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Power Up Your Troop: How Technology Can Transform Your Leadership!
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Time to read 4 min
Never Struggle Planning Activities Again
Easy to use activity booklets for your troop meeting.Never Struggle Planning Activities Again
Easy to use activity booklets for your troop meeting.|
Time to read 4 min
We all know the incredible impact Girl Scouts has on our girls, preparing them to be the leaders of tomorrow. And in today's world, that increasingly means embracing technology. You've probably heard the statistics: only 28% of the workforce in STEM fields are women, yet the demand for tech-savvy professionals is exploding. As Jane Christyson, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio, so aptly put it when unveiling a new STEM Center of Excellence, "Those are jobs for Girl Scouts!"
This sentiment perfectly captures the nationwide push by Girl Scouts of the USA to champion STEM education, offering our girls hands-on experiences that truly prepare them for careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. But here's a little secret many of us leaders are discovering: technology isn't just for badge requirements or special workshops. It's a powerful, everyday tool that can revolutionize how we lead—from planning meetings and running activities to helping our scouts smash their cookie sales goals! Ready to dive in? Let's explore how.
Let's be honest, Girl Scout troop leaders juggle a lot! We're planning events, managing paperwork, sending emails, tracking badges, and coordinating with parents. Trying to keep all of that straight with paper planners and scattered notes can feel overwhelming. That's where a touchscreen laptop can become your new best friend.
Imagine a device like the HP Pavilion 2-in-1 touchscreen laptop. With its 360-degree hinge and a Microsoft 365 subscription, you can easily work, present, and create from any position and anywhere.
Many digital leader planners are specifically designed to be compatible with these types of laptops, helping you streamline troop organization. You can drag and drop to-do lists, color-code badges and events, and sync calendars to avoid scheduling conflicts. Because these tools use cloud storage, you'll have access to your planning materials whether you're at home, the library, or even at the cookie booth. Picture this: updating your roster in real-time after new girls register or instantly sharing plans with your co-leaders, all from one device. The touchscreen functionality makes tasks feel incredibly intuitive and efficient, perfect for those moments when you're prepping crafts with one hand and managing communications with the other!
When it comes to STEM education, nothing beats interactive, tech-powered experiences. And the good news is, many local organizations and innovation hubs are eager to help! For example, the Bronx Gigabit Center recently partnered with local Girl Scout troops to host a dynamic workshop in collaboration with Digital Girl, Inc. Using tablets and laptops provided onsite, the scouts learned coding basics, app development, and even robotics programming. The girls decorated robots and experimented with building games, boosting their confidence, curiosity, and collaboration.
As troop leaders, we can harness this momentum by organizing similar sessions, either right at home with our own tech or by partnering with local tech centers. These workshops can cover a wide range of topics: online safety, smart social media habits, digital literacy, app design, or even hands-on tech integration into traditional scout activities. Even if you don't feel like a tech expert, many programs offer templates and training to get you started. The key is simply to provide a space where our scouts can explore technology creatively and safely.
Cookie season is an iconic part of being a Girl Scout, and as troop leaders, we know it's also an incredible business training ground for our girls. With the Digital Cookie platform, our scouts can turn this beloved tradition into a truly tech-savvy entrepreneurial experience. Since its launch in 2014, this amazing cookie-selling app has helped increase sales by millions of boxes, with many scouts reporting their highest numbers ever! The platform allows them to set goals, track orders, monitor inventory, and even generate custom QR codes for easy sharing.
But success doesn't stop at the app! We, as leaders, can guide our scouts on how to use social media ethically and effectively. Girl Scouts of the USA encourages girls to post on personal accounts (with parental supervision) to connect with friends and family. Some innovative troops have gone even further, partnering with delivery platforms or printing flyers with QR codes to leave on car windshields. These tactics teach our girls about branding, customer service, and digital marketing in a real-world context. The digital approach is also a fantastic way to support shy or introverted scouts who might not feel comfortable knocking on doors. Online tools give every Girl Scout an equal shot at reaching their cookie goals, especially when we lean into the tech tools available and offer consistent guidance on safe and creative use.
From organizing troop logistics to igniting curiosity at STEM workshops and maximizing cookie season potential, technology is an essential tool for today's troop leaders. Girl Scouts are being called to lead in new, bold ways, and tech can certainly help them do just that. Whether you're already digitally fluent or just beginning to explore how a touchscreen laptop or online cookie platform might help your troop, the key is to start somewhere. After all, the Girl Scout movement has always been about preparing girls to lead with courage, confidence, and character. In today’s world, that absolutely means embracing technology as a force for empowerment.
So, fellow leaders, plug in, power up, and lead on! Your troop is ready for it.
Enjoy every minute being a leader and continue to inspire your girls!
