Volunteer Learning Staff:
- Robin Brooks
Learning Registrar
- Heather Cutting
Outdoor & Certification Learning Manager
- Pat Ford
VP, Volunteer Learning
- Carrol Harris
Senior Manager, Leader Learning & Continuing Education
Certifications
Certifications qualify participants to engage in, lead or teach the activity for which they are certified.
Some of the certifications offered regularly by GSWW are listed below, but other upcoming certifications may be available in the calendar.
First Aid/CPR
There are a variety of courses available that meet individual needs, whether you are new to CPR certification, want to take a refresher course or seek a more flexible program. We offer Red Cross courses and all First Aid certification is good for three years, all CPR certification is good for one year. Check out the Safety-Wise update (page 5) for a listing of other courses and what level they are. For an explanation of First Aid levels in Girl Scouts, reveiw Safety-Wise page 36.
First Aid/CPR - $40
Level 2 Sports Safety class that allows you to become the First Aider for your troop's activities. Must be 18+. This course will also qualify you to be a Level 2 First Aider at any Girl Scout activity with more than 200 participants and when Activity Checkpoints indicate the need (See Safety-Wise). 8 Hours.
First Aid/CPR/Blended Learning - $45
Be the First Aider for your troop - take this flexible and self-paced course. The first portion is completed online. The second portion is done in a classroom. You must bring a copy of the online test completion to the skill session to complete the course. The online session is available to work on at any time, but must be completed prior to attending the skills sesssion of your choice.
First Aid/CPR Refresher - $30
For those who have a current certification card.
CPR Review - $20
For those who have a current CPR card and need a quick skill review and test. 3 hours.
Note: To determine if a First Aider is needed for a group activity, refer to the Universal Checkpoints and the specific Activity Checkpoint in Safety-Wise. "Be Prepared" is the Girl Scout Motto - if unsure, it is best to have a First Aider present.
Note: For the classes below, fees vary, and courses are often only offered every other year.
Wilderness First Aid
Level 2 First Aid focused on injuries and emergencies related to backpacking, canoe trekking and other trips into remote areas. Also for Health Supervisors for encampment programs. 16 hours - all 3 days required.
Archery
Qualifies participants as Level I Archery Instructors by the National Archery Association (NAA). Must be 14 years or older.
Leave No Trace Trainer Course
Want to know more about teaching Leave No Trace ethics to your troops for trips to local parks, or for high adventure activities like backpacking and canoeing? This is the course for you!
Fundamentals Of Canoeing
Learn to paddle and enjoy safe boating on the waterfront. This American Red Cross course will teach the strokes necessary for solo and tandem paddling, rescue, safety and boat handling. This is a very physical course that will help develop the paddling skills needed for Small Craft Safety. Must be 16+, pass a swim test and use a PFD. 20 hours.
Small Craft Safety
Learn to prevent, recognize and respond to small craft emergencies. The course addresses trip planning and supervision, self-rescue, aquatic emergency response, spinal injury management and specific non-swimming rescue skills. This is a physical course; you will be in the water for a fair amount and will be capsizing and rescuing boats.
Provides an adult with certification to provide secondary leadership for canoeing activities. While this course does not allow an adult to lead canoe programs, they can serve as the second adult in a safety position when all participants are wearing a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device. Must be 13+; have swimming skills including treading water for 1 minute and swimming 25 yards with or without PFD; have strong paddling skills including paddling straight forwards and backwards, turning skills in both directions and solo paddling; and be able to properly board and debark a canoe. 8 hours.
Fundamental Of Instructor Training (FIT)
A prerequisite for Fundamentals of Canoeing and Small Craft Safety Instructor Certification. (May be waived for council trainers or educators). May also be taken at American Red Cross. 4 hours.
Fundamentals Of Canoeing And Small Craft Safety Instructor Certification
Trains volunteers in Waterfront Supervision. Must be 18+; have taken Small Craft Safety and Fundamentals of Canoeing, or have equivalent skills; have strong swimming skills including treading water for 10 minutes, swimming 25 yards with or without PFD, and towing a victim 25 yards; and must complete Fundamentals of Instructor Training (FIT) within the year. All 3 days required.