Covid Guidelines

In-Person Troop Meetings Interim COVID-19 Guidance for Volunteers

The Updated COVID-19 Guidance for Volunteers below goes into effective 06.18.2021.

Greetings,

As we slip into summer this coming weekend we are pleased to be sending you updates to Girl Scouts of Nassau County In-Person Troop Meetings Interim COVID-19 Guidance for Volunteers.

With the changes to the New York State restrictions and consideration for the health and safety of our young members who are still unable to be vaccinated, we are now able to allow more flexibility in meeting. This guidance will be in effect until August 31, 2021 at which time we will once again review for updates. We are confident that even more changes will be possible for our new Girl Scout year starting in September.

Please be sure to read through the entire updated guidance below. Here are the highlights:

Starting June 18, 2021 Troops may meet indoors or outdoors with the following criteria

Girls and adults must follow any mask requirements for the location.
GSNC encourages considering wearing masks outdoors if you are going to be in close contact in a cluster for a period of time or in a crowded public area.
GSNC strongly recommends being socially distant whenever possible.
GSNC strongly suggests masks be worn indoors.
GSNC advises unvaccinated individuals to consider wearing masks and make efforts to social distance to provide a safe environment for our young Girl Scouts who cannot be vaccinated.

Meetings, trips, and events can be held for the day with no time limit.

Please Note: GSNC does not allow Girl Scout meetings or activities to take place at any private home indoors or outside.

All of us at GSNC have enjoyed seeing all the photos that you have submitted. What a great way to let us know what great activities you have been doing during this very unusual year. Feel free to keep them coming.

Troop Meeting Request Form>>
Local Day Trip Request Form>>
Service Unit and Troop Event Request Form>>

In-Person Troop Meetings

Volunteers should first decide if they are comfortable offering in-person troop meetings before proceeding. There are now many options and volunteers should determine what will work best for their troop/group. You may consider taking a hybrid approach, a combination of indoor, outdoor and/or virtual meetings and gatherings.

GSNC does not allow Girl Scout meetings or activities to take place at any private home indoors or outside.

Completing the Troop Meeting Request Form is required to receive prior approval, you can now enter up to eight meeting dates if they are going to take place at the same location and time.

Starting June 18, 2021 Troops may meet indoors or outdoors with the following criteria.

Girls and adults must follow any mask requirements for the location.
GSNC encourages considering wearing masks outdoors if you are going to be in close contact in a cluster for a period of time or in a crowded public area.
GSNC strongly recommends being socially distant whenever possible.
GSNC strongly suggests masks be worn indoors.
GSNC advises unvaccinated individuals to consider wearing masks and make efforts to social distance to provide a safe environment for our young Girl Scouts who cannot be vaccinated.
In addition, the below guidelines must be followed.

Meeting Size

Meetings should not exceed NYS guidelines for outdoor and outdoor gatherings. Be sure to follow Safety Activity Checkpoints to meet the required Approved Adult to girl ratio.

Meeting Duration

Beginning June 18, 2021, all Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Troops may meet as they choose for the day.

Meeting Space

For meetings held at indoor or outdoor public facilities, volunteers should contact the facility ahead of time and ask:

Is the space cleaned, and touch surfaces (i.e., tabletops, light switches, chairs, etc.) sanitized, at least daily?
Who else uses the space (how often, what size is the group)? Is the space cleaned between groups?
What type of faucets / soap dispensers are available in the restroom (sensory or manual)?

GSNC encourages volunteers to supplement any practices that are less ideal. For example, if the troop arrives after another user group, they should plan to bring sanitizing wipes to get the space ready for their troop. Another example: if faucets are manual, ask volunteers to take some time to show girls how to shut them off with a paper towel and to use paper towels for doorknobs whenever possible.

Meetings may not be held in fitness centers or gyms because the atmosphere in sports facilities is aerosolizing making them a higher risk for contracting virus.

Please Note: Meetings in private homes, backyards, and front yards are prohibited.

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.

Food and Beverage

Food and drink is permitted as long as it is not shared. So girls can bring their own food to eat or individually packed food for each girl can be distributed.

First Aid Supplies

Troop first aid supplies should include COVID-19 prevention items including hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol), tissues, disposable facemasks, and disinfectants. Trash baskets or bags should be supplied for meeting spaces, if not already available. Make sure that the trash baskets (or bags) are easily accessible. Disposable or no-contact thermometers may be added to supplies if available and not cost-prohibitive, however, parents should be checking temperatures and allowing their girl(s) to join group activities only when temperatures are normal (the same guidance applies to volunteers.

Volunteers and Families

Leaders should share these guidelines with troop families, and make a collaborative decision with families based on comfort level, accessibility, and desired level of engagement.

Volunteers and families should assess their ability to comply with the required guidelines.

Transportation

GSNC highly recommends individual parents drop off and pick up their own girls from meetings. If carpooling is necessary, all participants riding in the vehicle are required to wear a mask. Keep car window opened, at least partially, to circulate fresh air. Public transportation should be avoided, where possible, to maintain social distancing, if necessary masks need to be worn.

