Melrose Girl Scouts

Daisy: 10 girls to 2 adults plus 1 adult for each additional 5 girls
Brownie: 20 girls to 2 adults plus 1 adult for each additional 8 girls
Junior: 25 girls to 2 adults plus 1 adult for each additional 10 girls
Cadette: 25 girls to 2 adults plus 1 adult for each additional 12 girls
Senior: 30 girls to 2 adults plus 1 adult for each additional 15 girls

What is the girl to adult ratio for field trips?

Daisy: 5 girls to 2 adults plus 1 adult for each additional 3 girls
Brownie: 12 girls to 2 adults plus 1 adult for each additional 6 girls
Juniors: 16 girls to 2 adults plus 1 adult for each additional 8 girls
Cadette: 20 girls to 2 adults plus 1 adult for each additional 10 girls
Senior: 24 girls to 2 adults plus 1 adult for each additional 12 girls

Can men be troop leaders or assistant leaders?

Yes; however, at least one member of the leadership team must be an adult female over 18 (not related to the male) and should be present at all troop meetings and field trips. Men may only participate in overnight trips if separate sleeping quarters and bathrooms are available.

How often should a troop meet?

This varies from troop to troop depending on the schedules of the girls and their leaders. Some troops might only meet once a month while others may meet once a week.

Should all the parents in a troop be registered?

Parents who work with the troop on a regular basis should be registered. These include, but are not limited to:

Troop Leader(s)
Assistant Leader(s)
Troop Cookie Chair
Troop First Aider
Troop Camper
Drivers for field trips
Any adult helping at troop meetings on a regular basis

Can siblings attend troop meetings?

Troop meetings are for the girls and adults registered to the troop. Since leaders and their assistants need to focus their attention on the girls in the troop, they are strongly discouraged from bringing their other children to troop meetings. However, in some extenuating circumstances, a leader and/or assistant may need to do so because childcare is not available. Siblings are not allowed to go on field trips.

Can family members attend Girl Scout events?

Girl Scout events are usually for registered Girl Scouts only. However, there are some events where parents and siblings are invited. The calendar section of this website contains specifications for each event.

What can parents do to help a troop?

Parents can assist the troop leader(s) in many different ways. They can volunteer to be the troop cookie manager, first aider, or camper. Often, additional drivers are needed for field trips. Many troop leaders and/or their assistants have other children who need to be cared for during troop meetings or field trips. Parents can share their knowledge or expertise on a particular subject to help the girls complete a Try-it or badge. One of the greatest things a parent can do to help a troop leader is ensuring their daughter is prepared for troop meetings (has uniform, dues, any applicable paperwork that needs to be returned, etc.). Another way parents can help is to stay informed of Girl Scout events by visiting this website periodically and passing the information along to other troop members who do not have access to the Internet.

Troop Money

Does the annual membership fee paid at registration go to the troop?

No, the annual membership fee goes to Girl Scouts USA to register girls and adults to be Girl Scouts. Part of this fee pays for insurance premiums for the girls and adults.

How does the troop get money?

The troop gets money by collecting troop dues and by selling Council-sponsored products such as cookies, calendars, or magazines. Troops may also do two additional fund raising activities per year such as bake sales, car washes, yard sales, recycling beverage cans, etc. provided they participated in the annual cookie sale. Troops cannot raise money by participating in product demonstration sales, raffles, games of chance, or by directly soliciting cash. (Daisy troops cannot participate in any fund raisers or collect troop dues; please see the answer to the next question for more information.)

Can troop dues be paid once a year?

Troop dues should ideally be collected at every meeting so that the girls can learn the responsibility of handling money. The exception to this is Daisy troops (Daisy Girl Scouts are not allowed to handle money; therefore Daisy leaders may request a lump sum payment of dues at the beginning of the year.)

Can a troop accept donations?

A troop can accept unsolicited donations of money or supplies. Donating craft items or supplies for the troop first aid kit is a great way to help a new troop with a limited amount of money in their treasury.

