Recruitment "How To" and Tips

Recruitment tips:

• Include plans to inspire new leader to start one more troop.
• Reach out to all girls in every corner of your community. Invite one new neighborhood!
• Don't re-invent the wheel. Talk to your service unit, leaders or your membership development coordinator for the scoop on successful recruitment events.
• Have your girls dress in uniform so they are easily recognizable at your recruitment event.
• Advertise on your school's marquee or ask to hang flyers or put articles in the school's bulletin.
• Display flyers at places of worship, coffee shops, libraries, recreation centers, laundry mats or any other creative places you can think of.
• Ask Girl Scout parents to attend to give testimonials about their or their daughters' Girl Scout experiences.
• Ask older girl troops to help entertain girls at recruitment events. Help them earn hours they need for community service or leadership.
• Before your recruitment event, decide how many girls you are going to add to your troop and who to connect girls you can't take with in order for them to be placed.
• Join the discussion on Facebook for more recruitment ideas.

Troop recruitment ideas:

• Host a Girl Scout Spirit Day — Ask everyone in your troop to come to school in her Girl Scout uniform. Perform a flag ceremony or community service project for the school. Ask the principal for ideas about projects girls can do.
• Discover Girl Scout Camp Night — Invite the community to come and learn about Girl Scout day and resident camps. Sing camp songs, have camp snacks and have girls talk about their experiences at camp. Have camp brochures available, or the camp website open on a computer for anyone who wants to register for camp.
• Host a Bring-a-Buddy event — Ask girls to invite non-members and a parent to a troop picnic, meeting, or party.
• Girl Scout for a Day — Invite non-member girls with a parent to see what Girl Scouts do for fun. Display activities and service projects the troop has done in the past. Sing songs, play games, and have everyone participate in a friendship circle.
• Girls Night Out — Great for older girls! Invite girls to bring a friend to participate in games and activities tailored to teens.
• Host and information table at a local carnival or school open house. Contact you troop organizer or membership development coordinator for supplies for the booth, such as pencils, stickers, information cards and sign in sheets.
• Ice Cream Social — Host an ice cream social at your school or meeting place. Send fliers out to classes, or place them around the community to advertise.
• Hold an open house at any Girl Scout property. Contact Jackie Dickey, resource center assistant, to ensure availability and book the property.
• Hold a teddy bear tea and invite girls and a parent to learn about Girl Scouts.
• Hold an open house at the school to showcase what Girl Scouts is about. Display different activities the troop has participated in.
• Host an event for girls entering kindergarten. Advertise in the school's kindergarten information packets and get the girls and their parents thinking about Girl Scouts now.

Do you have a troop recruitment idea that you don't see here? Do you want to see what other troops are doing? Join the discussion on Facebook.

Service unit recruitment ideas:

• Girl Scout for a Day — Engage current troops to host a booth about a certain Girl Scout activity (crafts, camp, songs, games, s'mores, journeys, etc). Distribute flyers to schools in the service unit inviting them to attend and discover the world of Girl Scouts! Have a table or time out for parents so you can inform them about becoming leaders.
• Ice Cream Social- Set up photo displays of activities troops and service unit have done. Invite the community to come and see Girl Scouts in action! Allow time for them to mingle and socialize, then gather the parents for a presentation on Girl Scouts while the girls learn some songs or play a game.
• She & Me Tea or He & Me Dance — Host an event for potential Girl Scouts and their She or He to come and have some fun while learning about Girl Scouts. Have some troops there to be able to talk to and mingle with the potential Girl Scouts and their parent.
• Taste of Camp — Invite troops to host activities with different aspects of Girl Scout camp. Flyer schools to come and learn about what Girl Scout camp is and how to do things like roll a sleeping bag, set up a tent, build and edible fire, sing camp songs, and do outdoor cooking.
• Parent Information Night — Host a service unit wide information night. Invite the community to come and learn about Girl Scouts by having existing girls and volunteers tell about the experiences in Girl Scouts.

Do you have a service unit recruitment even that you don't see here? Do you want to see what other service units are doing? Join the discussion on Facebook.

Thank you for participating, the power of one! One more girl, one more troop, making the world a better place.