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COVID-19 Updates from GSSJC

Last updated April 1, 2021 at 10:15 a.m. CT All changes made as of this date are highlighted in yellow.

Girl Scouts of San Jacinto strives for all Girl Scouts, volunteers, and families to feel included and safe throughout their Girl Scout experience. We continue to monitor COVID-19 through the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, local public health departments and counties and cities within our council jurisdiction.

GSSJC is allowing both indoor and outdoor troop gatherings, subject to the rules below: 

Rules for Indoor Gatherings:
Rules for Outdoor Gatherings:
  • Members of the troop and/or Community must agree and adhere to GSSJC’s COVID-19 Safety Precautions for In-Person Gatherings.

  • A maximum of 30 people may attend an indoor gathering.

  • All participants must be separated into activity groups of no more than 15 total people (including at least two adults or required adult ratio).

  • Activity groups may not be in the same room unless they are able to be separated by at least 50 feet.

  • Indoor space must be at least 500 square feet per activity group of 15.

  • Girls and volunteers must remain in the same activity group for the duration of the event. Participants from different activity groups may not interact.

  • Food and drinks are not allowed at indoor troop gatherings.

  • Indoor gathering space for troop meetings or other day-only troop activities no longer require approval by GSSJC and must follow these guidelines.

  • Carpooling is now allowed. Please see the Carpooling section for guidance.

  • Several GSSJC Resource Centers are now open for troop gatherings. Reservations are required. Please see details in the GSSJC Facilities section below.
  • Members of the troop and/or Community must agree and adhere to GSSJC’s COVID-19 Safety Precautions for In-Person Gatherings.

  • A maximum of 50 people may attend an outdoor gathering.

  • All participants must be separated into activity groups of no more than 15 total people (including at least two adults or required adult ratio).

  • Activity groups must be at least 30 feet apart.

  • Girls and volunteers must remain in the same activity group for the duration of the event. Participants from different activity groups may not interact.

  • Food and drinks must be commercially packaged, or each girl may bring her own (girls may not share food or drink).

  • Troops may now reserve outdoor space at select GSSJC camps for day-only AND overnight camping. Please see details in the GSSJC Camps section below.

  • Carpooling is now allowed. Please see the Carpooling section for guidance.

 


 

 

 

 

When deciding whether to host an in-person gathering, please consider the makeup and size of your troop or group, including possible attendees, their families, and their current comfort level with in-person activities. All volunteers and/or parents of girl members associated with the troop, group or community must be in agreement to meet in person and willing to adhere to the rules above and GSSJC’s COVID-19 Safety Precautions for Girl Scout Gatherings. 

We want to do our best to make sure all Girl Scouts, volunteers, and families feel included and safe throughout their Girl Scout experience. Troops or groups should make every effort to be inclusive of every member of the group. If a member is unable or uncomfortable attending in-person gatherings, please see tips and tricks for ideas on offering a virtual or alternative participation method.

For frequently asked questions about camp, resource center use and troop gatherings, please see this section.

GSSJC will monitor compliance with COVID-19 requirements and guidelines and may take action to limit participation in Girl Scout activities for those who do not comply with requirements.

Additional updates as of April 1, 2021:
  • The activity group limits have been increased from 10 to 15 people (including at least two adults or required adult ratio).
  • While GSSJC strongly prefers that girls continue meeting outdoors, we have updated our guidelines for meeting places and provided this checklist. Troops are no longer required to submit for written permission to meet indoors.
  • Girls can attend in-person outdoor activities with third-party vendors in Girl Scout-only groups. During the activity, girls and vendors must follow all GSSJC's COVID-19 Safety Precautions for In-Person Gatherings.
  • Booking of certain camps is now open for the summer months.
  • Misty Meadows Ranch is now open for day-use by reservation only for those participating in on-site council-hosted programing.
  • The shop at the Cypress Resource Center is now open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Reminders:
  • Girl Scouts of the USA requires all girls and adult volunteers wear masks during in-person gatherings - even if there is no mask mandate in their location. This means that masks will continue to be mandatory for in-person Girl Scout activities even after our state has lifted its mask requirement. All participants are required to wear a cloth face covering or mask at all times. Face coverings/masks must cover nose, mouth and chin.
  • Appointments are no longer required for in-person shopping at Girl Scout Shops. Curbside pick-up remains available for members wishing to utilize this service. See the Shop section for more.
  • Updated permission slips are available here.
  • GSSJC council staff are continuing to work remotely. Staff are not attending gatherings in-person, but staff are available to meet with our membership virtually.
  • In addition to these tips for conducting in-person Girl Scout gatherings during COVID-19, you can find specially adapted badges, Journeys and activities for virtual and safe in-person gatherings on the new Troop Leader Blueprint page. Troop leaders can also access PowerPoint guides and scripts for troop gatherings in the GSSJC Online Community.
GSSJC Facilities
Houston Girl Scout Center:

