COVID-19 has turned our world upside down. Traditional Girl Scout meetings cannot be held and you are missing your girls. Here are 5 ways you can stay connected to them.
As we enter the fifth week of staying at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders in all of the Facebook groups that I frequent are worried about maintaining relationships with their girls and keeping their troop together.
This is a genuine concern.
Parents are overwhelmed by so many things. Some are:
- Keeping their child up to speed in school
- Keeping up with work
- Worrying about losing their jobs
- Worried because one or both parents lost their jobs
- Worried about essential workers in their home who go out every day
- Worried about senior/elderly parents and how to care for them from a distance
You can add me to the list of overwhelmed parents. Keeping my two teens on task for school, running my school virtually, concern for two of the people in my home who are essential workers who leave the house daily, worry about my mom who lives fifteen minutes away, concern about job security for my husband…we are all rowing the same boat.
With schools across the country closing and staying home and social distancing is the new normal for now, how can leaders stay in touch with their troops?
Safe and Easy Ways to Stay Connected to Your Girl Scout Troop During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Zoom Meetings
A month ago, many of you would have wondered what a Zoom meeting was, and now you are a pro!
For leaders who want to meet with their girls, this is an awesome too. With new necessary safeguards, this can be a great space for your troop. With my school, we have a waiting room and all screen names must be the child or parent’s actual name. No recognizable name=no admittance.
What you do with your Zoom time is whatever you want to do. Some leaders are having badge and Journey meetings, others are just hanging out. There are virtual scavenger hunts and escape rooms that leaders have done, and there are also virtual field trips to go on and guest speakers to see. You can do a craft together as well.
Have a Wave-By
One of the teachers in our Early Childhood Center did this and her four year old students adored it. This is something you can try on your own.
Pick a day and time and contact your families and let them know you will be driving by to wave hello to their scout. Then plan your route, text the parent when you are in front of the house, and wave hello! You can have a social distance chat and then go on to the next house.
Council Events
Check your Council’s website to see if they are having virtual events for troops on your level. In the past, many leaders lamented that few girls took them up on these opportunities. Now there is no excuse not to attend and you do not have to plan anything! Just send the information and hope the girls will participate.
Birthday Parade
Is there a girl in your troop with a birthday? Here is something fun that keeps everyone away from each other and together for a celebration.
Contact the birthday girl’s parents and set the date and time of the parade. Then reach out to the parents of the other girls in your troop. Have them make decorations for their family car and big signs to hold when they step outside the car (if parents will permit that).
At the designated time, parents will have the birthday girl standing in her driveway and the parade of cars honking and wishing her a “Happy Birthday” can begin. Be sure each car stops in front of the house and the troop sister can share her birthday greetings.
If no one in your troop is having a birthday, maybe an elderly neighbor who cannot celebrate with family would enjoy a birthday parade!
Community Service
Even with the pandemic, there are still service opportunities that can be done within the safety of home. My synagogue has made sandwiches for a homeless shelter (they are still in need and gave directions on how to do this safely), drew pictures and made cards for front line medical personnel and those in the hospital with COVID-19, and did a food drive for our local food bank.
How did we do this safely? One person was assigned to collect the items in the parking lot. She took the items out of people’s trunks and put it in her car to be delivered.
As the leader, you can be that point person.
These five safe and easy ways to stay connected to your troop during the COVID-19 pandemic can in no way replace your personal meetings, that is for sure. These are ways to help you maintain closeness as a troop.
What are you doing with your troop to stay connected?
