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Girl Scouts and COVID-19

At Girl Scouts, there is nothing we take more seriously than the safety and well-being of our members. As COVID-19 continues to be a concern, Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland is taking all possible and appropriate measures to ensure girls continue to have a safe, fun, one-of-a-kind experience at Girl Scouts. 

Below are updates we've shared with members via email. We are committed to sharing information during this time. We will continue to update this page. If you have a question, please email us.

Meetings, Events, and Trainings

As of January 4, we entered Phase 3 of our reopening. In Phase 3, troops and service units will be allowed to continue meeting in-person, with updated volunteer guidelines. Troops may continue meeting in-person in indoor or outdoor settings where social distancing can be maintained, following all local guidelines for capacity of meetings—including city, county, and state. Social distancing and the use of face masks is still required. Multi-troop activities and events are still prohibited. Before meeting in-person again, we ask that all members who are attending in-person meetings sign the In-Person Parent/Guardian Permission Slip during COVID-19 Advisory.

Service Centers and Retail Stores

New in Phase 3! All GSMH Retail Stores will be offering in-person shopping by appointment Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To limit exposure, shopping by appointment will be limited to no more than one adult and one girl member at a time. We are now also offering curbside pickup Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at all locations. 

Free shipping of merchandise found in-store is available for all service center areas. Contact us at 877-312-4764 or by email to place your order today. Some restrictions do apply. As always, our online retail store is available 24/7 and is currently offering free shipping as well. 

Starting the week of January 4, in-person meetings between one volunteer or parent and one employee will be allowed by appointment in any service center. Service Center Reopening Guidelines for in-person shopping and appointments with employees are available now. To make any of the appointments above, please email us and we’ll connect with you!

Program Centers

GSMH Program Centers reopened for limited day and overnight use for our troops starting January 4. Overnight reservations are being taken for Friday and Saturday. Sunday will be open for day use. Program Center use is currently limited to troops and members registered with Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland. Multi-troop use and activities is currently prohibited.

The units available and their respective capacities can be found in the Program Center Reopening Guidelines. Please read the complete guidelines prior to requesting a reservation. To check the availability of a site or to begin the reservation process, contact us.

Troop Travel

As of January 4, we are accepting Troop Travel Applications for consideration for overnight stays lasting more than 2 nights and travelling more than 100 miles inside or outside of our council boundaries. Troop Travel Applications are subject to approval and must be submitted 4 weeks in advance for domestic travel, and 12 weeks in advance for international travel. Please follow the instructions located in the Troop Travel Procedures  and all COVID-19 guidelines. As always, contact GSMH for prior approval before planning any overnight stays and follow guidance in Safety Activity Checkpoints.

Girl Scout Cookie Program

Guidance is now available for participation in the 2021 Girl Scout Cookie Program. The COVID-19 Cookie Program Guidelines for Members reviews online participation options and in-person selling safety guidance, including guidance for girls, families, and troops. The guidance also includes Walmart Cookie Booth Requirements and information on the Cookie Booth Safety Kits available this year. 

GSMH has also released guidance on picking up cookies from a Service Center Cupboard this year. The COVID-19 Guidance for Picking Up Cookies from a Service Center Cupboard reviews how to schedule a planned order, safety expectations when picking up cookies, and more. 

Also available is Cookie Program COVID-19 Guidance - Training for guidance on training troops and families on the 2021 Girl Scout Cookie Program.

Virtual Resources

Looking for ways to stay connected virtually? Visit us at Girl Scouts at Home. This resource provides our girls, families, volunteers, and the public with opportunities for continued Girl Scout engagement from the comfort and safety of your own home. We're constantly creating and finding new resources and activities to add to this web page.

Are you a volunteer? We’ve got a resource for you, too! Check out our Volunteer Virtual Resources—full of tips, tricks, and resources to help you navigate this virtual time.

It is also so important to remember we are girl-led, and allow each volunteer and family to determine the level of participation that they are comfortable with. For any troops who choose to resume in-person activities, please continue to offer alternative ways for the girls to connect. 

Our most valuable resource is and always will be our people, including our members, our volunteers, and our employees. We are committed to actions that maintain the health of all. Check out these additional resources as we all navigate through this unique situation.

Be a Source of Comfort and Calm for Girls

Girl Scouts of the USA has developed a helpful resource for How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus to help minimize stress and worry in your Girl Scout’s life and give her a sense of calm and control.

We also ask everyone to be mindful that although coronavirus started in China, having Chinese ancestry–or any other Asian ancestry–does not place a person at higher risk for this illness. We can help keep our girls safe by sharing accurate information with our fellow community members.

Distance Learning During Coronavirus Closures

Coronavirus, or COVID-19, has turned the world as we know it upside down, to say the least. Millions of families are trying to keep the learning alive at home amid virus-related school closures—even while they attempt to adjust to their own new work-from-home realities, stock up on household essentials, and do everything in their power to keep their loved ones healthy. Frankly? It’s a lot.

The good news is that even though you’re social distancing (staying in when possible and keeping at least six feet away from those not in your household), you’re absolutely not alone in this struggle. We talked to a few teachers who’ve been there, done that, and they had some amazingly practical advice for how everyday families can get through this difficult time.

Read the full story >>


Questions? Contact us today.