Troop and activity leaders should thoroughly review the current
version of
Volunteer Essentials, which includes additional
information regarding trip, travel, safety and activity approval. Girl
Scout Juniors and above should be actively encouraged to read and be
familiar with all travel and activity information so that they can be
engaged partners in determining where, when and how they travel or
participate in activities.
Special note for Daisy and new troop leaders: The council
strongly advises leaders of Daisies and other new troops to follow a
progression beginning with short local trips and advancing to longer
trips. This will allow the adults to monitor how the girls and adults
interact and the readiness of the girls to travel without an
accompanying parent.
Before taking any trip or travel:
· The troop leader and/or other approved adults must have
successfully completed required background check, driver safety
checklist, and trainings (1st Aid/CPR, GS 101 & S’more
Basics) before taking trips.
· The leader(s) and other approved adults must be aware of
their basic responsibilities as listed in the Volunteer Position
Description appropriate to their roles, and have completed all
required basic training that may be attached to that position.
A Troop Group Activity application is required when:
o The trip is more than 2 nights
o The trip is outside the council jurisdiction
o The trip includes these activities (camping, family camping,
swimming, boating, paddleboard, whitewater, tubing, rock climbing,
caving, target/shooting sports, skiing, skating, horseback riding,
ropes course, climbing sports, trampoline parks, etc.) Providers of
these activities must be preapproved as part of the trip approval process.
o Any of the planned locations or activities requires the signing
of a hold harmless or liability waiver.
o Submit in your completed form 3 weeks prior to your event,
unless it is an international trip, which is a minimum of 6 months in
advance of departure.
o ALL completed activity applications must be submitted to activityapp@girlscoutsnca.org
· Additionally, the leader(s) and other approved adults must
be aware of any special activity requirements as listed in this
document, other Safety Activity Checkpoints, Volunteer Essentials
and Guide to Camping.
· It is important for Council to know where you and your Girl
Scouts are, and what you are doing, but this is for YOUR protection!
Without Council approval of your trip, GSUSA insurance will NOT cover
you in the event of an accident.
Remember to keep your trips ‘girl-led.’ Start with simple,
close-to-home trips, then as girls succeed with planning those, move
on to longer or more complex trips. If girls are not able to choose
the what/when/where/who and how of a trip, it may not be
age-appropriate! As you help, girls choose and plan their trips, be
sure they use these Travel Guidelines.