Who decides how troop funds should be spent?

The girls in the troop, with the guidance of their leader(s), decide how to spend troop funds.

Can a girl attend an event if she doesn't have the money to attend?

A girl should never be excluded from attending an event due to a financial hardship. Financial aid is available for all Council-sponsored events (including summer camp) by submitting a financial aid form (found in the forms library at www.ptgirlscouts.org). Financial aid for citywide and troop events can be arranged through your troop leader(s). All requests are kept confidential.

Can money earned through fund raising be applied to the girl who "earned the money?"

Money earned through fund raising should become part of the troop treasury and be used to finance trips and activities for the entire troop.

What happens to the money in the treasury if a troop merges with another troop or disbands?

Ideally, the troop should use the money in their treasury to do something as a troop before the troop disbands so that all the girls in the troop benefit from their fund raising efforts. Under no circumstances should the money be distributed to individual girls in the troop. If the troop merges with another troop or any of the girls transfer to another troop, any money left in the treasury should go with the girls to the new troop. Any leftover funds may also be donated to the Service Unit (which would benefit all Girl Scouts in a city or town) or to a charitable organization such as an animal shelter or food pantry. In any event, the disposition of remaining funds should be the decision of the girls in the troop.

Troop Reports and Forms

When does a troop leader need to complete a Troop Activity Application form?

A Troop Activity Application form must be filled out for any troop activity that is taking place outside of your regular meeting place. Most often these are troop day trips and/or overnight trips. The only exception to this is when the troop walks someplace from their regular meeting place and time and returns to their regular meeting place and time for pickup. This is often referred to as a "troop meeting walkout." A Troop Activity Application form must also be completed for all money earning activities such as a cookie booth sale, car wash, yard sale, etc. The completed form should be submitted to the Service Unit coordinator(s) for approval two weeks prior to the trip or activity. The pink copy of the approved form will be returned to the troop and should accompany the troop on the event.

What additional paperwork needs to be completed to go on field trips?

Each girl must have written permission from a parent or guardian for every activity that is held at a different place from their regular meeting location (exception: troop meeting walkouts; see answer above). This can be accomplished on the yellow Permission Activity Form cards. If the yellow card is not available, a note is permissible containing the following information: girl's name, trip/activity description and date, parent/guardian signature with date, and emergency contact name(s) and telephone number(s). Permission forms should be brought on the trip along with an up-to-date Permanent Girl Scout Troop Record/Health History form (blue card).

Where can troop leaders get additional copies of forms?

Registration forms, along with bank deposit tickets, can be obtained from the Service Unit registrar. The Service Unit coordinator(s) maintain a supply of other forms in the Service Unit file box, which is brought to every Service Unit meeting. Some forms are also available in the forms library at www.ptgirlscouts.org.

If the Girl Scout program year is from October 1 through September 30, why are the annual Troop Treasury Report and Troop Status Report due in the spring?

These reports contain information pertaining to the continuation of the troop and the leader(s) and disposition of money left in the troop treasury. This information is needed well in advance of the new program year to ensure continuity of the troop at the start of the school year.

Troop Camping

Our troop would like to go on the citywide encampment (camping trip with many Girl Scout troops). Does an adult from our troop need to be certified in CPR/First Aid and troop camping?

Troops that have an adult certified in troop camping and first aid/CPR would be given first preference to attend citywide encampments. If enough troops with certified troop campers and first aiders volunteer to assist other troops during an encampment, then these troops may attend if there is room.

Our troop would like to go on a camping trip on our own to one of the Council Girl Scout camps. Does an adult in our troop need to be certified in troop camping and first aid/CPR?

Yes, a registered adult from your troop must be certified in troop camping and another registered adult from your troop must be certified in first aid/CPR (they cannot be the same person). This, of course, applies when your troop camps at a non-Girl Scout site as well.