Safety Activity Checkpoints

When preparing for any activity with girls, always begin with the Safety Activity Checkpoints written specifically for that particular activity. This introduction provides an overview of the format of each set of checkpoints. Note: In addition to reading these checkpoints yourself, you can also e‐mail or print them for co‐volunteers, parents/guardians, and girls.

Know where to do the activity.
Quick list of the most common places girls carry out the activity

Include girls with disabilities.
Tips and special Web sites for information on including girls with disabilities

Gear Definitions.
Basic Gear includes clothing and equipment girls are likely to already have in their possession.
Specialized Gear includes clothing and equipment girls may need to purchase, rent, or borrow.

Prepare for the Activity.
These checkpoints discuss steps to take in advance of the activity. Not every category is listed here, and not every activity includes these categories.

• Communicate with council and parents. Tips for following council guidelines and keeping parents informed
• Ensure prerequisites. Ranges from an ability to swim to knowledge of primitive camping
• Arrange for transportation and adult supervision. Recommended adult‐to‐girl ratios for this activity
• Arrange for adult supervision, and verify instructor certification. Ensuring the volunteers or on‐site instructors possess the proper 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. Tips for ensuring environmental responsibility
• Prepare for emergencies. First‐aider requirements and other emergency precautions

On the Day of the Activity.
These checkpoints include important final reminders on the day of the activity. Not every category is listed here, and not every activity includes these categories.

• Get a weather report. Ways to monitor the weather for any outdoor activity and/or activity requiring transportation
• Review rescue tips. Activity‐specific rescue tips
• Use the buddy system. The best way to ensure no one is separated from the group or unable to get help
• Be prepared in the event of a storm with lightning. Special details for outdoor warm‐weather activities

Links
Guide you to the best‐known and best‐respected websites.

Know-How for Girls
Games, mini‐lessons, and other fun ways to expand girls’ knowledge.

Jargon
Helps you and the girls master activity‐specific terminology.

Safety Activity Checkpoints

If Safety Activity Checkpoints do not exist for an activity you and the girls are interested in, be sure to check with GSCWM before making any definite plans with the girls in your group. A few activities are allowed only with council pre-approval and only for girls ages 12 and over, while others are off-limits completely:

Caution: You must get written pre-approval from your council for girls ages 12 and older who will operate motorized vehicles, such as go-carts and personal watercraft (driving or riding all-terrain vehicles and motor bikes is never allowed); use firearms (hunting is never allowed), take trips on waterways that are highly changeable or uncontrollable (Class V and higher watercraft trips are never allowed), or fly in noncommercial aircraft, such as small private planes, helicopters, sailplanes, untethered hot-air balloons, and blimps (hang gliding, parachuting, and parasailing are never allowed).

Warning: The following activities are never allowed for any girl: shooting a projectile at another person (such as paintball), potentially uncontrolled free-falling (bungee jumping, hang gliding, parachuting, parasailing, and trampolining), creating extreme variations of approved activities (such as high-altitude climbing and aerial tricks on bicycles, skis, snowboards, skateboards, water-skis, and wakeboards), hunting, riding all-terrain vehicles and motor bikes, and taking watercraft trips in Class V or higher whitewater.

Use the links below for each activity, or download the entire Safety Activity Checkpoints document.

Water Sports
Canoeing
Fishing
Ice Fishing
Kayaking
Rowboating
Sailing
Scuba Diving
Snorkeling
Surfing
Swimming
Tubing
Waterskiing and Wakeboarding
White‐Water Rafting
Windsurfing

Land Sports
Archery
Bicycling
Caving
Challenge Courses
Climbing and Rappelling
Cross‐Country Skiing
Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding
Fencing
Geocaching
Horseback Riding
Ice Skating
In‐Line Skating and Roller Skating
Other Land Sports
Segway
Skateboarding
Sledding, Tobogganing, and Snow Tubing
Snowshoeing

Camping Activities
Backpacking
Group Camping
Hiking
Orienteering
Outdoor Cooking
Trip/Travel Camping

Other Activities
Arts and Crafts
Computer/Online Use
Girl Scout Cookies/Council‐Sponsored Product Sale
Hayrides
Parades and Other Large Group Gatherings
Playgrounds
STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology, and Math)
Theme Parks

Alphabetical List
Archery
Arts and Crafts
Backpacking
Bicycling
Canoeing
Caving
Challenge Courses
Climbing and Rappelling
Computer/Online Use
Cross‐Country Skiing
Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding
Fencing
Fishing
Geocaching
Girl Scout Cookies/Council‐Sponsored Product Sale
Group Camping
Hayrides
Hiking
Horseback Riding
Ice Fishing
Ice Skating
In‐Line Skating and Roller Skating
Kayaking
Orienteering
Other Land Sports
Outdoor Cooking
Parades and Other Large Group Gatherings
Rowboating
Sailing
Scuba Diving
Segway
Skateboarding
Sledding, Tobogganing, and Snow Tubing
Snorkeling
Snowshoeing
STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology, and Math)
Surfing
Swimming
Playgrounds
Theme Parks
Trip/Travel Camping
Tubing
Waterskiing and Wakeboarding
White‐Water Rafting
Windsurfing