Safety While Girl Scouting

Adult Supervision toggle arrow

Every troop must have at least two approved adult volunteers serving as Troop Leaders. Both Troop Leaders do not need to attend every meeting or activity, as long as the required adult supervision and Adult-to-Youth Ratios are met.

All Girl Scout activities must have at least two registered and approved adult volunteers present at all times, including in-person and virtual meetings. At least one adult must be female.

The adults must be unrelated and not live in the same household. Unrelated means the adults are not family members, including spouses, domestic partners, parents, children, siblings, or other relatives.

This requirement applies to troop meetings, trips, travel, events, activities, camp experiences, and projects. There are no exceptions.

Approved Adult Volunteers

An approved adult volunteer must:

Be at least 18 years old.
Be a registered Girl Scout adult member.
Complete the required background screening process, which may include Live Scan fingerprinting.
Complete all required training for their role, which may include Mandated Reporter Training.

Youth members cannot be counted as adult supervision, and troop leaders must always be adults.

Girl Scout Adult-to Youth Ratios toggle arrow

In addition to the adult supervision requirements stated above, Girl Scouts requires specific adult-to-youth ratios based on the grade level of the youth and the activity being conducted.

Use the chart below to determine the minimum number of adults required for your activity.

GIRL SCOUT ADULT-TO YOUTH RATIOS	GROUP MEETINGS		EVENTS, TRAVEL, AND CAMPING
GIRL SCOUT ADULT-TO YOUTH RATIOS	Two unrelated volunteers (at least one of whom is female) for up to this number of youth:	Add One additional volunteer for each additional:	Two unrelated volunteers (at least one of whom is female) for up to this number of youth:	Add One additional volunteer for each additional:
DAISY GIRL SCOUTS (Grades K–1)	12	1-6	6	1-4
BROWNIE GIRL SCOUTS (Grades 2–3)	20	1-8	12	1-6
JUNIOR GIRL SCOUTS (Grades 4–5)	25	1-10	16	1-8
CADETTE GIRL SCOUTS (Grades 6–8)	25	1-12	20	1-10
SENIOR GIRL SCOUTS (Grades 9–10)	30	1-15	24	1-12
AMBASSADOR GIRL SCOUTS (Grades 11–12)	30	1-15	24	1-12

Note: For multi-level troops, use the Adult-to-Youth Ratio for the youngest grade level participating.

Mandated Reporter Training & LiveScan Fingerprinting toggle arrow

Some volunteers are required to complete Mandated Reporter Training (MRT) and Live Scan fingerprinting as part of GSGLA volunteer requirements.

Who Needs Mandated Reporter Training and Live Scan?

You must complete Mandated Reporter Training (MRT) and Live Scan fingerprinting within 90 days if you:

Serve as a Troop Leader, Co-Leader, Troop Chaperone, or Service Unit Manager
Have direct contact with or supervise youth for more than 16 hours per month or 32 hours per year
Count toward Girl Scout Adult-to-Youth Ratios
Drive youth members
Handle money
Serve in an event staffing role

Volunteers who do not meet these requirements only need to complete GSGLA's standard background screening.

Mandated Reporter Training (MRT)

Complete one of the following in gsLearn:

611 Girl Scouts Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention
611 Prevención de abuso y negligencia infantil de Girl Scouts (Español)
611 Mandated Reporter Training - External Credentials Upload
- For volunteers with a qualifying California-compliant MRT certificate. GSGLA will accept external certificates that meet California requirements.

Certification is valid for two years. Access gsLearn through MyGS to complete the training. For step-by-step instructions, please see the Accessing gsLearn Mandated Reporter Training document.

Live Scan Fingerprinting

Follow GSGLA's Live Scan instructions if your role requires Live Scan fingerprinting.

Note: All required training and screening requirements must be completed within 90 days of beginning a new volunteer role.

Volunteer Training toggle arrow

Training helps volunteers create safe, engaging, and age-appropriate experiences for Girl Scouts. Depending on your role and planned activities, additional training may be required before leading certain activities or serving in specific volunteer positions.

GSGLA offers a variety of training opportunities, including volunteer onboarding, youth safety, First Aid/CPR, and training for overnight experiences such as indoor overnights, camping, backpacking, and travel.

For a complete list of training requirements and available courses, visit the Volunteer Training page. Volunteers can also review the Volunteer Roles pamphlet for additional guidance and expectations.

First Aid/CPR toggle arrow

Girl Scouts recommends having a First Aider at all gatherings. For activities outside of regular troop meetings, at least one adult volunteer must be currently certified in First Aid, CPR, and AED. Standard First Aid/CPR/AED training is sufficient for troop meetings and most activities. Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED training is recommended, and training should be appropriate for the age of the participants.

For large groups, higher-risk activities, or activities in remote locations where emergency services may be delayed, the First Aider should have additional training, experience, or certifications appropriate for the activity.

