Fall Campout - Adults May Accompany Own Girls | Registration EXTENDED to Monday, September 20th

Included in this Issue

Fall Campout - Camp Holmes

~ Younger Girl (2nd-5th Gr) Registration Deadline EXTENDED to Mon Sept 20th
~ Adult ratios modified
~ COVID Vaccination/Testing information

Fall Product Sale Information

~ Why participate, highlights and important dates

Volunteer Meeting (via Zoom)

~ Monday, September 27th, 7:30p-8:30p

Leader-Daughter Event

~ Save the Date of Sunday, October 24th, 2p-4p

More Meet & Greet for Girls to Join Girl Scouts

~ September & October sessions
~ Please pass the word along

Facilitron Instructions

~ For meetings at school locations

Camp Holmes
Fall Campout at Butano Creek Girl Scouts Camp
October 8th-10th, 2021
Open to girls in 2nd Grade to 12th Grade

Registration Deadline for Younger Girls is has been EXTENDED to Monday, September 20th

Important Updates
For this 2021 Fall Campout ONLY
Adult Ratios
Typically, only 2 adults may attend with the Troop. However, due to the current COVID situation, we understand that some families would prefer not to share sleeping spaces.
So, for the 2021 Fall Campout ONLY, we will allow 1 adult to accompany their daughter(s) with the understanding that they will need to bring their own tent for their family and pitch that on the grounds in designated spots.
We will accept reservations by Troop only, so Troop Leaders please coordinate with your families, and you can register more than the typical 2 adults.
ALL adults who are going to camp will need to

be registered and background checked Girl Scouts volunteers
attend the MANDATORY Zoom meeting on Tuesday, September 28th (7:30p-8:30p)

Adults Going to 2021 Fall Campout
Troops will need to designate adults to accompany their girls around to the Brownie/Junior workshops. Other adults will have a chance to attend learning workshops specifically for adults. More details will be shared at the Mandatory Zoom Meeting.

COVID Vaccinations or Testing
ALL 2021 Fall Campout participants will need to either:

Submit proof of COVID vaccination, or
Submit a negative COVID test (home kits okay) within 72 hours of departure for camp

Future Camporees & Campouts
Please note that future Camporees and Campouts will be subject to adult-girl safety-wise ratios once COVID vaccinations are available for all ages.

Younger Girls (2nd-5th Grade) will earn the Brownie Senses or Junior Detective Badges

$55 for Younger Girls and $45 for Younger Girl Adults
Register by Troop
Registration Deadline for Younger Girls has been EXTENDED to Monday, September 20th

Link here for more information and to register 2nd-5th Graders

One adult from each Troop MUST complete "Camp Out Certification"
Link here for Camp Out Certification Information

All adults going to camp must attend a mandatory Zoom meeting on Tuesday, September 28th (7:30p-8:30p)

Guidelines for COVID-19 for GSNorCal Members
Overnight camping is allowed in outdoor settings. Girls may share sleeping structures under the following conditions:

Parents/guardians and troop leaders agree that girls may share sleeping structures. They can do so provided all parents/guardians review and sign the updated Activity and Event Permission Form.
Sleeping structures (tents, cabins, dormitories, etc.) are well ventilated with open windows or other ventilation systems in use.
Campers are distancing as much as possible (sleeping head to foot in ground tents, cots, or sleeping mats separated in buildings, etc.).

Contact Cheryl (don.cheryl.thompson@gmail.com) for more information

Fall Product Sale Information
Introducing Gwen, our new Service Unit Fall Products Manager
Thank you for stepping up into this role!

Greetings;

Below you will find the info for our 2021 Fall Product Program. I am new to the role of Fall Product manager and I have some really big shoes to fill. As you know Mardi held this role for 16 years! While I am sure there will be some small hiccups in this transition, rest assured if you have a question, I will get you an answer :)

Why is the Fall Product Program great for our girls?

Entrepreneurial Mindset: Girls develop curiosity, take initiative, and learn to collaborate with others while learning about and supporting emperor penguins to make a global impact.
Animal Conservation: Girls offset their carbon footprint and impact the environment and global warming while helping to save emperor penguins by planting trees in California.
Sisterhood: Girls become a part of something bigger than themselves when partnering with their Girl Scout sisters to Adopt-an-Emperor Penguin and impact climate change by planting trees.
Troops send the PGEB to families.
Volunteers: “One and done” product order for troop volunteers with all payments online.

