Appreciation
April is National Volunteer Month
Thank you for creating a supportive environment that encourages successful futures for all girls!
Girl Scout Leader Appreciation Day is a day of appreciation for adult volunteers in Girl Scouting held on April 22 every year. Girl Scouts is an outstanding leadership organization for girls due to the exceptional effort put forward by our volunteers. Join us in celebrating all our wonderful adult volunteers during National Volunteer Month and as we give a special shout out to Girl Scout Leaders on Leader Appreciation Day.
Although volunteers are always appreciated, it is during these special days that we take the time to acknowledge that our adult volunteers are our neighborhood heroes and the heart and soul of the Girl Scouts of Orange County organization. We encourage the girls, their families and service unit/Girl Scout communities to plan special gestures to show appreciation for the adult Girl Scout volunteers in their lives.
Here are a few ways you can celebrate your volunteer crew:
Idea 1: Throw a Surprise Party (Celebrate)
Surprise your troop volunteers with party hats and noisemakers at your next virtual or in-person meeting. Take turns sharing what you appreciate most about them!
Idea 2: Fly in to Say Thanks! (Video)
Ask each of your troop sisters to make a two- to three-second video that shows her:
Catch a paper airplane that flies in from the right side of the screen
Smile at the camera.
Toss the airplane offscreen to the left.
String the videos together so it looks like each person is tossing the airplane to the next girl.
Make a final short clip of one girl opening the airplane to reveal a thank-you message to your troop leader(s).
Share the video during your troop meeting as a surprise!
Consider this!
Ask everyone to use a white 8.5 x 11” sheet of paper to make their individual planes so they match.
Ask for a second short clip of everyone waving and saying thank you to string together at the end.
Enlist someone in your troop leader’s family to give them flowers or another small gift when the surprise is revealed!
Idea 3: Thank You (Cards)
Print out, decorate, and personalize one of our super cute thank-you cards!
Girl Thank You Card
Print out this customizable card and give it to your Girl Scout so she can fill in the details. Once it’s finished, she can give it to her favorite volunteer as a token of her appreciation.
Girl Thank You Card PDF File
Tarjeta de agradecimiento
Imprime esta tarjeta personalizable y dásela a tu Girl Scout para que llene los detalles. Así se la puede dar a su voluntaria/o favorita/o como muestra de su agradecimiento.
Tarjeta de Agradecimiento en PDF
Girl Coloring Sheet
Print out this coloring sheet for your Girl Scout to color in. Once her masterpiece is finished, she can give it to her favorite volunteer as a token of her appreciation.
Girl Coloring Sheet PDF File
Hoja para colorear
Imprime esta hoja para que tu Girl Scout la coloree. Al terminar su obra de arte, se le puede dar a su voluntaria/o favorita/o como muestra de su agradecimiento.
Hoja para colorear en PDF
Idea 4: Create a special treat for your troop leader(s)! Think about:
A cake baked in an orange (seriously!)
A s’mores care package with marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate.
A movie night kit with popcorn, a drink, and candy.
Fruit with a homemade caramel or yogurt dipping sauce.
Idea 5: Because of You Photo Collage (Gift)
Collect photos from your troop sisters of your favorite Girl Scout moments. Arrange them in a slideshow or on a poster with the headline “Because of You...” Then share them at your next virtual or in-person meeting!
Idea 6: Say It with Service (Activity)
Troop leaders are busy people. What could you do to help make their lives easier? Wash their car? Rake their leaves? Prepare their garden for planting? Work with your troop sisters to offer assistance to your troop volunteers to say thank you
We Appreciate Our Volunteers All Year Long!
Volunteers Are Always the Heart of GSOC
More ways to show your thanks:
- 30 Days of Gratitude: We Love Girl Scout Volunteers!
- GSUSA's Volunteer Appreciation Page
- Thin Mint Cheesecake Cookies Recipe Card
- Lemonade Cheesecake Bars Recipe Card
- 22 Ways To Say Thanks Idea Sheet
- Visit the DIY Appreciation Board in Pinterest
- “A Great Leader Lives Here!” Flyer
- “A Great Leader Drives this Car!” Flyer
- “A Great Leader Works Here!” Flyer
- Girls Color-in Leader Appreciation Day Postcards
- "Trefoil" Your Leader's Lawn!
- Share a shout-out on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and tag @GirlScoutsOC
Informal rewards are day-to-day ways to say “thank you” to volunteers—they are intangible benefits and heartfelt displays of recognition. These sincere expressions of appreciation are based on specific contributions and are given in a timely manner. Informal recognition is powerful and effective, because volunteers feel valued by a personal touch. Examples of meaningful informal rewards include:
- A welcome or thank-you card or letter
- Skill-building learning opportunities (For example, how to use social media to network)
- A recommendation for a promotion
- Sending the volunteer’s supervisor or CEO a letter recognizing her/his contributions
- Complimenting a volunteer’s work to a supervisor or co-worker (in the volunteer’s presence)
- Showing interest in a volunteer’s personal life (such as asking about a volunteer’s grandchild or weekend plans)
GSOC SMORE Volunteer Appreciation Patch Program
We have created a patch program to help OC Girl Scouts say thanks. Girls at every level can earn this fun patch as they discover, connect, and take action to show their volunteers how much they appreciate all they do! Download your level flyer to get started: Daisies & Brownies, Juniors & Cadettes, Seniors & Ambassadors.
Yep! There's a Badge for That.
Check out this shareable Girl Scout Volunteer Digital Badge made just for volunteers! The owner of this badge is dedicated to fostering emotional, intellectual, and physical growth among girls in our communities.
