We have compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for you. If you don't find the answer to your question, please contact Customer Care.
Customer Care
How do I manage my email preferences (subscribe/unsubscribe)? 
How can I get the best support from Customer Care?
Event Registration
How do I use the Event List or Event Calendar to find events?
What are the steps to register for an event/training using the Event List or Event Calendar?
How do I register my troop for an activity online?
How do I cancel an event registration?
The events says that there are waivers that need to be completed. How do I find these?
How do I pay the balance due for an event?
I accidentally added an event or extra person that I don’t need. How do I clear it out of my cart?
I’m having some trouble with gsEvents. How can I get help?
Girl Experience Centers & Retail
Service Center & Shop Hours
How do I know what uniform and uniform pieces to get my new Girl Scout?
Do the GSCSNJ shops carry Girl Scout t-shirts and other items besides uniforms?
When I buy online, does that money benefit only GSUSA?
Summer Camp
How do I register for Summer Camp?
What forms do I need to complete before camp?
If a session is full, can my camper get on a waitlist?
Is there financial assistance for Summer Camp?
What is the cancellation/refund policy?
Does my camper need to be a Girl Scout to attend camp?
Can I register my camper for a camp session that is designated for Girl Scouts older/younger than they are?
What special precautions are taken to deal with the summer heat?
Membership Inclusion
I have Girl Scouts in my troop of various religions/no religion. How can I accommodate them when saying the Girl Scout Promise?
What is GSCSNJ’s discrimination policy?
Membership Registration
How do I register as a new member?
Can you tell me more about the cost, duration and benefit of registering as a Girl Scout?
Extended Year Membership
If I register online, how does my girl get placed in a troop?
What is the minimum age/grade for joining Girl Scouts?
Do I need to register every year? How do we register?
I want to know if there is a troop available before I register.
I have requested financial assistance for membership. What happens next?
What materials will my Girl Scout need to begin their Girl Scouting experience?
How do I renew a membership?
How do I register or renew my troop members?
Are there instances when a membership can be refunded?
Who can purchase a Lifetime Membership and what are the benefits and advantages of a Lifetime Membership?
Membership Transfers
How is a membership transferred from one troop to another within GSCSNJ?
How can I make a request to transfer a membership to a different council?
Criminal Background Checks
Do Girl Scouts run background checks on their volunteers?
How does someone get a criminal background check completed?
What is covered in a criminal background check?
How often are criminal background checks required?
How long does it take for a criminal background check to be approved?
gsLearn and Volunteer Training
What volunteer trainings are offered online vs. in-person?
What is gsLearn?
Where can I find gsLearn?
Who has access to gsLearn?
I am a registered adult member and I don’t have access to gsLearn. What do I need to do?
Why don’t I see anything in the content library when I log into gsLearn?
Is gsLearn mobile-friendly?
I am taking the training on my tablet or on a smaller screen and I can’t see the entire screen at once, what do I do?
How do I know what courses are required for me?
Can I take any courses I want?
What is the gsLearn content library?
What is the difference between a course, a module, and a learning path?
What happens if I need to stop in the middle of a module?
What is the TOC button for?
What happens after I complete a course?
What if I would like to take a completed course or module over again?
Can I take CPR in gsLearn?
Why are there numbers before the courses?
How does gsLearn correlate to my previous trainings?
Can youth members access gsLearn?
What are achievements?
Do I need to keep a copy of my certificates?
When do I have to retake a course?
Will my previous training records be stored in gsLearn? Where will in-person training event records and non-gsLearn online records be tracked?
I’m a Service Unit team member. How do I view the gsLearn training records for volunteers in my service unit?
What if I am transferring between councils? Will my learning history transfer to my new council?
What trainings from other councils are accepted by our council? What GSCSNJ trainings are accepted by other councils?
What if I find an error in a training?
I have ideas for additional trainings! Who do I tell?
Troop Support: Troop Travel
What is the Troop Trip Submission?
What do you look for in my Troop Trip Submission?
How do I make changes to a submission after it has been submitted or approved?
What is a high-risk activity?
When do I need to provide evidence of certification for my troop’s high-risk activity? What do I need to submit?
What is the proper adult-to-girl safety ratio? How do I know how many adults I need for my Troop Trip Submission?
My troop is planning to stay at an Airbnb, VRBO or similar private rental. What do I need to provide as documentation of liability insurance?
What do I need to know to plan international troop travel, including cruises?
My troop travel roster includes non-member children that can participate in the troop’s activities. Are there any additional procedures I need to follow?
When do I need to purchase additional insurance for my troop travel or gathering? Who is covered?
What training courses/certifications do I need for my Troop Trip Submission?
Troop Support: Registration
How do I register or renew my troop members?
What does the status column mean on my troop’s roster?
What if a member is not returning, or is unsure if they will return to the troop next year?
