Returning to In-Person Troop Meetings and Activities

Returning to In-Person Troop Meetings and Activities Interim COVID-19 Guidance for Volunteer

Girl Scouts of the USA and Girl Scouts of Citrus encourage virtual troop meetings as the most effective way to provide a safe Girl Scout experience until we have successfully completed the Center for Disease Control's Phase Three benchmarks. However, based on the comfort level of Girl Scout troop members and families, we have finalized the details for troops to begin meeting in-person as long as they adhere to the COVID-19 safety guidelines outlined below.

Each troop/family should weigh their participation based on their own health concerns. As with any social activity, participation in Girl Scouts could present the risk of contracting COVID-19. While Girl Scouts of Citrus takes every safety and preventative precaution, Girl Scouts of Citrus can in no way warrant that COVID-19 infection will not occur through participation in Girl Scout activities.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to change as infection rates rise and fall in different areas. There may be regional differences or developments since this guidance was published.

Continue to follow local and national directives. Discuss plans with families.

As we begin to phase into certain in person activities, please keep in mind that these guidelines can change daily based on information from the CDC, GSUSA, and other governing bodies. Citrus Council’s website will have the most current information.

All Girl Scout members who wish to participate in any Girl Scout activities (based on the phasing stage) such as: Outdoor Ceremonies, Outdoor Higher Award Projects and Outdoor Community Service Projects must complete and submit an Activity Request Form 2 weeks prior to requested activity to customercare@citrus-gs.org

Once approved the leader and/or the parent/guardian must keep accurate records for all meetings and activities, which include a detailed schedule, cleaning protocol, attendance, etc. These forms will be located online on the council's Forms section

Troop Meeting Space.
Outdoor spaces where social distancing can be maintained are strongly recommended for meetings. Get advance permission from the property owner or the jurisdiction that provides the location.

For meetings held at public facilities, contact the facility ahead of time and ask:

Is the space cleaned, and touch surfaces (i.e., tabletops, light switches, chairs, etc.) sanitized, at least daily?
Who else uses the space (how often, what size is the group)? Is the space cleaned between groups?
What type of faucets / soap dispensers are available in the restroom (sensory or manual)?

Then, consider whether you can supplement any practices that are less ideal. For example, if you will arrive after another user group, plan to bring sanitizing wipes to get the space ready for your troop. Another example: if faucets are manual, take some time to show girls how to shut them off with a paper towel. Use paper towels for doorknobs whenever possible.

Meetings may not be held in fitness centers or gyms, where a greater risk for contracting the virus may exist. Schools or churches may not permit outside groups on premises, so always check and confirm ahead of time.

Troop Meetings in the home.
GSUSA strongly suggests no meetings in the home out of concern that there would be greater risk of exposure to other family members.  The recommendation is to stay away from in-home meetings for the time being.

Troop Meeting Size.
The current suggested maximum is ten people (eight girls and two unrelated adult volunteers). However, check your local restrictions for small gatherings. If more restrictive, follow the local restriction. Restrictions vary greatly from state to state, county to county, and even from town to town--and frequently change. If a state allows more than ten to gather, utilize all social distancing practices and follow all preventative guidance (such as face coverings). Get clearance from your council before planning any gatherings of more than ten people.

If you have a large troop, stay connected while you wait for a safe time for everyone to gather. Large troops are wonderful, so stay together! Some ideas:

Host virtual troop meetings (see below).
Gather up in smaller groups—such as age-level groups, patrols, or groups of girls with a particular badge they’d like to work on.

Transportation.
Individual parents drop off and pick up their own girls from meetings. Carpooling and public transportation should be avoided, where possible, to maintain social distancing.

Virtual meetings.
Meeting options may need to be flexible based on the fluid nature of COVID-19 risk. Troops that are able to run online meetings as needed (or wanted) should do so. GSUSA recommends maintaining a virtual to in-person ratio of at least 20/80, which means to maintain virtual troop meetings at least 20% of the time to keep tech skills and virtual meeting habits fresh. Use the virtual troop meetings checkpoint [COUNCILS TO LINK] in your council’s version of Safety Activity Checkpoints to guide your meeting plans.

Other helpful resources can be found here: (council to link for volunteers)

Day trips and activities.
In conjunction with Safety Activity Checkpoints, follow the same guidance as Troop Meetings and Hygiene and COVID-19 Risk Mitigation guidance in this document. Call ahead to the facility or vendor to confirm that they are following CDC and state health department guidelines. If activity or sporting equipment is being provided, ask the provider if they wipe down equipment in between uses, similar to equipment at the gym. Make whatever appropriate accommodations that are necessary. For example, bring extra sanitizer if none will be provided for public use at the activity location.

