Virtual Troop Tips

Virtual Conferencing is a great tool to use. A few platforms that are currently offering paid and/or FREE versions are Google Hangouts, Slack, Wire, and Microsoft Teams. These platforms offer your Troop a virtual room to host meetings. You might even consider gathering for a virtual dance party, worship session, craft party, or to work on a badge as a Troop.

Once you are ready to go, you can use this Troop Meeting Breakdown as a roadmap for your virtual conferencing call.

Whether your Troop is working on badges together or individually, AHG created a list of badges that are social-distancing-friendly! Be sure to check out the list of at-home badge work here, and be on the lookout for more information about a NEW badge that will be released this month!

If you’re assigning badges as a Troop, consider planning a virtual meeting to explain badge requirements or sending an email/video with instructions. You could even plan for each Unit to work on the badges together via virtual meetings! For example, the requirement to interview an expert may turn into an interview via phone or email, rather than in person.

Here are some ideas of how to remain connected while keeping Troop life virtual:

1. Letters: With a parent’s permission, Unit Members can share addresses, so girls can write letters and other fun mail. Troop Leaders might consider writing their girls letters of encouragement and filling the envelope with stickers, seeds to plant, or coloring sheets.
2. Social Media: Stay connected with families through social media as a place to encourage, share updates, and celebrate milestones.
3. Video Calls: Consider hosting video calls to read devotionals from @BibleBelles and @HeartofWomanhood or a resource from Right Now Media.
4. Prayer: Ask your Troop families to come together for virtual prayer at a certain time each day or week to build community and bless one another.

AHG is so excited to hear the ways Troops have been resourceful in recognizing their girls and volunteers. Here are a few examples of what other Troops have done:

1. Virtual Ceremony: Just as you would have an in-person ceremony, girls dress in their Class A Uniform and volunteers dress in their uniform to attend a virtual End-of-Year (EOY) Ceremony! Girls can decorate the room they will be in for the ceremony and make fun snacks to celebrate and share with their family. Virtual Ceremonies are still a great opportunity for girls to practice their leadership skills. After the ceremony is over, you can mail girls their badges and awards.
2. Drive-In Ceremony: Your Troop can plan a date to park their cars in a common location (maybe your Charter Organization’s parking lot) for their EOY Ceremony. One leader could announce the awardees from outside of his/her car with a microphone or megaphone for all to hear!
3. Postponed Ceremony: If your Troop is looking to host an in-person EOY Ceremony, the ceremony could be postponed until it is safe to come together again.