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Member Safety Guidelines

A Step-by-Step Guide to the New Girl Scout Year

The COVID-19 crisis has required Girl Scouts of Western Washington (GSWW) to create new member safety guidelines for all programming. We will be implementing a phased reopening of our programming, offices, and camp properties based on GSUSA, CDC, American Camp Association, and Washington State health & safety protocols. Girl Scouts of Western Washington volunteers, members, and community partners are required to adhere to these procedures if leading or participating in any GSWW programming (council, troop, camp, etc.).

Table of Contents

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Back to Girl Scouts Guide
(Interactive PDF)

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Phase Plan Chart

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Essential Business Operations

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Non-Essential Business Operations

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Notice Regarding In-Person Participation

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Requirements for In-Person Participation

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COVID-19 Incidents

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GSWW Phase Guidelines

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GSWW’s WA State Safe Start Phase Plan

To determine what phase your county is in, please visit the coronavirus.wa.gov website.

GSWW Phase Plan Chart

Click On a Phase to Get Started

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Phase 1

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Phase 2

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Phase 3

 

No In-Person Programming Can Begin Until September 25, 2020.

All Phase 4 guidelines are to be determined.

 

Phase 1

Program Area Phase 1
Troop Virtual Only
Overnight Camping Not Permitted

Volunteer Day Camp 

 Virtual Only

Staff-Led Day Camp

 Virtual Only
Summer Resident Camp Virtual Only
Volunteer-Led Events Virtual Only
GSWW Events Virtual Only

GSWW Horse Program

 Virtual Only
Training/Learning Virtual Only
Camp Volunteer Maintenance By Invitation Only for Critical Maintenance
Camp Property Reservations Camps Not Open for Site Use
GSWW Offices Virtual Only
Retail Curbside Pick-Up/Reduced Capacity at Select Locations

Fall Product Program

Virtual Training and Sales. No-Contact Delivery
Cookie Program Digital Only
Transportation No In-Person Activities

Phase 1.5 & 2

Program Area Phase 1.5 & 2
Troop Virtual Only
Overnight Camping Not Permitted

Volunteer Day Camp 

 Virtual Only

Staff-Led Day Camp

 Virtual Only
Summer Resident Camp Virtual Only
Volunteer-Led Events Volunteer Programming: 5 Adults or Fewer. No Youth In-Person Programming
GSWW Events Virtual Only

GSWW Horse Program

 Individual Lessons
Training/Learning Virtual Only
Camp Volunteer Maintenance Up to 4 Adult Volunteers + 1 GSWW Staff or Specially Trained Volunteer Lead
Camp Property Reservations

Limited Family Day Use at Camp River Ranch and Camp Lyle McLeod
GSWW Offices Closed to Members & Public
Retail Curbside Pick-Up/Reduced Capacity at Select Locations

Fall Product Program

Virtual training. Virtual sales (M2, phone, email, social media) and in-person sales to 5 or fewer weekly contacts outside of your household. No-contact delivery and in-person delivery allowed for 5 or fewer weekly contacts outside of your household.
Cookie Program

TBD
Transportation Carpooling Not Permitted

Phase 3

Program Area Phase 3
Troop 8 Youth, 2 Adults
Overnight Camping Not Permitted

Volunteer Day Camp 

 Virtual Only

Staff-Led Day Camp

 Virtual Only
Summer Resident Camp Virtual Only
Volunteer-Led Events

Volunteer & Youth Programming: 8 Participants & 2 Unrelated Adults
GSWW Events Virtual Only

GSWW Horse Program

 Individual Lessons and Groups of Up to 4 Youth
Training/Learning 10 or Fewer
Camp Volunteer Maintenance Up to 9 Volunteers + 1 GSWW Staff or Specially Trained Volunteer Lead
Camp Property Reservations

Limited Family Day Use at Camp River Ranch and Camp Lyle McLeod
GSWW Offices Closed to Members & Public
Retail Curbside Pick-Up/Reduced Capacity at Select Locations

Fall Product Program

Virtual training and training within training/learning guidelines. Virtual sales (M2, phone, email, social media) and in-person sales to 10 or fewer weekly contacts outside of your household. No-contact delivery and delivery allowed for 10 or fewer weekly contacts outside of your household.
Cookie Program

TBD
Transportation Carpooling Not Permitted

   

WA State Safe Start Essential Business Operations

These business operations do not require GSWW to follow the Washington State Safe Start Guidelines.

