Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates

Updated 1/20/2022 – The COVID Symptom Check Form has been updated with newly defined quarantine periods from the CDC.
Updated 11/10/2021 – Troop Meetings in the Home

Girl Scouts of Utah may, but is not obligated to, modify its guidance, from time to time, in its sole discretion.

GSU has provided COVID-19 safety and health guidance for our volunteers, recognizing that the timing of resuming in-person troop meetings and activities will vary from county to county. This guidance is intended to be used in conjunction with Safety Activity Checkpoints and according to our state COVID-19 circumstances which remain fluid. The guidance does not supersede more recent government guidance or restrictions.

COVID-19 is an extremely contagious virus that spreads easily through person-to-person contact. As with any social activity, participation in Girl Scouts could present the risk of contracting COVID-19.  While Girl Scouts of Utah takes every safety and preventative precaution, Girl Scouts of Utah can in no way warrant that COVID-19 infection will not occur through participation in Girl Scouts of Utah programs.

Requirements for In-Person Troop Meetings & Activities

We continue to navigate COVID-19 cautiously. The situation changes daily, and we are actively monitoring all local, state, and national guidelines, which drive every decision we make as a council.

The following requirements MUST be followed for in-person meetings:

All participants must complete Pre-Screening and Symptom Check form before each activity
All girls must have a completed Troop Parental Permission for Girl Scout Year on file with the troop
Please know that most of the counties in Utah are currently listed as high transmission rate areas. Check your county's risk level
Girls and adults must wear masks indoors, regardless of local and state mandates
Social distancing should be observed, maintaining 6 feet distance
Outdoors is preferred to indoors, whenever possible
All attendees should continue to practice increased hygiene measures
The appropriate adult-to-girl ratio within a larger group size must be observed
Carry disinfectant and make sure girls are using it as appropriate
Girls bring their own snacks and supplies whenever possible

Each troop and family can make their own determination on what they are comfortable doing at this time, with input from parents and guardians of girls in their troop.

Thank you for your support and understanding during this time. There is no precedent for what we are currently navigating. As always, the health and safety of our girls and adults is our number-one priority, and your help in ensuring a safe environment for Girl Scouts is greatly appreciated.

The state of Utah regularly updates their COVID-19 guidance and uses a Transmission Index. The Transmission Index clarifies the public health metrics used to determine which counties are in which transmission level. Counties will be placed in High, Moderate, or Low levels based on the index. Review the Transmission Index by County and the Health Guidance Levels for county details and expected actions for individuals and businesses. GSU will continually monitor risk levels and will update this status when they can. Watch your Volunteer Newsletter for updates

We ask all volunteers, girls, and parents to exercise extreme caution and stay up-to-date with the latest CDC and local health department guidelines.

Volunteer Responsibility & Accountability

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

Volunteer Policy Violations: Volunteers that do not adhere to our COVID-19 requirements are subject to removal from the Girl Scout program.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve and infection rates fluctuate in different areas, there may be regional differences or developments that occur after this edition is provided. Continue to follow real-time local directives and discuss all plans with your families. Regularly communicate with your families regarding their comfort level for participating in in-person meetings and activities.

Pre-Screening & Symptom Check

Prior to in-person troop meetings and activities, all participants should be screened to ensure they are healthy, have not experienced symptoms associated with COVID-19 in the previous 72 hours, not knowingly been in contact with someone with symptoms, have not received a confirmed positive test, and have not been in a high-risk geographical region that would require a 14-day quarantine period.

Note: the CDC defines “close contact” as follows:

You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more
You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19
You had direct physical contact with the person (hugged or kissed them)
You shared eating or drinking utensils
They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you

When troops resume in-person meetings, all troops must ask their families to complete the COVID Symptom Check and bring with them to each troop meeting or in-person gathering. Troop leaders are expected to collect these at the beginning of the meeting and hold these forms with their troop records until June and submit with their Financial Reports. If a COVID case develops, these will help in the implementation of contact tracing. 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 plan to not attend the meeting. Attendees include both girls and adults.

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 menstrual body aches, 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 to make it unnecessarily difficult or uncomfortable for girls to gather safely.

Troop Meeting Size

We continue to navigate COVID-19 cautiously. The situation changes daily, and we are actively monitoring all local, state, and national guidelines, which drive every decision we make as a council.

These requirements MUST be followed for in-person meetings.

