Welcome to the Redwood City Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts thank you note graphic 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:

Girl Scouts News graphic Troop Representative/Leader Meetings are usually held on the 3rd Thursday of Sept, Oct, Feb, March and May each month at 7pm. For 2011-2011, meetings will be at the Unitarian Church in Redwood City. 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.

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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

Which volunteers need to complete the volunteer screening process?

A Girl Scout volunteer must complete the volunteer screening process and be a registered adult member of Girl Scouts before she/he will:

For All Applicants:

work with, drive, or supervise girls (Troop/Group Leader or Co-op Leader or parent volunteer)
work with Girl Scout money (Troop Treasurer or cookie or fall product sale chair)
work with girls’ or the other adults’ personal information Registrar for a troop or service unit) attend an overnight activity

To learn more about the two part volunteer screening process visit girlscoutsnorcal.org

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Girl Scout Levels, Troop Size and Adult Ratios

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.

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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!

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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.

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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

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Girl Scout Insurance

Certain activities require the purchase of additional insurance. For more info, click this link.

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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!

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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