Retail
  • Retail stores will maintain a customer log of all customers visiting the location in-person to assist with contact tracing if needed.  Customers may voluntarily provide this information and will not be denied service if they are unwilling to provide personal information (Log template).  This information will only be shared with Public Health officials upon request.
  • Phases 1.5, 2 and 3 customer occupancy allowed at 30% or less of maximum building occupancy (not including employees).
  • Distance markers will be placed outside to ensure those waiting to enter remain at least six feet apart.
  • Face-coverings (cloth masks, bandanas, or scarves are sufficient) must always be worn inside any GSWW retail store.
  • Plexiglass will be installed at all reception/retail check-out areas to protect employees and public members.
  • Floors around entry points and workspaces will have clear markings to show six feet from any space in which employees and members spend regular extended amounts of time.
  • Chairs in waiting or lounging areas will be relocated to ensure a minimum distance of six feet between seating.
  • Signs detailing handwashing requirements, illness precautions, social distancing, and proper use of face coverings will be posted prominently throughout worksites.
  • Signs noting limitations on the number of people allowed in changing rooms (1-person limit) will be posted.
GSWW Camp Maintenance
  • Vendors and service providers such as internet & IT companies, plumbers, electricians, exterminators, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of camp properties are allowed on site throughout all phases.
  • Volunteers with specific expertise or training may be invited by site staff to provide support for services that maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of camp properties throughout all phases.
Limited Family Day Use at Camp River Ranch and Camp Lyle McLeod
  • GSUSA COVID-19 guidelines currently prohibit overnight activities.
  • Starting September 25, Camp River Ranch and Camp Lyle McLeod will be open for limited Family Day Use between 10 am-4 pm by reservation only for a $50 fee.
  • Camp River Ranch will have five outdoor locations open on Fridays and Saturdays through October 31, each with access to a fire pit, flush toilet, running water, and hiking trails.
    • Locations available are Cascades, Wagons West, Frontier, Cedars, and Meadows.
    • Due to water shut off procedures for winter, River Ranch is not available for site use after October 31, but will re-open as weather permits in the spring.
  • Camp Lyle McLeod will have seven outdoor locations open on Saturdays and Sundays, each with access to a fire pit, Biffy (outhouse), running water, parking, and hiking trails.
    • Locations available are Hilltop, Totem Landing, Ark, Pioneer, Yurt Village, Lakeside, and Primitive.
    • Site use at Lyle McLeod will remain available through winter as weather permits, with some holiday closures.
  • Family Day Use reservations can be made on a first-come, first-served basis starting on September 14 by submitting the Camp Site Request form.
    • Only one household with no more than 10 people is permitted per site. Families will not share any facilities with other households.
    • One member of the household must have active Girl Scout membership for the 2021 membership year to secure a reservation.
    • Updated information about Family Day Use will be available on the Rent Our Camps page of our website by September 7.
  • Program areas at camp, including all docks and waterfront areas, will remain closed. Public access to lakes may be available at nearby locations, and additional information will be provided upon site reservation and arrival.
  • Families are responsible for bringing their own First-Aid kit, which should include a thermometer.
  • Face-coverings (cloth mask, bandana, or scarf) must be worn when in the proximity of on-site staff, passing others on trails, and when using bathrooms/Biffies.
  • GSWW site staff will provide soap and/or hand sanitizer within each Day Use area and will ensure surfaces are disinfected between user groups.

Health Screening

  • If anyone within your household has symptoms or has known exposure to COVID-19 you should cancel your reservation as soon as possible.
  • COVID-19 Self-Assessment Health Screening is required before leaving for camp.
  • If a member of your household begins exhibiting signs and symptoms of Covid-19 while at camp, your entire household will need to leave camp immediately. All members of your household should remain in the reserved site use area until you have gathered personal belongings and you are able to leave.
    • A laminated placard will be located in the unit and should be placed red side up at the site if you must depart suddenly due to illness or COVID-19 symptoms. This will alert our site staff that the area may be contaminated. Additional instructions will be provided in your site reservation confirmation.
    • Follow the reporting guidelines in the Reporting COVID-19 positive incidents section.

