As families are instructed to stay home and avoid the possible spread of the COVID-19 virus, Girl Scouts of the USA is using all its resources to reach out to its membership and beyond to provide some sense of normalcy through virtual programming.
Our chief priority is the health and safety of our girls, families, volunteers, and staff. Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains, the council serving New Hampshire and Vermont, has already suspended all in-person programming and troop meetings, at least through April 13.
But the Girl Scout motto is “Be prepared,” and we are! Our council has already provided virtual programming for our members who don’t necessarily have access to a lot of resources and partners. We are transforming even more of the programs that make us the world’s best leadership development program for girls in the world into online offerings. We are doing Facebook live sing-alongs and dancing, and Girl Scouts can earn badges like First Aid, Drawing, Celebrating Community, and Inside Government. We are even providing virtual troop meetings that will meet weekly with fun, interactive activities through a video chat platform. You can see the opportunities here: https://www.girlscoutsgwm.org/en/about-girl-scouts/virtual-troops-programs.html
We give parents information to help cope, too! You can talk to your children about the situation we all find ourselves in by staying calm and giving her age-appropriate information. Keeping to your family routines can make all the difference. Let your child ask questions and express her feelings, and don’t be afraid to admit you don’t have all the answers. If your girl is already involved in Girl Scouts, maintaining that connection will help her feel less isolated and provide for some continuity of normal life. And those who aren’t already members are invited to become part of the Girl Scout sisterhood where they will find a community of caring adult volunteers and new friends who will welcome them in.
To learn more about what Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains can offer, see https://www.girlscoutsgwm.org/en/about-girl-scouts/girl-scouts-covid-19.html
For more on how parents can cope: https://www.girlscouts.org/
About Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains: Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains is recognized throughout New Hampshire and Vermont as a leading expert on girls. Our Girl Scout Leadership Experience is a one-of-a-kind leadership development program for girls, with proven results. It is based on time-tested methods and research-backed programming that helps girls take the lead—in their own lives and in the world. Through our exciting and challenging programs, Girl Scouts not only participate but also take the lead in a range of activities—from kayaking, archery, and camping, to coding, robotics, financial literacy training, and beyond! Serving more than 10,000 girls throughout New Hampshire and Vermont, girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together. Visit www.girlscoutsgwm.org.
