Junior Leaders

When I was a youth member, I volunteered as a Junior Leader (then called Girl Assistant) for six years. On this page I've compiled resources about being a Junior Leader, as well as my own advice for girls who want to be Junior Leaders, and Guiders working with Junior Leaders.

These are my own personal experiences, as well as some tips that I've gathered from others. For official GCC information on how to become a Junior Leader, visit the Become a Junior Leader page which is linked down below in the External Resources section.

For girls who want to be Junior Leaders: 

• Let your Guiders know what you want to get out of being a JL, and any goals that you have. Some JLs want to be involved in all the planning and behind-the-scenes work, and some just want to go to weekly meetings and help out. Both are great options, and finding a balance that works for you means that you will get the most out of being a JL.

• Recognize that part of being a JL is that you are always learning. Start small, and work your way up to your goal. If your goal is to plan and lead a whole meeting on your own, start by planning and leading a simple game or craft. The more you do it, the more comfortable you will be. 

• Find a balance between being a "cool older kid" and being respected as a part of the leadership team. This can be difficult in the beginning but work with your Guiders to find a good balance.

• Being a JL is a good time to try new things. If you've never spoken in front of a large group before, speaking in front of a group of younger girls is is a great low-risk way to practice. 

• Don't forget to check and see if anything you are doing as a JL can be counted towards your own program work. The Lady Baden-Powell, Canada Cord, and Trailblazer awards all have community service components. If you think that what you are doing could count towards your badge or award requirements, talk to your Guide/Pathfinder/Ranger Guider.

• Unfortunately, there is no formal process for registering as a Junior Leader. Talk to your Unit Guiders, they can help you find a Unit to volunteer with, and get you registered.

For Guiders who work with Junior Leaders:

• Talk with you Junior Leader at the beginning of the year about what she wants to get out of being a JL. Revisit this conversation throughout the Guiding year, as her goals may change as she becomes more comfortable in her role.

• Be honest about any expectations you have. Things that might be obvious to you as a Guider, like arriving to the meeting place a few minutes early to set up, might not be obvious to a new JL.

• Be open to differences and new ideas. Your JL's experience in Sparks, Brownies or Guides was almost certainly different than yours, and you may have different perspectives on certain things. I learned a lot about Guiding traditions from my Guiders, and I've introduced them to new online tools like Google Drive. Together you can use your strengths to create engaging programming for your unit.

• See if your Junior Leader has a skill that she would like to share. I love music, and every year I planned a night where we worked on the Sing Ontario Sing challenge. This is an easy way for her to practice her leadership skills, by focusing on a subject that she is already comfortable with.

• Take a look at the program and awards of the branch that your Junior Leader is in. Some of what she is doing with your Unit may count towards her own badges and awards. This should be a shared responsibility. While it's not up to you to keep track of you JL's work, your JL, especially if she is younger or less experienced, might not be aware that what she is doing in your unit can count towards her own program and awards as well.

• If you are looking for a way to recognize the work done by your GA, how about the Girl Assistant Certificate of Appreciation? You can find it in the Member Zone, in the program section under the Guider Resources tab.

• Unfortunately, there is no formal process for Guiders who are looking for a Junior Leader for their unit. My best advice would be to email Guide, Pathfinder or Ranger units in your area to see if there are any girls who are interested in the role. 

External Resources:

Girl Guides of Canada: Become a Junior Leader

This page has some basic information on how to become a Junior Leader.

Win Win Win! With Girl Assistants

Canadian Guider, Winter 2020, pg. 4

This article details the benefits of having a Girl Assistant (Junior Leader) working with your unit, as well as some stories from Pathfinder and Ranger GA's and the Guiders they work with. 

Leading the Way

Canadian Guider, Fall 2018, pg. 14

This article was written by a Girl Assistant (Junior Leader) about her experiences in the role, as well as what advice she has for future GA's.

Terrific Teams: Unit Guiders and Girl Assistants

Canadian Guider, Fall 2016, pg. 28

This article was written by a Guider and a Ranger Girl Assistant (Junior Leader), and has some tips for Guiders and GA's on working together.

Junior Leaders: How do we make the most of their generosity?

This blog post by Cara, a Guider in Ottawa, gives a Guider's perspective on how to incorporate a Girl Assistant into your leadership team. 

I Was a Terrible Junior Guider

This blog post is from the perspective of a former Junior Leader, now Spark Guider. She talks about how she never really became confident in her role as a GA, but all of the things that she learned from the experience empowered her to become a confident Spark Guider several years later.