 

   

WA State Safe Start Non-Essential Business Operations

These business operations require GSWW to follow the Washington State Safe Start Guidelines

Virtual & In-Person Meetings/Activities
  • Meeting options may need to be flexible based on the fluid nature of COVID-19 risk. Even when in-person meetings are possible, GSUSA recommends maintaining a virtual to in-person meeting ratio of at least 20/80. This means troops should meet virtually at least 20% of the time to keep tech skills and virtual meeting habits fresh, in the event we should encounter a second wave and shelter in place restrictions resume. Use the Safety Activity Checkpoints for Virtual Meetings to guide your meeting plans.
  • In-person meetings and volunteer-led activities are permitted in Phase 3 only and limited to a group size of 10 people, which includes youth and two unrelated supervising adults.
  • Member Technology Resources can be found here.
Partner Programming/Non-GSWW Facility Rentals

Currently, GSWW is not authorizing Girl Scout in-person programming through community partners due to health & safety concerns. We will continue to monitor CDC & GSUSA guidelines to determine when this is safe to start again. We are permitting GSWW staff-facilitated program at Blue Mountain Stables (current location for all GSWW horses) since the program arena is a reserved and private space for Girl Scouts of Western Washington participants, and we can ensure health and safety guidelines are followed under GSWW staff supervision.

GSWW Horse Programming
  • GSWW’s horse programming will be hosted at Blue Mountain Boarding facility located in Olympia and facilitated by GSWW staff. Thurston county is in Phase 3, which allows GSWW to authorize modified in-person programming up to 10 people. Please note, 10-person capacity includes youth participants, horse program staff, and supervising adults.
  • Up to four Girl Scout youth can be accommodated for horse programming. Parent/guardian on-site support is required, and limited to one adult per youth participant.
  • “Women and Horses” adult programming may accommodate up to five adult participants within Phase 3.
  • All participants and supervising adults are required to wear a face-covering (cloth masks, bandanas, or scarves are sufficient) when on site. Participants who are unable to wear a face covering, for example, due to medical needs, may contact our Equestrian Director, ndeluca@GirlScoutsww.org, to determine how we can make an accommodation.
  • Participants and on-site parent/guardians are required to complete their own health self-assessment prior to attending horse programs. 
  • Blue Mountain Boarding Facility COVID-19 requirements for on-site visitors:
    • Please stay at home if you or someone in your home is sick! 
    • Hand washing facilities and/or hand sanitizer, and no-touch trash is available for visitors. 
    • Hand washing should occur: 
      • Upon arrival 
      • After using the restroom 
      • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
      • After handling your mask 
    • Practice social distancing of six feet or one horse length
    • Social distancing should be used to stagger restroom use
    • Wear a face-covering (cloth mask, bandana, or scarf) when others are present
    • Keep restrooms clean 
    • Use tissue paper or paper towel to open doors
    • Wear a face-covering (cloth mask, bandana, or scarf) inside the restroom
    • Blue Mountain will frequently sanitize high touch areas in bathrooms
    • Cover coughs and sneezes
    • Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow
    • Throw used tissues in the trash
GSWW Camp Volunteer Maintenance Work
  • Volunteer support for non-essential camp maintenance must comply with county phase guidelines and adhere to all in-person programming guidelines.
  • Phase 2 allows for a group of up to four adult volunteers plus one GSWW staff or specially trained volunteer lead.  
  • Phase 3 allows for a group of up to nine youth and/or adult volunteers plus one GSWW staff or specially trained volunteer lead. Youth must have a supervising adult with them.
Product Program

Fall Product Program 

  • Door-to-door selling outside of friends and family contacts is not recommended.
  • In-person sales with limited weekly contacts outside of your household are allowed as long as you are following health directives.
  • Virtual sales and M2 Digital platform are suggested for all Girl Scouts.
  • Send emails to customers through the M2 system to share goals, photos or videos. Invite customers to shop at personalized storefronts virtually! ​
  • Customers place orders for items to be shipped to them directly (S&H fees apply) or for the Girl Scout to deliver them in-person, while following all health directives. Idea: socially distanced porch drops. ​
  • Face-coverings (cloth mask, bandana, or scarf) and frequent hand washing/hand sanitizer should always be used with porch drops, any in-person contact or exchange of physical items.
  • All orders placed online, direct ship & girl delivered, are paid for online so there will be no exchange of currency. If currency must be exchanged, please consider Square, Venmo, CashApp, Zelle and other contactless platforms and always use good hygiene including frequent handwashing and hand sanitizer.
  • Troops participating in the program will receive additional information in their training materials.

