How Troops Evolve

Questions on Looking Forward in Girl Scouts

Are you or your troop debating on continuing in the fall, there are options!

Girl Scouts lose girls and troops when they enter in fifth or sixth grade. Is it because they are worried that they will be too busy? As a Leader, are you just tired of running the troop or your own daughter thinks it is not for her anymore? Is Girl Scouts not cool or hip enough?

This is actually the right time to continue with a troop. It doesn’t have to be about the cookies, crafts, events, or service projects! Did you know that your troop or girl could be a “Tripper” or “Juliette“? Continue to read on about all the possibilities.

Not Enough Time in Middle School
As sports and extra curriculum get harder to qualify, get in, or limited keep your girls in an organization that teaches Values, Leadership, and Social Skills. Consider meeting once a month or every other month.

How to keep Girls active in Scouting in Middle and High School
Girls want to interact with an adult who can appreciate the things in their world—the things they do, the things they think about, and the things they dream.

  • Avoid having girls sitting around in school-like settings. Keep them active, with plenty of choices and hands-on activities.
  • Be enthusiastic—it is contagious!
  • Get to know the girls. Inquire about each girl individually. Know their likes, dislikes, and so on.
  • If a girl seems bored, consider asking her to “take the lead” on an activity.
  • Be flexible. If an activity is not working, ask girls themselves what to change, or what other activity they would like to do.
  • Overnights are key! Whether it be camping, sleepovers, or hotel nights, the bonding that happens is irreplaceable. 
  • GIRL LED! When the girls own the troop, the girls stay in the troop. 
  • Plan a trip for the end of the following year, something that will just knock their socks off, then they will have to stay!
  • Plan a summer bridging (or year kick off) event with other girls the same age. Once they see they aren’t the only ones (and they are very likely to find friends who they didn’t know were GS), they are more likely to stay.
  • Focus on the FUN factor. Let them take a break from badges, awards, and service for a few months. Ask them what just for fun activities they might want to do. 
  • Spending time together and building relationships is just as important as earning badges. Schedule as many as you can, maybe even doing one or two over the summer (no meetings, just a fun activity) to keep them interested. 
  • They need details, explanations, and hands on activities. Instead of making tray favors for meals on wheels, offer them to go and help deliver the meals or visit at meal time at a nursing home. Get them sewing, crocheting, throwing pottery, painting ceramics, making their own jewelry. Have them attend as many hands on, expert run programs as you can. Think quality, quality, quality. As Brownies, whatever you gave them was just terrific, now they need more substance to keep them interested. Call in the experts… you are not expected to know everything!
  • Have an occasional alternate meeting place – like a coffee house, diner, pizza place, ice cream parlor, etc. Feels more like a club and a bit more grown up. Since they are older and in a new age level, maybe they are ready for a change of scenery.
  • Find a GS community events in your area. Have the girls attend an event or activity on campus with these girls. What is cooler than hanging out with other Girl Scouts?
  • Create some traditions for your group. Even if they are as small as a special decorated stick for a camp names ceremony, a special song you sing at every meeting, or a photo album of past adventures. The more connections, feelings of inclusiveness, and history they feel, the more likely they will stay.
  • Allow more time for socializing. In the early years, I was pretty intent on making sure that meeting time was tightly scheduled. We had activities planned out and went from one thing to another. In Cadettes, the girls want more free time. Time to get to know one another better, to catch up on what was going on in each others lives, to just talk and have fun together.
  • Have fun. Earning badges, working on awards, doing community service are all fun activities when done correctly. Not the mention all the strictly for fun stuff!
  • Let them plan. They need to be the decision makers while you are just their guide. 

My daughter or girls in the troop have no interest in Girl Scouts
Why has your daughter or troop lost interest?
Is it the structure of the Troop?
Some of the girls don’t get along?
They just want to do outings and not meet OR the other way around?

Consider changing your troop structure, such as a “Tripper” Troop. Ask the girls their opinion on how to improve the troop. You might be surprised!

Leader without a Daughter
Did you know there are Adult Volunteers leading Troops when their own daughter has dropped out or aged out of Girl Scouts? Just because they want to leave doesn’t mean for you to throw in the towel. If you love nurturing, continue with the troop or help start/run a younger troop or join the su402 Team.

Contact our Council Membership Specialist to guide you in the right direction.

Do they have to wear a Vest or Sash?
If wearing a Girl Scout uniform is in the past for the girls consider troop t-shirts, blankets or totes if they still like to collect patches. Uniforms are not needed however they are required when the girls are in flag ceremonies and official events.

What is a Tripper Troop?
Tripper is actually what it is. Tripper Troops do outings, camping, and events together (or individual) and occasionally meet but not necessary. Although selling cookies will help with troop funds*, again not necessary. Trippers do not need to work on Journey Books, Badges, or work on the highest award unless individual girls are interested. By registering as a troop, girls will be covered by Girl Scout USA insurance. As always refer to your Volunteer Essentials when your troop or individual need additional insurance for non-girl scout events or locations.

If your girls love to hang out together and go on adventures, maybe this is the route for your troop.


*Troops are required to participate in two council product program to raise additional funds.

What is a Juliette or I.R.M. (Independently Registered Member)
So, your troop decides to disband, however there are some girls that are interested with Girl Scouts. Contact our Service Unit Manager and find a local troop for a girl that wants to continue. Most Middle and High Schools have three elementary schools entering and usually there are a troop or two that continue on, not to mention the Trailblazers for our area. Don’t let them be stranded. Just because you lost interest doesn’t mean the girls have. Give them options.

Another option is a Juliette, individually registered Girl Scout member that has the same Girl Scout experience as any other girl—outdoor adventures, life skill training, entrepreneurial programming, and hands on STEM experiments with the support of a Girl Scout volunteer. She simply does it all without being in a troop setting. A Juliette can work on their highest award and sell cookies.

Contact our Troop Support Specialist to get additional information.

What are Trailblazers?
Another option for Cadettes, Seniors, Ambassadors and older Juliettes is to join the Service Unit’s Trailblazers. Older Girls that are in a troop or without can participate in a Troop Governance or “Patrol” style group. Girls with mentors decided their course of action on participating on additional activities, high adventures, journeys, highest awards, service, etc. It is what they want to do with Girl Scouts! Click here if you would like to learn more.

Make it Their Way
Take a survey and check with your girls if they want to be a Tripper, Crafter, Service Project, Campers, Juliette, or even continue. Let them be in charge of their direction and leadership of reinventing their troop to meet their needs.

Can I still have a Troop even with four or less girls?
Existing troops shrink as they go up in level. Troops don’t need to disband or merge with another troop if your troop is four or less girls. However, there must be two adult volunteers registered with each troop and not to mention you need two registered adults for the troop bank account.

The Troop decided to Disband however some of the girls still want to continue
Troops that decide to disband will need to close their troop bank account, fill out the financial report through VTK, and fill out the disbandment form. Remaining money cannot be distributed in cash. Consider having one last outing or party; or donating to our Service Unit or Council. Any girl that is interested continuing either by going Juliette or with another troop can have her portion of the troop funds transfer to her new troop bank account.

Any girl that is seeking a new troop can contact our Council’s Membership Specialist.