Closed to visitors until further notice. Customer service is available Monday – Friday during business hours. Most council staff are working remotely. Staff who perform essential council functions that require physical presence at Girl Scout Center are scheduled on a staggered basis to limit potential contact. For staff who are present at GSSJC facilities, we are following all local, state and federal guidance for preventing the spread of COVID-19. This includes requiring the use of face masks, continuing to keep our properties well-stocked with cleaning supplies and enabling social distancing.

Program Place for Girls:

Open on Tuesdays and Thursdays (4 - 8 p.m.) for troop gatherings by reservation only. The facility can accommodate a maximum of four activity groups (32 girls, 8 adults). See green box below for information about how to request a reservation.

Resource Centers:
  • Ann Temple Allen Girl Scout Center (Lufkin): Open on Tuesdays (4 - 8 p.m.) for troop gatherings by reservation only. Can accommodate a maximum of 2 activity groups (26 girls, 4 adults). See green box below for information about how to request a reservation.

  • Bay Area Resource Center: Not available for troop gatherings.

  • Beaumont Resource Center: Not available for troop gatherings.

  • Cypress Resource Center: Availability beginning Nov. 10. Open on Tuesdays (4 - 8 p.m.) for troop gatherings by reservation only. Can accommodate a maximum of 1 activity group (13 girls, 2 adults). See green box below for information about how to request a reservation.

  • Imperial Valley Resource Center: Open on Tuesdays (4 - 8 p.m.) for troop gatherings by reservation only. Can accommodate a maximum of 1 activity group (13 girls, 2 adults). See green box below for information about how to request a reservation.

  • Lake Jackson Resource Center: Open on Tuesdays (4 - 8 p.m.) for troop gatherings by reservation only. Only covered outdoor space is available. Can accommodate a maximum of 1 activity group (13 girls, 2 adults). See green box below for information about how to request a reservation.

  • Stafford Resource Center: Not available for troop gatherings.

HOW TO REQUEST A RESERVATION AT A GSSJC RESOURCE CENTER:

April 1 edits in this section are bolded.

Note: In order to prioritize facility use for supporting girl programs, Resource Center use will be prioritized for troop and group activities for girls. Adult gatherings and activities are strongly encouraged to continue virtually.

First, please read GSSJC’s COVID-19 Safety Precautions for In-Person Gatherings. All participants at any in-person gathering must agree and adhere to these safety precautions, in addition to the rules above.

Next, email customerservice@sjgs.org with the following information:

  • Your name, phone number and email address*
  • Property you wish to reserve (i.e. “Imperial Valley Resource Center”)
  • Troop number
  • Date, time and duration of your gathering
  • Number of activity groups (each activity group may have a maximum of 13 girls with 2 adults)
  • Total number of girls attending
  • Total number of adults attending
  • Certification of trained CPR/first aid volunteer

Reservations requests must be submitted at least seven days in advance. Requests will be reviewed by GSSJC staff and confirmed via email within three business days if the property requested is available.

GSSJC Camps

We know girls are excited to return to camp. Beginning in March 2021, GSSJC will begin allowing troops the opportunity to overnight camp on select council properties. Additionally, troops can continue to request day-only use of select camp properties for activities such as outdoor meetings. The following guidelines are to be adhered to on council properties. These guidelines have been established with deference to Centers for Disease Control, American Camp Association and state and local health department orders and guidelines. GSSJC is committed to the health and safety of our members. We will monitor compliance with these COVID-19 guidelines and may take action to limit participation in Girl Scout activities for those who do not comply.

Camps that are open for reservations can accommodate a maximum of 100 participants in activity groups of no more than 15 people (including required adult ratio). Please be aware that previous reservations at camp must be modified with Customer Service if groups would like to increase their size from 10 or combine their units. Changes to existing reservations may not be possible due to the number of reservations already in place for a camp.

One adult volunteer per activity group must be camp-trained or have completed the new online Camping and Outdoor basics. All participants on-site must be current members, and adults must be currently screened volunteers.

