Programs & Activities

Check Activities page for complete listings of each Girl Scout level.

We offer a wide range of programs for our girls, from fun activities at the U of A to community service projects. Check listings!

Special Needs

If you are registering a Girl Scout for a Council program and the girl has any special needs that we should be aware of please let us know so that SGSC can make reasonable accommodations for the Girl Scout. We want to ensure that every Girl Scout has an optimal experience with our programs. If you have any questions please call Debbie Rich at 520-319-3168.

Safety

Safety of girls is our number one priority in providing programs. All girls attending council-sponsored events as individuals must verify that adult coverage is available prior to attending. In some instances an adult may need to accompany the girl throughout the duration of the program. Please call 319-3181 or 1-800-331-6782 ext. 3181 to verify.  

General Information

Si desea información en español sobre los programas y eventos que aparecen en este manual, favor de comunicarse al 520.327.2288 o 1.800.331.6782, ext. 3158 pregunte por una de nuestras representantes bilingues.

The board and staff of Sahuaro Girl Scout Council thank you for volunteering your valuable time to encourage girls in our Arizona communities to become great leaders!

Please note that planning for some events is still in progress. We have given you as much information as possible. Contact the registrar at 520.319.3142 or 1.800.331.6782, ext. 3142 for more information as events draw near. Check individual levels of the Programs & Activities section for the latest information.

Council-Sponsored Events

We provide program activities and events available to individual Girl Scouts, troops and the whole family. When your troop registers for an event you will receive a confirmation email prior to the event. This email will include any additional information you may need for the program or event (i.e., list of what to bring, map to program location). All programs are in Tucson unless otherwise stated.

The Role Council-Sponsored Programs Play in Troop Activities

Council-sponsored programming is provided to serve girls, support leaders and supplement the activities the troop provides. We want troops and leaders to have the opportunity to attend unique, fun events.

Council-sponsored programs are intended to supplement troop-initiated programs, not to replace them. It is neither appropriate nor possible for the Council to offer enough programs for troops to rely on for all of their activities. The majority of activities are organized at the troop level. Some troops plan a joint activity with another troop. Service unit neighborhoods usually plan one or more large events per year for the service unit. Council-sponsored events are designed to support and complement other types of programs and activities.

You will find programs that you as a leader attend with your girls, individual programs that you attend on your own and community events that your entire troop and their families can attend.

Girl Scout levels

Daisy Girl Scouts (K-1)
Brownie Girl Scouts (Grades 2-3)
Junior Girl Scouts (Grades 4-5)
Cadette Girl Scouts (Grades 6-8)
Senior Girl Scouts (Grades 9-10)
Ambassador Girl Scouts (Grades 11-12)

Events and activities can be designed for certain age levels. Factors related to the girls' physical sizes, strength, mental development, emotional maturity, or safety concerns have all been taken into consideration. By offering a program to specific age levels, we are better able to serve all girls.

Fees

The fees for Council-sponsored programs reflect our best effort to negotiate the lowest possible fee with the program provider. A portion of program fees also reflects costs for coordinating the programs and facilities usage.

Fees may change from year to year. This may reflect increased costs, enhancements to the program, a change in provider, the receipt or termination of special grant funding, or new policies within the cooperating organization.

Guidelines for Adult Participation

Girl Scouting is for girls. Almost all Council-sponsored programs are designed for girls. When a program has been designed for family participation, the program description makes that very clear. For most activities, we require you to bring only as many adults as are needed for carpooling and to meet Safety-Wise guidelines.

To ensure a quality experience, the number of participants in each program is limited. Most of our programs fill to capacity. If every troop registering for a program brought just one or two extra adults, this could add up to enough extra adults to prematurely fill the program and prevent another entire troop from being able to participate. If you have a number of parents who are interested in accompanying your troop, there are many other ways for them to be involved. You might wish to suggest that they drive a carpool and accompany the troop on your next outing, prepare a special activity for the girls, host a troop meeting, or help plan an event designed for parent or family participation.

Safety-Wise Guidelines

Safety-Wise requirements for events, trips and group camping:

• Daisy Girl Scouts: 2 adults to every 5 girls, plus 1 additional adult for every additional 3 girls
• Brownie Girl Scouts: 2 adults to every 12 girls, plus 1 additional adult for every additional 6 girls
• Junior Girl Scouts: 2 adults to every 16 girls, plus 1 additional adult for every additional 8 girls
• Cadette Girl Scouts: 2 adults to every 20 girls, plus 1 additional adult for every additional 10 girls
• Senior & Ambassador Girl Scouts: 2 adults to every 24 girls, plus 1 additional adult for every additional 12 girls

Guidelines for adult participation and fees vary in accordance with program expenses or the needs of cooperating organizations.

