Travel
Approved
Activity Providers
Liability Waiver
Important Troop Travel Information
Is your troop planning a trip or an activity away from your regular meeting place? We LOVE when our troops travel around the state, southeast, or further! Use the information below to be sure you are in the know about the most current information available.
GSUSA prohibits the use of individual providers for any Girl Scout related activity that requires lodging AND/OR transportation. SAC reference: “Uber, Lyft, Curb, and similar ridesharing companies are not permitted to transport girls because the safety, credibility, and insurance of the drivers is far more difficult to qualify than that of traditional or well-known charter and rental companies.” “The use of Airbnb and other private rentals is not permitted. The safety, credibility, and insurance requirements of private rentals are difficult to qualify compared to traditional commercial properties.
Before taking any trip: 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 [email protected]
· 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.
