Girl Scout troops and groups (such as service units) may gather in
person indoors or outdoors but must regularly check and
follow venue-specific protocols.
Troops and groups should discuss—and regularly revisit--your
tolerance for face masks and social distancing when inside and
outside. GSHNJ strongly recommends that individuals wear face masks
over their nose and mouth when risk levels in your community are high.
Everyone should always practice regular hand washing and get tested if
you have symptoms.
GSHNJ strongly recommends that troops and groups ask their members
to consider their personal health status before attending a gathering.
If anyone is exhibiting symptoms, they should be tested and use the CDC’s
quarantine and isolation calculator to determine an appropriate response.
Meeting in a public indoor space like a school, library, community
center, or church is allowed as long as the group adheres
to the facility’s stated protocols. Also consider a local park,
one of GSHNJ’s camp or service center properties, or the front or
backyard of a private home. When using a private yard, be sure to
first get approval via the Permission
to Gather on Private Property Application.
Get advance permission from the property owner or the jurisdiction
that provides the space. If you don’t already know, you should contact
the facility ahead of time and ask:
1. Does the facility require facemasks and/or social distancing?
2. Who else uses the space (how often, what size is the group)?
3. Is the space cleaned between groups? How often are touch
surfaces (light switches, handles, tables, etc.) cleaned?
4. How often are shared facilities like public restrooms cleaned?
5. What type of faucets/soap dispensers are available in the
restroom (sensory or manual)?
6. Then, consider whether you can supplement any practices that
are less than ideal. For example, if you will arrive after another
user group, plan to bring surface cleaner and sanitizing wipes to get
the space ready for your troop.
GSUSA strongly discourages troops from meeting inside private
homes. GSHNJ will make temporary, case-by-case exceptions to those
who complete this
application and meet the required criteria.