These guidelines have been created in accordance with GSUSA guidance
and current CDC and Connecticut State guidelines. It is to be expected
that these guidelines will change with the uncertain progression of
the pandemic and the ever-evolving recommendations from these
governing agencies. Please be sure to check the GSOFCT website for the
latest COVID-19 updates.
Many of our troops and service units are eager to conduct in-person
meetings given that the current State guidelines suggest in-person
meetings are now possible.
At this time, indoor troop meetings in the home are not allowed due
to the increased risk of exposure.
The following recommendations serve to illustrate the guidelines
under which GSOFCT troops may consider participating in the following:
- In-person Meetings
- Troop Trips
- Service Unit
Events and Activities
GSOFCT’s in-person and virtual troop activity guidelines have
continued to evolve, following the State of Connecticut and Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendations outlined in
Connecticut’s Reopening Plan.
Consent to Participate
Before troop meetings take place, upon receiving a copy of
guidelines/safety measures from the co-leader, the caregiver/parent
will be asked to complete and return the COVID-19
Informed Consent Form prior to a girl’s participation at an
in-person event. Please be sure to review additional details on the
required troop cleaning, mask, social distancing, and troop travel
protocols outlined in the Troop Activity Information.
Documentation Prior to Meeting
Any meeting to be held in a location other than your troop’s
normal meeting place will require a “Troop Trip
Application” form completed.
Any meeting that is to be held on private home property must also
complete a Private Residence Authorization Form to be attached to the
Troop Trip Application. Among other things, this form alerts the
homeowner that their personal homeowner’s insurance is responsible for
any accident/incident occurring during an event on their property.
Private Residence
Annual Authorization Form
Logistical Recommendations
At all troop meetings, at any level, the co-leaders are
responsible to see that all COVID-19 safety measures, including
maximum number of participants, social distancing, wearing of masks,
and appropriate hygiene are adhered to.
It is recommended that troops continue to hold periodic virtual
meetings through the end of the 2019-2020 membership year in an effort
to keep all members safe and healthy and to accommodate those who are
not ready to meet in person.
Resources to Support Virtual Troop and Girl Activities
We are excited to announce that GSUSA has entered into a
partnership with Zoom and we are now able to offer Girl Scout
volunteers the opportunity to purchase an enterprise Zoom license for
$40 for the year. This license is normally $20/month so this is a
savings of $320 over what the normal cost would be. This is a single
user license that provides the user the opportunity to have 500
participants in the Zoom meeting which can run up to 24 hours.
If you are interested in a Zoom license through GSOFCT, please
purchase your license here.
Your girls can stay connected, continue building their skills, and
have a blast no matter where they are. Learn about the benefits of
having a Girl Scout Zoom license.
Each Monday, the purchased licenses will be sent onto Zoom for
issuance. We expect that the invitation to set up the license should
be sent by week’s end to the user. Please watch for an email from Zoom
if you are the purchaser of the license. Just a reminder that this
license is for Girl Scout use and is an accepted use of troop funds.
Don’t know how to use Zoom? There are a series of short ‘how to’
videos in gsLearn to help you utilize this platform. Sign into gsLearn
through MYGS on gsofct.org and then enter “ZOOM” in the search
function and start learning about this new platform. Co-leaders or
adult troop helpers can practice the ins and outs of Zoom and other
digital tools by registering one of the Adults sessions found in
Doubleknot, our Event registration system. Check out our event calendar!
Still have more questions, please reach out to Customer Care at 1-800-922-2770.
Transportation
Individual parents should drop off and pick up their own girls
from meetings. Carpooling and public transportation are not allowed at
this time in order to maintain social distancing.
Attendance
Troops must take attendance at each troop meeting or event in
order to insure there can be adequate contact tracing if a participant
is later diagnosed with Covid-19. Attendance can be recorded by a
troop adult in their person cell phone, on paper and kept in the troop
notebook, or recorded in the Volunteer Toolkit. The troop leadership
team is responsible for insuring that this information can be made
available if needed.
During the Meeting or Activity
Clarification on Masks & Social Distancing
During all Girl Scout meetings, activities, events that are in
person, all participants should wear masks as they arrive and depart.
First Aid / CPR Training:
Keep skills up-to-date for any emergency.
Service Unit Events
Service Unit or Large Gatherings
The number of people that are
permitted must be reviewed while following social distancing and face
covering guidelines as well as proper girl-to-adult ratios. It is
strongly recommended to meet outdoors and only when social distancing
can be maintained. For more people or large gatherings, when the time
is safely appropriate, follow the CDC guidelines: Large
Gatherings and Community Events .
Other COVID-19 Precautions to be Observed
- Hand sanitizer or hand washing must be available for use
before, during, and after all troop activities
- Disinfecting
wipes or sanitizing procedures must be followed to clean all high
touch areas prior to the girls’ arrival, during activities and at
conclusion of the troop meeting. See cleaning and disinfectant
information at the end of this document.*
- Supplies should
not be shared, i.e., crayons, markers, scissors etc.
- Food
should either be brought by each girl for their sole use, or
prepackaged and handed out to participants wearing mask and
gloves
- No sharing of food is allowed and no potluck/buffet
meals may be served
- All caregiver/parent decisions about
participation should be respected, and girls should be provided with
an alternative activity if they choose not to participate in the
meeting or activity
- Troop co-leaders and volunteers must
feel comfortable with troop plans for meeting
Due to their age, caregivers/parents of Daisies & Brownies
should review social distancing with their girl prior to the meeting
to make sure she understands how to interact with others at the
meeting. Co-leaders should plan for enough volunteers to support safe behaviors.
