GSME Resources

Annual Troop Finance Report toggle arrow

We would love to hear all about your year! Complete the Annual Troop Finance Report by June 15, 2026.

Outdoor Resources toggle arrow

Check out the resources below to help your troop get outside year round!

Girl Scouts of Maine G.P.S. (Guide Play Sheet) for the Outdoors (PDF)
Winter Layering Guide (PDF)
The O.M.G.! The Outdoor Meeting Guide (PDF)
Make your own weighted Hula Hoops (PDF)
The Bug Guide (PDF)
Dressing for the Weather Guide (PDF)
Trail name tags with Leave No Trace (LNT) Principles (PDF)
Trail name tags with Leave No Trace (LNT) Principles up to 2 (PDF)
Choose Your Own Maine Adventure Guide (PDF)
Winter Gear Rental Resource List (Google Doc)
Edible Campfire (PDF)
How to pack an overnight hiking backpack (PDF)
Screens for the Green (PDF): Use technology as a tool for outdoor exploration with app recommendations for hiking, wildlife identification, stargazing, geocaching, and more.

New Leader Resources toggle arrow

Welcome, Girl Scout leader! Thank you so much for volunteering with your troop. You are invited to check out the New Leader Resources page for all you need to get started. Happy planning!

Online Participation Catalog toggle arrow

As a Girl Scout troop leader, you help the girls in your troop shine brightly every day. With the Participation Catalog, new girls can shine too through a tool that gives them the power to choose a troop that fits their needs, schedule, and interests. Will your troop be the spark that helps a new girl shine?

VTK Resources toggle arrow

The resources below will help you maximize the effectiveness of the volunteer toolkit. Please refer to these resources as you build your year plan and work with your troop.

A Guide to Outdoor/Global and Virtual Icons in the VTK (Excel)
VTK User Guide (PDF)

Volunteer Handbook toggle arrow

This book is the guidebook for leaders, and it addresses the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, working with girls at all developmental stages, safety and risk management, as well as cookie sales guidelines for troop, trip, and travel progression.

Download Volunteer Handbook (PDF)

New Leader's Guide to Success (PDF)
Recording Policy for Virtual Team and Leader Meetings (PDF)
Troop Activity Guide (PDF)
Troop Banking and Finance Guidelines (PDF)
Volunteer Essentials (PDF)
VTK User Guide (PDF)

Safety Activity Checkpoints toggle arrow

The Safety Activity Checkpoints is the guide to help all Girl Scout members plan and prepare for successful activities. As soon as your girls can read, invite them to use it as you grown-ups do the preparation and progression for activities.

NOTE: If you do download it, please remember to update your file each year. To save it to your computer, right-click on the link and select “Save Link As”.

Download Safety Activity Checkpoints (PDF; updated in 2024)

Download Virtual Meeting Safety Activity Checkpoint (PDF)

Troop Activity and Simple Sleepover Guides toggle arrow

Taking trips is one of the many ways troops can discover, connect, and take action. Traveling with your troop progresses with the girls, perhaps starting with a hike outside your meeting place and then progressing to overnight camping, to a visit to Boston or New York, and ultimately a long excursion to one of the World Centers of Girl Scouting in India, Mexico, London, or Switzerland! This is your guide to getting there.

Download Troop Activity Guide (PDF)

Some of the most memorable moments in a Girl Scout’s life happen while taking trips. The first night away from home on a Girl Scout overnight is a big step and one that girls will remember for years to come. Before venturing farther from home, consider offering a simple troop sleepover or even an almost sleepover close to home.

Download The Simple Sleepover Guide (PDF)

Traditions & Ceremonies Handbook toggle arrow

Girl Scouts enjoy a rich history of shared traditions, and also use their creativity to craft new traditions of their own! In our Girl Scout Traditions and Ceremonies Handbook you will find information on:

Special Girl Scout days
Kaper charts
SWAPS
Troop goverment
Flag ceremonies
Parades
Investiture
Rededication
Bridging
Court of Awards
...and more!

Additional Volunteer Troop or Group Resources toggle arrow

Need help outlining your meetings? Here is a Six-Part Meeting Template to help you keep organized! Download Six Part Meeting Template (PDF)
GSME Taking Care (PDF) is a packet with activities for leaders of troops, service teams, and other groups to use to help members practice self-care, interpersonal care, and community care.
Looking for some suggestions and strategies for preparing for and including blind and visually impaired girls in your troop? See our Blindness and Visual Impairment resource here. (PDF)
Here is a writeable newsletter template (PDF) troop leaders can fill in and use for caregiver communications.
GSUSA Guidance on Election Rules for 501(c)(3) Organizations (PDF)
Friendsgiving Invite-a-Friend (PDF)
Thank You Card (PDF)

Service Team Planning Materials toggle arrow

The resources below will support your work as a service team. These resources should be reviewed by the team and updated each year.

Download the following documents:

Current Leader Workshops (PDF): Whether you’re new to Girl Scouts or a seasoned volunteer, adult learning opportunities are here to help you grow, connect, and find inspiration. Explore new ideas, build confidence, and discover resources to support your Girl Scout experience.
Service Unit Contact List (PDF)
Service Unit Plan for Success (PDF)
Welcoming New Leaders (PDF)
Service Unit Budget (PDF)
Service Unit Bank Information Form (PDF)
Mid-Year Assessment (PDF)
End of Year Assessment (PDF)
Service Unit Treasurer's Report (PDF)
Reimbursement Request (PDF)

Service Team Handbook toggle arrow

Check out the Service Team Handbook (PDF) for information about how the service team works and details about each team role.

Service Team Position Descriptions
Service Team Role Chart (PDF)

Adult Recognitions Coordinator (PDF)
Community Engagement Champion (PDF)
Juliette Navigator (PDF)
Learning Facilitator (PDF)
Product Program Supervisor: Cookie Cupboard (PDF)
Product Program Supervisor: Cookies (PDF)
Product Program Supervisor: Fall Product (PDF)
Program Coordinator (PDF)
Roster Administrator (PDF)
Service Team Girl Member (PDF)
Service Team Member at Large (PDF)
Service Unit Manager (PDF)
Service Unit Treasurer (PDF)
Volunteer Support Coordinator (PDF)
Volunteer Toolkit Champion (PDF)

Marketing

These resources will help you to share Girl Scouts in your community. If you would like to share a story about your troop with local news outlets, please see the materials below for guidance. Guidelines for creating troop t-shirts/signs and other materials can be found here too.

Marketing Toolkit toggle arrow

Part of a successful Girl Scout event or activity is promotion and marketing. We have put together a Marketing Toolkit for you to check out, including logo usage, colors, and tips on designing a great flyer. Download the Marketing Toolkit (PDF).

Need a sign for graduating seniors? See our Graduating Girl Scout Ambassador sign (PDF). Want to customize it? See this sign (PDF).

Press Release Toolkit toggle arrow

We do our best to share Girl Scout stories in Maine, but with so many members across the state, it's not easy to share all of the awesome activities every Girl Scout. That’s where YOU come in! You can promote your Girl Scout news in your local media with the Press Release Toolkit.

Social Media Guidelines for Troops and Volunteers toggle arrow

It is wonderful that you want to create your own dedicated Girl Scout troop accounts and/or groups on social media to connect and share triumphs with your troops and their families. However, with social media use comes a lot of responsibility for both girls and leaders within the troops. To protect our members, we have developed specific guidelines for the Girl Scouts of Maine troops and volunteers. Download the guidelines here (PDF).

Event Resources and Toolkits toggle arrow

The resources below will guide your service team as you provide programming for Girl Scouts in your service unit.

Templates