All participants must complete Pre-Screening and Symptom Check form before each activity
All girls must have a completed Troop Parental Permission for Girl Scout Year on file with the troop
Please know that most of the counties in Utah are currently listed as high transmission rate areas. Check your county's risk level
Girls and adults must wear masks indoors, regardless of local and state mandates
Social distancing should be observed, maintaining 6 feet distance
Outdoors is preferred to indoors, whenever possible
Meetings may NOT be held in homes
All attendees should continue to practice increased hygiene measures
The appropriate adult-to-girl ratio within this larger group size must also be observed
Carry disinfectant and make sure girls are using it as appropriate
Girls bring their own snacks and supplies whenever possible

Each troop and family can make their own determination on what they are comfortable doing at this time, with input from parents and guardians of girls in their troop.

Have a large troop?
That’s great! We encourage you to keep all of your girls connected with virtual meetings. Stay connected while you wait for a safe time for everyone to gather:

Host virtual troop meetings
Gather in smaller groups – such as age-level, patrols, or special interests they would like to work on
Have a virtual check-in party and girls can share what they have been doing on any of their badges or projects

Troop Meeting Space

Outdoor Spaces

Outdoor spaces where social distancing can be maintained are strongly recommended for meetings when the weather permits. Get advanced permission from the property owner or the jurisdiction that provides the location.

Public Facilities
For meetings held in 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 for situations in which conditions are less than 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, where a greater risk for contracting the virus may exist. Schools or churches may not permit outside groups on the premises, so always check and confirm ahead of time.

Follow these guidelines for ensuring your meeting space is safe:

Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting, especially of high-touch areas (e.g. door handles, buttons/switches, handrails, shopping carts, check-out counters, restroom surfaces)
Don’t use toys or items that can’t be washed and disinfected
All individuals should wash hands with soap and running water upon arrival; provide hand sanitizer for individuals
All participants should bring a completed COVID Symptom Check
Girls and adults should stay home if they are sick

Troop Meetings in the Home

The safety and protection of girls and adults is the top priority of Girl Scouts of Utah. Girls benefit from a safe environment that allows them to be at their best while developing critical leadership-building skills. While meetings in the home are not recommended, we understand that the colder temperatures and limited availability of public spaces are creating challenges to find meeting spaces for troops.

Effective Monday, November 15, 2021, Girl Scouts of Utah is once again allowing leaders to hold meetings inside homes. We want to remind you of the increased risk to COVID-19 exposure when meeting inside a home environment. We highly encourage all leaders complete the Hosting Girl Scout Meetings in the Home training on gsLearn and take time to look over the Requirements for Girl Scout Meetings or Activities in the Home* and Meetings in the Home FAQ to determine if meeting in a home is the best option for your troop.

After you have completed the training and reviewed the GSU requirements for meeting in the home, as with any change, you should discuss this option to meet in the home with parents. If your troop meeting location does change, you should update the troop meeting location and information on myGS.

*These requirements were developed from the GSUSA COVID-19 Guidelines, Volunteer Essentials, Safety Activity Checkpoints, GSU’s Volunteer Policies documents, and in conjunction with the GSU COVID Task Force. If you have questions about these requirements, please reach out to GSU at info@gsutah.org or 801-265-8472.

Troop Meetings on Council Premises

UPDATE 5/24/21

Beginning June 1, overnight activities will be also be allowed at the CRC (Salt Lake City) and CUSC (American Fork) council properties.

For service unit teams and troops that meet near the CRC (Salt Lake City) or CUSC (American Fork), meeting rooms are open for you to reserve. NUSC (Ogden) space will open soon for reservation.

For troops that meet near a council service center or camp, we are making some of our facilities available for troop use. All safety guidelines must be carefully adhered to, such as CDC hygiene and COVID-19 risk mitigation and Safety Activity Checkpoints (in terms of two unrelated adult volunteers, adult to girl ratios, etc.). Troops will be required to plan for time to clean before and after each troop meeting.

Learn more about holding troop meetings on council premises.

Transportation for Troop Activities

We continue to navigate COVID-19 cautiously. The situation changes daily, and we are actively monitoring all local, state, and national guidelines, which inform every decision we make as a council.

