The October VINE

By Girl Scouts of Central Maryland on October 15, 2020 • ( Leave a comment )

Anticipated Return to In-person Service Unit Girl Scout Activities

At the end of August, we began a phased approach in permitting Girl Scout troops/groups, who were ready and comfortable doing so, to return to in-person Girl Scout meetings and day trips. Although our focus was on allowing troops/groups to get back together, we were not, at that time, approving large group or service unit gatherings such as programs, events, meetings or trainings.

With that said, we are preparing for the next phase in our approach to return to in-person Girl Scout Activities. We anticipate that we will resume in-person Girl Scout Service Unit meetings and events on October 23, 2020, with the stipulation that if COVID-19 risk factors increase, this move to in-person Service Unit meetings and events will be delayed.

We recognize that our members and volunteers are at varying levels of readiness in regard to their comfort level in attending and/or facilitating in-person Girl Scout activities, whether or not they are held indoors or outdoors. Therefore, before a Service Unit decides to resume in-person meetings or activities, they need to assess the readiness, preparedness and comfort level of the members in their Service Unit against the GSCM Service Unit in-person readiness checklist, which will be included as an addendum in GSCM Troop/Group Return to Girl Scout In-person Activities Readiness Checklist. Furthermore, Service Units must abide by the GSCM Interim COVID-19 Guidelines for Returning to In-person Troop/Group Meetings and Activities, which will be updated to include an addendum outlining additional guidelines for Service Unit meetings and events. These updates will be posted to the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland website on Friday, October 23, 2020.

Because COVID-19 is an extremely contagious virus that spreads easily in the community, volunteers should take all precautions to limit potential exposure for girls, themselves and families. We continue to recommend initial meetings and events be held virtually and/or in outdoor settings. Meetings and event options need to be flexible based on the fluid nature of COVID-19 risk. Service Units that are able to run online/virtual meetings as needed (or wanted) should continue to do so. Additionally, Service Units may not hold meetings in homes, be it indoors or outdoors, out of concern that the risk of COVID-19 exposure is too great to Girl Scout members and families.

Required In-person Girl Scout In-person Activities Permissions and Waiver

We remind our members that for any girl member participating in ANY and ALL Girl Scout activities which are in-person, be it activities at the local troop/group or Service Unit level or a GSCM program/event, all three of the following participation forms are required prior to participation:

*Note: For Girl Scout troop/group activities and Service Unit activities, the troop/group leader is responsible for obtaining and maintaining these forms with troop/group records.

Program Updates

2020-2021 Cookie Sale Resources

Cookies are now on sale and we have plenty of resources to help girls succeed, including the new Smart Cookie enhancements that went live today! Also below are links to other helpful resources that you can access throughout the sale.

Gluten free Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Order Form
Smart Cookies Credit Card Payment/New Feature & Optional
NEW Smart Cookies Social Media Link Enhancements
NEW Smart Cookies E-Card Pre-Payment Guide
Smart Cookies Training Videos
Smart Cookie Online Sales Training Video
- For information on the Girl Social link start the video at 11:37. If the parent does not approve the social media girl delivery order within 5 days, the order will be automatically cancelled. Credit cards are not charged until parent approval happens.
For more important information and key sale dates for the cookie sale, click here.
For fun ideas and activities for this year’s cookie season, check out GSCM’s cookie kickoff videos here.

Please note: All in person cookie sale activities must follow GSCM’s COVID-19 guidelines and parents must sign the GSCM Assumption of Risk, Release and Waiver of Liability Relating to Coronavirus/COVID-19 and return to their daughter’s troop leader.

Make the World a Better Place with Art with a Heart

Grades: Daisies – Ambassadors

When: Starts November 4th and continues throughout the year.

Join us for this ground-breaking program designed to engage all of our Girl Scouts in age appropriate, candid discussions on a variety of topics, including: racial justice, gender equality, body image, gender identity and more! To learn more about this program, click here.

Register by October 18^th to attend the Virtual 55th National Council Session in the NCS Gallery

Girl Scouts of the USA invites members to experience the first-ever virtual NCS, Friday, October 23, 2020 1:00 PM ET – Sunday, October 25, 2020 3:00 PM ET. Due to the impact of COVID-19, the National Board of GSUSA voted to hold a one-time virtual session for our 55th National Council Session.

As this event is for current members of GSUSA (MY 2021), your membership will be validated prior to you receiving access information.

REGISTER AS A GUEST NOTE: Delegates will receive a separate invite as participants in the event and should not register via the link above.

Girl Scouts Show their Girl Scout Spirit

On October 1, Girl Scouts of all ages and grade levels showed their Girl Scout spirit by wearing their Girl Scout uniforms—and taking photos while they were engaged in school work and other activities—GSCM staff participated too. We received nearly 2,500 photos of our local girls. Many thanks to all who participated and showed their Girl Scout spirit! To see more photos from Uniform day, click here.

GSCM Program Patch of the Month

The “Bring a Friend” patch is a great opportunity for Girl Scouts to share their experience with their friends and show them everything that Girl Scouts has to offer! For more information click here.

Girl Experience Boxes

Girl Experience Seasonal Subscription Boxes are designed to let girls take the lead of their Girl Scout experience at their own pace. Each box will contain materials and instructions for girls to engage in activities based around the seasons and the four pillars of the Girl Scout experience–STEM, Life Skills, Entrepreneurship and the Outdoors. To order your box, click here.

