Taking Field Trips or Travelling
Going on Field Trips is one thing that girls will remember the most about being in Girl Scouting. Leaders need to plan ahead to follow Girl Scout guidelines. Below are some resources to use and helpful info.
Regardless of the trip you take, be sure to follow all of the points under Local Field Trips. Other, more advanced trips may require additional training or documentation.
Local Field Trips
Consult Volunteer Essentials to determine if you need to have Trips training for your field trip. Typically, trips in town do not require this training, but trips outside of Charlottesville/Albemarle and overnights anywhere DO require this training.
281 GS 201 Trips and Overnights is available online.
Consult the Volunteer Essentials to see the Adult/Girl ratio you need based on the field trip.
Ensure you have a certified first aider on your trip and bring your troop first aid kit with you.
The level of training needed by your First Aider depends on how far you will be away from EMS. First Aid (Red Cross training for laypeople) is sufficient for groups under 200 people and within 30 miles of EMS. Wilderness First Aid is needed for locations or trips over 30 minutes from EMS.
Ensure that all chaperones and drivers are registered adults with Girl Scouts. Every adult volunteer should take the online training course 281 GS 104 Orientation for Support Volunteers.
All drivers should sign the Safe Driver Pledge (4144).
Consult the GSVSC website Safety Activity Checkpoints (SAC) to find out additional considerations for your specific activity. Note that SAC is updated annually, so it's always a good idea to get a refresher, even if you've been a long-time leader.
Fill out a permission slip and have parents sign and turn it in at the event. Any time you take a field trip, you should have a permission slip. The template can be found on the GSVSC council website: Parent Permission for Troop Activities (#2133).
Trips Outside of the Council and High Risk Activities
For any field trip outside our council boundaries or with higher risk (think water, rock climbing, horseback riding, hiking, reproduction) or overnighting at any non-GSVSC facility, you need to file a Trip Permission Form 2129 which can be submitted preferably four weeks in advance to trippermission@gsvsc.org. Trips over 300 miles have more requirements.
Camping and Other Outdoor Activities
Camping
If your trip involves camping and outdoor cooking, at least one adult volunteer in your group must have taken Girl Scout Outdoor Education training with includes a planning session and an overnight. The planning session is often held online and there are typically two overnights per year at our local Girl Scout camp, Sugar Hollow (in Crozet). To find and register for Outdoor Education, search the council training events.