Day-Only Meetings at Camps:

Day-only meeting reservation requests must be submitted at least 10 business days in advance. Requests will be reviewed by GSSJC staff and confirmed via email within three business days if the property requested is available. The full request process is listed further down in this section.

Each activity group will be assigned an outdoor space that is for their exclusive use from 9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., and activity groups must remain separated while on property. Check-in for day-only use occurs between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., and troops cannot check-in later during the day. The cost is $10 per activity group.

Under no circumstances will girls and volunteers scheduled for day-only meetings be allowed in any of the buildings. While on camp property, bathrooms are available.

Camp Availability for Day-Only Meetings at Camp:

  • Camp Agnes Arnold: Open on Saturdays (9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.) by reservation only. See details below.
  • Casa Mare: Open on Saturdays (9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.) by reservation only. See details below.
  • Misty Meadows Ranch: Open on Saturday (9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.) by reservation ONLY for troops/groups participating in council-hosted programing. See gsEvents for offerings.
  • Camp Pryor: Open on Saturdays (9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.) by reservation only. See details below.
  • Camp Robinwood: Open on Saturdays (9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.) by reservation only. See details below.
  • Camps Camwood, Silver Springs, Whispering Pines, Wind-A-Mere and the Galveston Bay House are closed until further notice.

Overnight Camping for Troops:

Activity groups must remain in groups of no more than 15 people adhering to safety ratio at all times and no more than one activity group will be booked per camp unit for overnight camping. Submit one F-127 form per activity group to campreservations@sjgs.org at least 10 days in advance. Each activity group must include at least one camp-trained (Camping and Overnight Basics or Outdoor Trained) volunteer and one First Aid certified volunteer. Troops who wish to have a campfire must include at least one campfire certified volunteer, and request the fire flag at check-in. Larger troops will be split into separate activity groups and units.

Requests will be reviewed by GSSJC staff and confirmed via email within three business days if the property requested is available

  • Camp Agnes Arnold: Open-air tents and treehouse cabins available for weekend camping by reservation only beginning March 5, 2021.
  • Camp Robinwood: Open-air tents available for weekend camping by reservation only beginning March 5, 2021.
  • Camp Pryor: Primitive (bring your own tents) camping available for weekend camping by reservation only beginning March 5, 2021. All occupants in a tent must be within the same household.

Arriving at Camp

  • Activity groups will be assigned a color that corresponds with wristband colors and parking. A reminder email will be sent on Thursday prior to arrival to the camp-trained volunteer with check-in reminders and activity group colors assigned.
  • Carpooling is now permitted. GSSJC's guidelines for indoor gatherings must be followed. Individual parent/household drop-off and pick-up are encouraged. Please see our Carpooling section for our guidelines.
  • Check-in is from 6 - 9 p.m. Please contact the camp ranger or check-in coordinator listed on your confirmation to let them know what time you will arrive. If your troop or group cannot arrive by 9 p.m., please plan to check-in on Saturday morning.

Prior to camp arrival, the following forms must be signed ready to be reviewed:

Temperatures will be taken upon arrival at camp. Participants will be asked to remain in their cars until all forms have been received and temperatures have been taken for those who will be remaining on the property. Colored wristbands will be issued to each participant by activity group upon check-in and must be worn until the activity group is checked out and participants are reunited with parents to return home.

While at Camp

Once on property, participants are not allowed to leave and return. Activity groups will have access to their designated areas and depending on the camp, will be able to do self-guided hiking through available trails.

Council-scheduled activities will be available at select camps and registration will be available in gsEvents. The schedule for these activities will be updated on the Camping Central group of the Online Community.

Activity groups that have their own certified volunteers for program activities such as archery, swimming and canoe may submit an F-449 Program Registration form with appropriate certifications to campreservations@sjgs.org. Additional guidance for adhering to GSSJC COVID-19 best practices will be provided to certified activity volunteers upon confirmation of your self-led activity. Each activity group should have its own program-certified volunteers at camp.

Larger troops attending camp with more than one activity group may contact the Outdoor Experience Department to develop a COVID-safe plan.

One volunteer who is present must be camp-trained or have completed the new online Camp and Outdoor basics. All participants on-site must be current members, and adults must be currently screened volunteers. If troops wish to build a campfire, one volunteer must be campfire certified and obtain a fire flag at check-in.

