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Additional Resources
These additional resources provide essential reference tools that support safe and well‑planned Girl Scout activities. It includes the Checklist for Drivers, a comprehensive Glossary that defines key terms used throughout the Safety Activity Checkpoints, and the Sample Swim Assessment. They serve as quick‑access guides that strengthen preparedness, risk management, and overall program safety.
Checklist for Drivers
Driving Guidelines for Cars, RVs, and Campers
When transporting Girl Scouts, ensure the following precautions are followed by all drivers.
Volunteer Drivers:
☐ Must be at least 21 years old
☐ Must be background-checked according to council guidelines
☐ Keep licenses, registration, inspections, and auto insurance up to date
☐ Maintain a safe following distance (at least two car lengths)
☐ Avoid distractions: no texting, phone use, earbuds, or headphones
☐ Turn headlights on when using windshield wipers
Driver Readiness:
☐ Familiarize yourself with any new or rented vehicle.
☐ Plan rest stops on long trips and use relief drivers for drives longer than six hours.
☐ Do not drive while tired or on medications that cause drowsiness.
Passenger Safety:
☐ Everyone must wear their own, fixed seat belt.
☐ Children under 12 must ride in the back seats. Follow state laws for car seats and boosters.
☐ Never transport passengers in flatbeds, panel trucks, pickup beds, or camper-trailers.
Vehicle Preparation:
☐ Carry directions, a road map, a first aid kit, passengers’ health forms, and a flashlight.
☐ Inspect lights, signals, tires, windshield wipers, horn, and fluid levels before trips.
☐ Load gear safely, avoiding overloading or placing heavy items on top or in the back.
Caravanning:
☐ No caravanning (following closely in a line). Each driver must have route details, the destination, and other drivers' contact information.
Breakdowns or Accidents:
☐ Know how to handle breakdowns. Carry reflectors, tools, and a spare tire.
Check with your council for additional specific guidelines or requirements.
Download this checklist as a PDF.
Glossary
Activity
Any Girl Scout–sponsored and –supervised meeting, event, camp, sport, or other program with defined goals and safety requirements.
Activity Accident Insurance
Supplemental medical insurance that provides limited coverage for medical expenses resulting from accidents or injuries that occur during approved and supervised Girl Scout activities. All participants are automatically covered, including registered Girl Scouts, volunteers, and non-member invited participants such as friends, siblings, and tagalongs. Overnight trips and travel, including camp and international travel, are covered under this policy. This coverage is separate from liability insurance.
Adult
A person aged 18 or older, or the age of majority in the state of residence, whichever is older. Note: If a Girl Scout turns 18 during the membership year, she is still considered a youth and should follow the same rules and guidelines as other youth members, and may not serve as a supervising adult
Adult Volunteer
A registered, background-checked adult (aged 18 or older) who supervises Girl Scouts. Must complete required training. Only adults can serve as leaders or meet adult-to-youth ratio requirements.
Adventure
A series of engaging, challenging, or exploratory activities designed to promote personal growth, skill-building, and teamwork. For example, an adventure might be a weekend that includes transportation, camping, outdoor cooking, and kayaking.
Approved Activity
An activity that meets GSUSA safety standards and, when required, has been reviewed or approved by the local council.
Aquatic Activity
Any activity that takes place in, on, or around water—such as swimming, boating, or paddle sports—and requires water-safety procedures and trained supervision.
Belaying
Techniques used to create friction within a climbing system (usually on a climbing rope) to stop a climber’s fall. A belayer is the person who controls the belaying device.
Bouldering
Climbing or scrambling on rocks at a height no more than 6 feet off the ground. Ropes are not used.
Buddy System
A safety method where two Girl Scouts are paired to watch out for each other and stay together during activities.
Camping
An activity that involves staying overnight in the outdoors or at a designated site, ranging from cabin camping to tent and wilderness camping. In Girl Scouting, this is an experience in outdoor group living that builds outdoor skills, teamwork, and confidence.
Checkpoints
A section in Safety Activity Checkpoints that outlines safety standards and planning tips for a specific activity. Each activity has its own checkpoints.
Council
A regional Girl Scout organization that supports troops and groups, and determines local requirements, such as pre-approvals or volunteer screenings.
Council Approval
Some activities must be reviewed and approved by your local council before plans are finalized. This may include higher-risk activities, overnights, or those requiring expert instructors.