Special Note to Leaders of Girls in Grades 6-12

We encourage adults working with girls in grades 6-12 to share this POP Guide with the girls in their troop. For many programs, older girls may register individually as well as by troop. Individual girls ages 13 to 17 do not need an accompanying adult for programs. We strongly encourage you to drop off your girls and return to pick them up after the program. This allows girls to have their own experience and reflects feedback we receive from girls on what they seek in their Girl Scout experience.

Girl Scouts in grades 6-12 are invited to volunteer their assistance with programs for younger girls at Council events, in the Council administrative offices or in the retail shop. This can be done at the individual or troop level. You may register as a Program Aide (P.A.) by using the Program Registration Form. P.A.s may attend the event at no charge. There are many ways of being involved, with varying levels of responsibility. For further information, please contact the P.A. Coach, Katie Gorenflo, at .

Juliettes

All Girl Scout activities are open to Juliettes. For any activity requiring troop registration, contact the Juliette Coordinator, Katie Gorenflo at 520.319.3149 or . Keep an eye out for the Juliette Newsletter for lots of great information.

Archery, Canoeing & High Adventure!

Is your troop interested in Archery or Canoeing? Kristi Pallack is certified in both and is available on a limited basis to work with your girls! Please call Kristen Culliney at 520.319.3170 for details and reservations. If your troop is interested in any other High Adventure programming please call Kristi at 520.319.3154, or Kristen to see how we can help!

Teen Girls

We're working hard to provide you with great events. E-mail to get on the list for the monthly teen e-newsletter!

Check our Website

Program schedules, registration and cancellation information are available online. We send updates to every service unit on a monthly basis. Being able to review these updates is one of the many reasons to attend your service unit meetings. Forms can be found here.

How to Register

We encourage you to register for programs online at E-Council. Registration forms are also available online in the forms section and at the Council offices. Your registration may be submitted in person at the Council Shop, by mail, or by fax; payment options vary accordingly. Please be aware that the only way to be assured that program space is available is to register online. Placement is not guaranteed with a paper registration as programs may be already filled to capacity.

Submit Registrations to:
Sahuaro Girl Scout Council
4300 E. Broadway Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85711
Fax: 520.795.3318
(please confirm that your fax was received by Council)

All registrations and fees must be completed online or received (date stamped) at the Sahuaro Girl Scout Resource Center no later than the registration deadline listed for each program or event. In an effort to work more efficiently with our program volunteers and community partners, only those registrations received by the deadline will be accepted.

Be aware that to ensure a quality experience, participation in each program is limited. The Council reserves the right to cancel any program. Early registration is recommended.

Troops/groups or individuals submitting registrations and payments after an event is full will be notified and given the option of being placed on a waiting list for that program, or being refunded all registration fees paid. Please note: Additional program dates may be added if we receive enough registrations to fill another session of the program.

Payment of Fees

For your convenience we suggest that you submit all fees with your registration form. If this is not possible, we require a minimum deposit of $5.00 per girl or $50.00 per troop, whichever is greater. Any program with a fee of $5.00 or less requires full payment at the time of registration. Any balance due must be paid in full by the registration deadline. Please note: We are not able to reserve spaces without a registration form and deposit.

If you register in person at the Council front desk, payment can be made by cash, check, or credit card (Visa, Discover or MasterCard). When submitting a registration form by mail, you must enclose a check or provide credit card information. To register by fax, credit card information is necessary. Cookie Credits and Cookie Dough earned through the Cookie Program may also be applied toward Council programs.

Opportunity Fund

A portion of Cookie Program proceeds are designated by the Board of Directors for the Opportunity Fund, which may provide fee support to girl members, adult volunteers and troops. We encourage those who need fee support to participate in the Cookie Program. Opportunity Fund applications are available at the Resource Center and online. When requesting support to attend a Council-sponsored program, please submit an application with your registration form. Parents must sign all forms requesting Opportunity Funds.

Refund Policy

Cancellation and refund requests must be received in writing at the Council office 14 days prior to the event or the program start date. Cancellations received after 14 days prior to an event or the program start date will not be honored. In extreme circumstances, these guidelines may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. A Cancellation of Program or Event form must be completed and turned in to the Council at the time of cancellation. Forms are available at the Council office and online. The cancellation must be documented. You can fax your Cancellation form to 520.795.3318. Please mark forms "ATTN: Registrar".

Refunds are not given for events with a fee of $10.00 or less per registered Girl Scout. Refunds will be issued as either a program credit for the entire amount, or a check (less a 15% processing fee), whichever is preferred. Additionally, refund checks will not be issued for amounts totaling less than $10.00. Without sufficient notice, we are unable to fill spaces created through cancellations. Be sure to confirm each girl's participation well in advance, so that you can submit any cancellations/refund requests by the refund date shown on your confirmation letter.

Event Cancellations

In the event that Sahuaro Girl Scout Council finds it necessary to cancel an event or program, all troops/groups or individuals having submitted registrations and payments for that event or program will receive a full refund of all payments made.