Social Distancing and Sanitization Procedures

  • Masks must be worn at all times.
  • Sleeping arrangements: girls should be assigned to beds at half capacity of the sleeping area for each tent or cabin. Girls should sleep with heads as far away from each other as allowable for the space (ex. In a tent, only two beds should be used with heads in opposite/diagonal corners.) Whenever possible, tent and cabin flaps should be rolled up while inside.
  • All participants are encouraged to bring personal (travel-size) hand sanitizer to carry along hikes or other activities that may happen outside of their reserved pavilion area. Troops should bring refill bottles of sanitizer and refill frequently.
  • In bathroom facilities, wear masks except while showering, and adhere to proper handwashing and sanitizing. If possible, tooth brushing should be done at the handwashing station outside. Please adhere to the maximum capacity signs on the bathroom facilities.
  • When using shared surfaces and areas like water coolers, sinks, tables, door handles, etc., encourage girls and adults to wash hands and/or use hand sanitizer before and after touching surfaces.
  • Craft activities should be as contained for each participant as possible. Girls should have their own supplies that should not be shared. If there is difficulty in adhering to this, follow the “shared surfaces” guidance above.

Meals at Camp

When serving meals please adhere to the following:

  • Plan meals that adhere to “single-serve” (Ex. Foil packet meals, meal on a stick, single-serve cereal and milk, whole fruits, etc.) which girls can prepare and serve themselves.
  • Adults, wearing gloves, mask and hair pulled back should serve all shared items at meals such as bulk packaged items like bread, plates, napkins, etc.
  • Ensure participants are spaced out with at least six feet between each person while eating.
  • Troops should use disposable dinnerware, or each girl should clean her own dishes.

HOW TO REQUEST A RESERVATION AT A GSSJC CAMP:

April 1 edits in this section are bolded.

Note: In order to prioritize facility use for supporting girl programs, Resource Center use will be prioritized for troop and group activities for girls and, at some locations, certification trainings for adults. Adult gatherings and activities are strongly encouraged to continue virtually.

First, please read GSSJC’s COVID-19 Safety Precautions for In-Person Gatherings. All participants at any in-person gathering must agree and adhere to these safety precautions, in addition to the rules above.

  • Carpooling is now permitted. Please see our guidelines. 
  • Registered adult members with an active background check who are not part of an activity group are welcome to explore camp on foot with a buddy. Just let one of our staff know where you’re headed and have a good phone number for us in case of emergency. Please adhere to masking and social distancing from all activity groups while on property.
  • Parents/guardians who prefer to drop-off girls must communicate with troop leaders to arrange drop-off and pick-up times. Nonmember adults who are waiting for girls in day-only meetings are welcome to stay on camp in one of our designated waiting areas, which include restrooms for your use. 
            - At Camp Agnes Arnold, parking is available at Podville (to right near front gate). This area includes covered picnic tables and restrooms.
           - At Camp Robinwood, parking, a covered picnic pavilion and restrooms are located just inside camp.
           - At Camp Pryor, parking and restrooms are located at the Welcome Center.
           - At Casa Mare, parking is located at the end of the drive, and restrooms are available in the Galley.
           - At Misty Meadows Ranch, parking is located adjacent to the lodge, and a restroom is located just beyond the parking lot. 

Next, email a completed F-127 form for each activity group to campreservations@sjgs.org at least 10 business days in advance. Camp requests must be made by members with outdoor camp certification (aka "camp trained").  Requests will be reviewed by GSSJC staff and confirmed via email within five business days if the property requested is available.

Short Troop Trips

Troops or groups may travel for no more than four days and three nights and must follow the Safety Activity Checkpoints (SACs) for Transporting Girls and Travel/Trips in addition to any other relevant SACs. Activity groups must remain in groups of no more than 15 total people (including at least two adults or required adult ratio) adhering to safety ratio at all times and no more than one (1) activity group booked per area for overnight camping. Submit one F-413 (Short Troop/ Group Trip Form) per activity group to travel@sjgs.org at least three weeks (21 days) in advance. Each activity group must include at least one (1) travel-trained (Camping and Overnight Basics or Camp Trained) volunteer and one (1) First Aid certified volunteer. Larger troops must be split into separate activity groups and units. Larger groups traveling with more than one activity group may contact the Girl Experience Department (travel@sjgs.org) to develop a COVID-safe plan.

Outdoor overnight accommodations must be open-air or if tent camping, a tent for each household. Outdoor overnight accommodations are strongly preferred.  If indoor overnight accommodations are necessary, the troop or group must follow GSSJC, state of Texas, local/ county and CDC guidelines for indoor gatherings. Permission slips for the trip must include parent signature on the detailed itinerary indicating all planned stops.

