Represent the Girl Scout brand

Girl Scouts has an iconic brand and identity, and all Girl Scout members and staff play a role in protecting our name, our image, and our brand. As you are out in the community with your troop, spreading the word on Girl Scouts in online spaces, or celebrating your troops accomplishments, it’s important for all volunteers to represent the Girl Scout brand consistently and appropriately. Below are resources and guidelines for volunteers who are creating apparel, signage, promotional or communicative resources.

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Send us an email at marcomm@girlscoutstoday.org.

Council Lock Up & Trefoil

The Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois logo is our main identifying servicemark. It should not be reassembled, reproportioned, color-changed, or altered in any way. Members should always use the full servicemark that includes the council’s name.

The Girl Scout Trefoil is a protected mark and members are not permitted to utilize it on their own products, T-shirts, or communications. No exceptions.

Please contact the GSEIWI Marketing team at marcomm@girlscoutstoday.org for files and usage guidelines BEFORE using or if you have any questions.

Quick Links & Resources

Flyers & Troop Invites

T-Shirts & Apparel

Share a Story

Language and Terminology toggle arrow

It’s important when referencing Girl Scouts in print, social media posts, and conversation to use the correct phrasing and branding.

The words “Scout”, “Scouts” and “Scouting” should never appear without the modifier “Girl” and each word should be capitalized.

Correct Branding	Incorrect Branding
Girl Scouts of the USA	Girl Scouts of America
Girl Scout/Girl Scouts/Girl Scouting	Scout/Scouts/Scouting
Girl Scouts	The Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois	The Girl Scouts GSEIWI
Girl Scout Award	Girl Scouts Award
Girl Scout Cookie Program	Girl Scouts Cookie Program

Glossary of Girl Scout Terms: A glossary of frequently used names, words, dates and concepts in Girl Scouting.

Social Media toggle arrow

Flyers and Troop Invites toggle arrow

Looking for flyers or troop invites? These templates are great for inviting girls to your next troop meeting or sharing your information with families or other volunteers.

General Girl Scout Flyers

Download these flyers to spread the word about Girl Scouts in your community!

Troop Invites

Invite friends and classmates to join your troop with these troop invites. Use the fillable version to add important information or event details. Click the image below to download.

Social Media Graphics

Share these graphics on your personal social media pages to spread the word about Girl Scouts! Include a link to GirlScoutsToday.org to help others learn more about joining Girl Scouts.

T-shirts

Order Troop T-Shirts

Looking for t-shirts for your troop? Take a look at our selection of designs. Personalize with your troop number and wear your shirt out in the community with pride!

Many troops, groups, and service units create their own T-shirts for Girl Scouts to identify their troop number, commemorate events or accomplishments, or simply for fun! We applaud your enthusiasm and share your Girl Scout pride! There are some dos and don’ts to be aware of, however, to make sure we protect the brand story of our Movement. Please keep these guidelines in mind when designing your own troop shirt:

We cannot grant rights for the use of the Girl Scout name, Movement servicemark, trefoil, cookie images, etc. However, with approval, the Council may grant use of GSEIWI council logo and lock up. Do not alter the council lock up in any way.
Do not copy a design from an existing product in the Girl Scout Shop.
Troops and service units may not purchase merchandise for resale or fee-based events featuring the Girl Scout servicemark or Council logo.

Volunteer Guidelines for Using AI to Create Girl Scout Promotional Materials

AI tools are welcome for drafting flyers, posts, and emails, as long as the result looks and sounds like one Girl Scout Movement. When a family sees a troop flyer, a council post, and a GSUSA ad, all three should feel like the same organization.

AI design tools don't know our brand. Left on their own, they invent logos, pick random colors and fonts, and write in a generic "empowering" marketing voice. Highly detailed AI artwork also tends not to resonate with youth and families. Use AI as a helper for the first draft, then bring the draft back to the brand using this guide.

General Guidelines toggle arrow

These six rules apply to every AI-assisted piece, no exceptions.

