not-for-profit national organization Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.) is approved by GSUSA to provide information about religious awards available to Girl Scouts. Click here to go directly to their Girl Scout information.