Carpooling with members who are not in the same household is permissible, provided all girls and adults inside each vehicle are in the same activity group (of no more than 15 people) at the destination, with express written permission from parents/guardians of all children and acknowledgment of these guidelines by all adults in the vehicle (see carpooling guidelines).  Groups should strive to travel together, caravanning to ensure all participants arrive together. Commercial and public transportation is not permitted.

Prior to departure the troop leader and/or driver must collect the following signed forms from each participant and complete the screening log:

The troop leader must check temperatures each morning of the trip. If a participant shows symptoms consistent with COVID-19, the entire activity group must go home. 

Social Distancing and Sanitization Procedures

  • Masks must be worn at all times unless safe to do so (e.g., while sleeping, bathing or swimming).
  • Sleeping arrangements: girls should be assigned to beds at half capacity of the sleeping area. Girls should sleep with heads as far away from each other as allowable for the space.  If sleeping in personal tents, all occupants within each tent must be from the same household. Whenever possible, tent and cabin flaps should be rolled up while inside.
  • All participants are encouraged to bring personal (travel-size) hand sanitizer to carry along hikes or other activities that may happen outside of their reserved area. Troops should bring refill bottles of sanitizer and refill frequently.
  • In bathroom facilities shared by members of multiple households, wear masks except while showering, and adhere to proper handwashing and sanitizing.  If possible, tooth brushing should be done at the handwashing station outside.  Please adhere to the maximum capacity signs on the bathroom facilities.
  • When using shared surfaces and areas like water coolers, sinks, tables, door handles, etc., encourage girls and adults to wash hands and/or use hand sanitizer before and after touching surfaces.
  • Craft activities should be as contained for each participant as possible. Girls should have their own supplies that should not be shared. If there is difficulty in adhering to this, follow the “shared surfaces” guidance above.

Meals

When serving meals please adhere to the following:

  • Plan meals that adhere to “single-serve” (Ex. Foil packet meals, meal on a stick, single-serve cereal and milk, whole fruits, etc.) which girls can prepare and serve themselves.
  • Adults, wearing gloves, mask and hair pulled back should serve all shared items at meals such as bulk packaged items like bread, plates, napkins, etc.
  • Ensure participants are spaced out with at least six feet between each person while eating.
  • Troops should use disposable dinnerware, or each girl should clean her own dishes.

Outdoor dining is strongly preferred. When necessary, troops may dine in restaurants that allow at least six feet between each activity group while dining.

Carpooling
download_32

DownloadCOVID-19 Carpooling Guidelines and Acknowledgment (F-204C)

It is imperative to take all safety precautions when girls are traveling in motor vehicles. Coronavirus transmission risk is high when people are in close proximity, less than six feet apart. The risk increases when people are in a closed-in area or indoors for longer than 10 minutes. Always, for every in-person event, meeting, or transportation arrangement, conduct the prescreening process to ensure that coronavirus does not touch Girl Scout gatherings. GSSJC advises against participating in carpooling if high-risk individuals live in the households of the passengers.

GSSJC cautions that parents should be very careful with carpool decisions. Individual parent/household drop-off and pick-up are encouraged. When necessary, carpooling is permitted with the following requirements:

  • Passengers from a maximum of three households in the same vehicle. Passengers to and from the same activity must be from the same households. (e.g., the same girls from three households, but one parent could drop off and another could pick up).
  • All passengers in each vehicle must be participating in the same activity group, of no more than 15 people, once they reach the destination.
  • All carpools must be documented on the activity log kept by the volunteer at check-in.
  • Drivers must complete the pre-screening process when picking up girls from their caregivers. Caregivers/Parents must complete the permission slip and acknowledgment forms in advance and give them to the carpool driver to submit at check-in.
  • If any passenger in the vehicle cannot check-in at arrival or must leave during the event due to COVID-19 symptoms, exposure, temperature, etc. All passengers in the same carpool must leave together.
  • All passengers in the vehicle must wear a face mask that covers nose, mouth and chin. Anyone who cannot comply with this requirement may not participate in carpooling. (Face shields do not comply unless they are worn with a face mask as well.)
  • External air ventilation is required. Do not recirculate interior air, and when possible at least crack the windows or a sunroof to increase outside airflow.
  • Arrangements are preferred between households who are regularly carpooling for other activities or school/childcare.
  • No eating or drinking (i.e., activities requiring masks to be removed) while in the vehicle.
  • Passengers should sit as distant as feasible within vehicles, hard surfaces such as handles and seatbelt buckles should be disinfected before and after.

