Coronavirus Updates: Working Together to Keep Our GSNorCal Community Healthy

Updated as of 11/19/2021
Updated items have an asterick (*) next to them

Current COVID-19 Guidelines PDF

Our goal as Girl Scouts is to model leadership by prioritizing the health and safety of our members and communities, keeping kids in school, and reducing community spread of COVID-19, an extremely contagious virus that spreads easily in the community.

GSNorCal follows public health guidance and requirements regarding vaccination, masking, testing, distancing, and quarantining, referred to as “COVID Mitigation Layers”.

GSNorCal supports troop leaders, event directors, and camp directors to use their judgment to establish even greater protection than GSNorCal’s requirements based on planned activities or current local conditions.

GSNorCal values inclusion and recognizes that some members of our community are at greater risk than others and need enhanced COIVD Mitigation Layers to be safe. Some members of our community may not be able to wear masks and/or be vaccinated. We will work with members, and where possible, identify appropriate modifications and alterations that will not increase the risk of COVID-19 exposure for Girl Scout participants.

Staff members are required to follow Cal OSHA requirements, as well as state and county guidelines. This means they may be masking at times when it may seem unnecessary to do so, however, please understand these guidelines may vary for them.

It is important to note that if individuals are feeling ill, they should stay away from in-person meetings or gatherings.

Masks

Indoors:

• Required for Girl Scout members and general public attending in-person Girl Scout meetings, activities, and/or events, including while carpooling.
• Required indoors at all times, at GSNorCal and non-GSNorCal properties.

Outdoors :

Masks are optional, except in these circumstances, where masks are required:

• Where social distancing cannot be maintained, like waiting in lines and event seating
• When required by the county, school district, school, or other organization where the activity is taking place
• When required by the troop leader, event director, or camp director who is responsible for the activity or event. Volunteers are often in the best position to determine whether greater protection is needed given the circumstances in their communities, the nature of the event, the vaccination rates of participants, etc.

Individuals medically exempted from wearing a face covering due to a medical condition must wear a non-restrictive alternative, such as a face shield with a drape on the bottom edge.

*Vaccinations and Testing

• GSNorCal strongly recommends, but does not require, vaccines for all eligible adults and youth.
• GSNorCal supports volunteer troop leaders, event directors, and camp directors who choose to require in-person event participants to provide proof of vaccination and/or a negative COVID test within 72 hours of an event. 
  • *GSNorCal recommends that troop leaders, event directors, and camp directors notify participants in advance if proof of vaccination and/or a negative COVID test will be required for participation in an event.
  • *Event/Camp Directors may choose to require permission to test a girl or adult participant for the COVID-19 virus, using an over-the-counter test should the girl or adult become ill or exhibit COVID symptoms.  Participants who develop any symptoms of illness while participating in an event will be isolated and arrangements for sending them home to recover will be made as quickly as possible.  Parents/guardians are asked to pick their girls up from the event as soon as possible. 
  • *If permission is not given for COVID-19 testing, girls must be picked up as soon as possible after the First-Aider has contacted the parent/guardian. 

*Meals and Snacks

• Avoid any self-serve, shared food or drink options at Girl Scout meetings or events.
• Snacks are limited to pre-packaged or individual serving sizes which can be safely distributed without cross contamination by individuals wearing face coverings and gloves.
• Food practice guidelines as outlined in the CDC’s Small Gatherings: Planning for Food and Drinks remain in place (5/20/2021).
• *Eating and drinking should continue to be done outdoors, until further notice.  This guideline will continue to be monitored in the hopes that protocols can be relaxed when COVID cases decrease, emerging variants are not on the rise, more children can be vaccinated, and more adults can receive their boosters.

