FAQ

We're a new multi-level troop in Porter Ranch — meaning Daisies and Brownies meet together rather than splitting into separate troops. It works well at our size: the older girls help the younger ones, and sisters can stay in the same troop.

We're part of Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles, the largest girl leadership development organization in Southern California, with more than 33,000 girl members in grades K–12 and nearly 17,000 adult volunteers across Los Angeles County and parts of San Bernardino and Kern Counties. Closer to home, we belong to the Heart of the Valley service unit — the group of nearby troops we share events with, like World Thinking Day.

We're already a small troop spread across two levels, and right now we'd rather grow sideways than add a third. What we're really hoping for is more 2nd graders to round out our Brownies.

The bigger reason is that we want the girls to move up together. A 3rd grader would bridge to Juniors next year and leave the group behind, and the same goes the other way for TK Daisies — which is why we aren't taking them yet either. Keeping everyone on the same timeline means this group gets to grow up as one troop.

If your girl falls outside that range, it's worth reaching out to Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles — there are other troops in our area, and the council can help you find the right fit.

We ask the girls. They vote on what they want to try, and that vote is what we build the year around — the activities, the badges we work toward, and where we go on outings. Here's what's on their list right now:

• Jewelry & friendship bracelets
• LEGOs, robots & rollercoasters
• Slime & science experiments
• Farm & wildlife center trips
• Holiday party & cupcake decorating
• Nature hikes, gardening & obstacle courses
• Space & stargazing
• Painting & canvas art

We also like to give back to our community, and we work a service project into the year as often as we can. This year that means volunteering for Thanksgiving baskets and marching in the Granada Hills Holiday Parade.

Girl Scouts of the USA keeps a thorough Frequently Asked Questions page covering membership, safety, and how the program works nationally. For our area, Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles is our council. And if your question is really about our troop, just ask us — that's the fastest way.

We meet bi-weekly on Sundays at 12:30pm, and meetings usually run about an hour and a half. Meetings are in the Porter Ranch area — get in touch and we'll send you the address for the next one. Upcoming dates are on the schedule page.

The girls work on a patch — the Daisies are earning their daisy petals right now, and we do one patch per meeting. The troop provides a snack, plus there's a little troop business and time to just be together.

Nope. Life is busy and we know it. Come to what you can — nobody is keeping score.

The troop provides snack at every meeting — you don't need to send anything. We're mindful of allergies and dietary preferences, so please tell a leader about your girl's before her first meeting and we'll plan around it. If it's easier to send her own snack, that's completely fine too.

Girls going into kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade — Daisies and Brownies. Right now the troop has first- and second-year Daisies and first-year Brownies, so there's a good chance your girl already has someone her age here.

Small and growing. That's a real part of the appeal — the girls get plenty of attention and everybody knows everybody. The exact count moves around as families join, so reach out to a troop leader for where we're at today.

Two easy ways. You can register through the Girl Scouts website and add yourself to our troop, or you can just show up to a meeting, meet Lisa, and ask us anything first. No pressure either way.

Please do. Come to the next meeting, see what it's like, and talk to us. That's usually the easiest way to decide.

Three of us, and all of us are troop parents too. Lisa is our lead troop leader and the experienced one — she led a troop for her older daughter, now a 6th-grade Cadette, and she has a 1st grader in this troop. Amanda is a co-troop leader and has a Brownie and a Daisy in the troop. Monique is also a co-troop leader and has a Daisy in the troop.

There are two separate pieces. Troop dues are $20 per girl, per year, due when you register. The Girl Scouts registration fee is separate and goes to GSUSA, not to us.

All of it comes back to the troop and pays for whatever we decide we need — events and outings, supplies, dues, patches, uniforms. Whatever feels right for the troop.

No dress code for regular meetings — come comfortable. If a particular meeting calls for something specific, like outdoor shoes or clothes that are okay to get messy, we'll make sure that's clear before the meeting.

For our out-in-the-community events. This year we're planning things like volunteering for Thanksgiving baskets and marching in the Granada Hills Christmas parade — the girls wear their uniforms for those.

Nothing is required in Girl Scouts. If your girl wants to sell, that's awesome, and all the profit goes straight back to the troop. If she doesn't, that's fine too.

It's our first fundraiser of the year. The girls sell nuts, candies, and chocolate, and it starts in September and is over by November. A share of every sale comes back to the troop. It's good practice for all of us before cookie season. Full details are on the council's Fall Product Program page.

Cookies run in the new year. Through our council, Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles, order-taking opens in early January and the program wraps up in early March, with booth sales in between. The exact dates shift a little each year, and the council posts them on its Cookie Program page.