Download a PDF of Meeting Location guidelines.
Troop Meeting Space
Outdoor spaces where social distancing can be maintained are
strongly recommended for meetings when the weather permits. Volunteers
should get advance permission from the property owner or the
jurisdiction that provides the location.
For meetings held at public facilities, volunteers should contact
the facility ahead of time and ask:
- Is the space cleaned, and touch surfaces (e.g., 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)?
Volunteers should supplement any practices that are less ideal. For
example, if the troop arrives after another group, they should plan to
bring sanitizing wipes to get the space ready for their troop. Or if
faucets are manual, volunteers should take time to show girls how to
shut them off with a paper towel and to use paper towels for doorknobs.
Meetings may not be held in fitness centers or gyms because the
atmosphere in sports facilities is aerosolizing, making them a higher
risk for contracting virus.
Meetings at Girl Scout Properties
Girl Scout offices and camps are available for troop meetings to
support troops that may have difficulty finding a meeting space.
All meeting rooms in Girl Scouts of Western Ohio offices and all
lodges at Girl Scout camps will be available in 1.5 hour blocks,
Monday through Thursday at 4 PM, 6 PM, and 8 PM, and Sunday afternoons
after 2 PM.
Troops are responsible for cleaning up the area after use. There
will be a disinfecting cleaning spray available in the meeting rooms
and troops are asked to wipe down all “high-touch” surfaces before and
after use.
There is no cost for this meeting room use.
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Overnight / weekend use of camp facilities can be scheduled
through the Girl Scout camp registration system. Overnight /
weekend use of Girl Scout office meeting rooms can be scheduled by
contacting the camp registrar, Debbie Santel by email or by phone at
513.619.1397.
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Common areas such as kitchens can be used for incidental use
with your meeting room reservation. To reserve for a party or meal
preparation, please contact the camp registrar. No more than one
group can use a common area at any time and high touch surfaces must
be cleaned by the troop before and after use.
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Restrooms have a maximum capacity of two individuals. Social
distancing requirements apply and high touch surfaces should be
cleaned by the troop after use.
All troop meeting guidelines apply, including required mask use for
all participants.
To request a meeting room, please complete the GSWO
Meeting Room Request Form. Meeting room capacities are based on
State of Ohio Childcare Guidelines. Specific
meeting rooms or lodges (if at camp) will be assigned based on availability.
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, have
volunteers ensure girls 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, girls and
adults should get in the habit of using tissue or paper towel to open
doors and latches, touching 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.
Troop Meetings in the Home
Girl Scouts of Western Ohio suggests no meetings in the home out of
concern that there would be greater risk of exposure to other family
members. In certain exceptional situations and due to the current
COVID-19 risk restricting public meeting options, we recognize that in
home meetings may be the only option.
Before deciding to meet in a troop member’s home, you should discuss
the implications thoroughly with families and ensure it is the best
option for the troop. In addition to following all Safety Activity Checkpoints, as well as State
and Local mandates, you must agree to adhere to the following:
- The home must be the home of registered, background-checked,
council-approved Volunteer.
- Girls may not meet in a home
where a registered sex offender lives.
- Only registered Girl
Scout members (girl and adult) may be present at the meeting
location.
- Animals should be kept in a place that is separate
from the meeting space.
- You should consider any personal
homeowner insurance implications. Any property damage incurred
during the meeting is the responsibility of the homeowner. You may
consider asking your homeowner’s insurance carrier if there are any
insurance exclusions regarding holding troop meetings at the home,
in the event an accident or injury occurs.
- Trampolines and
other equipment that could cause serious injuries should not be used
during Girl Scout gatherings in the home.
- Weapons must be
completely out of view and stored in a locked space.
- Medication, dangerous cleaning products, or any poisonous
substance must be stored in a secure space out of sight, preferably
locked.
- Girls should be encouraged to bring snacks from home
or serve only pre-packaged food. No buffets, potlucks, or sharing of
snacks should occur.
- Meetings should ideally be held
outdoors, perhaps in the back or front yard of the home (this is a
COVID-19 specific precaution).
- Mask and social distancing
mandates should be followed.
- Follow hygiene and COVID-19
Risk Mitigation guidelines as outlined below.
Hygiene and COVID-19 Risk Mitigation
Follow the resources developed by credible public health
sources such as CDC or your local public health department.
Share these with girls and other volunteers and ensure that they are
practiced during meetings and activities. 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% alcohol.
- 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 normal 98.6˚. Members with fever or temperature
higher than 98.6˚ should skip the in-person gathering until their
temperature is normal.
See the CDC’s website for more on cleaning and
disinfecting community facilities.