It is imperative to take all safety precautions when girls are travelling in motor vehicles. Families providing transportation to/from in-person gatherings provides the least amount of risk. COVID transmission risk is highest when people are in close proximity, less than six feet apart. If carpooling must occur, please use these guidelines to minimize the risk:

Confirm the comfort level of those that are participating. All families should be aware ahead of time if girls from different households will be in a car together.
Conduct a pre-screen for every participant using the COVID Symptom Check form.
Limit driver with two persons per row of seats to a vehicle (4 people for a car and 6 for a minivan).
Disinfect vehicle’s high touch areas before and after each trip.
Everyone should wash and clean hands before and after each trip.
Driver and passengers must wear masks for the entire trip.
Open windows, at least partially, to provide ventilation.
Troop Leader retains a list of each vehicle’s occupants for 90 days.

Public transportation (buses, trains, etc) should be avoided whenever possible as large groups of people, indoors, for longer than ten minutes are typical of most public transportation, which increases transmission risk. Also, maintaining six feet of social distance is often difficult or impossible with public transportation. However, if public transportation cannot be avoided, here are some safety guidelines that should be followed:

Avoid peak hours
Allow extra time to wait and avoid crowded buses or subway cars
Space out girls to avoid crowding (but keep the buddy system)
Consider grade level, age, and maturity level of girls
Always wear a mask
Obtain parental or legal guardian permission; make sure they are aware
Clean hands before and after public transportation travel

Day Trips & Activities

In conjunction with Safety Activity Checkpoints, follow the same guidance for Troop Meetings and Hygiene and COVID-19 Risk Mitigation on this page. 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 if they wipe down equipment in between uses, similar to equipment at the gym. Make whatever appropriate accommodations that are necessary. For example, bring extra sanitizer and sanitizing wipes if none will be provided for public use at the activity location (or just plan to bring it with you regardless!).

Review GSU's Travel page

Travel & Overnight Stays

UPDATE 5/24/21

Beginning June 1, overnight activities will be allowed at council properties and backyards.

To prepare for your trip, a Preparing for Travel in a COVID Environment Checklist is available to help you determine what guidance you need to plan to mitigate risk and allow for a safe journey.

Troops planning any overnight travel excursions or activities must complete the Trip/Travel Application. Travel approvals will be considered on a case-by-case basis, factoring in the risk associated with the specific type of travel/activity being requested. When making hotel reservations or other overnight accommodations, ensure that there will be at least six feet distance between the travelers’ heads while sleeping.

The Preparing for Travel in a COVID Environment Checklist is required to be completed at least one month prior to any trip that has an overnight planned in the 2021 membership year. If you have a Trip/Travel Application on file, please complete this form right away and forward for inclusion with your application.

Travel within the state of Utah and United States is allowed, when COVID guidelines are followed and precautions are adhered to. If you are traveling out of the state of Utah, troops are expected to research that states’ restrictions and plan to meet all safety requirements. Regardless of COVID-19 restrictions and updates, volunteers must always follow guidance in Safety Activity Checkpoints. See our mask requirements.

We strongly recommend COVID vaccinations and COVID testing when possible for all travelers.

GSUSA has postponed all destinations until summer 2022. At this time, GSU is not recommending international trips. For guidance and questions, please contact Mindy Harmon at mharmon@gsutah.org or 801-716-5127.

Although travel plans are often arranged several months in advance, recognize that COVID-19 risk is fluid; it can and will change, and contingencies should be planned ahead for re-scheduling, cancelling, or pivoting to a virtual activity.

Check out these resources for guidance on planning your trip:

GSU travel guidance on website
CDC Domestic Travel Guidance
CDC Travel Recommendations by Destination
Educator Travel Toolkit
COVID trends for other countries Health Risk Index Report

Forms & Permission Slips

GSU has added new permission forms. Be sure to complete the necessary forms where appropriate to acknowledge COVID risk:

COVID Symptom Check (fillable PDF) - to be completed before each activity
All girls must have a completed Troop Parental Permission for Girl Scout Year on file with the troop

Please note that all permission slips include the following statement:

“COVID-19 is an extremely contagious virus that spreads easily through person-to-person contact. As with any social activity, participation in Girl Scouts could present the risk of contracting COVID-19.  While Girl Scouts of Utah takes every safety and preventative precaution, Girl Scouts of Utah can in no way warrant that COVID-19 infection will not occur through participation in Girl Scouts of Utah programs.” 

Reporting & Communicating a Positive COVID-19 Test

In the event of a COVID-19 positive test result, do NOT contact the parents or troop members. Promptly contact Callie Birdsall-Chambers cbirdsallchambers@gsutah.org, in this situation.  

