For troops who are looking for ways to reconnect in person, we have put together a list of recommendations based on the current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the covid19.nj.gov.  

Before resuming Girl Scout activities, Troop Leaders must complete this short online form acknowledging their understanding of the GSJS Guidelines for Troop Activities and intention to educate and enforce the safety protocols for all in-person troop activities. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious virus that spreads easily in the community and volunteers should take all reasonable precautions to limit potential exposure for girls, volunteers, and families. These guidelines are in effect until further notice.

Troop Meeting Size

• Follow current New Jersey state guidelines for indoor and outdoor gatherings. Social distancing must be practiced. 

Meeting Spaces

• Outdoor spaces where social distancing can be maintained are strongly recommended.
• Volunteers must ensure meeting spaces are clean and touch surfaces (i.e., tabletops, chairs, etc.) have been sanitized.
• At this time, troop meetings in homes are not allowed out of the concern for greater risk of exposure to other family members. Additionally, meetings may not be held in fitness centers or gyms, where a greater risk for contracting the virus may exist.

Safety Actions

• Participants should stay at least 6 feet away from others. Mark six foot intervals when possible. This means that physical touching, including hugs, holding hands, or friendship circles should be avoided.
• Teach and reinforce the use of cloth face coverings. Wearing cloth face coverings is most important when physical distancing is difficult.
• Teach and reinforce handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol can be used.
• Ensure adequate supplies to minimize sharing of high touch materials to the extent possible. For example, have each girl bring her own supplies, or limit the use of supplies and equipment by one group at a time and clean and disinfect between use.
• Make sure swimming pools and slides are cleaned and sanitized and avoid using pool type toys at this time. Lifeguard(s) are required for swimming and should not be responsible for monitoring hand washing, face covering and social distancing.  Another responsible adults(s) should be responsible for the monitoring of hand washing, face covering and social distancing.
• Consult the Safety Activity Checkpoints for guidance on virtual troop meetings and troop activities.
• Use this updated Parental Permission Slip for all troop activities.

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 

Monitoring and Preparing

• Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore covers Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Please refer directly to NJ state and county public health departments for the most up-to-date information and guidance.
• Communicate with families about when their girls should stay home. Anyone who is sick or had close contact with a person with COVID-19 in the last 14 days should stay home.
• In the event of a COVID-19 positive test result within your troop, please contact GSJS, and a council staff member will be responsible for contacting anyone who may have been exposed. To report a positive test result contact customercare@gsfun.org or call us at (800) 785-2090 and let us know that you would like to report a COVID-19 case, so that you can be referred to the appropriate staff member. Due to the confidential nature of personal health information, do not contact families or troop members directly.
• Every registered Girl Scout is covered by a basic accident insurance plan. The plan is designed to help pay medical expenses if an accident occurs during a supervised Girl Scout activity. Girl Scout insurance does not cover healthcare or illness. 
• At this time, overnight trips and travel are not allowed. The current guidance for overnight youth activities includes considerations that would be difficult or impossible for most troops to manage. Once we have more information and guidance for safe travel, we will share additional resources for the next phase of troop activities.

Troops are also encouraged to continue participating in virtual, no-contact activities, and may choose to continue only in virtual spaces at this time. Join us for leader trainings in August to learn how to successfully stay connected with your troop members.

If your troop does choose to resume in-person activities, some families may choose not to participate at this time. Please consider creating ways to help keep those girls involved as members of your troop.

Thank you for being thoughtful, conscientious, and resilient Girl Scouts as you make decisions about troop activities.