Camp & Outdoor Training for Adults
Girl Scouts of Northern California offers a variety of training opportunities for you to prepare for a safe and fun outdoor experience with your Girl Scouts. Before venturing outdoors, volunteers are required to have the knowledge and experience to lead a safe and positive camping experience. gsLearn offers a variety of Learning Paths and Courses that correspond with the progression of outdoor experiences you'll be having with your troops. Our volunteers come to GSNorCal with various levels of camping experience; no matter what your camping comfort-level is, we have training offerings to meet your needs.
If you have interest in getting your troop outdoors, at least one registered adult must take the required Trip & Outdoor Advisor Learning Path in gsLearn Please refer to the Trip and Outdoor Learning Matrix to see what modules are required for your outdoor activity. Look for 636 Trip & Outdoor Advisor and other outdoor courses in the Content Library of gsLearn. Stay up-to-date with adult enrichment opportunities offered through the Outdoor Program team at GSNorCal using our Events Calendar.
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Minimum Training Requirements:
In order to take your troop camping, you must complete the appropriate online modules in gsLearn
• For camping trips where your group will sleep and eat indoors (ex. in a lodge), at least one adult must complete the 636 Trip & Outdoor Advisor learning path and 636 Sleep-In and 636 Cook In courses.
• For any outing where your group will make a campfire, at least one adult must complete the 636 Trip & Outdoor Advisor learning path and 636 Campfire and 636 Cook In courses.
• For camping trips where your group will sleep and eat outdoors, (ex. at a GSNorCal or State Park campsite) at least one adult must complete the 636 Trip & Outdoor Advisor and 636 Camp Out Course learning paths.
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Optional Supplemental Trainings
To find and register for optional trainings, visit https://events.gsnorcal.org/
- In-Person Camp-Out Trainings will continue to be offered by our Camp-Out Trainers. We recommend taking this training if you have little or no camping experience. You will still need to take the online modules; this course only takes the place of the Camp Out Training Assessment.
- In-Person Outdoor Enrichment Programs will be offered on a monthly basis. These programs are recommend for adults who have taken the online courses, but would like some additional practice and hands-on training. Enrichment Programs do not take the place of any of the modules or the Camp Out Training Assessment, and they are not required. They are offered to increase your comfort level when leading your girls in the outdoors.
Training Module Details
636 GSNorCal Mandated Reporter is a required prerequisite course for all volunteer roles.
The 636 Trip & Outdoor Advisor learning path is also required to all the travel, cooking, and camping courses.
Other learning paths you may need along your training journey are: 636 Troop Chaperone/Helper, 636 Troop First Aider, 636 Troop Driver, and 636 Wilderness First Aider.
Look for 636 Trip & Outdoor Advisor and other outdoor courses in the Content Library of gsLearn
This learning path will prepare you to take Girl Scouts on local field trips or day trips and is a prerequisite to all other trip and outdoor courses. Learn about the importance of trips and outdoor experiences, progression, readiness, how to plan and budget for trips with youth, trip safety, and group management. Look for 636 Trip & Outdoor Advisor in the Content Library of gsLearn
These courses will prepare you to teach girls to safely cook and sleep indoors!
With Cook In, you'll learn how to teach girls to plan, budget, shop, and prepare their own meal indoors using a variety of indoor cooking methods, as well as knife and food safety.
And after completing Sleep In, you'll feel prepared to conquer your first indoor sleepover! We'll show you how to work with girls to plan, make arrangements, prepare, and pack for an indoor overnight adventure in a house, hotel, motel, hostel.
Look for 636 Cook In and 636 Sleep In in the Content Library of gsLearn
This course will prepare you to teach Girl Scouts to safely build, manage, and extinguish a campfire. Learn teaching techniques that you can use to demonstrate and teach Girl Scouts how to safely learn and practice campfire skills and how to roast marshmallows safely.
Look for 636 Campfire in the Content Library of gsLearn
During your Cook Out training, you’ll learn essential outdoor cooking skills including fire building methods, charcoal and camp stove cooking, outdoor dishwashing and sanitation methods, and Leave No Trace Principles that will have you enjoying safe outdoor meals with your Girl Scouts in no time!
In Sleep Out, you'll build on the skills from the Sleep In training and learn the fundamentals of sleeping outdoors, sleeping bags, and campsite setup in preparation for your troop camping adventure.
Look for 636 Cook Out and 636 Sleep Out in the Content Library of gsLearn
In order to complete your camping training, you will need to complete the 636 Camp Out Course learning path. There are two ways you can complete this learning path. First, complete the first three required courses in the learning path, then choose to complete:
1. 636 Camp Out Assessment – Test-Out Option
Pass an online test-style assessment.
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2. 636 Camp Out In-Person Course Option
Attend an in-person training course.
Add to end: Look for 636 Camp Out Course in the Content Library of gsLearn
The Regional Travel course is required before Junior and older troops can plan and prepare for a regional trip for up to 4 nights in nearby states (California, Oregon, and Nevada) sleeping in hotels, motels, or hostels. If you will be cooking, camping, or backpacking, at least one adult must also take the additional required courses for these activities. Girl Scouts should have experienced local travel and overnights before taking longer regional trips.
The Extended Travel Live Webinar course is required before Cadette and older troops plan an extended overnight trip of 5 or more nights (national or international) with Girl Scouts. If you will be cooking, camping out or backpacking, at least one adult must also take the additional required courses for these activities. It is offered yearly at Discoveree, and is in the process of being converted into an online training.
Look for 636 Regional Travel and 636 Extended Travel Live Webinar Course in the Content Library of gsLearn
Are your Girl Scouts feeling adventurous and wanting to explore the great outdoors? Learn all you need to know to lead your Girl Scouts on a backpacking experience of a lifetime. You must complete all the prerequisites and the Backpacking course to become a certified adult troop backpacker.
Look for 636 Backpacking In-Person Course in the Content Library of gsLearn