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Girl Scout Junior

Girl Scout Cadette

Girl Scout Senior

Girl Scout Ambassador

Junior Aide

LiA

Program Aide

CIT

VIT

CIT

CIT II

VIT

Junior Aide

This mentoring award gives Girl Scout Juniors a chance to share what they have learned with younger Girl Scouts. To earn this award, girls Get Ready, Get Set and GO! by finding something fun to share with a Girl Scout Daisy or Brownie troops.

See page 33 of the Junior Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting for a breakdown of the specific requirements.

Leader in Action (LiA)

Girl Scout Cadettes can earn a Leader in Action award by assisting a Girl Scout Brownie group on any of their National Leadership Journeys.   There are three different LiA awards, one for each of the Journey series: It’s Your World-Change it!, It’s Your Planet-Love it!, and It’s Your Story-Tell it!. 

Steps to Earn a Leader in Action Award

The specific requirements vary slightly for each LiA award but all include the following steps:

• Share your organizational skills.
• Use a special talent (such as creating or demonstrating a science experiment or craft).
• Teach Girl Scout Brownies something important from their Journey (such as making healthy snacks or getting exercise).
• Reflect on your experience.

Complete requirements for each LiA award can be found in the Brownie Leadership Journey adult guides.  (It’s Your World-Change it!, Page 17, It’s Your Planet-Love it!, Page 36, and It’s Your Story-Tell it!, Page 18). 

Recognition

LiA awards are presented at the troop level and can be purchased online or at the Girl Scout shops once all the requirements are completed.

Need Additional Help?

• Network with adult volunteers guiding Girl Scout Brownie groups in your service unit to find groups who are currently working on Journeys.
• Attend a LiA Workshop event to learn some tips for working with Brownies and information about each award.
• Attend a LiA Plan and Practice event.  During these programs Girl Scout Cadettes have the opportunity to earn all or part of their LiA award by helping Brownies work on their Journey at a council run event.

Girl Scout Cadette Program Aide

Cadettes who are interested in mentoring younger Girl Scouts by sharing their skills, passions and experiences can work towards completing the Cadette Program Aide award.

Steps to Earn the Cadette Program Aide Award

To earn a Cadette Program Aide award, follow these steps:

• Earn a LiA (Leader in Action) award. 
• Complete the Program Aide Training class. (Must have completed sixth grade to attend. Sixth graders who have earned a LiA may attend classes beginning in April.)
• Work directly with younger girls, at least two years younger, for at least six activity sessions.  This might be assisting girls on Journey activities (in addition to what you did for your LiA), badge activities, or other sessions.  You might work with a group at their meetings, at a day camp, or during a service unit or council event.

Recognition

To receive your pin, submit a Girl Scout Cadette Program Aide Log (Form #3342) showing documentation of your sessions to your service unit’s Program Aide Coordinator, or to the Older Girl Training Specialist at the program center in Sacramento.

Need Additional Help?   

Program Aide training will help you become a confident, effective leader and will teach you skills for working with younger troops and groups. All girls in grades seven and above are invited to attend Program Aide Training to become ready to serve as a mentor to younger girls in several settings including troops, day camps, council events, and service unit events.  Girls who are in grade six and have completed their LiA award may attend beginning in April of their sixth grade year.

Click here to see the schedule and register for Program Aide Training

Click here for information about council events where you may serve as a Program Aide

Contact your Service Unit Program Aide Coordinator or your Service Unit Manager to find out about service unit events and/or troops who may need a Program Aide.

Paperwork

Program Aide Log

Counselor-in-Training (CIT) I

Girl Scout Seniors who are interested in mentoring younger girls in the camp setting and developing their camp counseling skills can earn the Counselor-In-Training (CIT) Award.  This award can be completed in a day or resident camp setting.

Steps to Earn the CIT award

To earn a CIT award, follow these steps:

• Complete a council-designed, Counselor-in-Training class.
• Work with girls over the course of a camp session

Recognition

Those girls who complete a Counselor-In-Training at Camp Menzies will receive their pin at the conclusion of the session.  Day Camp Counselors-In-Training need to submit a written report signed by the Day Camp Director to the Camp Menzies Director in order to receive their pin.

Need Additional Help?

A Day Camp Counselor-In-Training class is held annually, this weekend training includes workshops on leadership styles, the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, camper development, group dynamics, creating high quality experiences, safety, outdoor living and camp life.  Girls who attend this training would need to make arrangements with a Day Camp to serve as a Counselor-In-Training during a Day Camp session in order to complete the requirements for their award.

Two Counselor-in-Training sessions are offered annually at Camp Menzies during the summer resident camp season.  These sessions include workshops on leadership styles, the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, camper development, group dynamics, creating high quality experiences, safety, outdoor living and camp life as well as practical experience working with younger girls in the camp setting.

Click here to see the schedule and register for the Day Camp Counselor-In-Training Class

Email campmenzies@girlscoutshcc.org or call 800.322.4475 and ask to speak to the Camp Menzies Director.

Volunteer-in-Training (VIT)

Girl Scout Seniors who’d like to mentor a younger Girl Scout troop outside of the camp experience.  Girls must have completed grade nine to work on this award.

Steps to Earn the VIT award

To earn this award, complete these steps:

1. Find a mentor or volunteer who is currently working with the Girl Scout grade level you wish to work with. This volunteer needs to agree to help you though your training and internship, and you’ll help the volunteer with her group of girls for the three-to-six-month period.
2. Complete a Leadership Essentials class.
3. Create and implement a program for your chosen troop based on a Journey or badge that lasts over four or more sessions.

