Making your meetings safe and fun
In-person programs and events can be a wonderful outlet for Girl
Scouts. However, leading in-person activities in light of the COVID-19
pandemic is optional. Always participate at your own comfort level.
General Guidelines
Troops may meet in person in compliance with the following criteria:
- GSGNY requires all troop meetings to follow NYC
COVID-19 Guidelines.
-
Attendance: Troop Leaders should fill
out the Attendee
Log
-
Face Coverings: Face coverings are strongly recommended,
and are required for anyone interacting with Girl Scouts under the
age of 12, regardless of vaccination status.
-
Vaccinations: Vaccinations are highly recommended, though not
required by GSGNY, to conduct in-person meetings. However,
volunteers must follow any requirements of their meeting
locations.
-
Meeting Size: A group must follow the Girl Scout to
adult/ratio, as outlined in the Volunteer
Essentials for Safety, and the NYC
COVID-19 large gathering restrictions for indoor and outdoor
spaces.
-
Meeting Space: Indoor and outdoor spaces that allow for
social distancing are permitted for meetings. Meeting in private
backyards is prohibited unless the meeting location was approved by
a GSGNY staff member prior to 2020.
-
Testing: Testing requirements can be determined at the
discretion of Troop Leaders in collaboration with caregivers.
-
Personal Contact: Troops are encouraged to refrain from hugs,
handshakes, high-fives, and activities like the friendship circle.
Create a safe way for members to greet each other and end
meetings.
-
Food and Beverage: Use caution when serving food and
beverages at meetings. If Girl Scouts wish to bring a water bottle,
make sure they are labeled with names.
-
First Aid: First aid supplies should include COVID-19
prevention items such as hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol),
tissues, disposable facemasks, and disinfectant. Leaders should
supply trash bags for meeting spaces if not already
available. Disposable or no-contact thermometers should be supplied
if available and not cost-prohibitive.
-
Families: Leaders should share these guidelines with troop
families and collaborate with caregivers to assess their ability to
comply. For example, younger girls may find it difficult to remain
socially distant and/or wear masks. If girls cannot comply with
guidelines, troop activities should remain virtual at this
time.
-
Transportation: Carpooling is currently
discouraged. Parents/guardians should wait in their cars or outside
of the troop meeting space during pick-ups and drop-offs.
-
Pre-screening: Caregivers should check temperatures and allow
their Girl Scouts to join group activities only when temperatures
are normal. Volunteers should include the following questions in
each email meeting confirmation they send to parents/guardians:
- Have you or anyone in your household traveled in the past
three weeks? If yes, which location(s) did you visit, and which
airports did you travel through? Please check
the NYC website for out-of state travel quarantine
requirements.
- Have you or anyone in
your househould experienced any of these symptoms within
the past two weeks? Past 24 hours?
- To your knowledge,
have you been in close, sustained contact (within 6 feet for 15
minutes or more) with anyone showing any of the above-referenced
symptoms or anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19?
Reporting a positive COVID-19 Test
In the event of a volunteer or Girl Scout receiving a positive
COVID-19 test result, the volunteer or parent/guardian should promptly
contact GSGNY by completing an Incident
Report. The person filling out the form will hear back from
Council staff within 48 business hours.
Troop Co-Leaders will be responsible for:
- Confirming and tracing the positive tester.
- Contacting volunteers and the parents/guardians of
any Girl Scout who may have been exposed.
- Notifying the facility where the meeting took place. Girl and
volunteer health information is private, strictly confidential, and
should only be shared on a need-to-know basis with a Council staff
member.