 

Cookie Program

Cookie Program activities will be conducted in accordance with state phasing guidelines and GSUSA directives. Specific phasing details regarding order taking, service unit and troop initial order distribution, delivery, and booth sales will be released by Dec. 15. We will keep our membership informed as GSUSA issues more guidance and our retail partners hosting booth sales are better able to evaluate their participation. Our intention is to maintain as many elements of a traditional Cookie Program as possible while taking steps to keep Girl Scouts, volunteers, and communities safe.

   

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Notice Regarding In-Person Participation

Youth participants and guardians are required to read GSWW's participation acknowledgement prior to participating in any in-person programming. Should you not agree with these terms, it is advised that you do not participate in any GSWW in-person programming.

Volunteers are required to complete GSWW's COVID-19 participation waiver prior to the start of any in-person programming.  

Participation Acknowledgement

The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has been declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization. COVID-19 is reported to be extremely contagious. The state of medical knowledge is evolving, but the virus is believed to spread from person-to-person contact, by contact with contaminated surfaces and objects, and possibly in the air. People reportedly can be infected and spread the disease even if they do not show any symptoms. Girl Scouts of Western Washington (“GSWW”) is committed to taking precautions to mitigate that risk as well as to following applicable federal, WA State, local and GSUSA COVID-19 directives and guidelines. Our council is also committed to having in-person activities as allowed and in accordance with those mandates. GSWW’s operations and programs occurring while COVID-19 is circulating in our community may expose our members, volunteers, and employees to the risk of infection. GSWW cannot prevent you from becoming exposed to, contracting or spreading COVID-19 while attending (which includes being present in any capacity) any GSWW in-person programming.  Therefore, any interaction with others in connection with in-person programming may expose you and your family to and increase your risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19. GSWW has put in place preventative measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 at its in-person programming; however, GSWW cannot guarantee that you will not become infected with COVID-19.

By participating in these in-person activities, participants will be viewed as: 1.) Understanding that COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus, easily spread including through in-person contact; 2.) Acknowledging that GSWW cannot guarantee that infection will not occur; 3.) Choosing to accept the risk of contracting COVID-19 for the participant and their family in order to attend the in-person activity; and 4.) Agreeing to release GSWW from responsibility in the event of COVID-19 infection. Participants who do not agree to these statements should not join in-person GSWW activities.

Volunteer Instructions for Participation Waiver

Before in-person programming can begin, volunteers must complete a waiver in gsLearn. 

  1. Log in to myGS
  2. Select gsLearn
  3. In the course search box type "covid-19" and hit enter.
  4. Select the COVID-19 Acknowledgement.
  5. View the documents in the course.
  6. Sign the waiver.

   

Requirements for All In-Person Programming Including Troop Meetings

Health Assessment Tool

All participants (youth, volunteers, parents/guardians, and adult members) are required to complete their own Health Assessment prior to any in-person programming, volunteer activity, or training.

COVID-19 Health Assessment screening is required for any in-person gathering 30 minutes prior to the start of the activity. It is recommended for all youth under the age of 18 to have adult supervision when completing the health assessment questionnaire. 

If anyone within your household has symptoms or has known exposure to COVID-19, you should not attend in-person programming.

All volunteers are required to acknowledge & initial GSWW’s COVID-19 participation waiver; this is mandatory for all volunteers to complete prior to the start of any in-person activities.  

Health Assessment Questions

If any participant answers Yes  to any of the below questions, they should stay home and seek evaluation by their healthcare provider. People of any age with certain medical conditions may have an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Visit the  Center for Disease Control   for the complete list of medical conditions and consider these conditions when making decisions about participation.

  • In the last 24 hours, have you experienced any of the following new symptoms that cannot be attributed to another health condition or specific activity such as physical exercise?
    • Fever Y/N
    • New cough Y/N
    • Shortness of breath Y/N
    • Fatigue Y/N
    • Muscle aches Y/N
    • Any other flu-like symptoms, such as gastrointestinal upset or headaches Y/N
    • New loss of taste or smell Y/N
    • A temperature over 100°F Y/N
    • Have you had contact with any confirmed Covid-19 positive patients in the last 14 days? Y/N
Group Meeting Size

Group Meeting Size

  • All meetings should follow the Washington State Phase Guidelines.
  • The current maximum is ten people (eight participants and two unrelated adult volunteers). Under no circumstances should any in-person programming exceed this maximum.
  • For large troops and/or events in Phase 3, we recommend:
    • Hosting virtual meetings.
    • Gathering in smaller groups—such as age-level groups, patrols, or groups of participants.
Gathering Requirements

Gathering Requirements

The COVID-19 virus is primarily spread from person to person through respiratory droplets released into the air when talking, coughing, or sneezing. When indoors, you're more likely to inhale these droplets from an infected person, especially if in close contact, because you're sharing more air than you do outdoors. For these reasons, all in-person gatherings will need to be conducted outdoors until further notice.

