Girl Scouts of West Central Florida provides training to currently registered adult members as part of its commitment to adult volunteers. Volunteers have the opportunity to develop their skills, increase their knowledge of the Girl Scout program and help girls discover, connect, and take action in their communities and their world.

All volunteers must complete training for their appointed position within six (6) months of appointment. Volunteers who provide direct service to girls are required to complete the new Leadership Essentials course. Leadership Essentials will replace all age-level trainings (i.e. Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette/Senior Leadership courses). Through Leadership Essentials, volunteers will explore the three keys of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, the new Journeys, inner-leadership practices and the processes that promote the fun.

The first step for all new Girl Scout volunteers is an online orientation. The website and access code for online orientation is included in the welcome packet sent to new volunteers. New leaders are then required to complete Leadership Essentials and Traveling Troops. Leadership Essentials and Traveling Troops are offered in a live classroom setting. GSWCF will soon also offer online training for both of these courses. Please stay tuned to the Adult Learning section of the website for updates on when online courses will become available.

To find courses in your area and to register online, please visit our Upcoming Learning Opportunities page. Online registration is available by visiting the Upcoming Learning Opportunities page or the GSWCF calendar.

Course Listings

Leadership Essentials
Discover, connect and take action on your own inner leadership journey! This course prepares volunteers to effectively facilitate the new Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Participants will explore the meaning of the three keys to the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and girl-led, learning by doing and cooperative learning processes. Leadership Essentials replaces all age-level training.
Course Length: 2 hours
Fee: FREE!

Traveling Troops
Get ready to travel with girls on day trips, overnight trips or whatever your troop adventure may be! Participants will discuss progression, troop budgeting, money-earning projects and Safety-Wise guidelines. This course is required before taking any troop trip. This course replaces In State Travel and Out of State Travel. Volunteers who have already completed these courses do not need to complete Traveling Troops.
Note: This course does not prepare volunteers for camping.
Course Length: 2 hours
Fee: FREE!

First Aid and CPR
American Safety and Health Institute First Aid and CPR classes are available in all counties. There is no online payment for this course. Please bring course fee to instructor at time of class.
Course Length: 3-3.5 hours
Fee: $30 for both CPR and First Aid, $20 for one.

Basic Camp Training
Experience first hand the planning process for taking a troop to camp for the first time. Learn minimal impact camping techniques, three types of basic outdoor cooking, available types of camp facilities, basic tent care, outdoor program activities and safety management for Girl Scout groups at camp. Review Safety-Wise and Council requirements. This class is required before taking girls to camp.
Course Length: Course runs from 8:45am on Saturday morning until 10am on Sunday morning. Overnight stay is required.
Fee: $3 registration fee (nonrefundable). Participants must also bring $15 cash to camp to cover meal costs for the weekend.

Wilderness Camp Training
Take the next big step in camping! Experience the planning process for taking the girls deeper into the wilderness. Learn about base camp basics, lightweight backpacking techniques, back country cooking and safety management in the wilderness. This course is required for taking girls primitive backpacking camping in wilderness areas with no facilities available, including the Appalachian Trail.
Course runs in four parts:
Part 1: Planning session to review equipment/clothing needs, packing, meal planning, back country cooking and safety on the trail. This part of the course runs 9am-4pm on a Saturday.
Part 2: Overnight back packing trip, starting with a review of each participant’s pack, hike into camp site and set up camp, cooking dinner and breakfast and packing out the following morning. This part of the course takes place on a Saturday a few weeks after the original planning date and will start at 12:00 noon and run through 12:00 noon the following day, Sunday.
Part 3: Three hour planning session for the final trip during an evening from 6-9pm.
Part 4: Final session is a trip to a wilderness area. Destination will be decided by group and will be 1-2 nights. Group will hike and sleep in a primitive setting.
Fee: $10

Service Team Training
Position specific training for Service Team positions including Service Unit Manager/Assistant Manager, Organizer, Registrar, Consultant, Product Sale Manager and PR Liaison.
Course Length: Each training is approximately 2 hours.
Fee: FREE!

Event/Encampment Director Training
Learn the responsibilities and mechanics of planning and directing an event or an encampment. Participants will practice goal-setting, setting SMART objectives and creating safety management plans. Learn to use Girl Scout resources to incorporate pluralism, special needs and girl/adult planning.
Course Length: 3 hours
Fee: FREE!

Service Unit Delegate/Alternate
Delegates and Alternate Delegates play a vital role in influencing the policies of our council. New Delegates and Alternates will learn about their roles and responsibilities, our council structure, policy-influencing and Council by-laws.
Course Length: 1 hour
Fee: FREE!

Aquatics -American Red Cross certification in core skills for small craft safety and canoe, sailing and kayaking skills.
Develop the skills to self-rescue and assist others and practice small craft safety emergencies. These courses are for adults who are swimmers and are skilled in canoe, sailboat or kayak handling techniques. This certification meets Safety-Wise requirements for adults teaching and/or supervising boating activities.
Course Length: 7 hours
Fee: $10

Archery Certification
Learn proper techniques and etiquette for using the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida archery ranges with girls. Explore Safety-Wise checkpoints and practice proper use and care of archery equipment.
Course Length: 7 hours
Fee: $20

Kiln Certification
Learn the stages of ceramics from greenware to glazed pieces. Pour molds, fire kilns and explore the Safety-Wise checkpoints. This certification course is required for anyone using the kiln facilities at Girl Scouts of West Central Florida camps.
Course Length: This is a two-day course that begins at 9am on Saturday and ends at 1pm on Sunday. Overnight stay at camp is not required, but lodging is provided for those who want to stay at camp. Meals are not provided.
Fee: $15

Adult Learning Events

GSWCF offers two adult learning events, Cornucopia and Showcase of Skills, as opportunities for adults to attend weekend encampments to complete training courses and participate in enrichment courses to learn fun activities to bring back to girls in their troops. This is a great opportunity to complete your training all in one day!

This year, Cornucopia will be Nov. 14-16 at Camp Wildwood, and Showcase of Skills will be Feb. 6-8, 2009 at Camp Dorothy Thomas. Stay tuned to the website for registration information.

FAQs

How do I know when and where classes are being offered, and how do I sign up?

• A complete schedule of courses can be found on the council website (Upcoming Learning Opportunities link), and participants should register for all trainings via the website. E-mail confirmations will be sent within 48 hours of receipt of registration.
• Training locations, including full addresses, can be found on the council website and in the confirmation e-mail.

What should I do if I don’t see the course I need being offered in my area?

• Contact your service unit manager so your service unit can request a training in your area.
• Contact the adult learning manager at jhalladay@gswcf.org or (813) 281-4475, ext. 1768 to set up a training at a location and time that is convenient for you.