Junior | Troop Year Planner

Your guide to a year of discovering and leading! 

For troop leaders of fourth and fifth grade Girl Scouts. 

Juniors are excited to discover more of their world and lead the way to a bright future. Whether they’re planning an epic outdoor adventure or learning how to flex their leadership skills online, they’re ready to take charge and make big things happen. This guide will help you as your Girl Scouts explore activities focused on discovery, confidence, and practical skills that will help them be their best selves. Planning for your troop year should always be girl-led. To get you started, we’ve collected a variety of our most popular badges and awards into one action-packed plan, you’ll see just how simple it can be to make a huge difference in your Girl Scouts’ lives. Get ready for a year of adventure and excitement as you help them grow.

Group of junior middle school Girl Scouts wearing sashes and badges playing games outdoors

How to get started:

Use these online Junior troop year plans to start planning your year. You can customize it along the way as you get to know your Girl Scouts and their interests.

Order your Junior program materials and resources from the Girl Scout Shop
Access detailed instructions to lead troop meetings through the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK), your free online resource for meeting overviews, materials lists, and more. See step-by-step access instructions.

Junior First Year Plan (PDF)

September

Meeting One: Junior Intro Meeting

To kick off your year, start by hosting a welcome party for your troop families.

Meeting Two: Space Science Investigator (part one)

Juniors venture beyond the Solar System and explore the vastness of space.

October

Meeting One: Space Science Investigator (part two) 

Juniors venture beyond the Solar System and explore the vastness of space.

Meeting Two: Simple Meals (part one)

Juniors learn how to serve up any meal for family and friends.

Field Trip

November

Meeting One: Simple Meals (part two) 

Juniors learn how to serve up any meal for family and friends.

Meeting Two: Service Project

Juniors identify an issue they care about and make a difference in their community.

December

Cookie Entrepreneur Family Pin

Juniors kick off the Cookie Program with their families.

Cookie Time

The Girl Scout Cookie Program

Help troops learn about entrepreneurship and pay for things like field trips, badges, supplies, and celebrations. Reach out to your council to learn more about how to participate and when your local cookie season starts. You may need to adjust the recommended order of earning the cookie badges in your year plan based on your cookie sale dates.

January

Meeting One: My Cookie Team (part one)

Juniors find out about Girl Scout Cookies and decide how they will use their money.

Meeting Two: My Cookie Team (part two)

Juniors set a troop budget and package goal, build their team, and create their pitch to customers.

February

Meeting One: Practice with Purpose (part one)

Juniors set a sports goal and practice to achieve it.

Meeting Two: Practice with Purpose (part two)

Juniors set a sports goal and practice to achieve it.

Council Event: World Thinking Day Event

Juniors explore World Thinking Day and find out about environmental problems around the world.

March

Meeting One: Digital Leadership (part one)

Juniors explore digital communities, digital footprints, and online media sources.

Meeting Two: Digital Leadership (part two)

Juniors design a digital community and create digital content to spread awareness.

Field Trip

Juniors get out of their meeting space to explore the world around them!

April

Meeting One: Horseback Riding (part one)

Juniors learn what it takes to be a good rider.

Meeting Two: Horseback Riding (part two)

Juniors learn what it takes to be a good rider.

Field Trip

Juniors get out of their meeting space to explore the world around them!

May

Meeting One: Girl-led Celebration Planning

Juniors work together to plan an end-of-year celebration for the troop and their families.

Girl-led End-of-Year Celebration

End your first year of Juniors by celebrating your accomplishments with your troop and their families.

Summer

Junior Trail Adventurer

Juniors decide whether to go trail running or hiking, plan and prepare for their adventure, learn about the gear they need, and go for a run on a trail or go for three separate hikes.

Girl Scouts Love the Outdoors Challenge

Summer is the perfect time to celebrate our love of the great outdoors. You have so many options for how to explore—from your window, a campsite, the sidewalk, or an open trail. 

Junior Second Year Plan (PDF)

September

Junior Intro Meeting

To kick off your second year of Juniors, start by hosting a welcome party for your troop families.

October

Meeting One: App Development (part one)

Juniors practice user-centered design to create app screens.

Meeting Two: App Development (part two) 

Juniors add interactivity and share their app with the user. Then, they earn the badge.

Field Trip

Juniors get out of their meeting space to explore the world around them!

November

Meeting One: Independence (part one)

Juniors learn how to feel more confident doing things on their own.

Meeting Two: Independence (part two)

Juniors learn how to feel more confident doing things on their own.

December

Cookie Entrepreneur Family Pin

Juniors kick off the Cookie Program with their families.