You should review or complete the Incident Report, and also include who was in attendance at this event/meeting.

A council staff member, NOT volunteers, will be responsible for:

Confirming and tracing the positive tester
Contacting the parents of anyone who may have been exposed (or other volunteers). This is to protect the identiy of the positive tester.
Notifying a facility where a troop has met
Alerting the state department of health.

Reminder: A council staff member, NOT volunteers, will notify parents and others about a positive test result and that the tester’s identity is confidential. Remember that girl and volunteer health information is private and strictly confidential and should be only shared on a need to know basis with a council staff member.

Hygiene Guidance & COVID-19 Risk Mitigation

Follow the resources developed by credible public health sources such as CDC or Utah Public Health department. Share these with girls, families, and volunteers and ensure that they are practiced during meetings and activities.

Navigate this section:
Guide the Girls
Face Coverings
Food and Snacks
Craft Supplies
Personal Contact
Singing
First Aid Supplies
First Aid/CPR Training
Disinfectants and Disinfecting
FDA Warning
Restrooms

Guide the girls
Place signs in the meeting or activity space to remind girls and volunteers to engage in everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Signs should include:

Stay home if you are sick.
Cough and sneeze into a tissue, throw the tissue in the trash, and wash or sanitize your hands.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Did you know if you sing “Make New Friends” three times that is 20 seconds?
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Wash hands if you do touch.
Volunteers, girls and parents should be reminded to make sure temperatures are taken prior to group interaction to confirm the individual is not running a fever and temperature is a normally 98.6 degrees. Members with a fever or temperature higher than 100.4 F should skip the in-person gathering until their temperature is normal. According to the Mayo Clinic, a thermometer reading that indicates a fever from your ear or forehead is generally 100.4 F or higher, an oral temperature is 100 F or higher, and temperature taken from your armpit would be 99 F or higher.

Food and Snacks
In this environment, we need to rethink how we do snacks. Of course, healthy snacks are always important, but disinfecting an apple or carrot sticks is a little more complicated in this new environment. Be careful when handling and serving food; have girls be careful with each other when eating. Safety recommendations for food, dining, and snacks include:

Encourage girls to bring their own foods to eat (bag lunch or dinner).
Encourage girls to NOT share their food after having touched it, such as a bag of chips.
Individually wrapped items are recommended.
If providing snacks, especially if unwrapped, have one person, wearing gloves, hand out items to each person, such as with cupcakes or cookies.
Use a serving spoon or scoop rather than reaching into a bag or bowl of snacks.
Public dining only as permitted in your local jurisdiction.
If serving family style, have one person, wearing clean gloves, serve everyone on clean plates.
Use disposable plates, forks, napkins, etc. when possible.
Encourage girls to bring foods they can easily cook themselves, like a prepared foil pack or hotdog for outdoor cooking.
Ensure everyone handling food, those serving, girls, and adults, wash their hands (even if they will be wearing gloves) prior to any food prep or meals, following CDC handwashing guidelines.
If sharing outdoor cooking utensils (roasting forks), they should be washed and sanitized between each use or you should bring enough utensils so that each person gets their own.
Continue the recommendation for 6-foot spacing during meals.

Craft Supplies
What can you do minimize contamination in your craft supplies? Could the girls each have their own pair of scissors? Dollar Tree has girl size as well as adult size scissors! Could you provide prewrapped kits for projects? Many craft stores have prepackaged kits on a variety of projects. Giving each girl her own set of supplies for a project will minimize cross-contamination until you are able to wipe/disinfect everything before the next meeting. Consider having a tub or container to collect used items in for disinfecting before throwing them back into the communal box, or better yet stay away from communal supplies until COVID-19 passes. Have a box with each girls' name on it and direct them to use only supplies from their box. You can email a list of supplies to your parents and have them send the girls to the meetings with their own box. See disinfectants for ideas on products to use. Every little bit we can do will help to flatten the curve. Consider having the girls wear gloves and have that bottle of disinfecting wipes ready!

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. Here is your chance to be creative with your girls! Create a safe way for girls and volunteers to greet and end meetings instead, like tapping elbows or sharing the Girl Scout salute. Be sure to share what you came up with other leaders, we are all looking for great ideas!

Singing
If you normally close your meetings with a song, make certain girls and adults are all wearing masks. Singing and shouting both project germs farther than talking. Ask your girls to either hum their closing song, or sing quietly, with their masks on.

