Volunteer Training

Get ready, get set, get Trained to Lead!

The GSGI Trained to Lead Program is our first-ever patch program just for adult volunteers!

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Your first step in the program is to earn your Trained to Lead patch!

All GSGI volunteers can earn the Trained to Lead patch by taking either Troop Leader Academy: Foundations (for new volunteers) or Troop Leader Academy: Elevate! (for volunteers with one or more years with Girl Scouts). You will also earn your first charm to add to the loops of your patch by completing your Troop Leader Academy training!

Then, add more charms by completing more training!

For every qualifying GSGI training you complete, you can earn additional charms that hook onto your patch.

Current trainings that qualify for charms include:

  • Troop Leader Academy: Foundations (online) - Designed for new leaders, this self-paced, 60-minute, online training will show you what it takes to be a Girl Scout troop leader – learn the Girl Scout Promise and Law, how girls earn badges and patches, how to participate in product programs, hold troop meetings, and more. By the end of this training, you’ll learn the basics every troop leader should know! 

  • Troop Leader Academy: Elevate (online) – Designed for leaders with at least one year of experience leading a troop, this self-paced, 75-minute, online training will show you how to take leading a troop to the next level! Become an expert at group dynamics and facilitating girl-led troop activities including Girl Scout ceremonies, special days, and money-earning projects.

  • GSUSA Girl Scouts in the Outdoors (online) - Getting outside is great for a girl's overall well-being and growth, and it can be an amazing part of the Girl Scout experience! This training will introduce troop leaders to what they can do to begin sharing the outdoors with their troop.

  • First Aid/CPR  - complete a training scheduled through GSGI OR simply submit a copy of your current certification through the American Red Cross, National Safety Council, or American Heart Association by emailing info@gsiowa.org. We’ll send you your charm! (You must have completed a Troop Leader Academy course and earned your patch to be eligible for the charm).

Check back soon! We will continue to add more training opportunities to the program. Email info@gsiowa.org if you have any training questions or suggestions.

Accessing online training - All online trainings are accessed through gsLearn, the online training platform for adult Girl Scout volunteers. Logging in to the Member Community through MyGS gives you the option to log into your Member Profile, Volunteer Toolkit, or gsLearn. Once you've logged in to gsLearn, click Content Library to see the trainings available to you. If you have questions about gsLearn or need help logging in to the system, please email info@gsiowa.org. 

To access gsLearn on mobile devices the following settings must be disabled: ‘Prevent Cross Site Tracking’ and ‘Block All Cookies'.

Please note: If it’s your first time logging into gsLearn, your Content Library may appear to be empty. Log out and log back in through MyGS. It may take up to 30 minutes for the Content Library to load.