Location, location, location.
The FIRST thing you’re going to want to do as a brand new troop leader (WELCOME, WELCOME!) is to find a meeting spot. Some of you are lucky ducks and have inherited a troop that already has a meeting space established, in which case you can peruse some other fabulous post of mine OR continue reading anyway because you find me so witty and engaging!
A lot of you are fresh off the background-check-and-orientation-runway and are in need of identifying a place for your troop to congregate. Which is where my sage advice comes in:
The best things in life are…
Covered in salted caramel. Oh, and free. When you embark on your search for a place to meet you’re going to want to limit your options to a location that is free or very, very low cost. If the venue you choose does have a cost associated with it you can pay for is using troop funds or dues (but more on troop finances later).
Check out meeting rooms at…
- Libraries
- Places of worship
- Schools
- Local businesses
- Childcare facilities
- Community/recreation centers
If you’re leading a group of older girls, consider mixing things up and meeting at a local coffee shop, bookstore, or another place they enjoy spending time and find hip and trendy (or um… totally… rad?).
6 things that may or may not go without saying but I will say them anyway just to be safe:
- Availability. Check to see when the space is available to make sure that it will work with the meeting times you have in mind.
- Keep it roomy. Make sure that the space is large enough to hold all of your girls and provide them with enough room to do their activities.
- Safety first. Choose a location that is secure, clean, well-ventilated, and clear of live wires hanging from the ceiling- did I mention some of these go without saying?
- Allergen-free. Pick a place that will be pet-dander free and not covered in peanuts.
- Accessible to all. Your location should be able to accommodate girls, parents/guardians, speakers, etc. with disabilities.
- The essentials. Bathrooms. Tables. Chairs.
If you’ve got questions about meeting locations I, or any of my amazing co-workers, would be happy to answer them for you! We can also put you in contact with volunteers in your area who might have already scoped out some good spots and can offer you some advice. As always—you can contact us.
— Brianna