Autumn

Create your own Friendship Bracelet with the spiral staircase or chevron pattern
Create your own Gimp Key Chain or Zipper Pull
Create your own Bee Hive & set your Cookie Goal!
Create your own Salt Crystal Leaves
Create your own Vanishing Ghost experiment
Create your own Motivational Gift
Create your own Origami
Create your own Animal Track Casting

Winter

Create your own Paracord Celtic Heart Necklace
Create your own Rainbow Friendship Bracelet
Create your own Instant Snow
Create your own Space Jar
Create your own Bird Feeder
Create your own Snow Globe
Create your own Girl Scout Cookie Popsicles
Create your own Magazine/Nut Product Program Goal Setter

Spring

Create your own Gimp Bracelet
Create your own Heart Friendship Bracelet
Create your own Motorized Car
Create your own Sundial
Create your own Bath Bomb
Create your own Windchime

Summer

Create your own Paracord Daisy Bracelet
Create your own Watermelon Friendship Bracelet
Create your own Geocaching Adventure
Create your own Marshmallow Launcher
Create your own Sun Print Post Card
Create your own Piggy Bank and Save for a Rainy Day

Boxes will be available for pick-up or shipping the 2nd week of November, February, May and August. Pick-up will take place during or after the 2nd week of the previously listed months at Juliette’s Closet and Clementine’s Corner. Boxes can also be shipped for an additional $15 per box.

Cost: $50 if purchased individually OR $190 if you subscribe to all four

Order deadlines:

Autumn and FULL YEAR: October 30, 2020
Winter: January 10, 2021
Spring: April 11, 2021
Summer: July 11, 2021

New First Aid Course Training Requirements

Effective October 1, 2020, there will be new training requirements for First Aid/CPR certifications. Courses eligible for certification as a Troop First Aider will have a First Aid Component, Adult and Child CPR; AED is often offered, but not required.

For new First Aiders an in person, fully hands on ( 4–6 hour) course with a certified instructor is strongly recommended

For seasoned First Aiders, a blended learning option is now acceptable. Blended learning consists of an online component and an in person component. Together, these components are generally the same length of time as an in person class. Both components are needed to serve as a Troop First Aider. Solely online courses (with no in person component) are not recognized as a valid course for a Troop First Aider.

Most certifying organizations are offering both classes at this time but have reduced class sizes and have implemented new safety protocols during COVID 19.

In order to avoid confusion due to different naming conventions by certifying organizations, below is a chart indicating the courses recognized for certification. If you are using a different provider than listed below, please request approval prior to class registration by sending an email to membercare with a link of the course offering.

Certifying Organization Link	New First Aider	Seasoned First Aider
American Red Cross	Adult And Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED Classroom	Adult And Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED-BL Online + Classroom
American Heart Association	Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED (Instructor Led Hands on course)	Heartsaver® First Aid CPR AED Online (15-1403) WITH Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED Skills Session
National Safety Council	Pediatric First Aid, CPR and AED Training	Not offered in our Area
Medic First Aid/American Safety and Health Institute	Medic PediatricPlus CPR, AED and First Aid	ASHI Pediatric CPR, AED, and First Aid Online and Skill test

Certification Extensions due to COVID-19

Most certifying organizations are offering an extension to current certifications. Although each certifying organization has different requirements and timelines, informational links can be found here.

American Red Cross	120 day extension with free refresher class
American Heart Association	Certification extensions by month
National Safety Council	No guidance provided
Medic First Aid/American Safety and Health Institute	Certification extensions by month: See Table 2

TFS Making Life Easier Scholarship Program

Deadline: October 30, 2020 11:59 pm Pacific Time

Eligible Candidates: Girls/Alums must be between age 16 and 24

Toyota Financial Services (TFS) has announced its 2021 Making Life Easier (MLE) Scholarship Program that will award up to $1 million to college-bound students associated with select community partners. Recipients will be selected from all eligible applicants based on financial need and community service. Students can apply for scholarships of up to $20,000 that will be distributed over four years. To learn more about this opportunity, click here.

Store Updates

Good Morning Girl Scouts

Join Mel from Juliette’s closet LIVE on Facebook, every-other Tuesday morning from 8:15am – 8:30am for a Girl Scout morning show featuring special guests, great deals, and everything you need to know to start your day the Girl Scout way!

October 27th — 8:15am: Good Morning Girl Scouts

November 10th — 8:15am: Good Morning Girl Scouts

Facebook Girl Scout Shop Social

October 15th–5:30pm: Halloween and Juliette Low Birthday
November 10th–5:30pm: Thanksgiving and Gift items

NEW! Curbside Pick-Up at Camp Ilchester

Busy during the week? We got you covered. GSCM offers curbside pick-up and has added an additional day just for you convenience. Starting Saturday, October 17th the Ilchester store will be available for curbside pick-up from 10am to 1pm.

Virtual Store Visits

You can now make a virtual appointment to learn more about Girl Scout programs, badges, patches, and traditions with our shop staff. Call or email to set-up your personal appointment.

VTK Update

System Upgrade VS 2.0 and IMPORTANT DATES!
GSUSA will be upgrading all Councils to VS 2.0 the first week of December, 2020. To ensure the transition is smooth, GSUSA will turn off our current system starting on Nov 18th until the upgraded VS 2.0 goes live. During this time, MyGS, VTK, background checks and case management will not be accessible. Council will be deploying temporary measures to collect new registration, renewal and cases. Stay tuned for more updates.