Activity Checkpoints

The Safety Activity Checkpoints resource is your guide to planning adventures with safety in mind, even for activities that are new to you. Most checkpoints support beginner-level experiences—seek expert and council guidance when planning more advanced activities. Because checkpoints are written for a national audience, use good judgment and consider local conditions, participant skills, and unique circumstances when adapting them. Involve your Girl Scouts whenever possible so they can build the lifelong skill of managing their own safety.

Activities at a Glance

For every activity, always follow the adult-to-youth ratios and all guidelines listed in the Safety Standards. *Some activity options are limited for this program grade level. See the SACs for the activity.
Activity	Daisy	Brownie	Junior	Cadette	Senior	Ambassador	Is Prior Council Approval Required?	Is Activity Training, Certification, or Verified Experience Required?
Aerial Fitness	D	B	J	C	S	A	No	Yes
Amusement and Water Parks	*	*	*	C	S	A	Yes if aquatic	Yes if aquatic
Animal Interaction	*	B	J	C	S	A	No	No
Archery		*	J	C	S	A	Yes	Yes
Arts and Crafts See Miscellaneous Activities	D	B	J	C	S	A	No	No
Ax, Knife, and Hatchet-Throwing				C	S	A	Yes	Yes
Backpacking	*	*	J	C	S	A	Yes	Yes
Bicycling	D	B	J	C	S	A	No	No
Camping	D	B	J	C	S	A	Yes	Yes
Canoeing	*	*	*	C	S	A	Yes	Yes
Challenge Courses (high ropes)		*	J	C	S	A	No	Yes
Challenge Courses (low ropes)	D	B	J	C	S	A	No	Yes
Climbing, Bouldering, and Rappelling (bouldering and climbing designed with small children in mind)	D	B	J	C	S	A	No	Yes
Climbing, Bouldering, and Rappelling (other types)	*	*	J	C	S	A	No	Yes
Community Clean-Ups	*	*	*	C	S	A	No	No
Cookie and Product Programs	D	B	J	C	S	A	No	No
Cross-Country Skiing	*	B	J	C	S	A	No	No
Digital Technology and Virtual Meetings	D	B	J	C	S	A	No	No
Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding	*	B	J	C	S	A	No	Yes
Fencing		B	J	C	S	A	No	Yes
Fishing and Ice Fishing	D	B	J	C	S	A	No	Yes
Geocaching	*	B	J	C	S	A	No	No
Go-Karting			J	C	S	A	No	No
Hayrides	D	B	J	C	S	A	No	No
Hiking	D	B	J	C	S	A	No	No
Horseback Riding	*	B	J	C	S	A	Yes	Yes
Indoor Skydiving	D	B	J	C	S	A	No	Yes
Indoor Trampolining	*	B	J	C	S	A	No	No
Inflatable Activities	*	*	J	C	S	A	Yes if aquatic	Yes if aquatic
Kayaking		*	*	C	S	A	Yes	Yes
Land Sports See Miscellaneous Activities	D	B	J	C	S	A	No	No
Laser Tag See Miscellaneous Activities	D	B	J	C	S	A	No	No
Model Rocketry	*	*	J	C	S	A	No	No
Offshore Passenger Vessels	D	B	J	C	S	A	No	No
Orienteering			J	C	S	A	No	No
Outdoor Cooking and Fire-Building	D	B	J	C	S	A	No	Yes
Packrafting		*	*	C	S	A	Yes	Yes
Parades and Other Large Gatherings	D	B	J	C	S	A	No	No
Pocket Knife and Jackknife Safety	*	B	J	C	S	A	No	No
Recreational Tree Climbing			J	C	S	A	No	Yes
Rowboats/Rowing	*	*	J	C	S	A	Yes	Yes
Sailing		*	J	C	S	A	Yes	Yes
SCUBA Diving				*	S	A	Yes	Yes
Shooting Sports/Firearms (includes target paintball and BB/air guns)		*	*	*	S	A	Yes	Yes
Skating	D	B	J	C	S	A	No	No
Sledding, Snow Tubing, and Tobogganing	D	B	J	C	S	A	No	No
Slingshots	D	B	J	C	S	A	Yes	Yes
Snorkeling			J	C	S	A	Yes	Yes
Snowshoeing	D	B	J	C	S	A	No	No
Spelunking/Caving	*	*	J	C	S	A	No	No
STEM and STEAM See Miscellaneous Activities	D	B	J	C	S	A	No	No
Stand-Up Paddleboarding			*	C	S	A	Yes	Yes
Surfing		*	J	C	S	A	Yes	Yes
Swimming	D	B	J	C	S	A	Yes	Yes
Tethered Balloon Rides			J	C	S	A	No	No
Tools—Hand and Power	Use varies by type of tool. See Tools section.						No	No
Travel/Trips	D	B	J	C	S	A	Yes if overnight	Yes if overnight
Tubing (Floating)			J	C	S	A	Yes	Yes
Waterskiing, Wakeboarding, and Towed Tubing			J	C	S	A	Yes	Yes
Whitewater Rafting		*	*	C	S	A	Yes	Yes
Windsurfing			J	C	S	A	Yes	Yes
Zip Lining	*	*	J	C	S	A	No	Yes

Use the Activities at a Glance in the accordion above and buttons below to find the guidance for your planned activity.

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