  • GSUSA has advised councils to host in-person programming outdoors only; in-home meetings, programming, events, and activities are not permitted at this time.
  • Outdoor meeting/gathering location recommendations: Washington State Parks & Recreation-find a park tool, local neighborhood parks with public restroom access, outdoor community centers, etc.
  • If conducting in-person programming, it is important to establish an agreement with parents/guardians on how you will manage symptomatic participants:
    • Option 1: Require all parents/guardians to remain on-site (separate from program activities) during the duration of the meeting/event/program. This option allows for immediate pick-up and does not require isolation area requirements.
    • Option 2: Require parents/guardians to be within a 10-20-minute range for participant pick-up. If using this option, isolation requirements, ratio guidelines, and PPE best practices must be followed and administered by volunteers. Please review isolation area requirements and risks associated with this option.
  • Host virtual troop meetings.

Social Distancing and Face-Covering Requirements:

  • A minimum of six feet social distance should always be maintained by all program participants. We know that children are social, and interaction is an important part of their development, however, this is critical to protecting against airborne particles.
  • Social distancing should be used to stagger restroom and hand-washing time, rotating between program areas to minimize groups being in the same space at the same time.
  • Participants are required to wear face-coverings (cloth masks, bandanas, or scarves are sufficient) while participating in all GSWW activities.
  • Leaders are encouraged to have spare masks on hand and can use troop funds to support this effort.
  • If someone can't wear a face-covering they are not able to participate in person but every effort should be made to find a reasonable alternative to allow the person to participate in some way in the activity.
  • Volunteers and staff are permitted to refuse member participation for in-person programming to those who are not wearing a face-covering upon program arrival.
  • Resource: how to handle face coverings.
Travel & Transportation

Transportation (Car-Pooling)

GSWW will maintain a zero transportation policy (no car-pooling) until further notice.

  • Individual parents/guardians drop off and pick up their own children from all in-person meetings and activities. For families who are unable to drop off and pick up their children from in-person meetings, all efforts should be made to accommodate virtual attendance.
  • CDC guidance for rideshares and drivers for hire may be helpful as an additional reference when evaluating motor vehicle transportation: Ride Shares and Drivers for Hire.
  • CDC guidance for transportation may be helpful as an additional reference when evaluating the use of public transit, paratransit services, personal bikes, walking, mobility assistive devices, etc.

Day Trips, Travel, & Overnight Activities

In conjunction with Safety Activity Checkpoints, modified day trips and activities are permitted if attendance is limited to fewer than eight participants and two unrelated adult volunteers and all participants follow transportation guidelines.

  • Outdoor Trips & Activities Only: In conjunction with Safety Activity Checkpoints, follow the Hygiene and COVID-19 Risk Mitigation guidelines.
  • Travel out of state or country is not permitted.
  • Car-pooling is not permitted. Parents/guardians would need to support the drop-off and pick up of all participants.
  • Activity is limited to outdoors only.
  • Overnights are not permitted through Phase 3.
Food, Dining and Snacks

Food, Dining, and Snacks

  • Ensure participants have washed their hands prior to eating.
  • Participants should bring their own food, snacks, condiments, and beverages to eat and drink (bag lunch or dinner).
  • Participants should not share their food or drinks.
  • Volunteers should not be managing the distribution of food, drinks, or snacks at any time.
  • Continue recommendation of at least six feet of spacing during mealtimes.    
  • Additional Resources:

 

Restrooms

Restrooms

Due to programming being limited to outdoor-only, it is important to ensure there is a public restroom in proximity. Most public restrooms will regulate the number of people using the restroom at the same time, depending on the size.  If there are no posted regulations or signage, ensure participants take appropriate turns to maintain social distancing and that they wear their masks in the restrooms. If automatic flushers and sensory faucets are not available, participants and adults should use tissue or paper towel to open doors and latches and turn off faucets, touching as little as possible with their bare hands. If the restroom is large, participants should use every other stall and avoid using stalls directly next to another occupied stall at the same time.