What if a member did not participate in the current year, but would like to participate next year?
What happens after I renew the troop?
How can I help inspire others to renew or join Girl Scouts?
Can I renew a 12th grade graduating Girl Scout as an adult or purchase a Lifetime Membership for them?
How does a new member register for my troop or how can I register a new member?
One of the adults volunteered to help with my troop! How can I add their volunteer role?
How do I get more adults to join the troop as volunteers?
Should caregivers register as members?
What happens if members don’t renew by September 30?
What should I do if someone says they registered for my troop, but they are not listed on my troop roster?
How do I request a transfer from one troop to another?
How do I update an address after I, or one of my troop members, moves?
Troop Support: Participation Catalog
What information is listed in the participation catalog for my troop?
How can I view open troops in the participation catalog?
Does the participation catalog show multi-age troops?
What is the minimum and/or recommended troop size?
How do I update the participation catalog information for my troop?
If I have an opening mid-year in my troop, how do I share the vacancy using the participation catalog?
What if I don’t know the new member who joined my troop?
Can my troop opt-out of the participation catalog?
Can I close enrollment to my troop?
Can I find Service Unit volunteer positions in the participation catalog?
Troop Support: Troop Organization
What are the steps to start a troop?
Can I have a multi-level troop or do I need individual troop numbers for each grade level?
What are the requirements for becoming a Troop Leader?
Can relatives be Troop Leaders? Can men be Troop Leaders?
How are Troop Leaders informed of Service Unit meetings?
I am resigning from my leader position and do not have a new leader recruited, what should I do?
Troop Support: Meetings
When can a new troop start holding meetings in the Fall?
How long are troop meetings?
What activities do troop meetings typically include?
Where can we hold our troop meetings?
How many volunteers must be present at every meeting/event?
I have a Girl Scout who is behaving inappropriately or bullying during troop meetings. How should I handle this?
Troop Support: Volunteer Toolkit (VTK)
What is the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK)?
Are multi-level troops supported by VTK?
Troop Support: Girl Scout Programming and Leadership Experience
What will a member do as a Girl Scout?
How do I learn more about new program content from GSUSA?
How can I help individuals feel more a part of Girl Scouts and the troop?
What does girl-led mean?
What is the Girl Scout Handbook?
When planning activities, what should be considered?
What is a Journey series?
How can I deliver a quality Girl Scout Leadership Experience?
What can leaders do to help the troop begin their Journey for the year?
What is the difference between “service” and “take action”?
Can my Girl Scout work on badges, Journeys and awards without their troop?
What are SWAPS?
What are Bridging Ceremonies?
What are Destinations?
What is Volunteer Essentials?
Troop Support: Safety and Insurance
Where can I find the safety guidelines for a troop?
What are Safety Activity Checkpoints?
What should I do in the case of an emergency during a troop activity?
Can volunteers who work in the healthcare field serve as first aiders?
Where can I take CPR/First Aid classes? Do online CPR/First Aid training fulfill GSCSNJ requirements?
What type of insurance is provided by GSUSA and who is covered?
If a new member joins before the start of a membership year, are they covered under insurance? What about lapsed members?
Troop Support: Bank Accounts
What is involved in a bank account request?
Are there different forms for troop bank accounts and Service Unit bank accounts?
How many cards are issued for a troop and/or Service Unit bank account?
Will there be service charges toward my troop and/or Service Unit bank account?
What are the requirements for signers on a troop bank account?
What are the requirements for signers on a Service Unit bank account?
I am changing signers on my troop’s/Service Unit’s bank account. Where can I list the signer(s) I want removed?
My troop is disbanding and I need to close our bank account. What should I do first?
I am closing a bank account for a troop that retired before the current membership year and my signers do not have an active membership or background check. What do I do?
Troop Support: Finance
Can my troop participate in additional money earning programs?
I have members transferring to other troops. Does the money they have raised go with them?
My troop is disbanding. What should we do with our funds?
May I accept donations (sponsorships) to my troop?
One of the adults in my troop works for an employer that offers matching gifts and volunteer service hours. How do they ensure that the funds are donated to our troop?
What are troop dues?
Product Program (Fall and Cookie Programs)
How do Individually Registered Girls (IRG) participate in Fall/Cookie Product Programs?
What is the Fall Product Program?
Besides earning money, what are the benefits of participating in the Cookie Program?
Does my Girl Scout have to sell cookies?
How/where do I go about getting a cookie booth?
What should Girl Scouts do when earning money for their troop outside of a council-sponsored product program?
What can a troop leader do if a Girl Scout is not participating in the cookie program?
Girl Scout Higher Awards
What are the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards?
How do I get started with the Silver Award Project?
How do I get started with the Gold Award?
Are there scholarships available for Gold Award recipients?
Where can I find the paperwork for the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards?
What are the deadlines for Highest Awards?
How do I get my award letter and pin?
