Council Response to COVID-19

Updated 9/1/2022

Supersedes guidance provided on April 6, 2022

Girl Scouts’ number one priority is the safety and well-being of our members and the families and communities we serve. Girl Scouts should always operate within the confines of what is permitted in their specific local region according to governmental public health authorities.

GSUSA has released considerations for travel.  Be sure to checkout this useful checklist while making your travel plans.

COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions can vary greatly from state to state, from county to county, or even from town to town. Restrictions will also fluctuate in response to COVID-19 transmission risk. Since it is imperative to stay within current local regulations, troops should frequently:

• Check your states’ Department of Health to ensure your jurisdiction is in compliance with its specific statutory norms and laws. List of State Departments of Public Health
• Verify whether or not your state’s governor has implemented any restrictive changes in response to elevated COVID-19 transmission risk: State by State Coronavirus-Related Restrictions
• Survey families for their comfort level with respect to returning to in-person gatherings
• Volunteers should regularly check and follow realtime local and national safety directives

In addition to monitoring state and local guidance it is important that you continue to monitor and implement the appropriate health and safety steps provided by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

GSUSA has provided COVID-19 safety and health guidance for councils to share with their volunteers, recognizing that the timing of resuming in person troop meetings and activities will vary from state to state and even county to county in certain regions. This guidance is intended to be used for volunteers in conjunction with Safety Activity Checkpoints and according to each council’s individual state and local COVID-19 circumstances which remains fluid.

This guidance was orginially provided by GSUSA. Girl Scouts Heart of the South has modified this guidance, as circumstances have changed.  Given the constantly changing guidelines in the 3 states and 59 counties that GSHS serves, volunteers should frequently visit this document to stay informed on the most recent recommendations.  Each update supersedes any previously posted information.

Volunteer Awareness. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious virus that spreads easily in the community. Take all reasonable precautions to limit potential exposure for girls, volunteers, and families.   It is an important time to be a great Girl Scout and demonstrate Girl Scout values.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to change as infection rates rise and fall in different areas. There may be regional differences or developments since this guidance was published. Continue to follow local and national directives. Discuss plans with families.

Girl Scouts Heart of the South provides a COVID-19 Member Participation Waiver for troops and service units to use for pre-screening, if they choose to.  The council advises troops to continue to remind girls and families to stay home if they feel sick.

Volunteers that are planning events may choose to continue to  complete pre-screening and symptoms checks prior to each in-person gathering. If an attendee answers a question that would indicate a likelihood or a known possibility that they could be a carrier of the virus, they should not be asked to attend the gathering. Please be sensitive to the fact that girls may be experiencing symptoms that are similar but completely unrelated to COVID-19 and not contagious at all, such as headaches, allergies or a pre-existing condition. The goal is to keep the meeting safe from contagion and do the very best to ensure our girls are educated and healthy, not make it unnecessarily difficult or uncomfortable for girls to gather safely.

Restrictions by State. Before implementing these national guidelines, first and foremost: Check local restrictions for small gatherings in the council home state. They could vary greatly from state to state, county to county, or even from town to town. As of this Edition Date state restrictions are still changing. AARP publishes an excellent overview of restriction by state which is updated daily: AARP Coronavirus Restrictions by State. Check your state Department of Health (DOH) to ensure your jurisdiction is in compliance with statutory norms and laws. 

If you need assistance there are multiple ways to contact us:

• Visit your nearest Girl Scout Leadership Center in Memphis or Jackson, TN or Tupelo, MS
• Phone: 800-624-4185
• Email: info@girlscoutshs.org
• Chat: visit our homepage and look for the icon on the bottom right of the page

Our team has developed a COVID-19 Member Participation Waiver for any troops who would like a little more peace of mind. This form is not required by the council for in-person activities, but troops are welcome to use it.

Girl Scout Digital Experience

Through the Girl Scout Digital Experience, we're offering Virtual Badge Labs, STEAM Series, trainings and at-home challenges and activities.

The following are available on the Girl Scout Digital Experience:

• Virtual Badge Labs
• Virtual STEAM Series
• Virtual Trainings for Girls
• Video Tutorials and Activities
• At Home Challenges
• Scavenger Hunts

Be a Source of Comfort and Calm for Girls

Thank you for your help in keeping Girl Scouts a safe, fun space for everyone! If you have questions about how COVID-19 may impact Girl Scout activities at any time, please reach out to us at info@girlscoutshs.org.

Additional information and resources about COVID-19:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – The CDC is publishing its latest updates, health tips, and country-specific travel information.
• World Health Organization - Coronavirus Q&A, a helpful Q&A addressing many of the common questions about this virus.
• Arkansas Department of Health
• Mississippi State Department of Health
• Tennessee Department of Health