Never let AI draw the trefoil or servicemark. Download the official logo files from provided by Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois and place them on the design yourself. AI-generated versions of our marks are always slightly wrong and are not approved.
Use the brand colors, not the AI's colors. Girl Scout Green leads. No gradients, neon, or colors outside the official palette.
Real Girl Scouts over AI people. Use real photos of your troop (with permission) or council photo library images. Avoid AI-generated images of girls.
Rewrite AI copy in our voice. Treat AI text as a rough draft. Check it against the voice guidelines below before it goes out.
Protect girls' privacy. Never upload photos, full names, or personal details of girls into an AI tool without guardian permission and a check of your council's policy.
Follow your council's review process. Many councils ask volunteers to submit materials that use official marks for review before publishing. Email marcomm@girlscoutstoday.org for assistance.

Brand Voice toggle arrow

Our voice is encouraging, thoughtful, welcoming, and lively. It is not perfect, flashy, elite, or rehearsed. Write like a friendly troop leader talking to a neighbor, not like an ad agency.

Four habits keep copy on-brand:

Center people, not the organization. Talk about real Girl Scouts and the person you're inviting (a parent, a future volunteer), not "Girl Scouts is an organization that..."
Talk about now. Show what girls are doing today, not just future potential or nostalgic memories.
Skip "empower." Girls already have power; Girl Scouting helps them use it.
Use the name correctly. "Girl Scout" is singular as an adjective: Girl Scout Cookies, Girl Scout troop, Girl Scout Gold Award.

AI tends to write	Rewrite it as
"Empower your daughter to become a leader!"	"Our troop just planned and ran its own food drive. Come see what she'll do next."
"Unlock your potential with Girl Scouts!!!"	"Camping, coding, cookie business: there's a lot to try this year."
"Girls Scouts Cookies" / "Girl Scouts troop"	"Girl Scout Cookies" / "Girl Scout troop"
"Join the elite world of..."	"Everyone is welcome. No experience needed."
"Remember the magic of scouting?"	"Here's what our Girl Scouts did last month."
"Volunteer opportunities available"	"Have an hour a month? Help us lead a badge."

Visual Identity toggle arrow

Keep it simple: Girl Scout Green, black, white, one or two fonts, and real photos. Simple and authentic beats busy and polished.

Element	What to use	What to avoid
Primary Color	Girl Scout Green: HEX #00B451, RGB 0/180/81, CMYK 95/0/100/0, PMS 354	Off-greens the AI picks (lime, teal, olive)
Supporting Colors	Black and white, plus 1 or 2 official palette colors (e.g., Forest Green, Star Green	Gradients, neon, pastels, colors outside the palette
Headline Font	Palatino Linotype (Palatino on Mac); Georgia as a fallback	Script, novelty, or "fun" display fonts
Body Font	Palatino Linotype, Helvetica, or Arial	More than two fonts on one piece
Text Color	Black or white, with strong contrast against the background	Colored text, text over busy photos
Logo	Official council servicemark files only; the trefoil should only be used by Girl Scout marketing staff who have completed brand training	AI-drawn trefoils, stretched or recolored logos, retired Girl Scout profile logos
Imagery	Real photos of Girl Scouts doing things; simple flat shapes and line accents	Hyper-detailed AI artwork, AI-generated girls, stock-photo look

Fonts you can't use: The proprietary "Girl Scout" font is reserved for council and GSUSA materials.

Recruiting new families? Utilize the materials provided by the council marketing department.

What AI design tools usually get wrong
Redraws the trefoil with the wrong shape or proportions
Swaps Girl Scout Green for a near-miss green
Misspells "Girl Scout" in generated image text
Adds uniforms, badges, or vests that don't exist
Fills every inch with illustration, leaving no breathing room
Uses five fonts and a gradient background

Photos, Privacy, and Safety toggle arrow

Girls' safety comes before convenience. Most AI tools store what you upload and may use it to train their models.

Get permission first. Only use photos of girls whose guardians approve of AI use. The photo release on the year-long permission form does not cover this evolving field.
Don't upload photos of troop members to AI tools for editing, "enhancing," or background removal.
Leave out identifying details. No last names, schools, home addresses, or exact meeting locations in prompts or on public flyers. Use a general area and a contact email instead.
Don't create AI images of real girls, and don't use AI to alter a girl's face or body in a photo.
Feature girls with their adults. Showing parents and volunteers alongside girls is great, as long as the focus stays on the girl.

Promoting Tips and Templates toggle arrow

The best results come from giving the AI our brand rules up front, then asking it to leave space for the official logo and real photos.

Paste the brand brief first. Start every session with the brief below so the tool knows the rules.
Ask for text and layout, not logos.
Ask for a simple layout. Words like "clean," "lots of white space," and "flat shapes" steer away from cluttered AI art.
Do not upload photos of girls or adults in your troop. Use the prompt below; it leaves room for you to add real photos in another design tool like Canva.
Give it real details. Troop activities, dates, and what families can expect make copy specific instead of generic.
Ask for options, then edit. Request two or three short versions and pick the most natural one.

Brand brief (paste this first)

You are helping a Girl Scout volunteer create promotional materials. Follow these brand rules:

- Voice: encouraging, thoughtful, welcoming, lively. Not flashy, elite, or salesy.
- Focus on real girls and what they are doing now. Speak directly to the reader.
- Never use the word "empower."
- "Girl Scout" is singular as an adjective: Girl Scout Cookies, Girl Scout troop.
- Colors: Girl Scout Green (#00B451) as the main color, with black and white. No gradients.
- Fonts: Palatino Linotype for headlines; Palatino or Helvetica for body text.
- Do not draw or recreate any Girl Scout logo or trefoil.
- Do not generate images of girls. Leave a placeholder labeled "PHOTO HERE."
- Keep the layout simple, with plenty of white space.

Recruit new members

Write a flyer inviting girls in grades [K-12 range] to join Girl Scout Troop [number] in [general area].
We meet [frequency] at [general location type, e.g., a community center].
This year our troop is [2-3 real activities].
Include: a short headline, 2-3 sentences of body copy, and a call to action to email [contact email].
Under 60 words total. Offer two versions.

Recruit volunteers

Write a short social media post inviting adults in [area] to volunteer with Girl Scouts.
We need help with [specific role, e.g., leading one badge night a month, driving to camp].
Mention that no experience is needed and training is provided.
Call to action: [link or contact]. Under 50 words. Friendly and specific, not salesy.

Promote an event

Create flyer text for [event name] on [date] from [time] at [location].
It's open to [who: current Girl Scouts, families, girls interested in joining].
Girls will [2-3 activities]. Cost: [cost]. Register by [date] at [link].
Short headline, body under 50 words, and the event details in a clear list.

Check a draft

Review this text against the Girl Scout brand rules above. Flag any use of "empower," any misuse of "Girl Scout" vs. "Girl Scouts," anything that sounds flashy or generic, and anything focused on the organization instead of girls. Suggest a rewrite.
[paste draft]

Award Nominations toggle arrow

Girl Scout volunteer awards (Volunteer of Excellence, Appreciation Pin, Honor Pin, Thanks Badge, Thanks Badge II) are reviewed by a committee that looks for real impact on girls. A nomination full of AI superlatives ("tireless," "inspiring," "truly exceptional") doesn't represent the full story of how a volunteer has impacted The Movement. Specific stories and numbers do.

Start from your own notes. List what the nominee actually did, when, and what changed for girls because of it. Give AI those facts; never let it invent or embellish accomplishments.
Match the award's scope. Each award has its own criteria and reach (for example, troop, service unit, or council-wide). Paste your council's criteria into the prompt so the draft addresses each one.
Keep the focus on girls. Show how the volunteer's work helped girls grow, try new things, or lead, not just how many hours they gave.
Endorsement letters must be genuinely separate. Endorsers are usually different people from the nominator. Don't use AI to write all the letters yourself; each endorser should share their own perspective in their own words.
Use award names correctly. Capitalize award names. For girls' Highest Awards, girls earn the Girl Scout Gold, Silver, or Bronze Award; they don't win it.
Check length and deadlines.
Read it aloud before submitting. If it doesn't sound like you talking about someone you admire, rewrite it.

