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Hingham Girl Scouts is part of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts council. We have approximately 400 girls in 35 troops throughout all schools including Hingham High School, Hingham Middle School, Notre Dame, Plymouth River, Foster, East, South, Derby, Montessori, St. Paul, and the K level at Hingham Nursery School.
Parent Info
Welcome to the family of Girl Scouting!
Girls have many choices in today's world and we want the Girl Scout experience to be the best it can be. We have found that parents who are well informed about our organization help to make that happen.
Below are the top 10 parent questions. If you have any concerns, contact your daughter's leader or any of the Hingham Girl Scout volunteers listed under Contact Us.
1. What does Girl Scouts cost and how is it funded?
Registration
All members pay a $12 national registration fee, which is sent to Girl Scouts of the USA. Registration fees help cover the cost of insurance and development of programs and materials.
Troop expenses
Troop dues are used for troop activities and varies by troop. It is typical for troops to do one of the following: (1) ask parents who provide snacks and supplies, (2) collect $50-75 early in the school year to cover these costs, or (3) collect $2 - $5 at each troop meeting to cover expenses.
Funding - Cookies
Our famous cookie sale is the primary source of funding. All proceeds remain here in Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts to benefit local girls, and a portion of the proceeds go directly to the troops to fund their activities. If a troop participates in the annual cookie sale, they may proceed on to other troop fundraising activities.
Funding - QSP Magazines and Food Sales
New to Girl Scouts in 2008 is the ability to raise funds with a Fall fundraiser selling magazines, music, candy, nuts, pies and cookie dough. Each Troop Leader may decide to take advantage of this program.
Individual support from Families
Families may contribute funds, supplies, or snacks directly to a troop or to the Hingham Girl Scout general fund. With receipts, your donations are tax deductible.
Family Partnership for Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts (GSEM)
Family Partnership is designed to give parents the opportunity to help cover the costs of delivering the Massachusetts Girl Scout program to their daughters. With the financial support of parents, the Eastern Massachusetts council can provides access to camps for weekend trips, summer camp, and monthly programs for all ages, which troops may elect to participate in.
2. What can I expect as a parent?
Programming
The Girl Scouts Eastern Massachusetts Council designs programs and materials based on the four goals of Girl Scouting: To help your daughter (1)develop to her full potential, (2)develop sound values for decision- making, (3)work with and relate to others, and (4)contribute to society. Your daughter will be offered many outstanding events and programs, and will have the opportunity to attend summer camps at a variety of locations.
Communication
In order to assure that parents are kept informed and up-to-date, you can expect to receive important information about your daughter’s activities from the troop leader. Most troops communicate using email, and many conduct a parent meeting at the beginning of each school year.
3. What is expected of me as a parent?
Take an Active Role
As a Girl Scout parent you will want to take an active role in your daughter’s Girl Scout experience. You can help with refreshments or transportation, make phone calls, or assist with troop meetings. Ask your daughter’s leaders how you can best assist the troop! Support activities - Along with troop activities, your active role can include supporting product sales (buy cookies, for example). As a parent you can show your support for your daughter and the council by learning about the sale and following all guidelines.
Respect the Leader’s Time
Girl Scouts would not be what it is if it were not for the dedicated volunteers. There are two important ways to show your respect.
(1) When you are contacted about an upcoming meeting or event that requires an RSVP, it is a tremendous help to the leader if follow-up phone calls do not have to be made. Please be prompt in your reply.
(2) Your daughter’s troop leader cannot be responsible for girls beyond the time of the actual Girl Scout activity. Please respect the leader’s time by having a responsible person drop your daughter off at the appropriate time and pick her up immediately after the activity.
4. Who leads my daughter's troop?
Trained Volunteer Leaders
Girl Scout leaders are volunteers who give their time so girls can have a quality experience in Girl Scouts. Without the many wonderful volunteers, the program would not be available to the girls. You can be assured that qualified, responsible people are leading your daughter’s troop.
Parent Volunteers
Along with a Troop leader, parents often volunteer to plan and conduct activities at a troop meeting. This allows the girls to learn from many different, talented, individuals. Leaders and parents who volunteer to help with transportation are required to become a registered Adult and submit their application to Girl Scouts with a $12 application fee.
Becoming a Leader, Assistant Leader, Camp Trainer
Individuals wanting to become a Girl Scout volunteer must submit an application and three personal references. Criminal background checks are performed for all leaders. The applications, background checks and references are thoroughly checked before a person is permitted to work with Girl Scouts.
Leader and Camper Training
All volunteers are required to take basic training and any other training appropriate to their positions. Resource material is provided. Training records are kept at the council Girl Scout Service Center. All volunteers are evaluated annually to determine if they are fulfilling the requirements of the position.
5. Is my daughter safe?
Safety-Wise
The safety of the girls is our primary concern. The Massachusetts Councils are guided by security and safety standards documented in a manual titled Safety-Wise. Leaders review this guide in their training and strictly follow the procedures.
Insurance
All registered Girl Scouts receive basic accident insurance coverage for Girl Scout activities through national membership dues. This insurance covers up to $100 in medical expenses regardless of other coverage. Additional expenses are only covered if personal family insurance does not cover them.
6. What forms must I fill out?
Membership Registration
Gives permission to be a member of Girl Scouts of the USA. This form also collects race and ethnicity data to help Girl Scouts of the USA track how well we are serving all populations.
Health History
Needed by each troop leader, this provides accurate and current health information about your daughter.
Parent Contacts
Allows the troop leader to know who is responsible for dropping off and picking up your daughter and who to contact in case of an emergency.
Permission Slips
Required for all activities that are not held at the regular troop meeting time or site.
7. Where do I buy Girl Scout items?
Although no girl is required to wear a uniform, the council shop in Waltham (265 Beaver St, 781-893-6293) offers numerous uniform pieces for all age levels and adults. Your daughter is encouraged to wear something that shows her pride and identifies her as a Girl Scout. Parents may shop online at store.girlscoutshop.org/. Other items - Check out the catalog or shop for other items with the Girl Scout insignia. They carry everything from water bottles, to hair scrunchies, to mess kits. You can call in, fax or e-mail your order.
There are two retail stores that may also carry Girl Scout items. Call ahead to see if they have your item in stock. Klassy Kids on Rte. 18 in Whitman near Rte 27 on the left side heading south (445 Bedford St, (781) 447-0117). Sayre Scout Shop in Milton (411 Unquity Rd. (617) 361-0315).
8. When is the first troop meeting?
While some troops will be formed the night of registration, others may take 2-4 weeks to organize. It really depends on the number of volunteers. The parent volunteers agree upon a day of the week, time, and location. If you have not heard from anyone in 4 weeks, contact one of the Hingham registrars. If a scout is joining an existing troop, she will be contacted directly by the troop leader with a first meeting date.
9. How many troops are there?
Typically there are 1 or 2 troops for each grade, in each elementary school. In the Hingham Middle and High Schools, many troops merge and there may be 4 to 6 combined troops for Grades 6-12. In 2009-2010, there were over 30 troops, 425 girls and 150 adult volunteers in Hingham.
10. What do the girls do?
Troop activities are planned by the parent volunteers with input from the girls. Take a look at the Programming and Activities section of this web site for details. Volunteers also plan town-wide events. It's exciting to see all Girl Scouts in Hingham get together. Typical town-wide events include the October Halloween party or a Fall Harvest party, caroling in Hingham Square in December, ice skating during a February or March early release day, and the Me & My Guy dance in March.