Meetings, Patrols, Badges, & Leadership

Meetings

Our Girl Scout troop is a multi level troop with girls in K4 to Twelfth grade. We meet weekly on Tuesday nights at Pasadena United Methodist Church from 6:30-7:30, Daisies & Brownies, or 6:30 - 8:00, Juniors, Cadettes, & Seniors/Ambassadors. Our troop is fairly active, meeting weekly, with monthly outings and and several overnights during the school year. 

*Please note, there are not weekly meetings over the summer, but we do schedule meet up activities for the girls to keep in touch. 

For meetings, scouts are encouraged to wear their vests, closed toed shoes they can run safely in*, and have their hair tied back. We meet at the Fire Circle or in the Fellowship hall depending on weather and planned activity for that week. In general, expect to meet outdoors until temperatures are below 35 degrees within one hour of meeting time or there is continuous rain expected during the meeting time. 

*Crocs are highly discouraged. They tend to be loose on the foot leading to safety issues when running or hiking and are not safe while tending a fire. Unless we are swimming, we ask for scouts to not wear Flip Flops at all to activities. 

Patrols

Scouts meet in single level patrols based on their grade, with the exception of our oldest girls. Daisies are K4, Kindergarten, and 1st grade. Brownies are 2nd & 3rd grade. Juniors are 4th & 5th grade. Cadettes are 6th, 7th, & 8th grade. Seniors,  9th & 10th grade, and Ambassadors, 11th & 12th grade, are combined for the high school patrol. Click on each patrol below for additional information about that patrol.

Core Badges

Our troop has designated 5 core badges: Girl Scout Way, First Aid, Cooking, Camping, and Eco, that we will cover each year for D,B,J,C. Every two years for S,A. These badges can be covered in meetings or on overnights. Since girls are at a level for  2-3 years, the girls earn the badge with the first completion and a fun patch with additional completions. Additionally, we will do two financial literacy badges a year during cookie season, and offer the opportunity to complete 2-3 journeys each year. Daisies will complete all Daisy petals each year. 

Wait, we are not done yet! At the beginning of the year scouts will work with their level leadership to pick additional badges and activities they want as part of their scouting year. We do our best to work all interests into the schedule so there is something for everyone. Visit each patrol page to see their year plans.

Meeting Badge Work VS Activity Badge Work

We have girls with various availability of both time and interest. To reduce the logging and confusion as we complete badge requirements, we make every attempt to keep badges in one setting. Badges worked on in meetings will be completed in meetings. Badges offered on overnights or troop events will have all the requirements completed during that activity. If there is a deviation, patrol leadership will make sure to inform the patrol adults of the required activity. An alternate way of completing the badge if the scout cannot make the activity will also be provided.

Additional Events

There are many Girl Scout adventures in our area hosted by our council; Girls Scouts of Central Maryland, neighboring council; Girl Scouts of Nation's Capital, travel troops from both councils holding events as fundraisers, and sports teams & museums hosting scout days. We may want to, but our troop cannot possibly do them all! Scouts are encouraged to attend activities that interest them, including ones without the troop as a Juliette. Of course if a troop event is happening at the same time, we hope your scout attends the troop event over the additional activity. If scouts attend and earn badges at outside events, please let your leadership team know the event and work completed. We will update their advancement report and the badge will be purchased for the next Court of Awards. 

Juliettes

What is a Juliette? A Juliette is simply a Girl Scout without a troop. Juliettes can be defined as both a girl without a troop at all or only without a troop for a specific event. While Girl Scouting works best in a troop setting, sometimes a scout has difficulty fitting available troop's meeting times into their schedule. Alternatively, a scout attending an event without her troop would only be a Juliette for that event. 

Court Of Awards (COA)

Badges, journeys, fun patches, and honors earned are awarded at each of the three Courts Of Awards annually. Friends and family are encouraged all Courts of Awards. Scouts should report to the fellowship hall 30 mins prior to the start of the ceremony, wearing their vests. The sanctuary will be open for parents and families to find their seats and chat/relax prior to the ceremony. For exact dates of each COA and any details specific to that event, please check the calendar in Trooptrack. A description and theme for each is broken out below. 

1. Court of Awards: Investiture, Rededication, & Bridging is held the last Tuesday of September. As the Girl Scouting year runs from Oct 1- Sept 30 annually, this is technically the last COA of the year before bridging scouts age up to the next level. At this COA new scouts receive their vest, returning scouts are honored, and bridging scouts are honored and receive their new vests. At the end of this COA the troop picture will be taken with all girls in their new vests.

2. Court Of Awards: Spotlight on Scouts will be held mid March near the Girl Scout Birthday, March 12. At this COA we will focus on Scouts accomplishments so far this year, showcasing work that the girls have completed or are in the process of completing with their patrols. For girls earning their higher metal awards this will also be a time for them to briefly present and educate the troop about their project. 

3. Court of Awards: Cookies will be at the end of the school year as one of our final meeting nights before summer break. At this COA we will recognize every girl who participated in the cookie sale. Girls will receive their cookie patches and incentives as well as a participation certificate from the troop. The top three sellers will also receive a "Top Cookie" patch. 

*Note, the second and third COAs have switched places due to cookie season shifting during the 2024-25 year.

Leadership And The Troop Committee

Girl scouts may be girl led, but we can't go forward without our adult support. Our Troop Committee is comprised of four main roles: Troop Leader, Troop Co-Leader, Troop Volunteer, and Troop Parent. With a troop this large we have many hands making light work! Take a look at the roles below and see where you can lend a hand to make our Troop Committee one that can't be beat!

Specialty Roles In The Troop Committee