Pre-screening Questions

Pre-screening questions before attending each Girl Scout meeting or event:

Have you or anyone in your household (person(s) with whom you live) traveled either domestically or internationally over the past three weeks? If yes, which location(s) did you or they visit, and which airports did you or they travel through?
- Check the NYS website for quarantine requirements for anyone who has recently traveled out of state.
Have you or anyone with whom you live experienced any of the following symptoms within the past two weeks?
Have you or anyone with whom you live experienced any of the following symptoms over the past 24 hours? To your knowledge, have you been in close, sustained contact (within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more) with anyone showing any of the above-referenced symptoms, or anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 (Coronavirus)?
Please click the links above or go to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html for COVID-19 symptoms.
Volunteers should include these questions in each email confirmation they send to parents for meetings and events.

Troop Meeting Approval

Leaders must submit an Troop Meeting Request Form 10 days prior to the meeting. Requests will be reviewed within 5 business days, approval emails will be sent.

Trips, Travel, and Overnight Stays

Beginning June 18, 2021 troops will be permitted to participate in local indoor & outdoor day trips and programs for the day. A trip is considered for any event other than a regular meeting, they may include but not limited to participating with a program provider such as a nature center, horseback riding stable, art program, or yoga classes.

GSNC encourages as many activities as possible take place outdoors during the trip.
Girls and adults must follow any mask requirements for the location.
GSNC encourages considering wearing masks outdoors if you are going to be in close contact in a cluster for a period of time or in a crowded public area.
GSNC strongly recommends being socially distant whenever possible.
GSNC strongly suggests masks be worn indoors.
GSNC advises unvaccinated individuals to consider wearing masks and make efforts to social distance to provide a safe environment for our young Girl Scouts who cannot be vaccinated.
GSNC highly recommends individual parents drop off and pick up their own girls from meetings. If carpooling is necessary, all participants riding in the vehicle are required to wear a mask. Public transportation should be avoided, where possible, to maintain social distancing.
No shared food or beverages should be served.
Written approval is required by completing the Local Day Trip Request Form. You will need to receive the confirmation email to proceed with the trip.
Parades are permitted at this time following mask guidance as listed above.

Local Day Trip Request Form>>

Travel and overnight stays are prohibited through August 31, 2021. This date will be reviewed and extended as needed.

Council In-Person Programs

Look for expanded council program opportunities in the fall issue of Possibilities! Be sure to check out the program calendar for the latest opportunities.

Day Trip Request forms do not need to be completed for Council Sponsored programs.

GSNC continues to encourage virtual engagement: www.gsnc.org/athome

Council Service Center

The GSNC Service Center remains closed, staff continues to provide support virtually.

Please email us at customercare@gsnc.org or leave a message at 516.741.2550.

GSNC Shop

Car-Side Pickup (By Appointment Only)

The GSNC Service Center remains closed, staff continues to provide support virtually. The GSNC Shop will continue to offer car-side pickup by appointment only with expanded hours.

    Tuesday: SHOP open 11am-5:30pm (by appointment only)
    Wednesday: SHOP open 10am-4pm (by appointment only)
    Thursdays: SHOP open 1pm-8pm (by appointment only)

Make an appointment with the GSNC Shop for Car-Side Pickup>>

In-Person Shopping (By Appointment Only)

GSNC Shop continues to offer in-person shopping by appointment only for 20-minute increments on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

By appointment only, on Wednesdays only for 20 minutes shopping sessions from 10am-4pm.
One family/household up to 3 people per appointment.
Masks must be worn at all times.

Make an appointment for the GSNC Shop's In-Person Shopping>>

GSNC 2021 Cookie Cupboard

The GSNC Service Center remains closed, staff continues to provide support virtually. The Cupboard will continue to offer car-side pickup by appointment only with expanded hours. Complete a curbside pick-up request.

Tuesdays: Open 11am-2pm (by appointment only)
Thursdays: Open 3pm-7pm (by appointment only)

Troop/Service Unit Events

Troop/Service Unit events may also include all bridging and award ceremonies.

Beginning June 18, 2021 troops can plan to hold a day event in a public space to include family members of each household.

Girls and adults must follow any mask requirements for the location.
GSNC encourages considering wearing masks outdoors if you are going to be in close contact in a cluster for a period of time or in a crowded public area.
GSNC strongly recommends being socially distant whenever possible.
GSNC strongly suggests masks be worn indoors.
GSNC advises unvaccinated individuals to consider wearing masks and make efforts to social distance to provide a safe environment for our young Girl Scouts who cannot be vaccinated.
The number of participants must not exceed the NYS Covid-19 Guidelines for indoor or outdoor events. (be sure to review current restrictions at the time of your event).
No shared food or beverages should be served.
Troop Leader, Service Unit Volunteer Manager, or Event Chair must submit a Troop/Service Unit Event Form (link to form) 10 days prior to the meeting. Requests will be reviewed within 5 business days; approval emails will be sent.

Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award Projects

Girls working towards their Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award are permitted to do in-person presentations within the guidelines of the location the girl has secured to do her presentation. GSNC encourages outdoor presentations as much as possible, however indoor presentations are also permitted. Guidelines established for indoor locations will need to be followed.

All above subject to change in order to be in compliance with any NYS Health/COVID-19 regulations updates.

Thank you for all that you do. Please contact Customer Care if you have any questions: customercare@gsnc.org or call 516-741-2550.

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