Communicating with Girl Scout Parents & Guardians
Good communication with Girl Scout (GS) Parents and Guardians is essential to gaining their support. Below, please find some pointers that will assist the troop volunteer in successful communication with GS Parents and Guardians:
Parents’ and Guardians’ Rights
Children Without Parents
- Not all Girl Scout Troop members will have two parents.
- Plans must be made to include all Girl Scout Troop members comfortably in an activity. Girl Scout Troop members without parents should not be used as a reason for not scheduling parent-participation activities.
- Sensitivity to the situation of each girl is the key. If a girl’s family cannot find a parent substitute for the event, the Girl Scout Leader might look to the Girl Scout Troop committee or the sponsor or might include the girl’s other parent.
- The spirit of parental involvement is simply the involvement of all adults who care about the members of your Girl Scout Troop.
The Parent/Guardian Meeting
Be sure to plan at least one annual meeting with all the girls Parent(s)/Guardians.
Other Ways to Involve Families
By continuing to communicate your Girl Scout Troop’s plans and needs to the families, you are more likely to get the help the girls need to carry out their plans. Here are some ways to keep families in touch with your Girl Scout Troop throughout the year:
- Girl Scout Troop Newsletters: A newsletter on what the Girl Scout Troop is doing could be written by the girls or by a Girl Scout Troop committee member; could be emailed to parents/guardians.
- Girl Scout Troop Activities: Families also may be asked to attend investitures and fly-up ceremonies, bridging activities, fashion shows, covered-dish dinners, field trips, sports events, and inter-GS Troop activities.
- Parent Assistance: Often, asking a parent/guardian for assistance with a specific activity is the key to family involvement.