Travel and overnight stays.
Overnight trips are not permitted until after the home state is successfully past Phase 3 of its re-opening process. The timeframes will vary from state to state and even from county to county in some cases. As always, contact your council for prior approval before planning any overnight stays and follow guidance in Safety Activity Checkpoints.

Hygiene and COVID-19 Risk Mitigation.
Follow the resources developed by credible public health sources such as CDC or your local public health department. Share these with girls and volunteers and ensure that they are practiced during meetings and activities. Place signs in the meeting or activity space to remind girls and volunteers to engage in everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Signs should include:

Stay home if you are sick.
Cough and sneeze into a tissue, throw the tissue in the trash, and wash or sanitize your hands.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Wash hands if you do touch.
Volunteers, girls and parents should be reminded to make sure temperatures are taken prior to group interaction to confirm the individual is not running a fever and temperature is a normal 98.6 degrees Members with fever or temperature higher than 98.6 should skip the in-person gathering until their temperature is normal.

Personal contact.
Hugs, handshakes, “high-fives,” and even activities like the friendship circle or squeeze can transmit COVID-19 from person to person. Refrain from these gestures for the time being. Create a safe way for girls and volunteers to greet and end meetings instead (like tapping elbows).

Note: Use culturally appropriate messages, materials, and resources.

First Aid Supplies.
Troop first aid supplies should include COVID-19 prevention items including hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol), tissues, disposable facemasks, and disinfectants. Trash baskets or bags should be supplied for meeting and activity spaces, if not already available. Make sure that the trash baskets (or bags) are easily accessible for girls. Disposable or no-contact thermometers may be added to supplies if available and not cost-prohibitive, however, parents should be checking temperatures and allowing their girl(s) to join group activities only when temperatures are normal.

First Aid / CPR Training.
Keep skills up-to-date for any emergency. Talk to your council about alternative methods of training that may be available during this time.

Disinfectants and Disinfecting.
Routinely clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are frequently touched (i.e., table tops, markers, scissors, etc.). Use a household cleaner, or see the EPA’s list of effective cleaners approved for use against COVID-19. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application method and contact time, etc.).

Household bleach is effective against COVID-19 for up to 24 hours when properly diluted. Check that the bleach is not expired and determine if it can be used on a given surface. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser.

To prepare a bleach solution, mix:

5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water or
4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water

See the CDC’s website for more on cleaning and disinfecting community facilities.

Face Coverings. 
Volunteers should remind girls that Girl Scouts wear face coverings (masks) not only to protect themselves but to protect others. Face coverings are a civic responsibility and a sign of caring for the community.  Girls can bring their own face coverings. Have disposable masks on hand for those who need them. Volunteers can teach girls how to handle their face coverings so that the coverings are effective. Some girls or volunteers may not be able to wear masks, due to medical conditions such as asthma. Contact your council for guidance on how best to handle these exceptional circumstances as they arise.

Reporting and communicating a positive COVID 19 test.
In the event of a COVID-19 positive test result, do NOT contact the parents or troop members. Promptly contact your council in this situation.  A council staff member and NOT volunteers, will be responsible for:

Confirming and tracing the positive tester,
Contacting the parents of anyone who may have been exposed (or other volunteers),
Notifying a facility or homeowner where a troop has met
Alerting the state department of health.

Let other volunteers know that council staff, NOT volunteers, will notify parents and others about a positive test result and that the tester’s identity is confidential. Remember that girl and volunteer health information is private and strictly confidential and should be only shared on a need to know basis with a council staff member.

© Copyright 2009–2021 Girl Scouts of the United States of America.  All rights reserved. All information and material contained in Girl Scouts’ Volunteer Essentials guide (“Material”) is provided by Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA) and is intended to be educational material solely to be used by Girl Scout volunteers and council staff. Reproduction, distribution, compiling, or creating derivative works of any portion of the Material or any use other than noncommercial uses as permitted by copyright law is prohibited, unless explicit, prior authorization by GSUSA in writing was granted. GSUSA reserves its exclusive right in its sole discretion to alter, limit, or discontinue the Material at any time without notice.

For Troop Meetings

Please note, virtual is the preferred way to engage with the troop, but if the members decide to meet in person, they must utilize all social distancing practices and follow all preventative guidance (such as face coverings, social distancing, cleaning and sanitizing, etc.).

At this time meetings are to be held only in outdoor spaces, where social distancing can be maintained. Be sure to get advanced permission and/or reservations in place prior to the day and adhere to all protocols they have in place. Please be sure to check the GSC website for the most current information and required forms.