GSGLA Resources

For guidance on selecting a First Aider, emergency preparedness, and creating emergency plans, review the First Aider & Emergency Plan Manual.

Emergency Procedures toggle arrow

Keep a copy of the GSGLA Emergency After Hours Calls (Pink Card) available during all Girl Scout activities, trips, and events so it is readily available if an accident, incident, or emergency occurs.

In an emergency, address immediate safety needs first, then follow the steps below.

Call 911 first for life-threatening emergencies or situations requiring immediate assistance.
Follow the instructions on the GSGLA Emergency After Hours Calls (Pink Card) for reporting accidents, incidents, and emergencies.
Contact GSGLA Customer Care during business hours or the GSGLA Emergency Hotline after hours.
Submit an Accident/Incident Report within 72 hours of an accident or incident.

GSGLA Emergency Contacts
Customer Care: For urgent situations during business hours, call 213-213-0123

Emergency Hotline: For emergencies and serious incidents outside of business hours, call 1-877-423-4752.

Permission Forms toggle arrow

Permission forms help ensure parents and caregivers are informed and provide any required consent for Girl Scout activities. Depending on the activity, additional forms may be required beyond the Annual Permission Form.

Volunteers are responsible for collecting, maintaining, and carrying any required permission forms and records for participating Girl Scouts.

For available forms and guidance on when to use them, visit the Forms & Documents page. Volunteers can also complete the 611 Parent/Caregiver Permission Forms module in gsLearn to learn more about GSGLA's permission forms and when they are required.

Sleeping and Bathroom Arrangements toggle arrow

Sleeping and bathroom arrangements should support the privacy, safety, and well-being of all participants.

Youth and adults should have separate sleeping spaces. A youth may share a bed with their parent or caregiver when no other youth are in the sleeping area, or during a designated family event where families are housed together.
Each participant should have their own bed whenever possible. Parent/caregiver permission is required if youth participants will share a bed.
Male adults should not sleep in the same sleeping area as youth members, except during designated family events where families are housed together. If separate sleeping areas are not available, male adults should not supervise youth, and sleeping and bathroom arrangements should be planned to protect the privacy and safety of all participants.
Bathroom and changing facilities should provide privacy for all participants.
Volunteers should consider the age of the youth, the type of facility, and supervision needs when planning sleeping and bathroom arrangements.

For additional guidance, refer to the appropriate activity training, Safety Activity Checkpoints, and GSGLA overnight and camping resources.

Buddy System toggle arrow

The buddy system is a safety practice in which two or three youth are grouped together to look out for one another. Girl Scouts should use the buddy system during all activities, events, and travel.

Each youth is responsible for:

Staying with their buddy at all times
Warning their buddy of potential danger
Providing immediate assistance when it is safe to do so
Getting help when needed

The buddy system does not replace adult supervision. All youth must remain under adult supervision at all times. In public settings, a cleared adult should accompany each buddy group.

In supervised Girl Scout-only environments, buddy groups may be allowed to travel short distances, explore approved areas, or use restrooms without an adult, depending on the age of the youth, the location, and the circumstances.

Sensitive Issues toggle arrow

Sensitive topics may sometimes come up naturally during Girl Scout activities. For planned discussions or activities involving sensitive issues, parent/caregiver permission is required.

Review the Parent/Caregiver Permission for Sensitive Issues form for guidance, permission requirements, and additional information before leading these discussions.

Notice of Privacy toggle arrow

To help protect both youth and volunteers, all interactions between Girl Scouts and adults should be observable and interruptible. This means interactions are open to observation by parents/caregivers, leaders, and staff and can be interrupted if needed.

Volunteers should follow these guidelines:

Avoid one-on-one interactions between youth and adults, whether in person, online, through social media, or on communication platforms. Another approved adult, leader, or parent/caregiver should be included.
Include another leader or parent/caregiver in electronic communications with youth, including text messages, phone calls, chats, direct messages, and other online communication.
Do not friend, follow, or connect with youth members through personal social media accounts.
Do not use smartphones, cameras, mirrors, drones, or similar devices in locations where privacy is expected, such as restrooms, changing areas, or sleeping spaces.

Inappropriate Conduct toggle arrow

Girl Scouts is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all members. The following behaviors are prohibited:

Sexual advances, inappropriate touching, or any sexual activity involving youth members
Physical, verbal, or emotional abuse
Violence, threats, intimidation, or harassment
Bullying, including in person, online, or through electronic communication
Bullying is a form of youth violence and is not tolerated in Girl Scouts. Any behavior that threatens the safety, well-being, or dignity of another person should be addressed immediately.

Council Finder

Safety While Girl Scouting

Safety is everyone's responsibility.

GSGLA has the following practices, requirements, and resources in place to help keep Girl Scouts safe:

Further Reading and Additional Resources