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Program Aide
Training Girl
Workbook
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What is a Program Aide?
Volunteer Position Description:
The Program Aide is a girl whose responsibilities and role fall somewhere
between being a girl and an adult. Through the Program Aide experience girls
will participate in leadership training (P.A. training) and then implement what they
have learned with a group of girls. Girls who are interested in earning their
Program Aide award are choosing to take a position of leadership and want to
share her Girl Scout knowledge with others.
Adult Guide
Working under the guidance of an adult guide, the Program Aide is responsible
for teaching specific skills determined by the needs of the group and her personal
strengths.
A Program Aide must:
• Register as a member of Girl Scouts of the USA.
• Complete the LiA award prior to taking a Council-approved Program Aide
training.
• Take a Council-approved Program Aide training prior to assuming their
responsibilities.
• Work directly with younger girls over six activity sessions. This might be
assisting girls on Journey activities (in addition to work she did toward her LiA
award), badge activities, or general Girl Scout activities. She might work with a
group at their meeting, day camps, or during a special council event.
A Program Aide:
• Lives by the Girl Scout Promise and Law
• Understands the importance of accepting and understanding kids of all needs,
interests, races/ethnicities, and religions.
• Is able to put the needs of her group before her own personal needs.
• Is confident in her abilities.
• Is interested in working with younger girls and within the setting for which she
applied.
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Program Aide Bill of Rights
The Program Aide will:
1. Be assigned a qualified adult guide to whom they will be accountable to and to
whom they can go to if they are in need of assistance.
2. Work with her adult guide to create an assignment that allows her to teach/share
the knowledge and skills she has.
3. Receive assignments that are challenging, yet appropriate to her knowledge, skills,
and abilities.
4. Be consulted regularly regarding her viewpoint of the experience and responsibility.
She will be given the opportunity to determine if the scope of her assignment should
be broadened or changed to meet her or the adult guide‘s expectations.
5. Be kept informed of developments, plans, and changes throughout her assignment.
6. Be given the opportunity to help evaluate the program, both from the perspective
of her experiences as a Cadette Program Aide and a participant.
7. Receive an evaluation of her work during her assignment. This evaluation will
include the hours worked and suggestions for improvement.
8. Not be:
o The only person asked to perform errands; she will be willing to take her
turn. o Solely responsible for supervising a group of kids at any type of
activity.
o Act as a first aider, troop camp certified adult, lifeguard, or other solely adult
activities.
o Responsible for discipline, but will serve as a role model of appropriate Girl
Scout behavior, modeling the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
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Tips for Working with Adult Guides
• If you want to take on responsibility for part of an activity, ask. If you don‘t ask, your
adult guide may not realize you want to do it.
• You may be asked to do things you don‘t want to do, remember that being a leader
means doing the fun stuff and sometimes the not so fun stuff.
• Remember that this is a learning experience. If your adult guide gives you a
suggestion to improve, receive her comments with a positive attitude and consider
how you might implement them.
• You can ask for help! Your adult guide is a great source of information on how to
work with younger girls.
• Some adults can be hesitant to accept ideas or suggestions from girls. It is more
likely that your idea or suggestion will be heard if you start your sentence with one
of the following:
o Would it be all right if I…?
o How about if we…? o
Would it help if I…?
I’m a Role Model?
Yes you are! As a Cadette Program Aide you have the opportunity to be a role model to
younger girls. A role model is someone who serves as an example and whose behavior is
emulated (copied) by others. This means that you must be aware of how you act at all
times because you never know who is watching.
• The way you work with others, handle problems, and solve differences of opinions
is very important. The things you say and the way you speak will be listened to,
copied and quoted at home. If you wouldn‘t say it in front of your parents or
teachers, then don‘t say it around the girls you are working with.
• Girl Scouts always make sure that everyone feels welcome. This means that you
shouldn‘t make any racial, ethnic, or sexual jokes that may make someone feel
uncomfortable. You may think that they are harmless, but you never know whose
feelings you might hurt. This also includes any songs you may sing.
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• Have you ever noticed that girls seem to be everywhere all the time? This means
that even when you think you are alone with friends, girls may be around.
Remember that subjects of boyfriends/girlfriends, parties, etc. are not for girls to
hear.
• It‘s okay to get involved, get excited, and be enthusiastic, but make sure you are
still in control of yourself and the group. If you get too crazy, so will the girls, and
then someone might get hurt.
• Never argue or criticize anyone in front of the kids. If you are feeling emotional,
angry, or upset, ask someone to fill in for you while you go to calm down.
• At Girl Scout events you should dress modestly and appropriately for the occasion.
This means appropriate length shorts (too-short shorts are never appropriate),
short or tight dress, halter or crop tops, bikini bathing suits, low-cut shorts,
underwear showing, or anything that is see-through or too revealing.
• Remember basic safety rules. Always wear closed-toe shoes and the appropriate
clothing for the event. If the girls are required to wear special clothing for the event
(long pants, boots, helmets, etc.) then you are expected to wear it too!
• Look at what your clothes might say or look like. You may find some slogans
humorous or funny, but the parents of the girls may not. Never wear anything that
promotes alcohol, tobacco, or illegal substances.
