Why is travel important for Girl Scouts?
Travel offers invaluable opportunities for growth and learning. By joining on trips, travelers enhance essential life skills, gain independence, and cultivate important leadership qualities. Travel offers Girl Scouts the opportunity to step out of their comfort zones, explore new cultures, and broaden their perspectives. By embracing these adventures, travelers not only gain practical skills but also foster personal growth and leadership qualities that will serve them well throughout their lives.
My Girl Scout has never been away from home that long before. How do I know she’s ready?
If your Girl Scout has never traveled before, we suggest a shorter trip to start. Our trips are set up as a progressive trip experience where each trip builds onto the next. Starting off closer to home with our 6th grade trip to Kansas City, travelling further and for a longer time away on our Fall Break Trips to St. Louis or Houston, leading into our Intro to National or International Spring Break trips, and finally to our big summer national or international trips. We highly encourage Girl Scouts to progress through the travel experience going national first and then attending an international trip.
What if my Girl Scout doesn’t know anyone on the trip?
That’s okay! That’s the great thing about council travel – travelers come from all over Eastern Oklahoma so they will have that in common. It’s a great opportunity for Girl Scouts to make new friends! For Spring Break and Summer Trips we have travel planning meetings and in-person get-togethers as a group before the trip so we can get to know one another before travelling together.
How do I know my Girl Scout will be safe?
Safety is always our number one priority. Although the travelers 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 to the city/states/countries we are visiting. We will not travel anywhere which we will is unsafe.
Will my daughter be meeting strange people on this trip?
That is the beauty of traveling, meeting new and interesting people. Girl Scouts are supervised by Trip Advisors, and they make sure that everyone is staying safe. We have conversations with travelers about appropriate interactions with strangers during travel.
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. Travelers will need to be comfortable walking at least 5 miles a day total.
Can I attend the trip with my Girl Scout?
Council trips are girl-led and girl-focused, which means we want to take as many Girl Scouts as possible on a trip with the minimum number of adults needed. These trips are for Girl Scouts, 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 Girl Scouts 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 we are staying and Trip Advisor cell phones in case of emergencies. Remember these are Girl Scout planned trips, so if the group hasn’t planned it yet, there is no information to give. Can my Girl Scout bring their cell phone on the trip? Yes, travelers will be allowed to bring cell phones on trips. While cell phones are permitted on our trips, we have a policy in place to reduce usage. Travelers may have their phones for emergencies and during free time in the evenings, but we expect them to be fully present and unplugged throughout the day and encourage them to live in the moment. A cell phone curfew is set each night when we ask that no traveler be on their phone so they can get adequate rest for the trip. We find this policy works well to help travelers 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 travelers are expected to adhere to. Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma and 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 travelers and parents to sign a behavior contract before leaving for the trip. If a traveler does not adhere to the contract, she will be asked to leave the trip at their own expense.
What’s included in the trip fee?
Transportation costs, most meals, accommodations, entrance fees to all attractions, activities, patches, Girl Scout insurance, and group t-shirts.
Is there financial assistance available for trips?
Girl Scouts can use cookie credit to pay for their trip. For national or international summer trips travelers 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 offers travel scholarships for Girl Scouts attending national or international summer trips. This is available once during your Girl Scout career and can cover 50% of the cost of travel or up to $500.
