9/15/2021: Meal preparation guidance has been updated to allow shared outdoor cooking for troop campouts and activities or as part of the program for larger volunteer-led events, following social distancing and masking requirements outlined in the full In-Person Girl Scout Activity Guidance.
Girl Scouts River Valleys continues to monitor the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant, which remains a concern in many of our communities. In accordance with guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) for schools and youth activities, Girl Scouts River Valleys will continue to require that masks be worn for all indoor Girl Scout activities regardless of vaccination status.
Indoor group size limit remains at 25. There is no limit on outdoor group size, but masks are required in outdoor groups of more than 25 or where social distancing cannot be maintained.
Troop and group indoor overnights are still not allowed at this time. This includes activities such as one-night overnights, day camp overnights, and encampments.
Download Full In-Person Girl Scout Activity Guidance
Download the full In-Person Girl Scout Activity Guidance translated to Spanish, Hmong, and Somali.
Group Size
- Indoor meetings, events, and activities run by volunteers (troops, service units, other Girl Scout groups), are limited to a maximum of 25 people per group/pod (including adults and facilitators) with at least three feet of social distancing, and participants must wear masks.
- Outdoor meetings, events, and activities do not have a limit, however—any time more than 25 people gather together in a space, when groups/pods combine for an activity, or when at least 3 feet of social distancing cannot be consistently maintained, everyone is required to wear a mask. Groups/pods of 25 people or less are not required to wear masks outdoors, unless combining with other groups/pods. See Face Coverings section for more details. In outdoor groups of any size, participants should maintain at least 3 feet of social distancing.
- Visit COVID News & Updates for up-to-date announcements based on state mandates.
Troop Meetings and Activities
- Having meetings and activities in outdoor spaces where 3-6 feet of social distancing can be maintained is recommended.
- Indoor meetings and activities are allowed, following all Girl Scouts River Valleys group size and masking requirements.
- Participating in parades and festivals is allowed, following all group size and masking requirements, and maintaining social distancing of at least 3 feet from members of your group and others. If social distancing outdoors cannot be maintained, masks must be worn.
- Meeting in private homes is not recommended.
- Don’t assume the space has been cleaned and sanitized—come prepared.
Overnights
- Outdoor/tent overnights are allowed, but for individual troops only, with one household per tent.
- Overnights are not allowed for larger events run by volunteers (day camps, encampments, program events).
- No indoor overnights allowed except as a council-approved, multi-night travel trip.
Face Coverings
- Masks are required any time you are indoors.
- Masks are not required outside, unless social distancing of at least three feet cannot be maintained or in a group larger than 25 people.
- For large volunteer-led activities/camps/events (more than 25 people), masks are required outside when groups/pods combine and duration of exposure is increased, such as flag ceremonies, campfires, or all-camp games. Masks are not required if groups/pods are just passing between activities.
- Masks must be worn while cooking or washing dishes (cooking is allowed for individual troop overnights only).
- Carpooling with people outside your household is not recommended, but if it is necessary, all girls and adults must wear masks inside the vehicle.
- Masks are required while on buses or other mass transit.
- * Some girls or volunteers may not be able to wear masks due to medical conditions. In addition, participants/children should only wear cloth face coverings if they can reliably wear, remove, and handle the cloth face covering throughout their in-person activity.
- * Exempted activities where masks may be temporarily removed include eating, sleeping, or participating in swimming or other waterfront activities where wearing a mask would be dangerous.
- * Some participants may choose to continue to wear masks even when it is not required. Please respect the personal safety choices of others when leading or participating in in-person activities.
Food
- For troop meetings and troop activities, food can be brought from home or limited to pre-packaged, individual serving size food which can be safety distributed without cross contamination.
- Troops are allowed to prepare meals outdoors, following guidance.
- As of September 15, meal preparation guidance has been updated to allow shared outdoor cooking for troop campouts and activities or as part of the program for larger volunteer-led events, following social distancing and masking requirements outlined in the full In-Person Girl Scout Activity Guidance.
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 instead.
- Singing and shouting both spread germs farther than talking. Make sure girls and adults are all wearing masks when indoors and are maintaining social distancing outdoors.
Reporting & Contact Tracing
- If you receive a report of exposure (confirmed or possible), a positive test, or someone waiting on test results, download the full In-Person Girl Scout Activity Guidance for details around reporting to council staff.
- Don’t contact parents or troop members yourself, Girl Scouts River Valleys staff will notify parents and others about a COVID-19 report.
- The affected person’s identity will remain confidential.
Health Screening
- Before attending an in-person meeting or activity, everyone should go through a Health Screening Checklist and take their temperature.
- Anyone with a fever or temperature higher than 100.4 degrees should skip in-person gatherings until their temperature is normal, without fever-reducing medication, for more than 48 hours.
Any time you are in a gathering with other people, you are putting yourself and others at risk of exposure to COVID-19 which can lead to serious medical conditions and even death for people of all ages. We cannot predict who will become severely ill, although we know that older people and those with underlying health conditions are at higher risk. We do not yet know what the long-term effects of COVID-19 are; even people with mild cases may experience long-term complications. People with and without symptoms can spread COVID-19. The masking, distancing, and other guidance provided here is intended to reduce the risk of transmission but does not eliminate it.
FAQs
Back-to-Troop FAQs
Q. Do we need to wear masks?
Masks are required any time you are indoors. Masks are not required outside, unless distancing of at least three feet cannot be maintained or in a group larger than 25 people.