Volunteers and parents who do not comply with these requirements are at risk of not being allowed to participate in Girl Scout activities. Volunteers responsible for each activity and who are documenting check-in and participation log, are empowered to limit participation for non-compliant participants on a case-by-case basis.

Girl Scout Shop Curbside and Lobby Pick-Up Service
download_32

Download order form

In addition to curbside pick-up for online and phone orders, Girl Scout Shops are now offering in-person shopping. An appointment is no longer required. The number of customers in the shop at once will be limited, however, and limits will be posted on doors. Shoppers may be asked to wait outside if the shop is already at its limit when they arrive.

Most locations are open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays* and Thursdays from 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. These locations are open on Friday from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Cypress is open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Visit girlscoutshop.com/san-jacinto-council for our most current council shop hours.

To place your curbside/lobby order, please download and complete the order form linked above and email it to shop@sjgs.org with your preferred pick-up time. You may also call your closest shop to place your order and arrange pick-up.

*Lufkin is NOT open on Wednesdays or Fridays. Westside is offering curbside pick-ups only on Wednesdays and no in-person shopping.

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

Cypress
19708 Northwest Fwy., Ste. 100, Jersey Village, TX 77065
346-818-3227

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 Events

If an activity is canceled, program registrants will receive direction communication concerning their activity.

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. Note that postponed and rescheduled events may take slightly longer to refund depending on the size of the participant roster. If needed, 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.

Girl Scouting from Home

Girl Scouting From Home
As Girl Scouts, we live by the motto "be prepared" - and that includes when the unexpected happens. We ask that all members continue to follow the most current guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and their local health officials.

We will continue to offer resources for girls and troops to participate virtually. Please visit gssjc.org/girlscoutingfromhome for the latest Girl Scouting from Home offerings.

Community Resources

Our priority remains the well-being of our girls and families, so we 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.

Frequently Asked Questions
CAMP

Can I submit a camp request for overnight camping and/or reservations at a camp that is not currently open?
 While groups may submit camp requests using  F-126  or  F-127  forms, staff will not follow up on them until we enter an open reservation period and have defined which groups will be permitted to make reservations.

Will the grills be available for troops that have reserved space at the currently open camps?
For day-use, grills are not to be used and each girl should bring her own lunch or commercially packaged food. For overnight camping, each activity group that has an adult with campfire certification may request a campfire flag and use the grills.

Why are certain camps still closed and others are open?
We are continuously evaluating operational factors that influence our ability to offer safe programming at our camps. We are working to offer increased access to camps dependent on resource availability. 
 

RESOURCE CENTERS

Why are certain resource centers not available for troop gatherings?
The availability of resource centers is based on space, scheduling and tenant agreements. We are continuously evaluating these factors and working to expand available gathering space for troops.
 

TROOP GATHERINGS

Can my troop do a Friendship Circle at our upcoming gathering?
The council’s COVID-19 Safety Precautions for Girl Scout Gatherings apply to all in-person activities. This means that girls may do a Friendship Circle, so long as they are separated into activity groups of 15 total people or fewer (including at least two adults or required adult ratio) and each girl maintains 6 feet of social distancing from each other. We suggest using a rope in lieu of holding hands.

The space that my troop is gathering at does not require masks to be worn when girls are sitting down. Does that mean they can take them off while they are sitting down at our troop gathering?
No. GSSJC’s COVID-19 Safety Precautions for Girl Scout Gatherings must be adhered to at all Girl Scout gatherings, regardless of the venue’s policy. Everyone is required to provide and wear a face mask or cloth face covering that covers nose, mouth, and chin. This includes caregivers dropping off and picking up girls from a gathering. 

The space that my troop is gathering at requires temperatures to be taken before participants enter the building. GSSJC’s COVID-19 Safety Precautions for Girl Scout Gatherings do not say anything about this. Do we need to take temperatures?
Yes. You must adhere to any additional safety measures specific to your gathering space, even if they are not addressed in GSSJC’s COVID-19 Safety Precautions for Girl Scout Gatherings or the rules in the table above.

My co-leader wishes to plan an in-person gathering for our troop; however, I am uncomfortable meeting in-person. Can our troop proceed with the in-person gathering?
 No. All troop leaders must be in agreement to meet in-person. If the decision is not unanimous, please continue meeting virtually until everyone agrees to an in-person gathering.