Here are some of the highlights for the 2021 program:

Rise Up to impact climate change induced melting sea ice and protect emperor penguins from extinction.
Still 20% troop proceeds on all nuts, candy and magazines, one of the highest in the nation
M2 simplifies communication throughout the season through emailing direct from M2OS using sample templates.
Simplified – Everything you need is on the Fall Take Action Program webpage. Resources are virtual again. If you need the guide printed, this is a great use of service unit funds or product program bonuses to support girl engagement or send us an email at info@gsnorcal.org.
Simplified – New Money Earning requirements: no specific fall program metrics for troop volunteers to keep track of any longer
Simplified – Fall Take Action Program volunteer position acceptance form requirement is discontinued: the program is straightforward for volunteers to manage and we trust you to connect with us as needed, rendering the form unnecessary.

Important Dates:

Troop Volunteer Kickoff, September 11 at 10am. Register
Volunteers receive M2OS access email, September 24
EntreprenHERs in Action Day (formerly Digital Day), October 2, Register
Fall Take Action Program opens October 2
Connect with Weekly Q&As, October 6 – November 17 at 5:30pm. Register
Girl delivery option and paper delivery ends October 24
Product Deliveries plus receipts arrive November 5-10
Womens Entrepreneurship Day November 19
Online Storefronts close and order taking ends November 21
ACH Debits/Credit to troop accounts Week of November 29

Please be on the lookout for more emails as we get closer to the October 2nd EntreprenHERs in Action Day. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Here's to a fantastic Fall Product Sales for 2021!!

Gwenn Ertoz
gwennertoz@gmail.com
(408) 470-9010

Volunteer Meeting (via Zoom)
Monday, September 27th, 7:30pm-8:30pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86949799492?pwd=L083U095WnJKNUtNdit5T29IYjl6UT09
Meeting ID: 869 4979 9492
Passcode: 452265.

Leader-Daughter (in person) Event
Save the Date - Sunday, October 24th, 2pm-4pm
More information to follow at the Volunteer Meeting on Monday, September 27th.

Meet & Greet
For Girls to Join Girl Scouts
Pass the word along to families who would like to join Girl Scouts
We are hosting more Meet & Greet sessions in September and October

Link here for Flyer

Fees for Having Troop Meetings/Events at your Child’s School
Did you know that you could be charged fees for meeting places that used to be free?

Though Girl Scouts of Northern California (GSNorCal) is a non-profit organization, some school districts now charge a fee for the use of their classrooms or spaces for meetings and events.

Many school districts now use electronic reservation systems, like Civic Permits, Facilitron, and School Dude, to name just a few. You can find a list of their fees by going to the school district’s (not the school’s) website and entering the words Facilities Use or Fee Schedule in their search box.
Meeting at your child’s school is an option that might be available to you, and oftentimes, is an easy place for your troop to gather. If you choose to reserve a space at your child’s school, be sure to ask what fees might apply, e.g., application/cancellation fees or custodial fees and whether or not they use an electronic reservation system or have an agreement that needs to be signed. Your troop will be responsible for all fees associated with reserving space.
Verbal agreements between you and a school staff member must be approved by the school district (not by the school) BEFORE you begin your meetings. This is especially true for school districts using electronic reservation services, like Facilitron, to manage their reservations. Facilitron, in particular, has been instructed by the school district to charge specific fees and can only adjust them with the permission of the school district. GSNorCal has no say in the fee structure, nor what reservation system the school districts have decided to use, if any.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when using Facilitron:

Be sure to be added as a User to the GSNorCal Facilitron account so your meetings or events will be properly covered by the Council’s liability insurance.
To request approval for your verbal agreement, use the Comments/History box at the bottom of the reservations page.
Be sure to log into your account often until you have received the approval from Facilitron that they have confirmed that your agreement.
There is a chance that your verbal agreement may not be honored. If that is the case, your troop will be financially responsible for any fees incurred.

For assistance in setting up your online reservation account or for any other questions you might have, please send an email to insurance@gsnorcal.org or call the Risk Management Team at (510) 562-8470 ext. 1104.

Crossroads Facebook Closed Group
We have a "closed group" on our Facebook Page. This for adults who are registered Girl Scouts and are screened and cleared. Because this is a closed group we can share more specific information about service unit events and happenings within Girl Scouts.

If you would like to be a member of the closed group, use the link to our Facebook Home Page (click here), once there click "More" then "Groups". From there you can request to join the group. Once an administrator has verified your membership and volunteer clearance you will be added.

If you notice you have not been approved, be sure to check your Facebook messages. Sometimes we need to email and follow-up with questions, as our Girl Scout and Facebook names may be different.

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