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COVID-19 Important Updates & Frequently Asked Questions

At Girl Scouts, there is nothing we take more seriously than the safety and well-being of our girls, volunteers, and council staff. We have been continuing to monitor communications from the governors’ offices, the Centers for Disease Control, the National Institutes of Health, among others.

Given the recent decision to close schools in the coming weeks along with the advisement to avoid gatherings of 10 or more people, GSSNE will be suspending all Girl Scout activities, including in-person meetings, events, programs and cookie booths through April 3rd, effective immediately. 

Additionally, the Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England office and shop will be closed to visitors starting Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Essential employees will be working from the office to assist our Girl Scout community during this time by email or phone, while most staff will be working remotely. 

As things evolve, we will continue to communicate updates and necessary changes to our members. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we all navigate through this uncertainty.

Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions. We will be adding frequently asked questions to this document as they come up.

Questions? Please email customercare@gssne.org or call 401-331-4500.

What communications has GSSNE released about COVID-19?

Recent GSSNE Communications Regarding COVID-19

Please note, the earlier communications on this list are now out-of-date.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

Will you be issuing refunds for canceled programs?

We will be refunding any programs that we need to cancel in the coming weeks as well as our daytime April vacation programs. We’ll be processing everyone’s refunds as quickly as is possible, but ask for your patience, as the volume of requests will be higher than usual.

Will my adult training, program, or museum tour be rescheduled?

All adult trainings and museum tours scheduled over the next two weeks are postponed. All affected parties have been emailed individually, and anyone registered for either will be contacted once new dates are identified. 

We will do our best to reschedule as many programs as possible, but are taking this on a week by week basis.

What do I need to know about the Cookie Program extension?

We, as you, realize the timing during cookie season is not optimal. But we can all agree that public health safety and the health of all our families is and will remain our top priority, and these actions are necessary until there is official word that this pandemic eased or ended. Based on the information currently available, Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England will pause the booth sale portion of the 2020 Cookie Program through April 3rd. We will extend the cookie program through April 12th to allow troops to reschedule any booths that may have been canceled or postponed. We will continue to monitor the situation and make changes as needed.

Additional Information for troop volunteers:

We will make the necessary edits to the settings in ABC Smart Cookies and the credit card processing systems to accommodate these date changes. We ask that you please cancel any booths you have scheduled between now and April 3rd in ABC Smart Cookies. Here's how you do this:

  1. Select the Booth tab, then click My Reservations
  2. You will see a list of all the booths reserved for your troop. Scroll to the far right, then click on the three dots. Click Remove Reservation
  3. A dialogue box will pop up asking: Are you sure you want to delete this reservation? Click Delete Forever

As we were in the final weeks of the Cookie Program we will also need to make some changes to deadlines. Recognition orders and final payments will now be due on April 13th. Please utilize the ePayment system to do online payments.

Payments for all girl and troop sales that have taken place to this point should be submitted to council.

How can Girl Scouts still participate in the Cookie Program during the cookie booth pause?

We know many of you look forward to Cookie Season and have great adventures planned with your cookie proceeds. We’d like to share some great ways we’ve heard about for girls to participate in the virtual aspects of the Cookie Program while practicing good social distancing:

  • Work on the new Cookie Entrepreneur Family Pin and pieces of the Cookie Business and Entrepreneurship Badges 
  • Utilize the “Girl Delivered” option in ABC Smart Cookies (click here to see our Cookie Resources for Girls page for instructions): 
    • "Porch Package": Customers are encouraged to buy cookies for in-person delivery and the girl will deliver them by leaving them on the customer's porch. Then people can get their cookies and avoid contact!
    • "Click and Collect": Customers buy online and the girl will leave the package on her porch for pickup by the customer. Promote Direct Ship to friends and family near and far who may want cookies delivered to them while they are spending more time at home! 
  • Cookie Share is also a great way for troops and girls to meet their goals! For Traditional Cookie Share, girls/troops collect money from customers and use it to purchase cookies that they will donate to local charities at a later date. For Virtual Cookie Share, girls/troops collect money, but then Troop Leaders enter it as “cookie share” in ABC Smart Cookies. GSSNE will collect that money from troops as part of the final payment and GSSNE will donate cookies to local nonprofits at the end of the cookie program. Customers can also donate to Virtual Cookie Share through a Direct Ship order.
Will the camp registration Early Bird discount be extended?

We are not planning to extend the camp registration Early Bird pricing. If anyone who signs up for camp is unable to attend due to COVID-19 circumstances, we will offer a full refund. If we end up having to cancel or amend the camp season, we will also offer a full refund.

What digital platforms can my troop use to connect?
How can I donate cookies to our local heroes and those in need?
IF YOU CAN'T EAT 'EM TREAT 'EM 2020

During this difficult time, GSSNE has been continuing its mission of making the world a better place by donating cookies to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and Kent Hospital.

To further support our community, with your help, we will be donating more cookies to those in need of a sweet treat during these stressful times. For every $5.00 donated, we will be able to gift a box to local first responders, hospital staff, nursing homes, local food pantries, and others in need. Click here to donate cookies today: https://bit.ly/GSSNEDonateCookies

 

Are there Girl Scout activities my daughter can work on while she's out of school?

When girls take the lead, great things happen! Even though your girl’s daily routine may have changed, there are many ways she can still participate in Girl Scout activities and earn awards, even at home! Here are a few resources and ideas for Girl Scouts of all levels to help you get started:

GSUSA Awards

Cookie Entrepreneur Family Pin

It’s never been easier to support your girl as she develops business skills, makes amazing memories, and earns a different pin for her uniform every cookie season. The simple, age-specific guidelines have been tailored for her developing skill set, making success a snap.

World Thinking Day Award

Backed by 10 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in locations worldwide, World Thinking Day 2020 celebrates the diversity, equity, and inclusion reflected in our global movement. Check out our activity guides to explore this theme—and celebrate being part of the diverse global sisterhood that is Girl Guides + Girl Scouts! Girls can earn this award at any time throughout the year, not just around World Thinking Day!

Global Action Award

Girl Scouts’ Global Action award calls for girls to address the Global Goals for Sustainable Development, or SDGs for short, by discovering, connecting, and taking action in their communities and beyond. In 2020, girls will explore SDG 5 (Gender Equality) to earn their Global Action award.

Patch Programs
Outdoors
STEM
Journeys & Take Action
Activities from Other Girl Scout Councils

Girl Scouts of Central Maryland has created resources dedicated to Virtual Badge Workshops and Campfire. Check out their website to follow along with daily events and activities! 

Girl Scout of Southern Arizona has online resources to help girls of all ages earn the Outdoor Art badges and Digital Game Design badges! 

Girl Scouts of Western Ohio has taken over their external Facebook page. Every day at 10AM and 2PM they host virtual at-home sessions for Girl Scouts utilizing Facebook Live. On Mondays at both times, they offer Girl Scout traditions engagements for all age levels. Badge/journey activities for Daisies are Tues/Thurs 10AM, Brownies are Tues/Thurs 2PM, Juniors are Wed/Fri 2PM, and Cadettes Wed/Fri 2PM. Check out their recorded virtual sessions on Facebook. 
 

Virtual Experiences & Just For Fun