Covid Guidelines

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

The Updated COVID-19 Guidance for Volunteers below goes into effect 04/01/2021 and is effective through 05/01/2021.

Spring has arrived, the sun is shining and it’s time to get outside and enjoy the warmer weather! We are pleased to announce some exciting changes to our GSNC COVID-19 Guidelines for Volunteers. Here are some of the highlights of the changes, be sure to review everything below for more specific information on each topic.

Beginning April 1, 2021:

Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Troops can meet for up to two hours. All other guidelines for Outdoor Troop Meetings will remain in place.
GSNC Shop will now be offering personal shopping opportunities by appointment only on Wednesdays.
Girls working towards their Gold Award will be permitted to do in-person presentations within established school groups/clubs. Girls should contact their mentor for approval.

Beginning April 15, 2021:

Troops will be permitted to participate in local outdoor day trips for up to two hours
Troops can plan to hold an outdoor bridging and/or end-of-year celebration in a public space to include family members of each household.
Service Units can plan to celebrate girls who have achieved the higher awards with an outdoor ceremony in a public place including family/household members.

We look forward to hearing about the plans you will be making for April, May & June.

In-Person Troop Meetings

GSNC troops are strongly encouraged to meet virtually.

Leading in-person activities during COVID-19 is optional. Volunteers should first decide if they are comfortable offering in-person outdoor troop meetings before proceeding.

At this time GSNC prohibits indoor Girl Scout meetings or activities, including in private homes.

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

Starting December 1, 2020 GSNC troops may meet in person outdoors with the following criteria.

Any in-person troop meeting must follow NYS guidelines.
All girls and volunteers must practice social distancing, wear face coverings (masks) and maintain 6 feet distancing of others, and follow safety guidelines as outlined by the CDC.
All girls and approved adults must have completed the registration or renewal process for the 2021 membership year.
In addition:

Meeting Size

Meetings should include groups no more than 26 total. Be sure to follow Safety Activity Checkpoints to meet the required Approved Adult to girl ratio.

Meeting Duration

Beginning April 1, 2021, all Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador troops may meet for up to two hours.

Meeting Space

Only outdoor spaces where social distancing can be maintained are permitted for meetings. Get advance permission from the property owner or the jurisdiction that provides the location. 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

There should be no food served. If girls wish to bring a water bottle, please make sure the bottle is labeled with their names.

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. For example, younger girls may find it difficult to remain socially distant and/or wear masks. If girls cannot comply with guidelines, troop activities should remain virtual at this time.

Transportation

Individual parents drop off and pick up their own girls from meetings. Carpooling is prohibited. Public transportation should be avoided, where possible, to maintain social distancing. Parents/ guardians should wait in/at their car or in the area outside of the troop meeting space unless invited to be part of the meeting as part of the permitted meeting size. Tagalongs are prohibited.

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.

Outdoor Troop Meeting Approval

Leaders must submit an Outdoor 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 April 15, 2021 troops will be permitted to participate in local outdoor day trips and programs for up to two hours.

A trip is considered for any event other than a regular meeting (Outdoor Troop 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.
All activities included in the trip must take place outdoors.
All participants must follow CDC Covid-19 recommended guidelines regarding wearing masks at all times and adhering to social distancing as necessary.
Parents will need to provide transportation for all trips. Carpooling is not permitted at this time.
No food or beverages should be served.
Written approval is required by completing the GSNC Trip Application – Day Trip. You will need to receive the confirmation email to proceed with the trip.

GSNC Trip Application for Day Trips>>

Trips more than two hours, travel, and overnight stays are prohibited through May 1, 2021. This date will be reviewed and extended as needed.

Council In-Person Programs

Beginning April 15, 2021, Girl Scouts of Nassau County will begin to offer Outdoor Council programs. Be sure to check out the program calendar for the latest opportunities both outdoor In-person and virtual programming.

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

Girl Scout Cookie Program Guidelines

Interim COVID-19 Guidance for Cookie Program Volunteers

In effect 03/01/2021 through 04/30/2021.

These guidelines are specific to the 2021 Cookie Program and are in addition to the In-Person Troop Meetings Interim COVID-19 Guidance for Volunteers.

Please note that while girls can work together on their plans and promotional materials for the Girl Scout Cookie Program on a virtual meeting or at a pre-approved outdoor troop meeting, doing neighborhood door hanger distributions with others or other group activity would not be approved under the current GSNC troop meeting guidelines.

Digital Cookie
Digital Cookie remains the safest way to take orders for Girl Scout Cookies – it is fun to set up and there is no paper order card that needs to be filled out. The customer pays online with a credit card, so there is no money to collect from them or to hand into your troop.

If you have not set up your digital site yet, go to digitalcookie.girlscouts.org and click on “Need help to log in.”

How to Participate Safely
GSNC is working diligently to keep our girls, volunteers, staff, and community safe and healthy while participating in Girl Scout activities during these challenging times.

Please review our Safe and Successful Girl Scout Cookie Order Taking Tips for some innovative ways your daughter can safely participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, along with some tips on order taking, money collection, and delivery.

