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Annual Volunteer Leadership Summit: Where Leadership Grows
You’re invited to the Volunteer Leadership Summit: Where Leadership Grows - An energizing, can’t miss experience designed to celebrate and empower leaders at every stage of their Girl Scout journey! Whether you’re a seasoned volunteer or just getting started, come connect, learn, and grow your skills through engaging trainings designed to help you feel confident and successful in your role.
This event is for ALL Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay volunteers!
The Annual Volunteer Leadership Summit will take place on Saturday, August 22nd, 2026 at Camp Todd, with the optional add on of staying for the whole weekend! See options below:
- Day Only Option – Saturday, August 22nd - $25
- Day with Weekend add-on – Friday, August 21st – Sunday, August 23rd - $50
Registration closes August 14, 2026.
Schedule 
8:00 AM
Breakfast
9:00 AM
Check in starts in the Program Center
9:30 AM
Instructional Opening Flag Ceremony
10:00 AM
Welcome - Main Tent
Department Overviews - Main Tent
11:15 AM
Session 1
12 PM
Lunch - Food Truck - Main Tent
Community Showcase - Program Center
Volunteer's Choice Award Voting - Main Tent
1:30 PM
Session 2
2:25 PM
Session 3
3:20 PM
Session 4
4:15 PM
Closing and Awards Ceremony
4:45 PM
Instructional Closing Flag Ceremony
*Schedule is subject to change
Session Descriptions
Session 1 - Where Leadership Grows - Leadership Development
| Behind the Slate: Making Decisions for the Future | Ever wonder how Council Leadership decisions are made? This session will give you insight into the Board Development Committee's role, how prospective board members are identified and vetted, and how members can recommend individuals for consideration. |
| Coffee & Conversations with the CEO | Bring your questions, ideas, and curiosity! Join our CEO for an informal conversation about Girl Scouts, the future of GSCB, and what matters most to our volunteers. |
| Camp Like a Pro: Encampment Planning | Ready to take on planning your service unit encampment? Walk through the key pieces of planning a successful encampment from activities and logistics to safety and everything in between. |
| Map Your Year Workshop | Start mapping out the possibilities for your Girl Scout year- both Troops & SU's! Explore ideas for badges, activities, adventures, and experiences, then take your favorites back to your girls and let them help create the plan. You’ll leave with a framework of ideas to get the conversation started and your troop’s or Service Units year taking shape. |
| Exploring Program Modernization | Get ready for what’s next in Girl Scouting! This session will provide an overview of GSUSA’s Program Modernization efforts and what they mean for Girl Scout volunteers. Explore upcoming updates to awards, badges, the Volunteer Toolkit, and other program resources, while learning how these changes will make it easier to deliver engaging, relevant, and meaningful Girl Scout experiences. Come discover what’s changing, what’s staying, and how you can prepare your troop for the future of Girl Scouting. |
| Looker Made Easy | Service Unit Managers – Utilizing Looker is a necessary part of effectively managing your Service Unit. Let us help you become comfortable using Looker to find and understand the information you need. This hands-on session will help you turn data into useful insights for your Service Unit. |
Session 2 - Where Confidence Grows - Resource and Training Sessions
| Mandated Reporter Training - Keeping Our Girls Safe | Understanding your role as a mandated reporter is an important part of keeping girls safe. Learn what your responsibilities are, what to watch for, and what to do when you have a concern. This session counts toward the requirement of taking mandated reporter yearly. |
| Sweet Success: Fall Product and Cookie Workshop | Ready to turn Girl Scout entrepreneurship into sweet success? Join us for a fun, practical workshop exploring both the Fall Product Program and the Cookie Program. Learn what’s new this year, and how participation can help Girl Scouts build real-world skills! |
| Where Money Grows | Learn how to help your troop’s finances grow with confidence! Explore budgeting basics, money-earning strategies, and practical ways to involve Girl Scouts in planning, decision-making, and managing troop funds while building real-world financial skills. |
| Recruiting Made Easy | Ready to grow your troop? Learn practical strategies for finding new girls, inviting families into Girl Scouts, and turning interest into membership. |
| Highest Awards | Take a closer look at Girl Scouts’ Highest Awards and discover how to help girls turn an idea into meaningful action. Learn the basics, expectations, and resources available to support girls along the way. |
| Make it Meaningful - Girl Scout Traditions and Ceremonies | From opening a meeting to celebrating a milestone, Girl Scout traditions and ceremonies create moments girls remember. Explore traditions, ceremony ideas, and simple ways to make them meaningful for your troop. |
| Creating Inclusive Spaces for Every Girl Scout | Every Girl Scout deserves to feel seen, valued, and empowered to participate fully. In this session we’ll explore how to better understand diversity, disabilities, and the barriers that can impact a Girl Scout’s experience. Together, we’ll discuss practical ways to create welcoming, accessible, and inclusive troop environments where every Girl Scout can belong, contribute, and thrive. |
Session 3 - Where Connections Grow - Networking
| Connect, Share, and Lead: SUM Roundtable with CEO | Bring your ideas, questions, and experiences to the table! Connect with other Service Unit Managers and our CEO for an open conversation about what’s happening in our communities, what’s working, and how we can strengthen Girl Scouting together. |
| New Leader Connections | Being a new leader is an adventure and it’s even better when you have people to share it with. Meet other new leaders, swap ideas, share challenges, and build your Girl Scout support network. |
| The Art of Connection | Strong Girl Scout communities start with meaningful connections. Explore simple, practical ways to build trust, create welcoming experiences, and connect with girls, families, volunteers, and your community. Learn how small moments and intentional interactions can strengthen relationships and help everyone feel like they belong. |
