GSEWNI Emergency Resources and Information

At Girl Scouts, there is nothing we take more seriously than the safety and well-being of our girls, volunteers and council staff. With the recent announcement of Washington Governor Inslee asking for nonessential businesses to close their doors, we are providing several updates that may be of interest to you in the near term:

• GSEWNI Program Center and Store are closed until further notice.  Our online store is still taking orders, but shipping may be less timely than usual. 
• Programs and council-sponsored events, including Camp Ashwell spring break camp, are suspended.
• Cookie booths are suspended. In-person Girl Deliveries are temporarily delayed at this time. Girls are encouraged to continue to utilize the Digital Cookie platform to reach customers. We are developing resources for innovative marketing strategies and creative ways for girls to sell cookies without personal conact with customers.
• Our guidance to Girl Scout troops and service units in Washington  is to cancel all events, activities, and troop meetings.
• Our guidance to Girl Scout troops and service units in Idaho: Starting May 16, 2020 – If your troop is less than 10 people, you may choose to resume in-person troop meetings. Starting May 30, 2020 – Your troop and/or Service Unit may have in-person meetings of up to 50 people.

It is important to remember Girl Scouting is a voluntary activity and each family needs to choose for their own girl what is best for her and their family.  If a family chooses not to participate in in-person troop meetings please find ways to help keep that girl involved as a member of your troop.  The girl should not be penalized for a choice to not join in-person meetings at this time.   

We are continuing to explore ways to unleash the Girl Scout experience in the safety of your home. While our program center is closed, the majority of staff continue to telework to support your Girl Scout experience. We deeply appreciate our Girl Scout family and wish you peace and safety in your communities this season of spring.

Staff and Office

At this time, our office and store are closed. Many of our staff are working remotely due to the impact of Covid-19. We ask for your grace during this time of transition as we all get used to these new ways of work. We will be rolling out innovative ways for girls to continue their Girl Scout experience. Our staff are available to support you via email and phone 509-747-8091. As Girl Scouts, we have faced many adverse times in our Nation’s history, this is another part of our story. How we support each other, our girls and volunteers, will determine our strength moving forward. As the situation evolves we will update this website and communications to you will be sent via email. 

Spring and Summer Troop Travel Recommendations

Domestic (extended/3+night) Travel

• Trips scheduled now-mid June: all trips should be cancelled or rescheduled. We are happy to help you with this. 
• Trips scheduled for the remainder of the membership year: Work on contingency plans. Please contact us with questions.

International Travel

• Trips scheduled now-mid July: all trips should be cancelled or rescheduled. We are happy to help you with this. 
• Trips scheduled for the remainder of the membership year: Work on contingency plans. Please contact us with questions.

Preventative Measures

We encourage you to be proactive and suggest that you follow basic hygiene precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• Wash your hands frequently for 20 seconds with soap and water, particularly before snacks and meals.
• If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your face.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing then dispose of the tissue appropriately.

We will continue to monitor COVID-19 updates from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization, and state and local public health departments. As always, check the CDC and your local health department’s website for the most up-to-date information.