Cookie Stand-A-Bouts (A New Family Option for 2021)
You may want to consider hosting a Stand-A-Bout in front of your home! Have fun setting up your “Pop-up Cookie Shop!”

Girls can learn goal-setting, decision-making, money management, people skills, and business ethics while earning money for their troop and amazing rewards and patches for themselves.

Our Cookie Stand-A-Bouts Flyer gives you the steps to be successful and have fun!

If you have any questions, please contact us at customercare@gsnc.org or 516.741.2550.

Family (Household) Local Booth Sale (A New Family Option for 2021)
Beginning March 5, 2021 families/households will be permitted to hold a contactless local booth sale. Families will need to follow all GSNC COVID-19 guidelines and submit requests through your Troop Cookie Manager. Please review the following two resources to learn more and instructions to host a Family Booth Sale.

GSNC Family Booth Sale Requirements
GSNC FAQ’s for Family Booth Sale

Troop Cookie Drive-thru (New for 2021)
Beginning March 5, 2021 troops will be permitted to hold a contactless cookie drive-thru. Troops will need to follow all GSNC COVID-19 guidelines and submit requests through your Service Unit Cookie Manager. Please review the following two resources to learn more and instructions to host a Troop Cookie Drive-thru.

GSNC Troop Drive-thru Cookie Booth Requirements
GSNC Troop Drive-thru Cookie Booth Guide

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.

Tuesdays: SHOP open 11am -2pm (by appointment only)
Thursdays: SHOP open 4pm - 8pm (by appointment only)

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

In-Person Shopping (By Appointment Only)

Beginning April 1, 2021, the GSNC Shop will be offering in-person shopping by appointment only for 20-minute increments on Wednesdays.

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

To meet the needs of our membership, and ensure compliance with all Covid-19 Guidelines and Regulations for volunteers and staff, the 2021 Cookie Cupboard will be relocated offsite at:

Samanea New York Mall (formerly the Source Mall)
1500 Old Country Road
Westbury, NY 11590

Troop Cookie Managers will be able to arrange for a curbside pick-up of cookies by appointment only. They simply need to enter their order into the eBudde system, select an available date and time at least three hours prior to pick up, and arrive to pick-up their order.

Should a Troop Cookie Manager need to pick up any additional supplies/paperwork for the 2021 Girl Scout Cookie Program, they can do so by scheduling an appointment for a curbside pick-up at the Cookie Cupboard on Tuesday or Thursday. Complete a curbside pick-up request.

Cookie Cupboard Hours

Monday	10am to 6pm	Last available appointment 5:45pm
Tuesday	11am to 7:30pm	Last available appointment 7:15pm
Wednesday	10am to 6pm	Last available appointment 5:45pm
Thursday	11am to 7:30pm	Last available appointment 7:15pm
Friday	10am to 6pm	Last available appointment 5:45pm
Saturday	9am to 2pm	Last available appointment 1:45pm

Please Note: Only cookies and 2021 Girl Scout Cookie Program materials are available for pick-up at the Cookie Cupboard. Should you need anything else, please email cupboard@gsnc.org to make arrangements to have it mailed or picked up at the Girl Scout Service Center.

Outdoor Troop Bridging/End-of-Year Celebrations

Beginning April 15th troops can plan to hold an outdoor bridging and/or end-of-year celebration in a public space to include family members of each household.

All participants must follow CDC Covid-19 recommended guidelines regarding wearing masks at all times and adhering to social distancing as necessary.
One family/household should have their own space to gather to be socially distant from other families.
The number of participants must not exceed the NYS Covid-19 Guidelines for outdoor events, currently at 200 people (be sure to review current restrictions at the time of your event).
No food or beverages should be served.
Leaders must submit an Outdoor Troop Meeting Request Form 10 days prior to the meeting. Requests will be reviewed within 5 business days, approval emails will be sent.

Please note we are currently updating the Outdoor Troop Meeting Request Form to include the Bridging/End of Year Celebration option. The updated form will be available on April 5, 2021.

Higher Awards

Outdoor Service Unit Higher Award Celebrations
Beginning April 15th Service Units can plan to celebrate girls who have achieved the higher awards with an outdoor ceremony including family/household members.

All participants must follow CDC Covid-19 recommended guidelines regarding wearing of masks at all times and adhering to social distancing as necessary.
One family/household should have their own space to gather to be social distant from other families.
Number of participants must not exceed the NYS Covid-19 Guidelines for outdoor events, currently at 200 people (be sure to review current restrictions at the time of your event).
Service Units may need to break up the ceremonies by level to not to exceed the NYS participation limits.
Service Unit Volunteer Manager or Event chair will need to submit an Outdoor Troop Meeting Request Form at least 10 days prior, earlier if possible to the event. Requests will be reviewed within 5 business days, approval emails will be sent.

Please note, we are currently updating the Outdoor Troop Meeting Request Form to include the Outdoor Service Unit Higher Award Celebrations option. The updated form will be available on April 5, 2021.

Gold Award Projects
Beginning April 1, girls working towards their Gold Award will be permitted to do in-person presentations within established school groups/clubs. Girls should contact their mentor for approval.

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, and please contact Customer Care if you have any questions: customercare@gsnc.org or call 516-741-2550.

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