The Badge Archive

I’m just starting to get to know these new girls and learned a lot during our meeting last night that will definitely inform future meetings, but I’m wondering what other large multi level troops do to keep the chaos at a manageable level?

I’m thinking we’ll have to split by level for at least part of the meeting if we continue to have all 25 girls meet same place/time… Maybe start with a large group with promise & law, maybe a group game, then split into levels for craft/badge work, then end with friendship circle/make new friends?

Would this work best if I set up a parent rotation where we have 3 dedicated parents (one per level) scheduled to help when we split in groups with my co leader and I bouncing between the three groups? Do I only have the registered parents help with this rotation (I do have about 10ish that are registered and 2-3 more who have said they’d be willing to register).

We have one large meeting room so I do wonder if we’ll struggle with girls wandering/wanting to do what the other levels are working on?

Or do I just throw my hands up and split the daisies to a separate night? The biggest problem with this is I don’t think I can commit to a separate meeting, I already am heavily involved in two troops, that would effectively be number 3 for me. While many parents are offering to help, none of them seem eager to plan or lead meetings (at least not regularly, I have 1-2 Mom’s that have shown interest in possibly taking on one meeting this year).

I just want to do a good job and left our meeting feeling quite discouraged last night. There were some girls being mean to others at times, one girl that drew on the tables of our meeting space twice (after being talked to the first time she “accidentally” wrote the word mom on the table ), one girl broke the fan (we were able to fix it — luckily her mom saw it happen and addressed it), no one would stay in their seats, no one was listening to instructions, one girl had an accident in the bathroom, multiple girls in tears at one point or another (including me once I was safe at home )… it was just really a chaotic and difficult meeting. My co leader sent me pictures after the meeting and that helped me feel a lot better because the girls all look like they genuinely had fun… but I do not want to repeat last night again and have two weeks to come up with a plan to make our next meeting go more smoothly. Halp!

– Growing Multi-Level Leader

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Dear Growing Multi-level Leader,

This had a lot of questions in it. Each require a lengthy answer.

Managing a Group

“…what other large multi level troops do to keep the chaos at a manageable level?” – We suggest reading our “You Are a Manager, Not a Magician” which has a complete layout for adult volunteer help, 90-minute meeting outline, and routines that help.

“We have one large meeting room so I do wonder if we’ll struggle with girls wandering/wanting to do what the other levels are working on?” – This may happen. Just make sure you, your co-leader, and all level leaders feel confident redirecting them. Choose a phrase and use it consistently. Here are a few variations you can choose from depending on your tone and group dynamics:

• Simple Redirect: “That does look fun! It’s something they get to do at their level. We’ve got our own plan for today, and it’s going to be great.”
• Empower the Group: “Great eye! You’re noticing cool stuff. Let’s save that idea for when it’s our turn. Right now, we’ve got our own challenge.”
• Scout Level Activities: “That’s a great activity for their level. When we reach that stage, we’ll get to try it too. Today, we’re working on our badge and building our own skills.” or if it’s an activity the younger group is doing: “That’s a great idea for our future group activity. For today, let’s focus on earning our badge together.”

Meeting Flow

“Maybe start with a large group with promise & law, maybe a group game, then split into levels for craft/badge work, then end with friendship circle/make new friends?” – You have a solid plan with an opening routine, split level work, and a closing routine. Trust your instincts here and talk to your troop to make sure everyone is on board.

“Would this work best if I set up a parent rotation where we have 3 dedicated parents (one per level) scheduled to help when we split in groups with my co leader and I bouncing between the three groups?” – The You Are a Manager, Not a Magician referenced earlier has a very clear outline of Level Leaders. Make sure you have at least one year long volunteer for each level group you are planning. The assistants or parent helpers can be rotated to help them, but a core team that will assist the main leaders and the troop plans will be key to keeping from burning out.

“Or do I just throw my hands up and split the daisies to a separate night?” – This is a valid option. But it sounds like not the best one for you and your group. If you would struggle with the time commitment, it won’t last long. And many families that have siblings in different levels enjoy multi-level groups. Moving to separate nights for different levels hurts their schedule as well.

Managing Chaos

And your final paragraph? While we previously had a Managing Emotions article, it’s not quite the right fit for what you are facing. That piece is best used after a group has basic behavioral stability and is ready to reflect on emotional regulation. We can see you need immediate triage tools: structure, boundaries, and emotional safety strategies that prevent another chaotic meeting. Try our new When a Scout Meeting Goes Off the Rails page for some specific ideas.

For planning help, we’ve created a new page to collect all the Daisy through Cadette level plans and resources. We’ll update it as we find more. Hopefully the D/B/J/C Plans page will help you when you need a plan to fit all four levels in one grand meeting on occasion.

Keep in mind that you are not doing anything wrong we can see. You’re doing something very difficult. The chaos you described isn’t a sign of failure. Your troop is growing, stretching, and learning together. With structure, support, and a few well-placed redirect phrases, you should see some changes for the better. Keep leaning on your co-leader, your registered volunteers, and your own instincts.

Just take one meeting at a time. And our favorite slogan for leading is still KISMIF: Keep it Simple, Make it Fun.

You’ve got this.
— From Tia K.

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BONUS: From Other Experienced Leaders

Here’s a summary of what seasoned leaders learned from managing 25, 30, even 40 scouts across Daisy to Cadette levels based on responses on the Multi-level Girl Scout Troops original post. Many leaders echoed the same sentiment: once your troop hits 20+, the potential for chaos grows, but so does the potential for joy. With structure, delegation, and a little humor, you’ll find your rhythm.

Structure Is Survival

• Split by level for badge work whenever possible. Scouts learn best when activities match their developmental stage.
• Opening and closing together builds unity. Use this time for flag ceremonies, announcements, snacks, or crafts.
• Stations work well for whole-troop programs. Rotate scouts through activities led by co-leaders or parent helpers.

Dedicated Roles Make It Work

• Assign one leader per level to handle badge planning and lead activities.
• Use specialist roles for troop-wide tasks: one person for cookies, one for finances, one for events.
• If possible, remove yourself from weekly planning and focus on coordination, registration, fundraising, and ceremonies.

Parent Involvement

• Host monthly parent meetings to review agendas and ask for help.
• Build a rotation of registered helpers, but ensure each level has a consistent lead.
• Encourage parents to lead one meeting per year or take on small roles.

Flexibility Is Key

• Some meetings split by level, others mix scouts for peer-led activities.
• When badge overlap allows, coordinate across levels, but don’t force it.
• Use craft stations or team-building games to bring everyone together without sacrificing age-appropriate learning.
• Leaders emphasized not to add a separate meeting night unless it’s truly sustainable. However, rotating which levels meet each week can sometimes work.

Managing the Chaos

• Use line leaders, kaper charts, and clear rules with consequences to guide behavior.
• Hold monthly parent meetings to share agendas and ask for help.
• Lean on leaders with daughters in each level, they often step up naturally.

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For More Fun Ideas and Plans

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This is a supportive Facebook community for Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Girl Scout leaders. Whether you’re seeking advice, fresh ideas, or meeting plans, you’re in the right place! Let’s inspire each other, share our experiences, and make every troop meeting a memorable adventure.

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