Girl Scouts of California's Central Coast abides by all policies and standards of Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. as set forth in the Blue Book of Basic Documents and the Safety Activity Checkpoints. In addition, to our policies, we abide and adhere to the California Assembly Bill 506 - Mandatory Reporting Program (AB-506). Our policy is to also comply with CANRA (California Child Abuse & Neglect Reporting Law) to ensure the safety of our Girl Scout Members.
Safety Checkpoints
Introduction to Safety Activity Checkpoints
When preparing for any activity with girls, always begin with the Safety Activity Checkpoints written specifically for that particular activity (see list below).
Checkpoints discuss steps to take in advance of the activity. The following are important points to keep in mind with any activity.
- Communicate with council and parents.
- Ensure prerequisites. Ranges from an ability to swim to knowledge of primitive camping
- Arrange for transportation and adult supervision. Review and follow recommended adult-to-girl ratios for each activity
- Verify instructor knowledge and experience. Ensuring the volunteers or on-site instructors possess the proper skill set, knowledge, experience, and/or training/certification
- Select a safe site. A game plan for ensuring the safest experience possible
- Compile key contacts. Information on itineraries, phone trees, and other contact information
- Respect the environment. Review and follow protocol for ensuring environmental responsibility
- Prepare for emergencies. Review and follow First-aider requirements and other emergency precautions
In an exciting, learning-by-doing environment like Girl Scouting, it's only natural that girls will sometimes want to take part in activities not covered in Safety Activity Checkpoints. When activities involve unpredictable safety variables, they are not recommended as Girl Scout program activities. These include but are not limited to:
- Hot air ballooning
- Bungee jumping
- Flying in small private planes, helicopters, or blimps
- Hang gliding
- Stunt skiing
- Motor biking
- Parachuting
- Riding all-terrain vehicles
- Riding motorized personal watercraft like jet-skis
- Trampolining
- Hunting
- Simulated skydiving and zero-gravity rooms
- Parasailing