For large volunteer-led activities/camps/events (more than 25 people), masks are required outside when groups/pods combine and duration of exposure is increased, such as flag ceremonies, campfires, or all-camp games. Masks are not required if groups/pods are just passing between activities.
Masks must be worn while cooking or washing dishes (cooking is allowed for individual troop overnights only).
Carpooling with people outside your household is not recommended, but if it is necessary, all girls and adults must wear masks inside the vehicle.
Masks are required while on buses or other mass transit.
Exempted activities include instances where masks may be temporarily removed such as eating, sleeping, or participating in swimming or other waterfront activities where wearing a mask would be dangerous.
* Some girls or volunteers may not be able to wear masks due to medical conditions.
Here’s a simple Fabric Mask Tutorial created by a Girl Scout volunteer.
Volunteers or event hosts should also teach girls how to handle their face coverings so that the coverings are effective.
Q. Are there guidelines for social distancing if meeting in person?
Spaces where at least 3 feet of social distancing can be maintained are strongly recommended for meetings. Keep safety a top priority when selecting your meeting location. Get advance permission from the property owner or the jurisdiction that provides the location.
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 instead.
Q. What restrictions will there be around the amount of people we can have at each event/troop meeting?
Indoor meetings, events, and activities run by volunteers (troops, service units, other Girl Scout groups), are limited to a maximum of 25 people per group/pod (including the required number of adults per Girl Scouts of the USA ratios with at least three feet of social distancing, and participants must wear masks.
Outdoor meetings, events, and activities do not have a limit, however—any time more than 25 people gather together in a space, or when groups/pods combine for an activity, everyone is required to wear a mask.
Q. Will shared troop meeting supplies need to be individualized for each girl instead of shared use? What about snacks—are there guidelines for food at meetings?
Most forms of sharing should be limited at troop meetings to avoid the spread of the virus through surface contact. At in-person gatherings, do not permit girls to share food or beverages, and have girls wash or sanitize their hands before sharing supplies and avoid touching their face.
Food can be brought from home or limited to pre-packaged, individual serving size food which can be safely distributed without cross contamination.
If preparing a meal during a troop activity, follow food preparation guidance under Tent/outdoor camping in the Troop Travel & Overnight Stays section of the full In-Person Girl Scout Activity Guidance (PDF).
Q. What if a girl wants to ride/drive with another girl to an event?
It is recommended that individual families drop off and pick up their own girls from meetings or activities. Carpooling should be avoided where possible to maintain social distancing. If carpooling is necessary, everyone in the vehicle is required to wear a mask.
Q. Can my troop or group attend a local town event if we (in our group) are following guidelines?
Parades and festivals: Participating in parades and festivals is allowed, following all group size and masking requirements, and maintaining social distancing of at least 3 feet from members of your group and others. If social distancing outdoors cannot be maintained, masks must be worn.
Day trips: Day trips (e.g. nature center, state park, Valley Fair, museum, rock climbing wall, etc.) are allowed, following all group size and masking requirements, and maintaining social distancing of at least 3 feet. If social distancing of at least 3 feet outdoors cannot be maintained, masks must be worn.
In-Person Adapted Troop Meeting Plans
Daisies (Grades K-1)
Brownies (Grades 2-3)
Junior (Grades 4-5)
- Outdoor Art Explorer Badge (in-person adapted) – Meeting 1
- Outdoor Art Explorer Badge (in-person adapted) – Meeting 2
- Trail Adventure Badge (in-person adapted) – Meeting 1
- Trail Adventure Badge (in-person adapted) – Meeting 2
Cadettes (Grades 6-8)
- Outdoor Art Apprentice Badge (in-person adapted) – Meeting 1
- Outdoor Art Apprentice Badge (in-person adapted) – Meeting 2
- Trail Adventure Badge (in-person adapted) – Meeting 1
- Trail Adventure Badge (in-person adapted) – Meeting 2
Seniors (Grades 9-10)
- Outdoor Art Expert Badge (in-person adapted) – Meeting 1
- Outdoor Art Expert Badge (in-person adapted) – Meeting 2
- Trail Adventure Badge (in-person adapted) – Meeting 1
- Trail Adventure Badge (in-person adapted) – Meeting 2
Ambassadors (Grades 11-12)
Resources
- [UPDATED 9/15/21] In-Person Girl Scout Activity Guidance – English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali – Read this document in full before planning an in-person gathering.
- [UPDATED 9/15/21] In-Person Girl Scout Activity Guidance One-Page Resource – Review this easy-to-read infographic as guidance when planning a COVID-resilient in-person Girl Scout activity.
- Health Screening Checklist – For families to use prior to gathering.
- [UPDATED 9/15/21] COVID-19 Preparedness Plan Template
- [UPDATED 5/28/21] COVID-19 Family Agreement – English , Spanish, Hmong, Somali – For families to look over and sign prior to participating in any in-person troop or group Girl Scout activities.
- First Meeting Plan – For volunteers to use as guidance when planning their in-person meeting.
- [UPDATED 5/28/21] Meeting Space Signage – Use at troop meetings or gatherings to remind girls and volunteers of everyday preventative actions to stop the spread of COVID-19.
- Fabric Mask Tutorial – A helpful tutorial created by a Girl Scout volunteer for making fabric masks.
