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.

UPDATE 11/20/2020: Due to increasing COVID-19 cases and stricter state restrictions, we suspended all in-person troop meetings until further notice as of Friday, November 20, 2020. For the safety of all of our members, this includes communities in MA and CT associated with GSSNE as well. Rhode Island’s Governor Raimondo detailed new restrictions in a press conference on Thursday, leading to this difficult decision. More details will be coming out as they become available.

Please note that if you are a troop leader, your Service Unit Manager has access to your community’s Zoom license, so you may continue meeting virtually. Please reach out to them directly for the link and to coordinate your next meeting!

Additionally, if there are any changes to our retail shop hours, we will send those out separately.

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 our most frequently asked questions. We will be adding frequently asked questions to this page as they come up. For more information about coronavirus (COVID-19), please follow the Centers for Disease Control's guidance and updates, including about prevention and travel.

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

Check out our new Girl Scouts at Home page for resources and ideas for Girl Scouts of all levels!

GSUSA Articles

For more articles and information from GSUSA, check out the gsblog and Raising Awesome Girls!

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Please note, the earlier communications on this list are now out-of-date.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.

March 16, 2020: Covid-19 Updates & Office Closure
March 13, 2020: Activity Updates in Light of COVID-19
March 11, 2020: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update (first published 3/4/20)

Will you be issuing refunds for canceled programs?

We will be refunding any programs that we need to cancel in the coming weeks. 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?

At this time, all GSSNE trainings and museum tours have been canceled until further notice. 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.

How can Girl Scouts still participate in the Cookie Program virtually?

What digital platforms can my troop use to connect?

Holding virtual troop meetings is a great way for troops to stay connected and continue to support each other while social distancing! Here are some video chat options to check out:

Helpful Hints for a Virtual Meeting

Hold a digital parent meeting before meeting with the girls to work out technology roadblocks
Plan well in advance with a wide variety of activities (send links out beforehand to parent emails if you can)
Engage the girls equally and by name so they are acknowledged and so they know you can see them
Create a group agreement with ground rules in your first meeting (be respectful, keep microphone muted unless you are talking, etc)
Incorporate traditions, even if it feels awkward (the girls will appreciate and love this part)
If a leader is also a parent/caregiver, encourage them to log on separately from their girl if technology allows

Here are some additional safety resources for conducting virtual troop meetings.

Can I still make shop purchases?

Update 5.15.20: Our Retail Shop is currently closed to the public, however GSSNE shop staff is available to process orders Monday through Friday. This includes including items only available through the GSSNE Shop like Highest Awards items, graduation regalia, and GSSNE specific patches!

To place an order, please submit this form or email shop@gssne.org or lmoore@gssne.org . Shop staff will prepare the order, call for payment information, and will have the order ready for curbside pickup or shipment at your request. Please stay tuned for updates from council as they become available.

You can also make purchases online girlscoutshop.com from the safety of your home! All efforts are being made to process and deliver orders. There may be delays but you will be kept informed of any delays in your order.

We are happy to assist in any way we can during this challenging time, and we look forward to seeing you in the shop again soon!

We've got you covered. Shop from the comfort of home with free standard shipping on all girlscoutshop.com orders, no minimum. Shop Now.

Will there be a Volunteer Appreciation Event this year?

In sincere thanks for all that our volunteers do, this year’s Volunteer Appreciation Reception for all GSSNE volunteers, as well as members of the Juliette Gordon Low Society, will be announced as soon as a date has been selected and more information is available.

We are also very excited to announce that this year, we will spotlight our Adult Volunteer Recognitions at the reception, not at the Annual Meeting. It is the perfect opportunity to celebrate each other and the value you, our valuable volunteers and supporters, bring to the organization.

You're invited to join the world of Girl Scouts! Join Us

Keep her engaged and inspired in challenging times. Renew Now.