COVID-19 Information

At Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama we take nothing more seriously than the safety and well-being of our members. As the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to be of growing concern in Alabama and our nation, we will take all possible and appropriate measures to ensure girls continue to have a safe, fun, one-of-a-kind experience at Girl Scouts. Please remember, information is changing rapidly and we will do our best to keep you informed.

Recent Communications Regarding COVID-19
Please refer to the most recent communications for current information and recommendations. Click here for links to emails we have sent out to all GSNCA members. If you are not receiving these emails, please contact us at communications@girlscoutsnca.org.

This guidance is being provided as of the Edition Date below. Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama may modify this guidance, from time to time as circumstances change. Updated 09/30/20

Frequently Asked Questions

IN-PERSON MEETINGS: PLACE

COVID-19 is an extremely contagious virus that spreads easily in the community. Take all reasonable precautions to limit potential exposure for girls, volunteers, and families.

Troop Meeting Space. Outdoor spaces where social distancing can be maintained are best for in-person meetings. Outdoor picnic pavilions can be reserved at GSNCA camps for troop meetings at no cost. Contact tsails@girlscoutsnca.org Please review the COVID Camp guidelines Facilities will be specifically assigned. Do not use any kitchen, bathroom, building, or facility other than the one assigned to your troop/family.

Troop Meetings in the home: will only be permitted after the meeting place has been approved through the council; the most up-to-date COVID guidelines have been acknowledged; and all volunteer and participant waivers have been signed/submitted. Contact your membership manager to request approval.

Troop Field Trips: During the pandemic, all field trips that include activities addressed in Safety Activity Checkpoints (including participation in parades) require approval through the Troop Group Activity application AND a pre-event COVID conference via Zoom. The Zoom conference will take about 30 minutes and is designed to brief the trip leader on COVID prevention procedures. Once you submit the application here https://gsnca.formstack.com/forms/troop_group_activity_form a staff member will be in contact with you to schedule the conference. Please allow a minimum of two weeks. For additional information about Travel, Field trips, and Troop Trips, please see the bottom drop-down of this menu.

IN-PERSON MEETINGS: TROOP SIZE

Troop Size & General Meeting Guidance. Consider your troop size when selecting a meeting space. Social distancing of at least 6 feet and face coverings are required at all times. When safe social distancing is not possible, such as during instruction, both the instructor and the participant must wear properly fitted and secured face coverings. All GSUSA Safety Activity checkpoints and guidelines must also be met.

If you have a large troop, stay connected until it’s safe for everyone to be together again. Some ideas:

Host virtual troop meetings.
Enroll the girls in the Trefoil Trunk subscription program and schedule virtual gatherings to work on the activities.
Participate in council virtual events
Gather in smaller groups—such as age-level groups, patrols, or groups of girls with a particular badge they would like to work on.

COVID PREVENTION PROCEDURES

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.

1. Stay home if you are sick! Girls, adults, volunteers and tagalongs should take their temperature before attending any Girl Scout event or activity. Anyone whose temperature measures 99 degrees or above should sit down and rest for 10 minutes and then take their temperature again. If the resting body temperature still measures at 99 degrees or above, do not attend the in-person Girl Scout event or activity.

2. Troop leader will exclude from participation anyone who is currently exhibiting symptoms such as fever, headache, cough, etc.

3. Troop leader will exclude from participation anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID in the last 30 days.

4. Troop leader will exclude from participation anyone who has been exposed as a close contact to COVID in the last 30 days. Close contact is defined by the CDC as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period* starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.

MASKS REQUIRED Girl Scouts wear face coverings (masks) not only to protect themselves but to protect others. Girls can bring their own face covering, but it’s a good idea to have spares on hand.

Everyone in attendance at any Girl Scout event, meeting, or activity MUST wear a properly fitted protective face covering. Masks must be:

Worn by everyone in attendance
Properly fitted and of a design that resists falling down
Worn properly over mouth and nose
Made of tightly woven material, of sufficient thickness to be considered effective
Attach with elasticized bands or ear loops.

Proper Hygiene - 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.

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).

