Travel

Girl Scouts love to travel—from the field trips they take as Brownies to the global adventures they go on as teens. If you love exploring different places and cultures, then Girl Scouts is the place for you.

If traveling, please remember to follow all guidelines regarding group size, social distancing, masks, hand washing, cleaning high-touch surfaces, etc. See additional travel guidelines related to COVID-19 on cdc.gov.

2023 National Convention

Join this global gathering of Girl Scouts July 19-24, 2023 at Disney World Resorts in Orlando, Florida! There will be incredible speakers for Girl Scouts and volunteers to meet and learn from and vendors to showcase new opportunities and products for Girl Scouts. We all know what a great host the team at Disney can be, so we expect some great activities and opportunities at the 2023 National Convention.

Save your spot on our trip with a nonrefundable $300 deposit. This trip is open to Girl Scouts entering grade 5 in the fall of 2022 and all current Cadettes, Seniors, Ambassadors, and volunteers.

Watch the informational webinar for more information about the 2023 National Convention trip. Use passcode: PYb@epma.

Troop Travel

If your troop is planning a trip, make sure you are ready to go:

Take Overnight Troop Readiness in gsLearn (My GS)
Turn in your Trip Approval
Apply to raise any needed funds
Complete the Activity Insurance Form

The Troop Travel Resource Guide can be helpful for leaders planning a trip for the first time. Girls will want to work through the Girl Travel Planner as they plan their own travel experience as well.

Did you know you can bank program credit earned in the Fall Product and Cookie Programs? Learn more about saving troop funds for travel.

Council Travel

Plan Your Next Adventure
There’s a big world out there and Girl Scouts are ready to explore it. Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors can join our travel planning groups. With the help of the Girl Scout program team and volunteers, girls will work together to select locations and plan all the details for their big adventures.

Fill out the registration form to join a travel group!

Volunteers are needed to help make this travel program possible! If you have an interest in supporting girl’s travel and planning process, complete the Travel Group volunteer application.

2024 National Trip-current grades 5-6 traveling the United States: Get ready to see new sites, try new food, and meet new people! Girl Scouts, participating in a troop or as Juliettes, who are currently Juniors are invited to join a new expedition group. As a group, the girls will plan a national travel experience for 2024. Meet quarterly on zoom with the group to plan, budget, and have some fun before jet setting in the spring or summer of 2024. The first meeting with be March 27, 2022 and the meeting schedule will be determined by the group.
2025 Abroad –current grades 7-10 traveling international: Do you have ambitions to see the world or travel to a World Center? Girl Scouts currently in grades 6-9 are invited to join this planning group. In this group, the girls will plan an international travel experience for 2025. Meet quarterly on zoom with the group to plan, budget, and have some fun before jet setting in the spring or summer of 2025. The first meeting will be March 27th, 2022 and the meeting schedule will be determined by the group.

Current Council Planned Trips

Campout at Blank Park Zoo
Des Moines | September 23, 2023

International Trip to the Land Down Under
Australia & New Zealand | Summer 2023 | Cadettes/Seniors/Ambassadors

Land Down Under Trip - New Zealand and Australia June 2023

Join your fellow Girl Scouts on this trip of a lifetime to New Zealand and Australia. Highlights include learning about Maori Culture, Glowworm Grotto, Auckland, Sydney, and Cairns City tours, Bondi Beach, and Snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reefs.

Round-trip airfare from Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids
Overnight stays in hotels with private bathrooms
Breakfast and dinner daily except on travel days (International flights usually provide dining options)
All activities & entrances as per itinerary
Transportation: Buses and shuttles
Travel Insurance
Girl Scout only experience
Registered Nurse with the tour
Girls entering 8th grade and up in the Fall of 2023 are eligible for this trip.
Cost is $5,500

Learn more about the trip and enrollment >>

National Girl Scout Destinations

Girl Scout Destinations are the ultimate adventure for girls ages 11 and older! With different trips every year, there’s something amazing for everyone. Girls can apply to up to four different Destinations but must complete the application for each trip.

Girl Scout Destinations Schedule

September 20 | New Destinations available on GSTravel
November 15 | Applications Due
After November 15 | Rolling applications available for trips with openings
December | Notified of acceptance
January | Apply for Travel Grant with GSEIWI

Steps to take a life changing adventure:

Check out the available Destination experiences HERE
Apply for up to 4 Destinations
Get Invited to one of your choices!
Pay a deposit to lock in your spot.
Contact info@girlscoutstoday.org for info on applying for GSUSA Grant $ to help with financial cost of the trip.

Missed a deadline? Don’t worry, apply to any Destination which isn’t listed as full.

Parents: Need more information on these types of trips? Please reach out to Aimeew@girlscoutstoday.org.

Wild Goose Chase

Wild Goose Chase
Join our road trip adventure to discover the special, unique, and weird sites across our council region. Girls and their families or troops can take road trips to locations that make our communities unique and achieve the Wild Goose Chase patch. Embrace adventure and join our wild goose chase today!

Complete the Wild Goose Chase challenge for each region over the next five years to collect all of the Wild Goose Chase patches.
Southern Region Challenge
Quad Cities Region Challenge
Northern Region Challenge
Central Region Challenge
Dubuque Region Challenge

Complete a region? Submit your photos and order your patch!

Travel Advisory Committee

Do you love travel and have experience leading Girl Scouts through planning trips? Join our travel committee and help plan opportunities for girls across the council. Just email Info@GirlScoutsToday.org to learn more.