Girl Scout virtual troop meeting

Digital Games and Icebreakers

A game is a great way to foster sisterhood and keep engagement high during virtual meetings! You can even tie your game to your badge or Journey work (such as “Brownie Bugs”-themed charades)!  Here are a few ideas:"

Game Ideas

  • Pictionary: Use a whiteboard or ask girls to draw on a piece of paper, with their cameras angled down.

  • Dance party: Make a playlist with your girls (or choose a selection of your favorite Girl Scout songs) and DJ a party! 

  • Spa Night

  • Musical Statues: Control the music from your computer and ask girls to FREEZE when the music stops.

  • Cookie or cupcake decorating challenge: Provide girls with a theme, icing, pre-made treats and let the fun begin! Encourage them to angle their cameras so you can see their progress.

  • Make a snack: Assemble a silly snack (like an edible campfire or armpit fudge) to be enjoyed during or after the meeting. 

  • Painting night

  • Sketchbook party: Find an online tutorial to help girls learn to draw their favorite animal

  • Tea Party

  • Oven S’Mores

  • Talent Show

  • Virtual campout and fort-building

  • Baby picture matching game

  • Quiz Party

  • Yoga

  • Movie night

  • Paint pet rocks

  • Learn a magic trick

  • Adapted board games: Ask your troop to help you adapt favorite board games for a virtual meeting.

  • Digital Show and Tell: Ask the girls to share something of theirs with the troop. Consider giving them a theme or a question, for example, “Show us something you’ve had since you were a baby” or “Show us something you can’t go a day without.”
  • Two Truths and a Fib: Give this well-known icebreaker a virtual spin! Ask the girls a specific question (“What are some places you have visited?” Or “What don’t we already know about you?”) and ask them to pick three answers—two that are true and one that’s not. But, when it’s not true, they have to make a subtle gesture or change in their tone of voice. Then see if the other girls can guess which answers are true.

  • Where Are You?: Ask girls to give you a brief virtual tour of their space. What’s one thing they love about the room they are in? What’s one thing they wish they could change?

  • Virtual ‘I Spy’: Ask the girls to pick one spot and stay in that spot for the entire icebreaker. Then, have the girls take turns looking at the screens and seeing what they can find!
  • If Only I Could… Then I Would...: Ask girls to complete each part of the sentence “If only I could____, then I would _____.”  Remind them that it can be something true or just something silly—- it’ is completely up to them!
  • Question of The Day: Pick a different question for each meeting and ask the girls to answer it in just one or two sentences. The question can tie into something going on in their lives, badge activities you will complete during the meeting, or just something silly!

  • What's Your Emoji Today?: Instead of asking the girls how they’re feeling, ask them to take turns making the emoji face that matches how they are feeling. Then, give the rest of the troop a few minutes to guess the emotion before asking the girl to share how she is feeling. This icebreaker is a great way to check in on everyone while turning it into a game for the girls.
Tips for Leading Successful Games
  • Set ground rules. Share any rules or guidelines about the icebreaker before you start: how much time will you spend on the activity, and how much time will each girl have to speak? You can set boundaries by time (“Everyone will have one minute to answer.”) or length (“Everyone should answer in three sentences or less.”)  Remind the girls to give everyone a chance to participate by not interrupting one another and muting their microphones when they’re not speaking.

  • Encourage girls by name (often). During an in-person meeting, you can make eye contact with each girl to make sure that she’s engaged. In a virtual setting, call out each girl by name to encourage participation and show appreciation for her unique contributions.

  • Don’t make games mandatory. Remember, not every girl will want to speak or answer every question. Encourage them to participate, but don’t force them to if they aren’t comfortable. 

  • Don’t interrupt. Aside from the time limits they agreed to, let the girls speak and give them space to fully participate in the activity. Remember, they are not just expressing themselves to their Girl Scout sisters; they’re also building their comfort with virtual meeting tools, and they need the space to do that.

  • Be comfortable with silence. It’s natural to want to fill any quiet moments during an activity but remember that the girls may need time to think about the question, and will speak up when they are ready. Filling the silence for them may discourage them from jumping in when they are ready to share. 

  • Keep parents or caregivers in the loop. If you’re using an activity that involves the girls showing items in their home, let families know in advance so they can plan accordingly—they’ll appreciate it! 

  • Consider uniquely virtual games. Showing off a favorite routine or a favorite room in their home is something you couldn’t do with your girls during an in-person meeting. Embrace it! Take this time to explore new ways of getting to know your girls that wouldn’t be open to you during a regular meeting. 

  • Keep an eye on their involvement. Some girls will jump right into virtual meetings- but some may not. Watch closely for signs that girls are losing interest or having trouble participating and try to gently pull them into the fold. If the issue continues, ask their parent or caregiver about ways to better engage them during meetings, and possibly address other challenges the girls may be facing outside of Girl Scouts.