Virtual Troop Meeting Resources

We understand there are challenging times to be a Girl Scout leader.  We are here to help!  On this page you'll find resources to help you run your troop meetings this year.  If the Service Unit Team can support you in other ways, please let us know by emailing us at crossroadsSUT@gmail.com.   Have resources to share?  Tried something with your troop that worked well?  Let us know by emailing crsuwebmaster@gmail.com.

Slide deck from Virtual Meeting Training done by Julee Melhus at our Volunteer Meeting.

Slide deck from How to Lead a Virtual Workshop Training done by Kindra Mendall at the Older Girl Welcome Back for S'more event.

GS Nor Cal has put together these resources to help you out:
Virtual Programming Can Also Be Found Here:

CRSU's Recipe for a Virtual Meeting

Ingredients:
1  Opening Question
1  "Just for Fun" Activity/Craft/Game
1  Girl Scout Activity (Badge/Pin/Fall Sale/Etc.)
1  Closing
1  Virtual Meeting Account*

*Click here for how to pick virtual meeting software and tips on how to use it

Directions:
  • A few days before the meeting, determine your specific ingredients and make a "shopping" list.  Email "shopping list" and date/time of the meeting to your troop along with the Zoom Link.
  • 5 minutes before your scheduled meeting start time, log in to Zoom and start the meeting.
  • At the meeting start time, welcome your girls and cut-and-paste meeting supply list into the "chat" window, remind girls to get supplies if they haven't already. 
  • Ask your opening question and proceed through your ingredients.
  • Close your meeting and remind girls when you will next get together.

Opening Question Ideas

These are key for getting to know each other, finding common ground, critical thinking, and having a few laughs.  We suggest you make sure everyone gets called on, even if they want to pass. 

Examples:
  • Ask their “favorite” thing in a category.  Examples: animal, holiday, movie, rapper/singer/band, outdoor activity, game, store, restaurant/food, sport, dance move
  • If tomatoes are a fruit, then is ketchup a smoothie?  Is cereal soup?  
  • What would win in a fight - a giant taco or a giant hot dog?
  • What is invisible, but you wish people could see?
  • What children’s movie scarred (or traumatized) you?
  • Would you rather live the rest of your life on a sailboat or in an RV?
  • What is the best gift you’ve ever been given?
  • If you could morph 2 animals to make one new animal, what would it be?
  • What is something you are grateful for?  (Tell me something good.)
  • In the movie of your life, what song would be the theme song?
  • What is your favorite or least favorite chore/kaper?  
  • Would you rather be invisible or be able to fly?

Activity Ideas

  • Scavenger Hunt - sample list
  • Show and Tell
  • "Get Your Pet" Day
  • Reverse charades (everyone does the motions except the one guesser)
  • Blind drawing (name an object, draw it with closed eyes for 10 sec, show)
  • Origami - find directions online
  • Drawing tutorials (Girls could lead this, but there are YouTube videos, too.)
  • Minute to Win It challenges (There are lots online)
  • Karaoke (play a song and have girls singalong)
  • Watch an animal live stream.  
  • A vision board (physically with magazines or virtually in Google Slides)
  • Pick a virtual field trip here (or here)
  • Play 20 Questions.
  • What changed? (Freeze video while the camper or staff move 3 things in their view. Others guess what changed when the video unfreezes.)
  • Have a dance party / teach common line dances
  • Basic science experiments (here's a list curated by a GS leader for "at home" supplies)

Craft Ideas

Game Ideas

FREE Online Games:
If you have a good GS Kahoot! link please send it to crsuwebmaster@gmail.com.

Tips for Online Games:
  • Cut-and-paste the link to the game in the Zoom chatbox.  It will automatically be a clickable link that girls can click and be taken to the games' website.  To play, girls will often need to minimize the Zoom window so they can see the game window.  That's ok, they will still be able to hear what is happening via the Zoom call.
  • Most games will have a code you will want to put in the Zoom chatbox as well.  Girls will need to enter the code to join the game you set up.
  • It is less stressful as a troop leader to open the game window, set up the game, and leave it open and ready BEFORE starting your meeting.  That way when you are ready to play, it is all set up and you can easily cut-and-paste the URL and the game code into the Zoom chat box. 

Badge Links

Some of the "official" GSUSA badges are easy to do during a Virtual Troop Meeting.  Others are more challenging.  Below we include links to other Girl Scout Council's who have invested resources in finding ways to modify badges so they are easier to do "At Home". 

GS Council Badge Youtube Channel:

Closing Ideas

It's always good to bring the meeting to a formal closure.  If you already have something you do, see if you can keep to it.  Even if it's a virtual friendship circle.  Here are some other ideas:
  • Give them the "shopping list" for the next troop meeting
  • Have a brief check-out question like,
    • “What are you looking forward to later today?”
    • “What’s something you learned today?"
    • "What was your favorite part of our meeting today?"
  • Everyone say one word about our meeting today

Virtual Programming from Other Councils

Leader Tips

  • Find out what platforms your girls are using to attend meetings.  Things can work differently on computers vs. tablets vs. phones. 

Have a Tip to share?  Please email us at crsuwebmaster@gmail.com.