Hygiene & COVID-19 Risk Mitigation

Hygiene and COVID-19 Risk Mitigation

GSWW is committed to maintaining a safe environment for all members and relies on volunteers to support and follow all sanitation best practices. If providing in-person programming, the following sanitation measures are required:

  • Hand washing facilities and/or hand sanitizer, and no-touch trash cans must be readily available for program participants, and handwashing should occur during the following program times:
    • Before and after meals and snacks (in a separate sink from the food prep sink).
    • After using the restroom.
    • After handling or encountering bodily fluids such as mucus, blood, saliva, or urine.
    • After outdoor play/activities.
    • After handling face coverings.
  • Prior to participants' arrival, volunteers and/or program lead will disinfect frequently touched surfaces (tables, supplies, etc.).
  • Participants are prohibited from sharing equipment or program supplies (computers, markers, glue sticks, etc.) and need individual supplies. When the program is complete, materials should be sanitized with an alcohol-based cleaning agent.
  • Follow the resources developed by credible public health sources such as CDC and your local public health department.
  • Troop funds may be used to purchase cleaning/sanitation supplies.

Personal Contact

Hugs, handshakes, “high-fives,” and even activities like the friendship circle can transmit COVID-19 from person to person. Create a safe way for participants and volunteers to greet and end meetings instead (ex: foot taps, eyebrow lift, jazz hands, etc.). Note: Use culturally appropriate messages, materials, and resources.

Disinfectants and Disinfecting

Routinely clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are frequently touched (i.e., tabletops, markers, scissors, etc.). Use a household cleaner, or see the EPA’s list of effective cleaners approved for use against COVID-19. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application method and contact time, etc.). Gloves are recommended when handling cleaning and disinfection products.

Household bleach is effective against COVID-19 for up to 24 hours when properly diluted. Check that the bleach is not expired and determine if it can be used on a given surface. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser.

To prepare a bleach solution, mix:

  • 5 tablespoons (1/3 cup) bleach per gallon of water or
  • 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water

See the CDC’s website for more on cleaning and disinfecting community facilities.

First-Aid Supplies & Training

First-Aid Supplies

Troop First-Aid supplies should include COVID-19 prevention items including hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol), tissues, disposable face masks, and disinfectants. Trash baskets or bags should be supplied for meeting and activity 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/guardians should be checking temperatures and allowing their child to join group activities only when temperatures are normal.

First-Aid/CPR Training

Keep skills up to date for any emergency. While in-person training is not available, volunteers can receive on-line training with a council-approved training provider. Those certified in First-Aid via the Red Cross are being offered a provisional 120-day extension for their certification and can access online courses.

Money Earning

To be consistent with the Washington State's COVID-19 Phasing guidelines, Girl Scouts of Western Washington will allow counties in Phase 2 and Phase 3 to conduct limited contact, social-distancing money-earning activities that adhere to our hygiene requirements detailed in the Hygiene & COVID-19 Risk Mitigation.

In-person sales with limited weekly contacts outside of your household are allowed as long as you are following health directives.

Face coverings and frequent hand washing/hand sanitizer should always be used with porch drops, any in-person contact or exchange of physical items

If currency must be exchanged, please consider Square or other contactless platforms and always use good hygiene including frequent handwashing and hand sanitizer.

   

COVID-19 Incidents

Identification and Isolation of Sick People

If a volunteer and/or participant is exhibiting signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and is unable to leave the program site immediately, the following protocol should be followed:

  • Agreements should be made in advance with parents/guardians regarding how volunteers will manage symptomatic participants. 
  • It is strongly recommended that the parent/guardian should make every accommodation to be able to pick up their child immediately if exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.
  • Symptomatic volunteers or participants should isolate themselves in a designated isolation area that is removed from but within eyesight and earshot of the program area to maintain required girl to adult ratio. Examples of appropriate isolation areas: a picnic table, covered shelter, etc.
  • Volunteers should immediately contact the parent/guardian for pick-up.
  • A volunteer should stay with the symptomatic individual until the parent/guardian has arrived and should always wear face mask/covering. It is advised to stay six feet away unless the participant needs medical attention. If medical attention is required, volunteers should wear gloves, face shields, masks, and gowns. Those choosing to provide in-person programming with parents/guardians, not on-site, are required to have appropriate supplies on hand to provide any required care for a symptomatic participant. Items should be washed/sanitized or disposed of following use.
  • The symptomatic individual should wear a face mask/covering if able.
  • No one should enter the isolation area except for assigned volunteer and parent/guardian.
  • If possible, communication should be done via phone or text to address any needs of the symptomatic individual and assist with arrangements to have that person transported to get medical attention as soon as possible.
  • Follow sanitation procedures to deep clean any areas that person may have had contact with and notify all people who were in the area the person had access to that there was a symptomatic individual. See the CDC’s website for more on cleaning and disinfecting community facilities.
  • All parent/guardian(s) should be made aware of the isolation incident upon pick-up.
  • Volunteers should complete and submit an Incident Report Form to GSWW.
  • All volunteers must acknowledge & initial GSWW’s COVID-19 in-person participation guidelines; this is mandatory for all volunteers to complete prior to in-person activities.
    • The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has been declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization. COVID-19 is reported to be extremely contagious. The state of medical knowledge is evolving, but the virus is believed to spread from person-to-person contact, by contact with contaminated surfaces and objects, and possibly in the air. People reportedly can be infected and spread the disease even if they do not show any symptoms. Girl Scouts of Western Washington (“GSWW”) is committed to taking precautions to mitigate that risk as well as to following applicable federal, WA State, local and GSUSA COVID-19 directives and guidelines. Our council is also committed to having in-person activities as allowed and in accordance with those mandates. GSWW’s operations and programs occurring while COVID-19 is circulating in our community may expose our members, volunteers, and employees to the risk of infection. GSWW cannot prevent you from becoming exposed to, contracting or spreading COVID-19 while attending (which includes being present in any capacity) any GSWW in-person programming.  Therefore, any interaction with others in connection with in-person programming may expose you and your family to and increase your risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19. GSWW has put in place preventative measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 at its in-person programming; however, GSWW cannot guarantee that you will not become infected with COVID-19.
    • By participating in these in-person activities, participants will be viewed as: 1.) Understanding that COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus, easily spread including through in-person contact; 2.) Acknowledging that GSWW cannot guarantee that infection will not occur; 3.) Choosing to accept the risk of contracting COVID-19 for the participant and their family in order to attend the in-person activity; and 4.) Agreeing to release GSWW from responsibility in the event of COVID-19 infection. Participants who do not agree to these statements should not join in-person GSWW activities.
  • Resources: PPE Kits & Supplies, PPE Kit , Disposable Gown (please note, troop funds can be used to purchase health & safety supplies).
Reporting COVID-19 Positive Incidents

Reporting and communicating a positive COVID 19 test should be managed by a council staff member. Volunteers should not manage COVID-19 communication responsibilities. In the event of a COVID-19 positive test result, do NOT contact the parents or troop members. Promptly contact a member of GSWW’s Customer Care Team at 800-541-9852 or customercare@girlscoutsww.org, or the after-hours emergency line (800) 303-9963 if applicable. You will be directed to a GSWW Human Resources staff member. They will be responsible for:

  • Incident report.
  • Contact of potentially exposed individuals or parents of youth participants (participants who may have been in contact within two days of the specimen being taken or symptoms experienced).
  • Notifying the facility of the program activity or event.
  • Alerting the State Department of Health.
  • Letting other volunteers know that council staff, NOT volunteers, will notify parents and others about a positive test result and that the individual’s identity is confidential. Girl and volunteer health information is private and strictly confidential and should only be shared on a need to know basis with a council staff member.
  • Council staff will notify local health jurisdiction within 24 hours if there are two or more participants in the same activity who develop confirmed or suspected COVID-19 within a 14-day period.

   

Questions or concerns?

Contact us using the form below or call 1(800) 541-9852.
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History of Communications Regarding COVID-19

Please note, the earlier communications on this list contain out-of-date information. Please refer to the most recent communications for current information and recommendations.

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170x223-Right-Rail-Girl-Scout-Kit
Be part of the action! Celebrate the power of girls. RSVP
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Keep her engaged and inspired in challenging times. Renew Now.
Keep her engaged and inspired in challenging times. Renew Now.