Destinations
A travel program that offers individual Girl Scout members the chance to join peers from across the country on trips in the U.S. and abroad. Destinations provide opportunities for adventure, cultural exchange, and leadership development beyond the local experience.
Emergency Action Plan (EAP)
A plan that outlines steps to take in case of an emergency. It includes contact information, response roles, and scenario planning to keep Girl Scouts safe.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
A system of pre-hospital care by professional responders such as paramedics or emergency medical technicians (EMTs) who provide urgent medical care and transportation to a hospital during a health emergency.
Experiential Education
A learning approach where participants gain knowledge and skills through direct experience, reflection, and active participation in activities rather than only through instruction.
Expert/Instructor/Facilitator
An adult with training, certification, or experience who provides supervision, instruction, or guidance during an activity. In Girl Scout safety materials, these terms are often used interchangeably to indicate a qualified person responsible for teaching skills, maintaining safety, and supporting participants.
Firearms
Weapons such as rifles, shotguns, and handguns that launch a projectile by means of gunpowder or another explosive force. Check with your council to ensure Girl Scout use of firearms is permitted in your area.
First Aid
Immediate medical care given to a sick or injured person until professional medical help can be provided. In Girl Scouts, it also refers to the ability of a trained adult “first aider” to treat minor injuries or illnesses within the scope of their certification.
First Aider
An adult with current certification in First Aid/CPR/AED, required at some Girl Scout events. Wilderness First Aid training may be required for remote settings.
Float Plan
A written outline of a boating trip that includes details such as the route, destination, schedule, and names of participants. It is shared with someone on land to help ensure safety in case of an emergency.
Free Climbing
This style of climbing on rocks or walls without a belay system is never permitted in a Girl Scout setting unless the potential fall distance is 6 feet or less.
Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA)
The national organization that provides safety standards and program guidelines for all Girl Scout councils and members across the country.
Heath Examination Form
A confidential form, completed by a health professional, that confirms a participant's readiness to participate in activities or events. This may be required by organizers of overnight camps, high adventure experiences, or extended travel.
Health History Form
A confidential form that details a participant’s medical conditions, allergies, medications, and emergency contacts. Required for all Girl Scouts participating in activities.
Helmet
A required piece of safety equipment for activities involving falls, impacts, or falling objects. The correct helmet type and proper fit are essential.
Leave No Trace
An outdoor ethic that encourages people to minimize their impact on nature by respecting wildlife, disposing of waste properly, leaving what they find, and caring for the environment so others can enjoy it. Also, the name of a nonprofit organization that promotes the ethic.
Liability Insurance
Insurance coverage that protects Girl Scouts, volunteers, and the council from alleged negligence in case of accidents, property damage, or claims of bodily injury during approved Girl Scout activities.
Life Jacket/Personal Flotation Device (PFD)
A U.S. Coast Guard–approved flotation device required for many water activities. Must be the correct type, size, and condition for the participant and activity.
Mandated Reporter
An adult who is legally required to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities.
Membership Year
October 1 to September 30. Members may join anytime. Some councils offer an extended-year membership combining the remaining months of the current year with the next full year for one fee.
Mental Health First Aid
A training program that teaches people how to recognize signs of mental health challenges, provide initial support, and connect individuals to professional help when needed.
Mental Health First Aider
An adult who has completed Mental Health First Aid training and is prepared to offer initial support to someone experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis, and to guide them toward professional resources.
Multi-Pitch Climbing
Long-route climbing that requires several pitches (a section of a route between two belay points). The group climbs to the top of the first pitch. The lead climber climbs to the next pitch, anchors in, and belays each remaining climber individually to the anchor. For highly experienced climbers only.
Not Permitted Activity
Activities that are considered too risky or inappropriate for Girl Scouts. These are prohibited by GSUSA and are not covered by insurance or checkpoints.
Overnight
Any activity or event where participants sleep away from home for one or more nights. Includes camping, travel, or council events like program weekends or lock-ins. Specific sleeping guidelines apply.
Participant
Anyone participating in a Girl Scout outing, activity, or trip, whether they are youth or adult, member or non-member. Members of the public who are nearby are not considered participants.
Permission Form/Slip
A signed form from a caregiver granting a Girl Scout permission to participate in a specific trip or activity.
Progression
The practice of preparing Girl Scouts for longer or more complex activities by starting with short learning outings and gradually building toward more challenging experiences.
Qualified Vendor
A business or organization providing instruction, equipment, or facilities that meet Girl Scout safety standards. Must carry liability insurance and follow checkpoint requirements.