First Aid Supplies
Troop first aid supplies should include COVID-19 prevention items including hand sanitizer (at least 60 percent alcohol), tissues, disposable facemasks, 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 for girls. Disposable or no-contact thermometers may be added to supplies if available and not cost-prohibitive, however, parents should be checking temperatures and allowing their girl(s) to join group activities only when temperatures are normal.

First Aid/CPR Training
Keep your skills up-to-date for any emergency. Talk to our council Training and Development Coordinator about alternative methods of training that may be available during this time.

Disinfectants and Disinfecting
Routinely clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are frequently touched (i.e., table tops, 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.).

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 (1/3rd 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.

FDA Warning
The FDA advises consumers not to use any hand sanitizer manufactured by Eskbiochem SA de CV in Mexico due to the potential presence of methanol (wood alcohol), a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested. FDA has identified the following products manufactured by Eskbiochem:

All-Clean Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-002-01)
Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-007-01)
CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-008-04)
Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-006-01)
The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-010-10)
CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-005-03)
CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-009-01)
CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC: 74589-003-01)
Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-001-01)

Methanol is not an acceptable ingredient for hand sanitizers and should not be used due to its toxic effects. Stay completely away from sanitizers containing methanol.

Consumers who have been exposed to hand sanitizer containing methanol should seek immediate treatment, which is critical for potential reversal of toxic effects of methanol poisoning.

Read all updates from the FDA about methanol in hand sanitizer.

Restrooms
Be very careful in public restrooms. Most public restrooms will regulate the number of people using the restroom at the same time depending on the size. If there is no regulator or signage, ensure girls take appropriate turns to maintain social distancing and that they wear their masks in the restrooms. While it is ideal that restrooms have automatic flushers and sensory faucets for sinks, not all public restrooms are that equipped. If these are not available, instruct the girls to get in in the habit of using tissue or a paper towel to open doors and latches and touch as little as possible. If the restroom is large, have girls use every other stall and avoid using stalls with a person in the stall next to them at the same time. Restrooms and toilets are fraught with germs normally, and more so now considering the contagion of coronavirus.

Masks & Face Coverings

Mask Update
As you know, Girl Scouts’ number-one priority is the safety and well-being of our members and the families and communities we serve. This past year has been challenging, not only in keeping our girls engaged, but also keeping everyone safe.

Please be patient as we navigate this unique situation, keeping the safety AND comfort of our girls, adults, and staff in mind.

For troop, service unit, and council meetings and events:

Masks are required:

If indoors (even if fully vaccinated)

Masks are not required:

When actively eating
If outdoors*
When actively exercising or involved in sports (hiking, active games, etc)

*Please note – if outdoors and not wearing a mask, social distancing should be observed for the safety of our girls and adults.

All GSU programs and participants should be supportive of girls, adults, or staff who choose to wear a mask even if outdoors. See our FAQ about vaccinations.

Please remember that some girls or volunteers may not be able to wear masks due to medical conditions, such as asthma. Troops should inform families so they are aware if there is a member who will participate without wearing a mask due to medical exception. If necessary, volunteers may contact us for guidance on how best to handle these exceptional circumstances. In addition, Reasonable accommodations should be made for people with medical conditions that prevent them from safely wearing a mask.

Face coverings demonstrate civic responsibility and a sign of caring for the community. Girls can bring their own face coverings. Volunteers should have extra disposable masks and face shields on hand for those who need them.

As always, any guidance we provide is intended to be used in conjunction with Safety Activity Checkpoints.

Due to the unique camp environment, GSU's COVID guidelines for summer camp may vary slightly. See summer camp guidelines.

The CDC and local health departments recommend KN95 or N95 respirator masks for the best level of protection. If these types of masks are not available, please see the information below on how to select another type of mask.

How to Select a Mask:

When selecting a mask, there are many choices. Here are some do’s, don’ts, as well as face coverings that are not accepted.