• Be careful about symbols or attire that promotes a certain lifestyle or anything
personal in nature, like politics or religion. Small religious symbols (like a cross or
Star of David) are acceptable.
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The Leader In You
One of the greatest gifts you have as a leader is your ability to inspire others – your
family, your friends, your community, the media, even the world. To inspire others is
to influence them in positive ways!
Your strengths and talents are the boxes which wrap those gifts. They‘re what give
character to your voice. They are directly tied to your passion, and your passion is what
propels you to create change.
What is inside you that makes you a good leader? What strengths and talents do you
have that allow you to inspire others? Create an image that represents you as a leader
with your leadership qualities using images, empowering words, a poem, or story that
paints a picture of the qualities that you have as a leader.
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Becoming a Leader
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Girl Development
When planning activities, keep in mind that kindergartners and first-graders:
So they will enjoy going on nature walks and outdoor
scavenger hunts.
So encourage them to express themselves and
their creativity by making things with their hands.
Girls may need assistance, however, holding
scissors, cutting in a straight line, etc.
So they might especially enjoy marching like a
penguin, dancing like a dolphin, or acting out how
they might care for animals in a jungle.
So show them firsthand how things happen. Then let
them practice the skills you want them to learn.
So take opportunities to count out supplies
together, or read the clock, or count dues.
So having them draw a picture of something they
are trying to communicate is frequently easier for
them and more meaningful.
So be specific and offer only one direction at a time.
Acknowledging when the girls have followed
directions well will also increase their motivation for
listening and following again.
When planning activities, keep in mind that second and third-graders:
So take your activities outside whenever
possible. Girls‘ creativity might even be further
inspired by nature and fresh air.
So allow them to team up for art projects and
performances.
So let girls lead, direct, and help out in activities
whenever possible. Allow the group to make
decisions about roles and responsibilities.
So ask them questions to gauge their
understanding of stories and allow them to role-
play their own pretend visit to a new country.
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So offer only one direction at a time and, when
you can, let the girls know what‘s coming up next
in the get-together or in future gatherings.
So offer support only when needed – have the
girls help create the schedule and flow of their
gettogethers, and count out money for trips.
So encourage them to express themselves and their
creativity by making things with their hands.
So they might like to create a play or tell a story
through dance.
So acknowledge when the girls have listened
or followed the directions well. It will increase
their motivation for listening and following
again.
When planning activities, keep in mind that fourth and fifth-graders:
So allow them to do so frequently through guided
discussions and active reflection activities.
So allow them to team up in small or large groups for
art projects, performances, and written activities.
So share your own mistakes and learning, and
create an environment where girls can be
comfortable sharing theirs.
So don‘t shy away from discussing why rules are
made and laws are passed, and have them develop
their own for their group.
So assist them in developing these skills by asking
them to explain their decisions, share their visions
for their roles in the future, and appropriately
challenge their own and others‘ perspectives.
So engage them in moving their minds and their
bodies! Allow them to express themselves
through the written word and choreography.
So they might like to tell a story through playwriting,
playing an instrument, or sharing a song or dance.
So be sensitive to girls‘ needs to adjust to their
changing bodies and create an environment
that celebrates this transition.
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Communicating with Girls
• Give clear directions (be specific).
• Give directions one step at a time, with demonstration.
• Be enthusiastic.
• Act confident and let the girls know that you know what you are doing.
• Speak directly to the girls.
• Bend or stoop so that you are near their eye level.
• Maintain eye contact.
• Listen.
• Ask questions to make sure that they understand your directions.
• Let them learn by doing.
• Be positive, instead of saying no running, tell them what you want them to do
instead (walk).
Giving Praise
Effort
Strategies
Seeking Help
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Leading a Group
Your life is your own! Show all its twists and turns below – regular everyday ones and
special ones. Maybe you can think of times when you tried really hard to work
something out with others – resolved a conflict with a sibling, said ―sorry‖ to a friend,
reached out to someone beyond your usual circle. How does it feel to interact at your
very best?
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Girl Scout Ways:
Quiet Sign:
• When your hand goes up your mouth goes shut
• Traditionally the Quiet sign is the open hand when you raised your five fingers and were
quiet, you were being courteous to the speaker
Talking Sign:
• If someone wishes to talk, they tap two fingers in front of them. Tradition refers to the old
Brownie sign, made with two fingers instead of three.
Talking Stick (Or another object):
• No one may talk unless they are holding the talking stick (object).
Other Ideas to Handle Group Dynamics
Have girls sit out for a while if they are
disruptive or being overly sensitive –
don’t stop the whole group.
Sometimes sitting next to a
girl who is acting out can
help her settle down.
Only allow talking in
polite little whispers.
Sometimes behavior is attention
getting. Ignore it if you can.
Give stickers (or draw a happy
face on a girl‘s hand) for the
desired behaviors.
Often, girls are trying to tell
you they are ready to move
on to the next activity
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Safety
Understanding Safety Guidelines
Fire Safety
Leave no Trace Principles
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Leading Songs
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Leading Games
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Creating a Program
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Girl Scout Flag Ceremony
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“On my honor, I will try:
To serve God* and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.”
January 31, 2020
January 31, 2020