For meetings held at public facilities:

Contact the facility ahead of time and ask:

Is the space cleaned, and touch surfaces (i.e., tabletops, light switches, chairs, etc.) sanitized, at least daily?
Who else uses the space (how often, what size is the group)? Is the space cleaned between groups?
What type of faucets / soap dispensers are available in the restroom (sensory or manual)?

Then, consider whether you can supplement any practices that are less ideal.

For example, if you will arrive after another user group, plan to bring sanitizing wipes and/or spray to get the space ready for your troop.
Another example: if faucets are manual, take some time to show girls how to shut them off with a paper towel. Use paper towels for doorknobs whenever possible.
Leaders should have supplies to ensure areas are clean and sanitized for girls and adults
In addition to wipes and/or spray you should have hand sanitizer and disposable masks on hand
All girls and adults should have on a mask unless there is documented medical reasons, social distancing must always be in effect.
Be sure to implement a cleaning/sanitizing regime for bathroom use. Such as an adult is to clean high touch surfaces after use, ensure girls are correctly washing hands and sanitizing etc.

Meetings may not be held in fitness centers or gyms, where a greater risk for contracting the virus may exist. Schools or churches may not permit outside groups on premises, so always check and confirm ahead of time.

For meetings held in residential setting – Outdoors Only:

GSUSA suggests no meetings inside the home, out of concern that there would be greater risk of exposure to other family members. The recommendation is to stay away from meetings held inside the home for the time being.

The following safety guidelines must be followed until further notice:

All meetings must be approved prior to the start of the meetings.
Leaders must complete a Meeting Request Form a minimum of 2 weeks prior to the start of the meetings and submit it to Customer Care at customercare@citrus-gs.org
The home must be the home of registered, background checked, council approved Volunteer. This does not need to be the Troop Leader.
All other adults in the home must be registered members and have a favorable Background Check
Meetings are to be held outdoors, perhaps in the back or front yard of the home (this is a COVID-19 specific precaution). Multiple outside spaces can be used if guidelines are followed.
Girls may not meet in a home where a registered sex offender lives.
Animals should be kept in a place that is separate from the meeting space.
Homeowners should consider any personal homeowner insurance implications. The Homeowner should ask their Homeowner’s insurance carrier if there are any insurance exclusions regarding holding troop meetings at the home, in the event an accident or injury occurs.
Weapons must be completely out of view and stored in a locked space.
Medication, dangerous cleaning products, or any poisonous substance must be stored in a secure space out of sight, preferably locked.
Ensure the guidelines below for Hygiene and Risk Mitigation and all other guidance in this document are followed. (this is a COVID-19 specific precaution)

Hygiene and COVID-19 Risk Mitigation

Follow the resources developed by credible public health sources such as CDC or your local public health department. Share these with girls and volunteers and ensure that they are practiced during meetings and activities. Place signs in the meeting or activity space to remind girls and volunteers to engage in everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Signs and/or posted guidelines should include:

Stay home if you are sick.
Cough and sneeze into a tissue, throw the tissue in the trash, and wash or sanitize your hands.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Wash hands if you do touch.
Volunteers, girls and parents should be reminded to make sure temperatures are taken prior to group interaction to confirm the individual is not running a fever and temperature is a normal 98.6 degrees.
Members with fever or temperature higher than 100.4 should not attend any in person activities or meetings.
If an adult or girl has a temperature or other symptoms upon arrival to the meeting they will be asked to leave.
Please do not leave your Girl Scout until her temperature has been checked.

Personal contact:

Hugs, handshakes, “high-fives,” and even activities and traditions like the friendship circles, flag ceremony or squeeze can transmit COVID-19 from person-to-person.
Refrain from these gestures for the time being. Create a safe way for girls and volunteers to greet and end meetings instead (like coming up with you own meeting cheer.)
Please ensure that if you are singing songs or reciting The Pledge, Promise or Law everyone is wearing a mask and practicing social distancing to avoid the risk of droplet spread.

Troop Meeting Size

Currently, the maximum amount for any meeting is ten people (eight girls and two unrelated adult volunteers). Existing troops consisting of more than eight girls may continue with their current size but will need to plan smaller group interaction when meeting in person. Such as having smaller groups at opposite ends of a yard, while still practicing social distancing within that group or meet at different times.

All troops should monitor local restrictions for small gatherings and refer to the GSC Website for the most up-to-date status on council operations. Restrictions vary greatly from county to county, and even from town to town--and frequently change.

Please note, virtual is the preferred way to engage with the troop, but if the members decide to meet in person, utilize all social distancing practices and follow all preventative guidance (such as face coverings).

