Preparing girls for a lifetime of leadership.
There’s more to Girl Scouting than just badges and journeys. Taking the next step in your leadership skills development helps to prepare you for High School and College, enhances your career and marketability, uplifts your home life, school, sports, activities, church, teamwork, social situations, and more. Follow the Girl Leadership Skills Development courses starting as a Cadette and through Seniors and Ambassadors.
LiA (Leader in Action) 
Must be currently enrolled in 6th grade
Earn a Leader in Action (LiA) award by assisting a Brownie group with any of their National Leadership Journeys.
There are different LiA awards, one for each of the Brownie Journey series. Complete requirements can be found in the Brownie Leadership Journey adult guides.
To earn a LiA, you will work with the adult volunteer leader of Brownie Troop*. You will share your organizational skills, use one of your special talents (such as creating and demonstrating a science experiment or craft), teach Brownies something important from their Journey (such as making healthy snacks or getting exercise), and reflect on your experience.
*Cadettes can earn this award by working with a Brownie Troop.*
MEdia Cadette Leadership In Action (LiA) Award. Please visit our Gold Mine Store to purchase your Cadette's LiA Award
Cadette Leader In Action (LiA) Award. Please visit our Gold Mine Store to purchase your Cadette's LiA Award
WOW! Wonders Of Water Cadette Leadership In Action (LiA) Award. Please visit our Gold Mine Store to purchase your Cadette's LiA Award.
PA (Program Aide)
Grades 6 - 12
Council designed leadership course training is required to complete the Program Aide Award.
Learn valuable skills about being a mentor and sharing your skills, passions and experience with younger Girl Scouts! Program Aides have the unique opportunity to serve as champions for the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.
All girls 6th grade and above, are invited to attend Program Aide training on their way to completing the steps of the Program Aide Award. Core PA Training involves learning to work with children and adapting activities for special needs and situations. You will be putting your new skills to the test with some hands on activities that will prepare you for real life situations working with younger girls in troop, day camp, council and service unit events.
Requirements to become a Program Aide and earn the PA Pin:
- Attend Program Aide training. Check out our calendar for more PA training opportunities!
- Earn Leader in Action (LiA) (must be currently enrolled in 6th grade; check out LiA page for more information)
- Help with 6 activity sessions leading younger Girl Scouts
Before visiting the Goldmine Store to pick up your Cadette's PA Pin you will need to fill out the Program Aide Activity Log
Cadette Girl Scout Program Aide Award.
Girl Scouts who finish their Program Aide Training will also receive our custom patch.
Is your Program Aide interested in helping out Council with workshops and/or events? Please fill out the Program Aide Interest Form and email CUSTOMERCARE@GIRLSCOUTSCCS.ORG.
Outdoor PA (Outdoor Program Aide)
Grades 6 - 12
Ready to elevate your Outdoor skills? We’re looking for Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors who are already Program Aides to become an Outdoor Program Aide (OPA). Take your skills to the next level and learn ways to teach Outdoor skills to younger Girl Scouts. Learn how to build a fire, purify water, pack a backpack, identify plants and animals, and so much more!
Requirements to become an Outdoor Program Aide
- Earn Program Aide award
- Attend and earn Outdoor Program Aide Training Check out our calendar for more PA training opportunities!
- Help younger Girl Scouts with an outdoor program or event
Are you looking to help out at one of our Outdoor Skills workshops? Please fill out the Program Aide Interest Form and email it to CUSTOMERCARE@GIRLSCOUTSCCS.ORG.
CIT (Counselor-In-Training)
Grades 11-12
Any girl who is registered as a Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador and has completed the tenth grade is eligible to take Counselor-In-Training (CIT).
CIT focuses on experience in responsibility, program goals, contemporary issues, leadership styles, child development, outdoor living skills, group dynamics, conflict resolution and program interaction with campers.
Requirements to become Counselor in Training and earn the CIT pin:
- Complete the Counselor in Training course. Please check out our Activity Calendar for more CIT opportunities!
- Work with younger girls over the course of a camp session.
This Leadership Program is completed over a two summer period. After successful completion of the program you are eligible to apply to work as camp staff.