Recognition

The volunteer-in-training (VIT) award is presented at the troop level and can be purchased online or at the Girl Scout shops once all the requirements are completed.

Need Additional Help?

Leadership Essentials Training - Complete this course using our convenient online class. Topics include Girl Scout program focus and goals, how to use Girl Scout resource materials, planning, troop finances and diversity. You will need to have a Journey book adult how to guide when you take the class online.  Since this is an adult class, girls working toward their Volunteer-in-Training award should contact the Adult Development department before taking the  training.

Click this link to see the schedule and register for a Leadership Essentials Class.

Contact your Service Unit Program Aide Coordinator or your Service Unit Manager to connect with troops who might need a VIT.

Email info@girlscoutshcc.org or call 800.322.4475 and ask to speak to the Adult Development Specialist.

Counselor-in-Training (CIT) I

Girl Scout Ambassadors who are interested in mentoring younger girls in the camp setting and developing their camp counseling skills can earn the Counselor-In-Training (CIT) Award.  This award can be completed in a day or resident camp setting.

Steps to Earn the CIT award

To earn a CIT award, follow these steps:

1. Complete a council-designed, Counselor-in-Training class.
2. Work with girls over the course of a camp session

Recognition

Those girls who complete a Counselor-In-Training at Camp Menzies will receive their pin at the conclusion of the session.  Day Camp Counselors-In-Training need to submit a written report signed by the Day Camp Director to the Camp Menzies Director in order to receive their pin.

Need Additional Help?

A Day Camp Counselor-In-Training class is held annually, this weekend training includes workshops on leadership styles, the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, camper development, group dynamics, creating high quality experiences, safety, outdoor living and camp life.  Girls who attend this training would need to make arrangements with a Day Camp to serve as a Counselor-In-Training during a Day Camp session in order to complete the requirements for their award.

Two Counselor-in-Training sessions are offered annually at Camp Menzies during the summer resident camp season.  These sessions include workshops on leadership styles, the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, camper development, group dynamics, creating high quality experiences, safety, outdoor living and camp life as well as practical experience working with younger girls in the camp setting.

Click here to see the schedule and register for the Day Camp Counselor-In Training Class.

Email campmenzies@girlscoutshcc.org or call 800.322.4475 and ask to speak to the Camp Menzies Director.

Counselor-in-Training (CIT) II

Girl Scout Ambassadors (grades 11-12) who have completed their CIT award and want to develop their skills in one specific area of camp can complete their CIT II award.  This award can be completed in a day or resident camp setting.

Steps to Earn the CIT II award

To earn a CIT award, follow these steps:

1. Earn your CIT I award
2. Work with younger girl over the course of at least one camp session while focused on increasing your skills in one specific area-such as riding instruction, lifeguarding, or the arts.

Recognition

Those girls who complete an Advanced or Apprentice Counselor-In-Training program at Camp Menzies will receive their pin at the conclusion of their session.  Day Camp Counselors-In-Training need to submit a written report signed by the Day Camp Director to the Camp Menzies Director in order to receive their pin.

Need Additional Help?

Girls wishing to pursue a CIT II award through a Day Camp need to connect with a Day Camp team in their area.  We recommend that girls working on the CIT II award consider taking Day Camp Basics Training and work with a Day Camp Team to take on greater responsibility at camp (for example becoming a co-director or co-program manager at the camp)

Two Advanced Counselor-in-Training sessions and one Apprentice Counselor-in-Training session are offered annually at Camp Menzies during the summer resident camp season.  These sessions include workshops on leadership styles, creating high quality experiences and skills development in specific areas as well as practical experience working with younger girls in the camp setting in a specific area.

Click here to see the schedule and register for the Day Camp Counselor-In Training Class.

Email campmenzies@girlscoutshcc.org or call 800.322.4475 and ask to speak to the Camp Menzies Director.

Volunteer-in-Training (VIT)

Girl Scout Seniors who’d like to mentor a younger Girl Scout troop outside of the camp experience.  Girls must have completed grade nine to work on this award.

Steps to Earn the VIT award

To earn this award, complete these steps:

1. Find a mentor or volunteer who is currently working with the Girl Scout grade level you wish to work with. This volunteer needs to agree to help you though your training and internship, and you’ll help the volunteer with her group of girls for the three-to-six-month period.
2. Complete a Leadership Essentials class.
3. Create and implement a thoughtful program based on a Journey or badge that lasts over four or more sessions.  Be responsible for designing, planning, and evaluating the activities.  If you’re passionate about a topic like art or technology, you could design the activities around the area you love or in which you have expertise.

Recognition

The volunteer-in-training (VIT) award is presented at the troop level and can be purchased online or at the Girl Scout shops once all the requirements are completed.

Need Additional Help?

Leadership Essentials Training - This training is given by council learning facilitators at convenient locations throughout the council jurisdiction, online and in-paper home study formats. Topics include Girl Scout program focus and goals, how to use Girl Scout resource materials, planning, troop finances and diversity. We recommend that you bring a Journey book set to the class. You can place a pre-paid telephone order with our council shop and the books will be waiting for you at your class if ordered far enough in advance. You will need to have a Journey book set if you take the class online or by paper home study.  Since this is an adult class girls working toward their Volunteer-in-Training award should contact the Adult Development department when registering for the training.

Click this link to see the schedule and register for a Leadership Essentials Class.