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them plan. Girls often vote to finalize decisions. If girls are talking over each other, consider
passing an object, such as a talking stick, that entitles one girl to speak at a time.
Junior/Cadette/Senior/Ambassador Patrol or Team System: In this system, large troops
divide into small groups, with every member playing a role. Teams of four to six girls are
recommended so that each girl gets a chance to participate and express her opinions. Patrols
may be organized by interests or activities that feed into a Take Action project, with each team
taking responsibility for some part of the total project; girls may even enjoy coming up with
names for their teams.
Junior/Cadette/Senior/Ambassador Executive Board: In the executive board system (also
called a steering committee), one leadership team makes decisions for the entire troop. The
board’s responsibility is to plan activities and assign jobs based on interests and needs, and the
rest of the troop decides how to pass their ideas and suggestions to the executive board
throughout the year. The executive board usually has a president, vice president, secretary, and
treasurer and holds its own meetings to discuss troop matters. Limit the length of time each girl
serves on the executive board so all troop members can participate during the year.
Junior/Cadette/Senior/Ambassador Town Meeting: Under the town meeting system,
business is discussed and decisions are made at meetings attended by all the girls in the troop.
As in the patrol and executive board systems, everyone gets the chance to participate in
decision-making and leadership. Your role is to act as a moderator, who makes sure everyone
gets a chance to talk and that all ideas are considered.
Transporting Girls
How parents decide to transport girls between their homes and Girl Scout meeting places is each
parent’s decision and responsibility.
For planned Girl Scout field trips and other activities—outside the normal time and place—in which a
group will be transported in private vehicles:
Every driver must be an approved adult* troop committee volunteer or troop leader and have a
good driving record, a valid license, and a registered/insured vehicle.
Girls never drive other girls.
If a group is traveling in one vehicle, there must be at least two unrelated, approved adult
volunteers in the vehicle, one of whom is female, and the girl-volunteer ratios in Volunteer
Essentials must be followed.
If a group is traveling in more than one vehicle, the entire group must consist of at least two
unrelated, approved troop leaders, one of whom is female, and the girl-volunteer ratios in
Volunteer Essentials must be followed. Care should be taken so that a single car (with a single
adult driver) is not separated from the group for an extended length of time.
Male volunteers must be accompanied by an unrelated approved female volunteer.
*“Adult” is defined by the age of majority in each state.
For more about driving, see the “Transporting Girls” section of the “Safety-Wise” chapter of this
handbook.