Before visiting the Goldmine Store to pick up your Senior's or Ambassador's CIT Pin you will need to fill out the CIT Completion Form
Senior or Ambassador Girl Scout Counselor-In-Training Award.. Please visit our Gold Mine Store to purchase your Senior's or Ambassador's CIT Pin.
Girl Scouts who finish their Counselor-In-Training will also receive our custom patch.
Is your Counselor-In-Training interested in helping out Council with camps? Please fill out the CIT Interest Form and email CUSTOMERCARE@GIRLSCOUTSCCS.ORG.
VIT (Volunteer-In-Training)
Grades 10-12
Volunteers-in-Training (VIT) are girls who have completed 9th grade who would like to mentor a Girl Scout Daisy, Brownie, Junior, or Cadette group outside of the camp experience (girls in 10th-12th grade are eligible for this award). The skills learned are also applicable to everyday life and will help girls become confident, effective leaders in everything they do. Becoming a Volunteer-in-Training is also a great résumé boost for girls and sets them up for success when going for their Gold!
Requirements to become a Volunteer-in-Training and earn the VIT pin:
- Find a mentor volunteer who is currently the adult volunteer leader for a group of girls at the level (Daisy, Brownie, Junior, or Cadette) you would like to work with. The adult volunteer will help you through your training and internship, and you will help the volunteer with their group of girls for a three-to-six month period.
- Complete the Volunteer-in-Training Council Leadership Course. Check out our Activity Calendar for more VIT opportunities!
- Create and implement a thoughtful program based on a Journey or Badge conducted over four or more sessions. Be responsible for designing, planning, and evaluating the activities.
Before visiting the Goldmine Store to pick up your Senior's or Ambassador's VIT Pin you will need to fill out the VIT Completion Form
Volunteer-In-Training Award.. Please visit our Gold Mine Store to purchase your Girl Scout's VIT Pin.
Girl Scouts who finish their Volunteer-In-Training will also receive our custom patch.
Is your Girl Scout interseted in helping out Council with workshops/camps? Please send a brief email to Customer Care describing what type of events your Girl Scout is looking for.
Babysitter Training
This class is for girls ages 12 years and older who are planning to babysit young children.
In class, you learn how to:
· Respond to emergencies with first aid, rescue breathing, and more
· Communicate effectively with parents
· Recognize safety and hygiene issues
· Supervise children and infants
· Perform basic child-care skills such as diapering and feeding
Pleas check out our Activity Calendar for more Flag Training opportunities!
Cadettes will complete the Babysitting Badge.
Girl Scouts who finish their Babysitter Training will also receive a patch.
Is your Girl Scout interseted in helping out Council with workshops/camps? Please send a brief email to Customer Care describing what type of events your Girl Scout is looking for.
Flag Training
Girl Scouts learn the significance behind our nation’s greatest symbol and how to properly care for and display the American Flag. Girls will learn how to participate in a flag ceremony, practice carrying the flags, learn how to fold a flag, and learn how to properly retire the American flag.
Bet you didn’t know that we’ve had 28 different versions of the American Flag over the last 200 years of American History did you? It’s true!
Why? Through the years the number of stars in the canton has increased with the addition of new states.
Unlike other countries, America only has two national symbols, the bald eagle and the American Flag.
The flag has been the inspiration for holidays, songs, poems, books, artwork and more. Can you name a song written about the American Flag? (Star Spangled Banner or It’s a Grand Old Flag)
Can you name some holidays when the flag is displayed? Fourth of July, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Labor Day, Patriot’s Day, and Veteran’s Day
Please check out our Activity Calendar for more Flag Training opportunities!
Handling the American Flag
The display of the American Flag is governed by law to ensure that it will be treated with respect. This is known as the Flag Code.
Some of the Flag Code's rules most useful for Girl Scouts are:
- The American Flag should be placed in the center, and higher, when displayed with a group of state, local, or organizational flags flown from staffs. It may also be positioned to the right of other flags (if you were to hold the flag while facing your audience, your right side would be the flag's own right).
- "When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag of the United States of America should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the clergyman's or speaker's right as he faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman or speaker or to the right of the audience."
- Girl Scouts will learn more rules during training.
Girl Scouts who complete Flag Training will receive a flag training patch.