Quarantine

• The CDPH (California Department of Public Health) K-12 COVID Guidance provides clear rules for what to do if you come in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19.
• If fully vaccinated, follow the public health guidance for fully vaccinated people—you do not need to quarantine if you are fully vaccinated and asymptomatic. 
• If not fully vaccinated, follow the CDPH K-12 COVID Guidance:
  • “ Quarantine for all extracurricular activities at school, including sports, and activities within the community setting”
  • This means, no in-person Girl Scout (or other extracurricular activities) for either:
    • 10 days after exposure if there has been no COVID testing; or
    • 7 days if tested after 5 days from exposure and COVID test is negative.
  • If troop leaders, event directors, or camp directors learn that an event participant has tested positive for COVID-19, please contact your Volunteer Support Manager (VSM) for information on how your Troop Families should be notified. 

Isolation

If you feel sick, have COVID symptoms and/or have tested positive, isolate and DO NOT attend any in-person meetings, events, or activities.

*Product Program Booths

In an effort to keep our girls, adults, and members of the general community safe, GSNorCal recommends that troop booth planners follow these guidelines when planning product booths due to the high volume of customer contact:

• Trust caregiver’s judgment in determining if their entreprenHER feels comfortable with participating in booths
  • If the girl or family do not feel that the time is right, that is okay
• Encourage eligible adults and girls to be fully vaccinated when participating in booths
• Girls and adults should wear masks both at indoor and outdoor booth locations
• Practice social distancing to the extent possible at both indoor and outdoor locations
• Observe a 2-adult/4-girl maximum ratio at booths, as has been the standard in the past
• Booth planning should be girl-led as appropriate to the troop level. EntreprenHERs should discuss and understand safety requirements that will enable the troop to stay as safe as possible.
  • All forms of payment may be accepted at booths – credit card acceptance is encouraged
  • Have hand sanitizer available at booths
  • Ask that customers wear masks when visiting the booth
  • If guests are not wearing masks, chaperones should offer to assist them 
  • Tip:  Have entreprenHERs make their own signs asking customers to wear their masks
• Booth guidelines, like all GSNorCal COVID guidelines, are subject to change based on state and local regulations and mandates that remain fluid

Frequently Used GSNorCal Forms (revised with COVID information)

• Activity and Event Permission Form
• Annual Permission Form
• Girl Health History Form
• Adult Health History Form
• Trip or High Adventure Approval Form
• Introduction to SAFETY ACTIVITY CHECKPOINTS

Additional Guideline Details

Additional details regarding planning in-person events, camping, carpooling, quarantining guidelines, and domestic and international travel appear in the PDF version of this document.

*Additional COVID Resources

Public Health: California Department of Public Health COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools in California, 2021-2022 School Year. (October 20, 2021)
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/K-12-Guidance-2021-22-School-Year.aspx

Masks: California “Masks in Daily Life” Mandate: https://covid19.ca.gov/masks-and-ppe/#Masks-in-daily-life (September 23, 2021)

Vaccination: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/COVID-19-Public-Health-Recommendations-for-Fully-Vaccinated-People.aspx (October 28, 2021)

https://www.gov.ca.gov/2021/08/11/california-implements-first-in-the-nation-measure-to-encourage-teachers-and-school-staff-to-get-vaccinated/ (August 11, 2021)

Quarantining: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Guidance-on-Isolation-and-Quarantine-for-COVID-19-Contact-Tracing.aspx (October 22, 2021)

*International Travel:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel/index.html (October 25, 2021)

*Travel Accomodations/Travel Tips: 
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-risk.html (September 1, 2021)

Current Safety Measures: California State “Do’s and Don’ts”: https://covid19.ca.gov/safely-reopening/#what-to-do-now (October 26, 2021)

Thank you for your help in keeping Girl Scouts a safe, fun space for everyone! If you have any questions about how COVID-19 may impact Girl Scouts activities, please contact us at info@gsnorcal.org or 800-447-4475—we’re here for you.

County Health Department Requirements:

Below are the links to the COVID webpage resources for all 19 counties that make up GSNorCal. Counties and local schools and school districts continue to adjust guidelines as public health officials learn more about the virus in their communities. Please be sure to check your county’s COVID guidelines, also check with your school, to confirm that youth attending in person school are allowed to participate in youth sports and out-of-school-time activities.

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, please contact us at  info@gsnorcal.org or 800-447-4475—we're here for you.