Cookie Time

The Girl Scout Cookie Program

January

Meeting One: Cookie Collaborator (part one)

Juniors get to know the Girl Scout Cookie business and decide on their goals.

Meeting Two: Cookie Collaborator (part two)

Juniors collaborate on a troop budget, reach more customers, and learn from them by walking in their shoes!

February

Meeting One: Inside Government (part one)

Juniors learn the basics of government.

Meeting Two: Inside Government (part two)

Juniors learn the basics of government.

Council Event: World Thinking Day Event

Juniors explore World Thinking Day and find out about environmental problems around the world.

March

Meeting One: Outdoor Art Explorer (part one)

Juniors learn how to find the art in nature and create their own outdoor artwork.

Meeting Two: Outdoor Art Explorer (part two)

Juniors learn how to find the art in nature and create their own outdoor artwork.

April

Meeting One: Business Jump Start (part one)

Juniors learn how to create something that solves a problem.

Meeting Two: Business Jump Start (part two)

Juniors learn how to revise their idea and then pitch it to an audience.

Field Trip

Juniors get out of their meeting space to explore the world around them!

May

End-of-Year Junior Bridging Celebration

End your second year of Juniors by celebrating your accomplishments with your troop and their families and bridging to Cadettes!

Field Trip

Juniors get out of their meeting space to explore the world around them!

Summer

Outdoor Family Event

Invite families to a park or other outdoor location for a summer family celebration.

Girl Scouts Love the Outdoors Challenge

Summer is the perfect time to celebrate our love of the great outdoors. You have so many options for how to explore—from your window, a campsite, the sidewalk, or an open trail.

Lead YOUR Way!

Wondering how you're “supposed” to lead? The best part is—there’s no one right way. Lead with what drives you through Girl Scouts’ NEW Leadership Awards.

LEARN MORE

Four Junior Girl Scouts sitting outdoors playing games

Shop Junior Materials

 Find everything you need to lead a successful troop year at the Girl Scout Shop.

ORDER NOW

Tips and Resources:

How to host a Junior meeting: toggle arrow

Arrival: Ask Juniors who arrive early to help unpack and set up any snacks and activity materials for later. Try to be on alert and catch Juniors being honest and fair, even in subtle ways.
Warmups and Wellness: Get Juniors excited to begin their meeting with a warm-up activity, a question, and a wellness check. Ask them how they are feeling today and what they are excited about!
Opening Ceremony: Officially open your troop meeting by reciting the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
Activities: Engage your Juniors in exciting activities to earn their badge.
Closing Ceremony: End your meeting by reviewing what you have learned together and asking Juniors to share their favorite part of the meeting. Congratulate Juniors on their accomplishments. Finish with a friendship circle and by singing “Make New Friends” as a troop.
Follow Up with Families: After the meeting, remember to share with families all the great things their Juniors did!

How to customize your troop year plans: toggle arrow

When you can get outside, do it! Go for a small trip or simply meet in a new space. Shaking things up occasionally keeps things exciting
Check with your council to see if they’re offering events or activities that your troop could attend. Those events make life easier for you and allow your troop to connect with other Girl Scouts from their area. Many councils and service units host annual World Thinking Day events in February.
If any of the recommended program options is not the right fit, or if you want to give your Girl Scouts the chance to shape their own experience, have them vote to choose a different badge or activity within the same focus area. When you enable Girl-led activities, girls step up and take ownership of their decisions, they grow into confident leaders who can make informed and empowered decisions—a valuable skill they’ll carry throughout their lives.  Check out our Award and Badge Explorer for other badge favorites, our latest release of new programs, or visit the Girl Scout Activity Zone.

How to run smooth troop meetings: toggle arrow

Access free detailed instructions to lead each of the meetings included in these troop year plans through the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK). Simply log in or create a member account from mygs.girlscouts.org. Once you log in, from the left navigation menu choose “Volunteer Toolkit.” Then choose “Explore,” “Pre-Selected Tracks,” “Fun and Friendship” and you’re set! See step-by-step access instructions.
Access other easy-to-follow volunteer essentials to keep you organized and inspired.

How to access volunteer training: toggle arrow

Access volunteer training from gsLearn for easy access to essential training and courses to lead activities the Girl Scout way.
Simply log in via myGS.girlscouts.org and search for “GSUSA Brownie badges” or other topics of interest. Each course will show you how to bring the badge content to life for your Brownie troop.
See step-by-step access instructions.

Troop leader with two Girl Scouts smiling outdoors

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Junior Troop Year Planner

Your guide to a year of discovering and leading!

For troop leaders of fourth and fifth grade Girl Scouts.

How to get started:

Junior First Year Plan (PDF)

Junior Second Year Plan (PDF)

Tips and Resources: