Date: Tue Aug 04, 6:30 PM CST - Tue Aug 04, 7:30 PM CST
Category:
- Adult Training
Level:
- Volunteers
This is a virtual event.
You planned the activity. You brought the supplies. You were excited.
And then ... the girls stared at you like you just announced mandatory tax training.
Every volunteer has experienced it: girls refusing to participate, shutting down during activities, staying glued to their phones, hiding in the background, or suddenly deciding "this is cringe." What can feel frustrating or personal is often something much deeper.
"When Girls Don't Want to Participate (and Now It's Awkward)" is a practical and honest training designed to help volunteers understand the real reasons girls disengage and how to respond without power struggles, embarrassment, or turning meetings into a battle of wills.
In this session, we'll explore:
Why girls disengage at different age levels.
The impact of anxiety, social pressure, perfectionism, and overstimulation.
How neurodivergence can affect participation.
The difference between defiance, discomfort, and disconnection.
What accidentally shuts girls down.
Strategies to rebuild engagement without forcing participation.
Ways to make activities feel safer, more girl-led, and less intimidating.
How to handle "too cool for this" attitudes and group awkwardness.
Real-life troop scenarios and practical response strategies.
This training is especially valuable for volunteers working with tweens and teens, though the strategies apply across all grade levels. Participants will leave with a better understanding of girl behavior, stronger confidence in handling difficult group dynamics, and a toolbox full of realistic approaches that actually work in today's troop environments.
Because sometimes the girls aren't being difficult. Sometimes they're overwhelmed, disconnected, unsure of themselves ... or just one awkward moment away from checking out completely.
