Green Mountain Council applauds our fellow Vermonters and public health workers who have helped our community exceed its 80% vaccination goal in the battle against COVID-19! Our Council Health and Safety Committee is reviewing guidance from the Boy Scouts of America and CDC and anticipates updates to our guidelines this week. Thanks to everyone who has helped keep our Scouting family safe throughout this pandemic period! #VermontStrong #EscapeTheGreatIndoors

5 Steps to Planning an Organized Scouting Activity or Meeting during the COVID-19 Pandemic

1. Refer to the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development Guidelines first: 9.1 Sports and Organized Sports Guidance
While these guidelines have been written specifically with school-sanctioned athletics in mind, Green Mountain Council has continued to maintain an understanding with state officials that permits our organized Scouting programs to operate provided our trained leaders uphold all aspects of these changing guidelines in meetings and activities. Gatherings of a purely social nature must remain suspended at this time. Please be sure to note all maximum participant counts for both indoor and outdoor activities as well as square footage requirements.

2. Familiarize yourself with Scouting's COVID Guidelines, Resources, and the Guide to Safe Scouting to manage risk.  Begin with the Restart Scouting Checklist
3. Continue to affirm that plans meet with the approval of your charter partner
  • Respect the guidance of your Institution Head and Charter Representative.
  • Remember, while state and federal guidelines may allow for activities to resume, Scouting respects the right of its Charter Partners to establish rules that may be more conservative.
  • Select appropriate alternate locations for organized Scouting programs with their support.

4. Revisit guidelines and reinforce protocols within 48 hours of your planned Scouting activity
  • Review current ACCD Guidelines for changes.
  • Communicate protocols to participants, essential volunteers, and parents/guardians.
  • Require that all participants complete the Green Mountain Council Pre-Event Screening Checklist prior to departing for the activity.  Collection of these forms by leaders remains the simplest method to ensure affirmation.

5. Reporting and responding to potential exposures
  • If a participant indicates that they have tested positive for COVID-19, or if you believe a close contact situation has occurred as defined by the CDC, please call the Health Department at  802-863-7240 to determine next steps.
  • Quickly gather as much information as possible about the situation and parties involved using the BSA Incident Reporting Tool.
  • Notify Scout Executive Mark Saxon at [email protected] as soon as possible so that the incident can be reported through the BSA's Riskonnect system.
  • Aid in communicating and reinforcing Health Department and BSA guidance to families until the risk has passed.
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Important Documents