First Aid Supplies. Troop first aid supplies should include COVID-19 prevention items including a thermal scan thermometer, hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol), tissues, disposable facemasks, and disinfectants.

Disinfectants and Disinfecting. Routinely clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are frequently touched (i.e., tabletops, 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.).

COVID WAIVER & COMMUNICATIONS

Reporting and communicating a positive COVID 19 test. In the event of a COVID-19 positive test result, please do NOT contact the parents or troop members. Promptly contact Nicole Fults at nfults@girlscoutsnca.org or Karen Peterlin at kpeterlin@girlscoutsnca.org and provide them the following information: name of individual that tested positive and contact information (if a girl member parent’s contact information), date of exposure to other members and location of exposure/meeting place or activity. The council staff listed above and NOT volunteers, will be responsible for:

Confirming the positive tester by contacting the parents of the girl or volunteer
Contacting the parents of any girls and other volunteers who may have been exposed
Notifying a facility or homeowner where a troop has met

Please inform other volunteers 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 the council staff listed above.

TRAVEL, FIELD TRIPS, & TROOP TRIPS

Transportation. In case individual parents cannot drop off and pick up their own girls from in-person meetings, participants may carpool. Along with normal GSUSA Safety Activity checkpoints for transportation, COVID carpool procedures require the use of properly fitted face coverings by everyone in the vehicle (driver and all passengers) AND no more than two people per seating row.

Day trips and activities. In conjunction with GSUSA 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 implementing COVID procedures that meet or exceed CDC and ADPH guidelines. If activity or sports equipment is being provided, ask the provider if they sanitize equipment between uses. Make whatever appropriate accommodations are necessary. For example, bring extra wipes and sanitizer if none will be provided for public use at the activity location.

During the pandemic, all field trips that include activities addressed in Safety Activity Checkpoints (including participation in parades) require approval through the Troop Group Activity application AND a pre-event COVID conference via Zoom.

Travel and overnight stays during COVID. All travel and overnight stays are being considered on a case-by-case basis. To ensure that your application can be reviewed in time, please plan to limit activities to those without specialized activity procedures OR plan to use a pre-approved activity provider.

SUBMIT APPLICATION - Travel can only be reviewed for approval after a Troop Group Activity Application is submitted electronically.

INITIAL REVIEW - The application will be reviewed carefully by volunteers and staff. If the activity will utilize an activity provider that is not already approved, documentation of instructor certification/qualification and proof of liability insurance of $1m per occurrence will be requested by the review committee.

REQUEST - Additional information and/or documentation may be required such as a plan to address COVID symptoms during the trip, transportation, itinerary, supervision, first aider, activities, lodging, etc.

VIRTUAL MEETING - GSNCA will contact you to schedule a virtual meeting to review the latest COVID procedures relating to your planned trip

RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL – the review committee will make a recommendation for approval to GSNCA CEO Karen Peterlin. Until COVID is no longer a concern, final approval for all Troop Group Activity Applications rests with the CEO. Additional travel guidelines for July 1^st and beyond can be found here.

Troop Group Activity Application- https://gsnca.formstack.com/forms/troop_group_activity_form

Pre-Approved Activity Providers- https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xVbm498efxqlwVa2ZlesYBuWalz6c7aoMDCCflzJLB4/edit?ts=5bff5bad#gid=0
For quickest trip approval, omit specialized activities that require liability coverage OR utilize only pre-approved activity providers. Depending on how quickly the activity provider responds, approval of a specialized activity provider can take six to eight weeks.

Contact Information

If you have questions about how the coronavirus may impact Girl Scout activities, please contact Jennifer Sholund at jsholund@girlscoutsnca.org or Karen Peterlin at kpeterlin@girlscoutsnca.org.

For Cookies contact: Sara Stutsman at sstutsman@girlscoutsnca.org.

For Camp reservations contact: Tonya Sails at tsails@girlscoutsnca.org.

For Programs contact Laura Elliott at lelliott@girlscoutsnca.org.

For Highest Awards contact: Katie Smith at kdsmith@girlscoutsnca.org.

For Communications contact: Jennifer Sholund at jsholund@girlscoutsnca.org.

You're invited to join the world of Girl Scouts! Join Us