| One Troop, Many Levels | Leading girls across multiple grade levels can feel like a juggling act. Discover practical strategies for balancing different ages, badges, interests, and needs while creating a troop experience where every girl feels included. |
| Man Enough to be a Girl Scout | Girl Scouts is for everyone who believes in the mission, and men play an important role in helping Girl Scouts build courage, confidence, and character. Designed specifically for male Girl Scout volunteers and caregivers to explore meaningful ways to support troops and Service Units while understanding the unique policies, safety guidelines, and best practices that help create safe, girl-led experiences. |
| More than Giving: Philanthropy and the Girl Scout Mission | Philanthropy helps make the Girl Scout experience possible for more girls. Learn how giving supports our mission, expands access, and strengthens the future of Girl Scouting and how volunteers can help tell that story. |
Session 4 - Where Character Grows - Hands on Learning Opportunities
| Dip Your Paddle In: Small Craft Basics | Never been in a kayak or canoe? No problem! This hands-on overview is designed for leaders who are new to small craft and want to feel more confident getting their troops on the water. Learn the basics of kayaking and canoeing, what to expect, important safety considerations, and tips for working with a GSCB facilitator for a fun and successful experience on the water. *This is NOT a facilitator training. |
| Take Aim: Archery 101 | Take a shot at learning the basics of archery! Get an introduction to the equipment, safety, and skills involved so you can better understand what girls experience when they take aim at the target. *This is NOT a facilitator training. |
| Sew It Begins! | Not sure what to do with all those badges? Grab a needle and thread and explore the opportunities! Learn the difference between badges and patches, appropriate placement, and the options for adhering them to the vest or sash. |
| Hit the Trails | Lace up your boots and explore the trails of Camp Todd! Get familiar with hiking opportunities at camp, learn some tips for leading girls on the trail, and discover ways to turn a hike into a Girl Scout adventure. |
| Mandated Reporter Training - Keeping our Girl Scouts Safe | Understanding your role as a mandated reporter is an important part of keeping girls safe. Learn what your responsibilities are, what to watch for, and what to do when you have a concern. This session counts toward the requirement of taking mandated reporter yearly. |
| Free to Give Back | This is your time to choose how you spend it! Relax, connect with friends, or lend a hand with one of our service projects around camp. If you’re looking for a way to give back during the Summit, there will be plenty of ways to put your hands to work and leave Camp Todd a little better than you found it. |
| Around the Table with Theresa | Pull up a chair and join Theresa, CEO, for an open and informal conversation. Bring your questions, ideas, and experiences as we talk about Girl Scouting, our communities, and the future of the movement. This is your opportunity to connect directly with our CEO and share what matters most to you. |
Weekend Extras
Friday
8:00 PM – Growing Leadership with S'mores & StoriesGather around the campfire to enjoy creative sweet and savory s'mores, share stories, exchange ideas, and connect with fellow volunteers from across the council. Together, we'll build friendships, celebrate the Girl Scout spirit, and discover that leadership grows best when we learn from one another.
Saturday
9:30 AM – Instructional Opening Flag Ceremony
Join us as we officially open the Adult Leadership Summit with a traditional flag ceremony that celebrates our shared commitment to Girl Scouting. Together, we'll honor our values, reflect on the roots of our movement, and prepare for a weekend where leadership grows through learning, service, and connection.
10:00 AM – Leadership Summit
Throughout the event, you'll choose from sessions designed to help you grow your skills, expand your network, and strengthen your impact.
4:30 PM – Instructional Closing Flag Ceremony
Every journey begins with a single step and grows through shared experiences. As we retire the colors, we'll celebrate the friendships, inspiration, and renewed purpose we've cultivated together, carrying the spirit of Girl Scouting home to help the next generation of leaders grow.
5:30 PM – Pizza and Connections
For our overnight guests, join us for pizza and salad as we relax, reconnect, and recharge before an evening of fun. Great conversations and lasting friendships often begin around the table, and leadership grows stronger when we share a meal together.
6:00 PM – Relaxation
For those who are staying overnight, join us as we take a breather with some relaxed camp activities such as a sunset kayak excursion, and evening hike, or just some quiet time for yourself!
8:00 PM – Create, Connect & Grow
Spend the evening painting a Girl Scout ceramic while enjoying meaningful conversation and time with fellow volunteers. Just as every brushstroke adds to the finished piece, every volunteer adds something special to our movement, helping leadership grow one girl at a time.
Sunday
Are you looking to renew your role as a facilitator or to learn new skills at a deeper level? Register in advance for Facilitator Sunday opportunities! Choose from Small Craft Facilitator, Outdoor Skills Training, Archery Facilitator Training, or First Aid/CPR/AED training! *These trainings have additional costs associated and may have online prerequisites required to be completed in advance.
Overnight Accomodations
Requests will be accommodated to the best of our ability.
Options include:
- Adirondacks - rustic, three-sided screened bunkhouses with access to a unit house containing cooking, storage, and dining essentials. Some units have private latrines and sinks, while others use nearby wash houses and water pumps.
- Canvas Tents - are rustic accommodations set on raised wooden platforms and typically sleep 2–4 people in bunk beds or cots. Each site includes access to a screened unit house with cooking, storage, and dining essentials.
- BYO Tent - offer a traditional outdoor camping experience where campers provide and set up their own tents. Campsites typically include access to a fire circle, picnic tables, and shared camp amenities.
- Lodges - are modern accommodations with electricity, plumbing, central air, full bathrooms, and kitchens.
