The Badge Archive

GSUSA – Volunteer Toolkit (VTK)

The Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) is GSUSA’s online planning resource for troop leaders and adult members. It provides access to badge meeting plans, troop information, financial reporting tools, and more. VTK is accessed through MyGS and is tailored to your role (leader or parent) with flexible viewing options.

Click here for a tutorial on how to use VTK to look up badge meeting plans. GSUSA also has their own at a glance guide.

For multi-level troops using the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK), it’s possible to assign multiple badge meeting plans to the same date and time using the Combine Meeting feature. However, this function does not merge activities or create a unified plan. It simply updates the calendar so that selected badge meetings appear on the same schedule. Leaders will still need to adapt or blend activities manually to suit their troop’s needs.

Top Navigation Menu

These options appear in the top menu bar and link to standard GSUSA website pages: About Girl Scouts, Our Program, Shop, Cookies, For Adults, and For Girls

Each of these is an external link to GSUSA’s public-facing content.

VTK Main Menu Options

Once inside VTK, the following options are available:

  • My Troop – Displays information about the troop you are registered in.
  • Explore – Search GSUSA-provided badge and award meeting plans across all levels.
  • Year Plan – View the Year Plan created by your troop leader, if one has been set up.
  • Meeting Plan – Access detailed meeting plans for any badge included in the Year Plan.
  • Resources – A curated list of links and tools provided by GSUSA for adult volunteers.
  • Finances – (Council-dependent) Submit your troop’s annual financial report online.

Viewpoint Toggle (Drop-Down Menu)

The drop-down menu between the two navigation bars controls your viewing mode:

  • Leaders have full access to Explore and Year Plan features.
  • Leaders can demo the Parent view, and Parents can demo the Leader view.
  • Demo mode allows exploration but does not permit editing or saving.

Using the Explore Feature

Search Tips

  • VTK search is broad and keyword-based.
  • Searching “Outdoor Art” will show:
    • All “Outdoor Art” badges across levels.
    • Any badge with “Outdoor” or “Art” in the title or description.
  • Even specific terms like “Outdoor Art Master” will return related and unrelated results.
  • Use the “Or Use Filters” option. This allows you to narrow the search by level, type of meeting (badge, journey, award, etc.), or category (Life Skills, STEM, New badges, etc.).

Badge Meeting Plan Features

Once you find a badge, click “Preview” to view its meeting details. This is especially useful for:

  • Leaders who do not use the Year Plan feature.
  • Adults in demo mode who want to explore badge content.

Each badge meeting includes:

  • Meeting Overview – A long summary of the badge and its goals.
  • Meeting Plan – Step-by-step instructions for running the meeting.
  • Materials List – Required and optional supplies for each activity.
  • Meeting Planner – A time-based outline of activities.
  • Meeting Aids – Downloadable PDFs and resources needed for the meeting.

Accessing Badge Booklets (2025 Update)

As of 2025, GSUSA allows badge booklets to be viewed online in VTK at no cost. Access is limited to:

  • Troops with a Year Plan that includes the badge meeting.
  • Booklets are available through the Meeting Plan tab once the badge is added.

Booklet formats vary:

  • Some are full PDFs with images from the printed versions.
  • Others are text-only summaries of the badge content.

These booklets are not accessible unless the badge is part of the troop’s Year Plan.

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For More Fun Ideas and Plans

for Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Scouts

Join the Girl Scout Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Leader Help Facebook Group
(Not an official GSUSA Group)

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.

for Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Scouts

Join the Girl Scout Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Leader Help Facebook Group
(Not an official GSUSA Group)

This is a supportive community for Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Girl Scout leaders. This group offers solutions to keep older scouts engaged in scouting amidst their busy lives. Share strategies, tackle challenges, and exchange ideas for fun, meaningful activities that resonate with teens and build lasting connections.

Find out how you can support The Badge Archive!

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Tia Kennard