Why is travel important for girls? Girls will gain independence
and learn important leadership skills on the trips. Girls will learn
to navigate a new city they are visiting using public transportation
and using map skills. They will have to use money management as they
budget for the activities they plan. Manners and etiquette are taught
for fun fancy nights out. If going abroad girls may even learn a new
language. These are just some of the independent skills girls will be
gaining from council trips.
My daughter has never been away from me that long before. How do I
know she’s ready? Girls will be talking with the trip lead way
before the trip happens to get comfortable with the adult she is going
with. If your daughter has never traveled before we suggest a shorter
trip to start. Our trips are set up for progression. Shorter regional
ones for first timers, longer national ones for girls who are not old
enough to go abroad yet and international trips for girls who are
ready to see the world!
What if my Girl Scout doesn’t know anyone on the trip? That’s
okay! The girls are from all over Eastern Oklahoma so they will have
that in common. She will be able to make new friends with girls her
own age. We will have planning meetings and in-person get-togethers as
a group before the trip as a chance to get to know one another.
How do I know my Girl Scout will be safe? Safety of girls is
always our number one priority. Although the girls are planning the
trips, council staff and trip advisors will make sure that the
activities are safe and appropriate. All trip advisors are first-aid
and CPR trained. Security/safety levels are always monitored for the
city/states/countries we are visiting. We will not go to places which
are not safe.
Will my daughter be meeting strange people on this trip? That
is the beauty of traveling, meeting new and interesting people. All of
the activities that were planned by the girls will be supervised by
Trip Advisors who make sure that girls’ safety is the number one
priority. They will have the chance to make new friends and talk with
different people.
What is the activity level for Girl Scout Travel? All
council-sponsored trips are active. The goal of these trips is to
maximize each day. We aim to achieve a good balance of activity and
downtime. Girls will need to be comfortable walking at least 5 miles a
day total.
Can I attend the trip with my daughter? Council trips are
girl-led and girl-focused, which means we want to take as many girls
as possible on a trip with the minimum number of adults needed. These
trips are for girls, not adults. Council has a trip advisor committee
that we choose from for council-sponsored trips. Trip advisors must be
un-related to any of the girls or other advisors participating on the trip.
Who are these “trip advisors” that are taking my Girl Scout on
these trips? And what are their qualifications? The Trip
Advisors (the adults) leading the trip are council-staff and members
of our Trip Advisor Committee. Each person has the required travel
training as well as first aid and CPR. Additionally they apply to be a
member of the committee to make sure their application is suitable and
their qualifications meet the trip standards. All adults are
registered Girl Scout members with current background checks on file
with the council.
Will I get a detailed itinerary of the trip? Yes, every trip as
it gets closer to the event will have a detailed itinerary as well as
phone numbers of places the girls are staying and Trip Advisor cell
phones in case of emergencies. Remember these are girl planned trips,
so the girls make the decisions on the activities and lodging so if
the group hasn’t talked about it yet, there is no information to give.
Can my Girl Scout take her cell phone so we can be
in touch in case of emergencies? Yes, she will be allowed to
take her cell phone. While phones are permitted on our programs we
have a policy in place to reduce usage. Participants may have their
phones for emergencies and during free time in the evenings, but we
expect Girls to be fully present and unplugged throughout the day and
encourage them to live in the moment. Girls may use their phone for
photo opportunities, however Trip Advisors will take photos to upload
to a shared album. We find this policy works well to help Girls and
families feel safe knowing they have a phone if they need it while
balancing phones not detracting from the actual trip. Each trip has a
cell phone policy that the Girls and adults are expected to adhere to.
If the girl does not, her cell phone will be in the possession of the
trip lead. Trip Advisors are not responsible for lost or stolen phones
or electronics on the trip.
Do you worry about discipline on these trips? The great thing
about taking a trip with Girl Scouts is we have the Promise and Law to
help things go smoother. We also require both girls and parents sign a
behavior contract before leaving for the trip. If the girl does not
adhere to the contract she will be asked to leave the trip at the
expense of the girl and her family.
What’s included in the program fee? Transportation costs, all
meals, overnight accommodations, entrance fees to all attractions,
activities, patches, Girl Scout insurance, and group t-shirt.
Is there financial assistance available for trips? Girls can
use cookie program credit to pay for their trip. Girls selected for a
national or international summer trip can sell Fall Products and
Cookies with the Travel Troop and use those funds to pay for their
trip. The Travel Troop also participates in extra money-earning
projects. Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma may offer travel
scholarships for girls attending national or international summer
trips. This assistance may be available to girls twice during their
Girl Scout career and can cover a small portion of their fee.