Ratio (Adult-to-Youth Ratio)
The minimum number of unrelated, registered, background-checked adults required per number of Girl Scouts, based on age and activity type.
Safety Activity Checkpoints (SACs)
Girl Scouts’ official safety guide outlining required standards, planning tips, and equipment needs for Girl Scout activities. It is divided into general safety standards that apply to all we do in Girl Scouts and activity-specific checkpoints.
Safety Management Plan (SMP)
A safety plan that focuses on communication and prevention, as well as responses to potential emergencies. See also: Emergency Action Plan.
Small Craft
A boat or watercraft that is lightweight and typically designed for a few passengers. Examples include canoes, kayaks, rowboats, small sailboats, or similar vessels. Small craft are more affected by wind, waves, and weather than larger boats, and require special attention to safety guidelines.
Specialized Equipment
Gear or items designed to protect participants from injury during an activity. Examples include helmets, harnesses, life jackets, or other protective gear.
Target Sports
Activities where participants aim at targets using tools like slingshots, bows and arrows, BB guns, shotguns, rifles, pistols, or throwing axes. These require council approval and trained instructors. See also: Firearms.
Travel Camping
A form of camping where Girl Scouts move from one location to another, usually by car. Travel may also be accomplished by foot (backpacking), canoe, kayak, or other small craft, with Girl Scouts carrying their own gear and camping overnight at different sites along the route.
Trip/Activity Leader
The adult designated to plan, coordinate, and supervise a Girl Scout outing or trip, ensuring compliance with safety guidelines and council requirements. This person may or may not be the group’s leader.
Troop Leader
A registered, trained adult volunteer responsible for guiding a Girl Scout troop. Ensures activities meet safety standards and fosters girl-led experiences.
USA Girl Scouts Overseas (USAGSO)
The division of Girl Scouts that supports families and volunteers living outside the United States, typically on U.S. military bases.
Vendor
See Qualified Vendor.
Vessel
A boat, ship, or other watercraft that can be used for transportation or recreation on water.
Waiver/Release of Liability
A signed document in which an adult participant or a youth’s caregiver acknowledges the risks of an activity and agrees not to hold the organizer, vendor, or sponsoring group legally responsible for accidents or injuries that may occur. A waiver does not replace required safety practices or insurance coverage.
Youth Member
A registered Girl Scout who falls within the youth membership age range (typically grades K to 12). Youth membership extends through the membership year of the year the Girl Scout turns 18.
Download this glossary as a PDF.
Sample Swim Assessment
Sample Swim Assessment—Verification of Completion
Swim assessments are required for many aquatic activities and recommended annually for Girl Scouts. Requirements vary by facility, instructor, or provider—some may waive assessments, while others require more rigorous evaluations. Certain activities require strong swimming skills. Refer to Safety Activity Checkpoints (SACs) for specific requirements.
At sleepaway camps, swim assessments are typically conducted weekly, regardless of prior completion. Many camps and pools use wristbands or similar identifiers to indicate ability.
This form confirms swim level and ability, documenting demonstrated skills.
Lifeguards and instructors: Use this tool to record assessments as needed but follow any facility- or activity-specific evaluations.
Assessment criteria: Each participant should be evaluated in both forward motion and resting, without support or flotation devices. Mark the assessment used:
ü |
Assessment |
Requirements |
Expert Name & Title |
Date |
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A |
Enter water, stay near edge, swim 25 yards, float for 30 seconds. |
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B |
Jump feet first into deep water, swim 50 yards, tread for one minute. |
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C |
Jump feet first into deep water, swim 100 yards (using a combination of freestyle and elementary backstroke), tread for two minutes. |
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Other |
Describe assessment: |
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Swimmer Classifications
Beginner/Non-Swimmer (unable to complete Assessment A—or no assessment made)
- Limited to shallow water or standing-depth areas
- Must wear a Coast Guard–approved life jacket for applicable activities per SACs
- Cannot participate in activities requiring strong swimming skills (e.g., surfing, SCUBA)
Intermediate Swimmer (completes Assessment A or B)
- May swim in deep water
- Must wear a life jacket when required by SACs
- Cannot participate in high-risk activities like surfing or SCUBA
Proficient/Strong Swimmer (completes Assessment C)
- Eligible for most aquatic activities
- Must wear a life jacket when required by SACs
- May participate iWhat is this signifying?
Download this swim assessment as a PDF.
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