Select a meeting space and time that accompanies your troop families, such as a school cafeteria, library, church meeting room, or even a local coffee shop. Be sure to contact the location prior and request permission. Ideally, this should be the meeting space where you plan to meet as a troop to get the girls and family comfortable with the location.

Hosting Family Meetings
Family meetings are generally held three times a year and provide a chance to meet the families, set expectations, build support, and recruit troop member-volunteers.
Our membership staff can help you with coordinating your first parent information night, but if you'd like to plan your own, this how-to will help you set the tone for the year and guide families with gusto!

The following steps are essential to planning the first family meeting.
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Select a Meeting Space
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Invite Families
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Plan a Girl Activity
What to do at your first family meeting
Think of this first meeting as a crash course for the families of your troop! Discuss any exciting things you’re planning for the troop and outline all the things they can do to help you succeed in your role as a troop leader.
Use the following sample agenda to cover all your bases:
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Open the Meeting
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Housekeeping Items and Year Outline
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Set Expectations Around Communication
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Discuss Troop Costs
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Encourage Parents to Volunteer With Your Troop


Meeting Two: Cookie Program
View "How to hold a caregiver meeting" in gsLearn available starting December 7, 2020.
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Prepare for the meeting
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Explain the program
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Set family expectations


Meeting Three: Celebration of the year
As the school year comes to an end, it’s important to have some time to share and reflect on all that the girls have done over the year. Here are some suggestions:
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Prepare for the meeting
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Share summer opportunities
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Troop annual report
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Discuss next year

What Troops Do
Want to know what you should be doing with your troop from month to month? Just need an idea for a simple craft or activity? Check out our collection of helpful and fun resources to make your Girl Scout year amazing.
To have a well-rounded Girl Scout experience, we encourage all troops to:
- Participate in at least one Girl Scout tradition at every meeting (like wearing uniforms or doing a flag ceremony),
- Earn 3–5 badges and awards from a variety of skill building
areas,
- Attend about 1–3 special events or field trips,
- Participate in the Fall Product Program and Girl Scout Cookie Program,
- Complete at least one community service project,
- Hold an end-of-year celebration or bridging event, and
- Experience at least one outdoor activity (like Girl Scout Camp)!
Got questions?
We've got your back. Just email us or call
317.924.6800. We are here to help!