Prompt: Award Nomination Draft

Help me organize a nomination for the Girl Scout [award name] for [first name], a [role, e.g., troop leader, service unit manager].
Here are the award criteria from my council: [paste criteria].
Here are the facts I know firsthand: [bullet list of specific actions, dates, numbers, and outcomes for girls].
Write a draft under [word limit] words that addresses each criterion using ONLY the facts I provided. Do not add accomplishments, quotes, or numbers I didn't give you.
Focus on her impact on girls. Use a warm, sincere, specific tone with no generic praise words like "tireless" or "exceptional."
After the draft, list any criteria my facts don't yet support so I can add details.

Shirt Designs toggle arrow

Shirts carry the Girl Scout name in public for years, so trademark rules apply. AI is best used for brainstorming slogans and layout ideas, not for creating the final artwork with our marks.

Never use an AI-drawn trefoil, servicemark, or badge. Leave space and add the official logo file, or let your council or printer place it.
Know the selling rule. Troop shirts for members, sold at cost, are generally fine with council approval. Shirts should not be sold for profit.
Name yourselves correctly. Use "Girl Scout Troop 1234," never just "Troop 1234" or "Scouts."
Submit the design for council approval by emailing MarComm@GirlScoutsToday.org before ordering if it uses the council servicemark. Council marketing staff cannot approve Trefoil use. Even designs the council marketing team produces with the Trefoil must be approved by GSUSA.
Keep it printable. Two or three solid colors, Girl Scout Green plus black or white, no gradients or photo-realistic art.
No borrowed characters or lyrics. AI happily suggests cartoon characters, movie quotes, or song lines. Those are someone else's property; create original phrases and art.
Skip personal details. No last names, school names, or ages on shirts worn in public.

Prompt: Shirt Slogan and Layout Ideas

I'm designing a shirt for Girl Scout Troop [number] for [purpose: troop shirt, camporee, cookie season, service project].
Our theme or highlights this year: [details].
Suggest 8 short, original slogans (under 6 words each). No song lyrics, movie quotes, brand names, or characters.
Then describe 2 simple layout ideas using Girl Scout Green (#00B451) plus black or white, 2-3 solid colors total, no gradients.
Do not draw or describe a Girl Scout logo or trefoil; mark a space labeled "OFFICIAL LOGO HERE."
Include the text "Girl Scout Troop [number]" in each layout.

Before You Post or Print toggle arrow

Run through this list for every AI-assisted piece.

The trefoil or servicemark are not used
Girl Scout Green (#00B451) is the main color; no gradients or off-palette colors
No more than two fonts, and text is black or white with strong contrast
Photos are real Girl Scouts with signed photo releases; no AI-generated girls
"Girl Scout" is spelled and used correctly everywhere, including inside images
Copy is about real girls and what they're doing now, in a warm, friendly tone
No last names, schools, or exact meeting addresses on public materials
Date, time, location, cost, and contact info are correct (AI sometimes changes details)
Your troop or service unit is named correctly with your council name
Submitted for council review, if your council requires it

Official Files and Help toggle arrow

Start with your council's resources before opening an AI tool. Templates already have the brand built in, so AI only needs to help with the words.

Utilize provided logos and templates
Brand training: the Brand Refresh course on gsLearn (about 20 minutes)

We want to hear from you!

Girl Scouts are making the world a better place and doing amazing things in the community. We love hearing about the service projects, troop trips, fun meetings, and exciting activities Girl Scouts accomplish!

Send details and photos to our team by emailing marcomm@girlscoutstoday.org. Your story could be used in council communications (website, blog articles, social media, or sent to local media outlets). We can’t wait to hear from you!

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