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COVID-19 Updates from GSSJC

Last updated June 3, 2022

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.

Update: Effective June 3, 2022:  COVID-19 testing is required to participate in summer overnight camp activities. Overnight campers must pretest and show a negative test result on the same day they are scheduled to arrive at camp. Parents or guardians will receive a test kit to administer to their camper at camp check-in if they do not have access to one. Overnight campers must also complete pre-screening forms to participate in camp.

Day-only campers are not required to pretest, but they are required to complete a pre-screening form before arriving at camp.

Though the COVID-19 environment is improving, we strongly encourage individuals attending summer overnight camp or day-only camp to test before they arrive at camp. Testing may be required for specific events and programs. If so, we will notify attendees in advance.

COVID-19 is an extremely contagious virus that spreads easily in the community. Volunteers should take all reasonable precautions to limit potential exposure for girls, themselves, and families. The status of community spread and risk to participate in activities is continually changing. Girl Scouts should ensure they are following current guidance from GSSJC as well as the CDC and local public health authorities for personal health and hygiene, and cleaning and disinfecting. Additionally, Girl Scouts should be prepared by having masks, hand sanitizer, and cleaning supplies available.

If any Girl Scout or participant is confirmed to be COVID-19 positive within five days of participating in a Girl Scout activity, the family must contact Melissa Hardy (mhardy@sjgs.org) to allow council staff to manage communication and contact tracing and maintain appropriate confidentiality.

 

Masks

Masks are recommended based on CDC guidelines, but not required, for indoor and outdoor activities, including those on GSSJC property. From time to time when conditions warrant, GSSJC may require masks at specific locations. 

We expect individuals to follow CDC guidelines. Residents of a county with a community Level with a rating of high (orange) or those who are attending an activity in such a county, should continue to wear masks indoors. We continue to ask that all Girl Scouts be considerate of one another in situations where an individual may have a medical need or be high-risk. As a sister to every Girl Scout, each should take those actions that support the safety of our sister Girl Scouts. 

Troop leaders, program and event volunteers, and vendors may still make the decision to require masks for specific activities. This requirement must be made clear as part of the registration process for activities or in any pre-activity information. 

Attendees of the GSSJC Annual Meeting and Adult Recognition Ceremony will be required to wear masks as this is a large indoor event and attendance at the annual meeting is a requisite part of a governance function.

GSSJC cookie booths will require masks through the end of the 2022 Girl Scout Cookie Program as a condition of our agreement with our community partners.

Vaccinations

GSSJC does not require its members to be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, the council encourages members to educate themselves about the vaccine and become vaccinated when eligible. 

While COVID vaccination is not required, accurate medical forms including vaccination records are required for all Girl Scouts in case of emergency.

Reminder: no participant can be excluded or segregated from an activity based on vaccination status.

Before Each Activity

All girls and adults should review all screening questions before each in-person activity and stay home when not feeling well or exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms. The completion of screening logs is currently required for overnight activities only. For camping, volunteers should create the screening log at check-in, indicating yes or no answers for each girl and adult in attendance.

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Download Girl Scout Permission Slip

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Descargar la hoja de permiso de Girl Scouts

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Download Screening Questions

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Download Screening Log

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Adult Assumption of Risk and Release of Liability – Coronavirus/COVID-19 (F-204A)

Travel
Short Troop Trips

Troops or groups traveling for four days and three nights must follow the Safety Activity Checkpoints (SACs) for Transporting Girls and Travel/Trips and any other relevant SACs. 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. 

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 is permissible 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 including airplanes is now permitted.  Masks must be worn during commercial travel and when in transportation facilities and stations. Travelers must follow CDC guidelines. 

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

If a participant shows symptoms consistent with COVID-19, anyone with close contact must go home. 

Extended Troop Trips

Extended travel is currently allowed to domestic locations. Troops/groups can use any public or commercial transportation. 

The following forms are required:

Troops or groups traveling 5+ days must follow the Safety Activity Checkpoints (SACs) for Transporting Girls and Travel/Trips in addition to any other relevant SACs. Each group must include at least one (1) travel-trained (Camping and Overnight Basics or Camp Trained) volunteer and one (1) First Aid certified volunteer.

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 is permissible 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 now permitted, including airplanes. Masks must be worn during commercial travel and when in transportation facilities and stations. Travelers must follow CDC guidelines. 

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

If a participant shows symptoms consistent with COVID-19,  anyone with close contact must go home. 

International travel and cruises

International travel and cruises are permissible for Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors, ages 12 and older. Troops must follow health and safety rules set by the airline and/or cruise line, plus adhere to the council’s current travel criteria/checklist and submit the document to the council for approval.

Most international flights and cruise lines require travelers to be vaccinated. Troops are required to research the airline and cruise line’s health and safety protocols before travel. 

The following forms are required:

 

 

Carpooling
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Download COVID-19 Carpooling Guidelines and Acknowledgment (F-204C)

Carpooling

It is imperative to take all safety precautions when girls are traveling in motor vehicles. Coronavirus transmission risk is higher 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. 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. Carpooling is permitted with the following requirements:

  • Parents must complete the permission slip and acknowledgment forms in advance and give them to the carpool driver.
  • If any passenger in the vehicle must leave during the event due to COVID-19 symptoms, exposure, temperature, etc., all passengers in the same carpool must leave together.
  • External air ventilation is recommended. When possible, at least crack the windows or a sunroof to increase outside airflow.

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.

Activity Guidance
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Guidance for Day-Only Activities

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 Guidance for Camp and Overnight Activities

Helpful Forms