DO choose masks that:

Have two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric
Completely cover your nose and mouth
Fit snugly against the sides of your face and don’t have gaps
Have a nose wire to prevent air from leaking out the top of the mask

DON’T choose masks that:

Are made of fabric that makes it hard to breathe, for example, vinyl
Have exhalation valves or vents which allow virus particles to escape
Are prioritized for healthcare workers, including N95 respirators

The following are not accepted as appropriate face coverings:

Neck gaiters (a sleeve of fabric meant to protect your neck and face from the sun and/or cold conditions, like when snowboarding) are not considered appropriate face coverings for Girl Scout camp or gatherings
Face shields are not recommended or accepted as their effectiveness is still unknown

FAQs - General

We continue to navigate COVID-19 cautiously. The situation changes daily, and we are actively monitoring all local, state, and national guidelines, which inform every decision we make as a council. The national guidance and a statewide mandate stressed the need to keep gatherings to household members only through the holidays.

Each troop and family can make their own determination on what they are comfortable doing at this time, with input from parents and guardians of girls in their troop.

Q: Do I have to provide face coverings for the girls of my troop?

A: It is recommended that you have some as back up, but it should be the responsibility of your members to bring their own. You can ask parents if they have any ideas.

Did you know the state of Utah is offering free face coverings? You can request one here. There are also all kinds of sites out there showing how to make a face mask, including the CDC's various solutions for a DIY mask with varying levels of technical skills required.

Q: What if the area we meet in is high level, but the majority of my troop lives in an area that is in a moderate level?

A. Talk to your troop or leader committee. What things can you do that is within safety measures? Your meeting place that is located in the moderate level may not be open for meetings either. Where else can you meet that is within the area that your troop members reside and is in low level? Look through the safety guidelines on this page, talk to your families and leadership team, and if you still need guidance, please contact your volunteer support specialist.

Please refer to the state guidelines and the transmission index; your county risk level will determine your approved group size and availability to meet in person

Q: Can we use the Girl Scout service center in our area for troop or service unit meetings?

A: Yes! Not only are our stores open in Salt Lake City Service Center and Central Utah Service Center, but we now have meeting space open for meetings for groups 10 and under. Please click here to learn more.

Q: We do not have access to a public or outdoor facility for our troop that doesn’t require us to pay. We have met at the home of one of our leaders for most of our time together, why can’t we continue if we feel it’s safe to do so?

A: Meetings in homes are not allowed at this time. This decision to not use a home for troop meetings during this time is mainly about safety of everyone, including members of the household. The virus can be brought into the home unknowingly and infect the household just by touching door knobs, sitting at the dining table, or using the bathroom. It is a safety precaution for the household of the member hosting the troop. If locating to a new meeting space is not optional, we urge you to meet virtually until our environment has changed.

FAQs - Vaccines

Each troop and family can make their own determination on what they are comfortable doing at this time, with input from parents and guardians of girls in their troop.

Q: Once adults are permitted to receive the COVID-19 vaccination in their home state, are volunteers required to be vaccinated before they can meet in person with girls?
A: Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) strongly encourages, but does not require, vaccination for volunteers. State laws and council policies vary, so please check with your council to find out whether it requires vaccinations (for those who can get vaccinated) and whether specific vaccine protocols apply in your jurisdiction.

Q: Can council staff members inquire about the vaccination status of volunteers?
A: Unless your council has specifically mandated COVID-19 vaccinations for its volunteers, council staff should not inquire about a volunteer’s vaccination status. Deciding to receive a vaccine is a personal decision and Girl Scouts of Utah encourages our staff and members to respect the privacy of fellow members and their families.

Q: Can parents/caregivers ask about the vaccination status of volunteers?
A: While parents/caregivers may certainly ask, volunteers are under no obligation to disclose their personal vaccination status. Also, under no circumstances should a volunteer discuss the personal healthcare decisions of another volunteer with anyone.

Q: Can parents/caregivers or volunteers ask about the vaccination status of council staff and camp staff?
A: While parents/caregivers may certainly ask and Girl Scouts of Utah strongly encourages all council staff members who can get vaccinated to become vaccinated when the vaccine is available to them, council staff are under no obligation to disclose their personal vaccination status. Under no circumstances should one staff member discuss the personal healthcare decisions of another staff member with anyone. However, a council may disclose whether it has either mandated COVID-19 vaccinations for its staff or has strongly recommended COVID-19 vaccinations for its staff.

Q: Can parents/caregivers ask other parents/caregivers about the vaccination status of girls in the troop?
A:Parents/caregivers are certainly free to discuss vaccinations with other parents/caregivers when both parties are open to that conversation. However, parents/caregivers should not feel obligated to share personal medical information if they choose to maintain their privacy in the matter. Girl Scouts of Utah encourages parents/caregivers to respect the privacy of the girls and other adults in their girl’s troop.

