COVID-19 Information - Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council

COVID-19 Updates from GSSJC

Last updated June 1, 2020 at 2 p.m. CDT

Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council continues to monitor COVID-19 updates from the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization and local public health departments and all of the counties and cities within our council boundaries.

Here is the latest - find more detailed information in the drop-down section.

All GSSJC facilities, camps and resource centers are closed through June 30. GSSJC offices are currently closed on Fridays and Saturdays, meaning customer service and staff will not be available during this time.
GSSJC troops and groups may hold in-person meetings beginning June 1. However, we urge you to read the comprehensive guidelines developed by our council to ensure safe practices. Additional information can be found here.
All council-coordinated events are canceled through at least June 30, and refunds are being issued. Cadette Event and the Gold Award Ceremony will be rescheduled for later this year.
Beginning May 12, Girl Scout Shops are offering curbside pick-up by appointment only on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
All previously scheduled traditional resident summer camps and council-led day camps are canceled through Aug. 1. Camp registrants will receive direct communication concerning their activity as we process their cancelations and refunds. No camper action is required until we contact you.
The deadline for completing a highest award has been extended to Dec. 31, 2020. This applies to fifth-grade Juniors earning the Bronze Award, eighth-grade Cadettes earning the Silver Award and twelfth-grade Ambassadors earning the Gold Award.
All Girl Scout troop/group travel is suspended through Sept. 7. All international Girl Scout travel is suspended through Dec. 31.

GSSJC Facility Closures

All GSSJC facilities, including camps, shops and resource centers/offices, are currently closed.

Council staff are working remotely through Tuesday, June 30. Staff who perform essential council functions that require physical presence at a Girl Scout property may be scheduled on a staggered basis to limit potential contact. The Girl Scout Center in Houston is closed to visitors.

Additionally, GSSJC offices are closed Fridays and Saturdays. This means customer service and staff members will not be available during this time.

For staff who are present at GSSJC facilities, we are continuing to keep our properties well-stocked with supplies needed to reduce the spread of germs.

Girl Scout Shop Curbside and Lobby Pick-Up Service

Download order form

Starting May 12, council shops are offering retail with at-home ordering and curbside/lobby pickup. Prearranged pick-up appointment times will be available on Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

To place your curbside/lobby order, please download and complete the order form linked above and email shop@sjgs.org or call your closest shop.

Program Place
3000 Southwest Fwy., Houston, TX 77098
713-292-0247

Bay Area
1300 A Bay Area Blvd., Ste. 106, Houston, TX 77058
281-282-6077

Beaumont
700 North St., Suite F, Beaumont, TX 77701
409-832-0556 Ext. 1500

Imperial Valley
15800 Imperial Valley Dr., Houston, TX 77060
281- 447-8870

Lufkin
1202 College Dr., Lufkin, TX 75904
936-634-4688

Stafford
12300 Parc Crest, Suite 170, Stafford, TX 77477
281-670-5982

Westside
531 FM 359 South, Brookshire, TX 77423
281- 822-4250

Refunds on Activities

All council-coordinated in-person events, including camp, are being canceled through at least June 30. Program registrants will receive direct communication concerning their activity. Please see the Summer Camp Updates section for specific details on these refunds.

Participants will automatically receive refunds. No action is required. If you registered online, your refund will be applied as a credit back to the card used for registration within 10-15 business days of the original activity date. Activity registrations submitted on paper will be refunded by check and may take 3-4 weeks after the original activity date to process. Camp registration refunds will also be issued by check and may require 3-4 weeks after the scheduled reservation date to process.

For third party event refunds: we will communicate with participants registered to attend programs delivered by third parties or vendors. If you registered directly through a vendor, please contact them for guidance. If you have questions or concerns, email customerservice@sjgs.org.

Summer Camp Updates

All GSSJC camp reservations, including summer resident and day camp registrations, will be canceled through Aug. 1. Camp registrants will receive direct communication concerning their activity as we process their cancelations and refunds. No camper action is required until we contact you.