How to accommodate larger troops (11+ girls/adults):

If you have a large troop, we want you to stay connected while you wait for a safe time for everyone to gather. Some ideas:

Host virtual troop meetings (see below).
Gather up in smaller groups—such as age-level groups, patrols, or groups of girls with a particular badge they’d like to work on.
Have smaller groups at opposite ends of a yard, with a minimum of 50’ between groups, while still practicing social distancing within that group.
Meet at two different times or could meet at one or more locations
This will ensure they are maintaining the troops/group size and spacing requirements. (To help visualize how far apart your groups need to be, 50' is slightly less than the distance between bases on a little league baseball field.) Also, note that restroom use is a key consideration when planning to avoid overlap.

Each volunteer hosting meetings at a residence must have a Meeting Request Form on file and follow all safety ratios and requirements for leading a troop within Safety Activity Checkpoints.

Meeting at a residence is considered the primary meeting location and does not require a first aid/CPR trained adult. This is true even if meeting in more than one residence to accommodate group size. However, when meeting in public spaces such as parks, libraries, etc. that are not listed officially as the troop meeting location, it would be not considered the troop’s primary meeting location and would fall within the description for troop fieldtrips requiring one first aid/CPR certified adult.

During this exceptional time–to help meet the needs of troops, GSC will allow a troop to have three background-screened adults to serve as safety ratios for a troop that has split into two groups due to having more than eight girl members.

This means that a group of 9-16 girls who will be split into two groups would only require three background-screened adults, instead of the normally required four adults so they can meet at the same time and location while remaining 50’ apart. One adult can work with each group while the third adult serves as the safety ratio volunteer who serves for both groups.

She/he would be required to keep both troops within their line of sight at all times and ensure the troops meet the 50’ distancing rule between groups of ten but without being so far apart they could not respond in an emergency while continuing to watch both groups safely and effectively.

Transportation

Individual parents drop off and pick up their own girls from meetings. Carpooling and public transportation should be avoided, where possible, to maintain social distancing.

Virtual Meetings

Virtual meetings.

Meeting options may need to be flexible based on the fluid nature of COVID-19 risk. Use the GSUSA Guidelines for Virtual Meetings, to guide your meeting plans.

Other helpful resources/support can be found here

Day Trips, Activities, Travel and Overnights

Day trips and activities.

At this time any in person troop activities outside of the meeting place are not permitted, except for the following activities that must take place in the outdoors: Ceremonies, Higher Award Projects and Community Service Projects. To participate in these activities they must be approved two weeks in advance and by using the new Covid 19 protocols and guidelines.

Per GSUSA, overnight trips are not permitted until after the home state is successfully past Phase 3 of its re-opening process. As always, contact your council for prior approval before planning any overnight stays and follow guidance in Safety Activity Checkpoints. Please check the GSC website for the most current updates on activities.

First Aird/Cleaning Supplies

Troop first aid supplies should include COVID-19 prevention items including:

hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol)
disposable facemasks
disinfectants, wipes, paper towels etc.
Tissues, gloves and trash bags
Trash baskets or bags should be supplied for meeting and activity spaces, if not already available. Make sure that the trash baskets (or bags) are easily accessible for girls. Be sure to tie and dispose of where necessary
Disposable or no-contact thermometers may be added to supplies if available and not cost-prohibitive, however, parents should be checking temperatures and allowing their girl(s) to join group activities only when temperatures are normal.

Disinfectants and Disinfecting:

Routinely clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are frequently touched (i.e., table tops, markers, scissors, etc.). Use a household disinfectant or see the EPA’s list of effective cleaners approved for use against COVID-19. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application method and contact time, etc.).

Household bleach is effective against COVID-19 for up to 24 hours when properly diluted. To prepare a bleach solution, mix:

5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water or
4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water

See the CDC’s website for more on cleaning and disinfecting community facilities.

Face Coverings

Use cloth face coverings as feasible. Note that some girls or volunteers may not be able to wear masks, due to medical conditions such as asthma. Face coverings are essential in times when proper social distancing is difficult.

Wearing face coverings (masks) is not only to protect you, but also to protect others. Face coverings are a civic responsibility and a sign of caring for the community. Girls can bring their own face coverings, but you should also have disposable masks on hand for those who need them. Volunteers can teach girls how to handle their face coverings so that they are effective.

Cloth face coverings should not be placed on:

Children younger than 2 years old
Anyone who has trouble breathing
Anyone who is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cloth face covering without assistance

Reporting and Communicating a Positive COVID-19 Test

In the event of a COVID-19 positive test result, contact the parents or troop members while maintaining privacy of the individual. The troop leader will notify parents and others about a positive test result and that the tester’s identity is confidential. Remember that girl and volunteer health information is private and strictly confidential and should be only shared on a need-to-know basis with a council staff member.

Confirming and tracing the positive tester
Contacting the parents of anyone who may have been exposed (or other volunteers)
Notifying a facility or homeowner where a troop has met