Q: Once vaccinations for children are available, can councils or troop leaders require girls to be vaccinated before they attend in-person activities?
A: COVID-19 vaccines are not expected to become available for children before the end of 2021. Councils are encouraged to stay abreast of state regulations and the protocols that are practiced in public schools and use that information to inform their policies.

Virtual Meetings

Meeting options 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 when troops are permitted to meet in-person. This means to maintain virtual troop meetings at least 20% of the time to keep technology skills and virtual meeting habits fresh and on the ready, should a second wave occur or shelter in place restrictions resume. Use the Safety Activity Checkpoints for Virtual Meetings to guide your meeting plans.

Other helpful resources to support virtual troop meetings and virtual activities:

Check out our Online Support for Volunteers page on our website for things such as tips and tricks about hosting a virtual troop meeting and so much more!
Join our GSU-Hosted Virtual Troop Meetings. Are you nervous about hosting a virtual meeting? Let us help you out. Check out this page for more details and the interest form.
Girl Scouts has collaborated with Zoom for year-long licenses for only $36! Request a license

Virtual Meeting Tools

It is unfortunate that COVID-19 is interfering with Girl Scouts’ ability to meet and learn together. Thank you all for taking steps to ensure the safety of girls in this difficult time. GSUSA has provided councils with the ability to offer troops and service units Zoom licenses for a very low cost. Troops and service units may purchase a Zoom license and would be able to use the account to conduct virtual meetings that will benefit the girls and volunteers. We encourage troop leaders to look at these and alternative options and discuss with parents and girls to determine what the best solution is for your troop’s needs.

Zoom licenses are $36 for a year. Please complete a request form to receive a license.

Video and Audio-Conferencing Tools with free versions
While all of these options have a free version, please note you may be prompted to consider their upgraded versions for a subscription fee.

Zoom – FAQ
• Note: Meetings durations maximum of 40 minutes in free version

Skype – Support
• Note: Up to 10 participants free

Webex – Help Center
• Note: Limited file and content sharing in free version

Chat and Collaboration Tools with free versions

Microsoft Teams – Support

Slack – Help Center

Facebook Groups – Help Center

Additional low-cost tools for collaboration and conferencing to consider if the above options do not meet your group's needs.

GoToMeeting – Support

Google Hangouts Chat and Hangouts Meet – Support

Council Programs & Property Reservations

Based on CDC recommendations and GSUSA guidelines, in-person meetings and activities may resume for groups of 49 or fewer, with the proper adult ratios from our Safety Activity Checkpoints.

Trefoil Ranch

Information coming soon.

Camp Cloud Rim

Camp Cloud Rim is closed for the season

If you currently have a reservation for a council event, NTSW, or camp rental for troops, we will contact you directly to answer questions and to support you in making decisions about your event. If you would like to make a reservation, please email info@gsutah.org.

* Please note, as situations change and information continues to evolve, we will update these as necessary.

Offices & Shops

Shops
Customer Care will remain accessible through info@gsutah.org and (801) 265-8472.

The Salt Lake City and American Fork shops are open. For current hours, visit our Retail page.

The Ogden retail store will remain closed until further notice.

Office Visitors
In accordance with CDC guidelines for workplace safety, our GSU offices are closed. Most of our staff is working from home, and will be available to provide consistent customer care. If you have an urgent need to meet with a staff member, please send your request to info@gsutah.org.

Training

We will continue to provide virtual training to our volunteers and service units. Scheduled trainings will be constantly evaluated in order to provide the safest environment for all participants. The format in which a training is scheduled may change and any person registered will be notified of the change as soon as possible.

Cookie Program

GSU has created COVID guidelines specifically for the 2021 Girl Scout Cookie Season. Please review the Interim COVID-19 Cookie Guidelines.

Thank you so much for your support during these ever-changing times. We truly appreciate your patience as we manage the impact of COVID-19 on all council activities, product programs, and our business offices.

Safety and health remain our top priority. We are closely monitoring updates from the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, local public health departments, and school districts within our council boundaries. We are continuing to make decisions about gatherings and workplace closures based on the guidance of local officials. Our plans and guidance are based on the CDC’s suggested mitigation strategies. We plan to post updates through newsletters, our website, and across our social media to keep you informed.

Previous Communications Regarding COVID-19

Previous COVID-19 communications are available on our Archived COVID Updates page. Please refer to the most recent communications above for current information and recommendations.