Virtual Camp begins on June 1 so register now. Week-long interactive sessions for Girl Scouts of all levels provide an all-girl online camp setting with camp counselors ready to help girls explore a new journey or badge. Each week focuses on a different Journey and/or badge with morning or afternoon sessions. Spanish sessions available (Campamentos Virtuales). Register now
Council-wide Camp-in Camp-out from home on June 26. Join other GSSJC families on Friday, June 26 from 5 - 8:30 p.m. for our first ever Camp-In Camp-Out. This free, super fun event will include setting up tents and blanket forts, songs and games, a STEM scavenger hunt, at-home versions of campfire dinners and s’mores and some special surprise guests – you won’t want to miss out. Registration will open soon on the Activities page of our website.
Family Days at Misty Meadows Ranch will begin on July 6. Families of currently registered girls may bring their Girl Scout and up to four family members from the same household to join us for the day at Misty Meadows Ranch for activities such as archery, crafts, hiking and games. Families may choose to add horseback riding for an additional fee, and we will end the day with s’mores and a campfire. This event includes both lunch and dinner. Registration for our initial sessions is now open for our Family Days at Misty Meadows Ranch through the Activities page of our website. More dates may be added depending on demand. Register now
Casa Mare Day Camp will begin on July 6. Girls may join us for a week-long day camp by the bay. Campers will stay with the same small group unit and counselors throughout the week as they enjoy activities such as archery, crafts, games and STEM. This camp includes lunch and will have an on-site nurse. Registration for day camp is now open in CampDoc through the Summer Camp Online Community.
Me & My SPURS/STARS Girl Scout Day will begin on July 11. These half-day equestrian-centered programs offer currently registered SPURS and STARS an opportunity to ride and be around the horses at Misty Meadows Ranch. Each SPURS or STARS Girl Scout must bring one adult chaperone who will not ride. This event includes lunch for each girl and chaperone. Registration information will be sent to all currently registered SPURS and STARS by mid-June.

You may optimize your search in Activities by logging into your MyGS account prior to searching and using a keyword from the program title like “virtual”. For additional information please follow us on social media or visit the Summer Camp Online Community and the GSSJC website.

Cookie Program Updates

The 2020 Cookie Program is suspended. All members must discontinue all public activity, including booths, walkabouts and lemonade stands effective immediately.

On March 30, GSSJC launched an online initiative to help troops sell their remaining inventory. Learn more.

Information on next steps will continue to be communicated with troop cookie managers and troop leaders once it's finalized. TCMs - please see the Online Community group for more details.

Girl Scouting from Home

As Girl Scouts, we live by the motto "be prepared" - and that includes when the unexpected happens. While we ask that all members continue to follow the guidance of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and their local health officials and cease in-person meetings, we want to deliver the opportunity for Girl Scouting to continue at home. Learn more at gssjc.org/girlscoutingfromhome.

Community Resources

Our priority remains the well-being of our girls and families, so I encourage you to become familiar with community resources and seek assistance when needed.

Raising Awesome Girls
From knowing how much to help with her homework to navigating sensitive issues in the news with your family, we've got everything you need to raise girls with confidence. Read more.

2-1-1 Texas
A program of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission committed to helping Texas citizens connect with the services they need, including drug and alcohol abuse, mental health and domestic violence. www.211Texas.org

Gulf Coast COVID Survey
To support community recovery, we encourage everyone to fill out this Community Impact Survey. This survey has been created by Harvey Home Connect, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit disaster recovery organization in partnership with local nonprofit, educational and philanthropic organizations to assess the needs that have emerged as a result of the Coronavirus | COVID-19.

Report Child Abuse - It's the Law
To report child abuse or neglect, call the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services abuse hotline at 1-800-252-5400 or visit the website.

Girl Power Can't Be Quarantined Patch

Download guidelines

The Girl Power Can’t Be Quarantined program is an idea we “borrowed” from our Girl Scout sisters in the Nation’s Capital. If you want to participate, please distribute the requirements to your girls. If you do not want to participate, you may opt-out by sending an email with your troop number to covidpatch@sjgs.org.

For each troop that does NOT submit an opt-out email by May 31, we will mail care packages with a Girl Power Can’t Be Quarantined patch for every registered girl in the troop starting June 1. We hope you enjoy distributing these patches and celebrating the girls who complete the requirements.

This situation continues to evolve. Please check back frequently for updates.

GSSJC Virtual Friendship Circle - March 20, 2020

We hosted a webinar for all members sharing the latest updates on our council, cookies and how to participate in Girl Scouting from home. Watch the recording and download the slides below.

Watch the recording

Download the slides