parentsPage

Parent's Page
answers to the most frequently asked questions
from parents new to Girl Scouting.

How much does Girl Scouts cost?

Well, that's kind of hard to answer but this will give you basic idea. First of all, it costs $10.00 for registration. This covers your membership in GSUSA and your insurance coverage. The insurance is issued by GSUSA, underwritten by Mutual of Omaha, and covers your daughter in the event of injury on Girl Scout Properties & during registered outings with her troop, Neighborhood, Cluster, or Council.

Secondly, each troop sets its own dues according to their need. If your troop is planning alot of bigger craft projects this year, your dues are likely to be more, & if your troop is just sticking to the basics, they probably won't ask for as much. (Also, some leaders are more frugal shoppers than others.) As a rule of thumb, most troops use around $30-40. annually.

Then, there are outings that the troop goes on. This may include a day at the zoo, a trip to a museum, camping, neighborhood events, council sponsored events, or a trip to nearly anywhere. These are field trips. Each one costs the troop money and money is raised throughout the year through fundraisers but occasionally, if the troop is very active, they may ask the parents to pay all or part of the costs of the trip. This varies widely from troop to troop. Basically, the more you help your troop through fundraising, the less out of pocket expences you and the parents of your troop will have.

One final note, although it is not required for membership, we highly recommend that one parent register with each girl that is registering. You must be registered (and covered by insurance) to help out the troop in any way such as at the meeting, driving for an outing, going to camp as a chaperone, helping to sell product at a booth (cookies), or virtually any other involement. It is better to register at the same time as your daughter, therefore there is never a time when you can't be involved when you want to be. The fee for membership is $10.00.

Where and when are the meetings?

Each individual troop sets its own meeting time and place. We place new girls to the best of our ability into groups that are forming within their school, with girls of their same age. The troop leader will contact you to let you know the time and date. If it turns out that this is inconvienient for your schedule, we can redirect you to another troop that will meet your needs. There are virtually troops meeting in the our area every weeknight and at several timeslots.

Most troops meet within 5 miles of the school they service. Some meet at the school itself, community centers, churches, or in a member's home. This is decided by the troop Leader & Co-Leader. They will call you with all this information.

What age group will my daughter be in?

There are 5 divisions in Girl Scouts. All of them are called Girl Scouts
DaisyGirl Scouts (Young 5's and Kindergarten)
Dasies do not sell any product they get their money solely through the
parents and the have one meeting and one outing per month.
Brownie Girl Scouts (1st thru 3rd Grade)
Brownies may meet weekly or bi-monthly and may participate fully in
all outings. All activities are age approprate and the badges are called try-its.                       This is because we want the girls to try out new things to see if she likes it.
Junior Girl Scouts (4th, 5th and 6th Grades)
As the adventure widens so does the girls horizons as she takes on new                              things. She may go on bigger trips & have more responsablities.Girls at
this level may seek their Bronze Award which is the highest honor a Junior
Girl Scout can achieve.
Cadette Girl Scouts (6th thru 8th Grades)
The world begins to change quickly for these girls and their experiences                             change along with them. Girs are given more power in desision                                         making and more and wider opportunities to travel, and service her                                     community. Girls at this level may seek their Silver Award which is the highest
honor a Cadette Girl Scout can achieve.
Senior Girl Scouts (9th thru 12th Grades)
As badge work gets more difficult and decision making is at it peak this is truely
the ultimate level for Girl Scout awards and achievments.
Girls are eligible to receive their silver and gold awards, marking them for                           life as a prepared and dedicated person of great integrity.

Can siblings, brothers, guests
come with me or my daughter to her meeting?
In short, no. Primarily because of insurance regulations and coverage, tag-alongs are not suppose to come to meetings. Occasionally, it still is unaviodable. This must be worked out with the troop leader on an as needed basis. Please make every effort to insure the saftey of our children by obeying this important policy.

The Age Levels in Girl Scouts

Daisy Girl Scouts
The experience is just to have fun

Brownie Girl Scouts
The experience is to have fun,
& try new things.

Junior Girl Scouts
The experience is to have fun,
try new things,
& accomplish what they try.

Cadette Girl Scouts
The experience is to have fun,
try new things,
accomplish what they try,
& learn what they tried.

Senior Girl Scouts
The experience is to have fun,
try new things,
accomplish what they try,
learn what they tried,
& teach others what they learned.

Things to consider about becoming a
Girl Scout Leader or Co-Leader

What is a
Cal / Nut
Mom?

What is a
Cookie
Mom?

Glossary of Girl
Scout Terms

Where do I get a uniform & what should I buy for my daughter?

Locally, uniform parts are available at Dunham's & JC Penny. However, both of these stores may or may not have what you will need. The best place to get them is the Council Shop, which is located on the first floor of the Fisher building on W. Grand Blvd., Downtown. For online shoppers, you can find uniform pieces at Ebay and GSUSA online store.

Everyone asks what peices they will need to buy. This is a troop preferance, so consult your Leader for what your troop has decided on. Generally, your daughter will need a vest (recomended) or sash, and a set of GSUSA & Council identification badges, and insignia tab with a World Trefoil Pin & a membership pin (brownies have a special one). You may also purchase a handbook or badgebook for your program level & a beenie or cap. You will need troop numbers too, but you must wait to hear from your Leader what your Troop number will be.

For placement instructions about how to place items on the uniform:

For directions to our Girl Scouts of Metro Detroit council shop:

To check out GSUSA online store:

GIRL SCOUT PARENT'S LAW
A Girl Scout Parent:
Understands the true purpose of Girl Scouting*.
Gets his/her daughter to and from meetings on time.
Knows that a troop is a team effort which includes the support of all parents.
Sees a job through to the end.
Sets a good example at all times.
Is enthusiastic and cheerful.
Does not consider the volunteer leader a babysitter.
Brings concerns regarding the troop to the leader first.
Always does his/her part willingly.
Is aware that Girl Scouting is for all girls.

Girl Scout Parent's Promise
On my honor, I will try:
To encourage and support my Girl Scout daughter,
To help her troop at all times;
And to obey the Girl Scout Parent's Law.