For troops who are looking for ways to reconnect in person, we have put together a list of recommendations based on the current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state guidelines.
Consult Safety Activity Checkpoints for further guidance on troop meetings and troop activities
Parental Permission Form
Please have this form completed by caregivers when planning in-person meetings or activities
Troop Meeting Size
- Follow current New Jersey state gathering limits.
- Follow current social distancing guidelines for New Jersey.
Troop Meeting Space
Outdoor spaces where social distancing can be maintained are
strongly recommended for meetings. Get advance permission from the
property owner or the jurisdiction that provides the location.
For meetings held at public facilities, 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)?
Then, consider whether you can supplement any practices that are
less ideal. For example, if you will arrive after another user group,
plan to bring sanitizing wipes to get the space ready for your troop.
Another example: if faucets are manual, take some time to show girls
how to shut them off with a paper towel. 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.
Troop Meetings in the Home
As always, GSJS strongly advises against meeting in the home out of concern that there would be a greater risk of homeowner liability. Our strong recommendation is to refrain from in-home meetings.
*If there are extenuating circumstances that make an at home meeting necessary, see Safety Activity Checkpoints for additional guidance. (insert link to SAC)
Backyard Meetings
For back and front yard meetings, make sure that the grounds are completely safe for children. For example, be careful that pools are fenced or otherwise safely sectioned off. The same goes for any equipment or tools or recreational apparatus that is deemed unsafe for girls such as outdoor trampolines. Make sure that pets are kept separate from the girls meeting space. Ensure that both the troop leader and co-leader can see girls and monitor their whereabouts at all times. Maintain the use of the buddy system for errands or bathroom breaks. If the property is large, ensure that the meeting space is kept distinctly separate from non-members.
Virtual Meetings
Meeting options may need to be flexible based on the fluid nature of COVID-19 risk. Troops that are able to run online meetings as needed (or wanted) should continue to do so. GSUSA recommends maintaining a virtual to in-person ratio of at least 20/80, which means to maintain virtual troop meetings at least 20% of the time to keep tech skills and virtual meeting habits fresh and the on the ready. Use the Safety Activity Checkpoints for Virtual Meetings, to guide your meeting plans:
Transportation
It is recommended that individual parents/caregivers drop off and pick up their own girls. If carpooling or using public transportation, follow current social distancing guidelines.
Day Trips and Activities
In conjunction with Safety Activity Checkpoints, follow the same
guidance found in the Troop Meetings and Hygiene and the COVID-19 Risk
Mitigation guidance sections of this document. Call ahead to the
facility or vendor to confirm that they are following CDC and state
health department guidelines. If activity or sporting equipment is
being provided, ask the provider to wipe down equipment in between
uses. Make whatever appropriate accommodations are necessary. For
example, bring extra sanitizer if none will be provided for public use
at the activity location. Submit a Trip or High Risk Activity Application BEFORE making any definitive
plans or financial deposits/payments.