International Travel

The following is intended to inform you about International Travel:

Girl Scouts of the USA relies on the travel advisories issued by the United States Department of State and will notify councils should there be an advisory against travel to any of our current Wider Opportunities destinations. At this time we are not advising any cancellations.

We ask that troops, groups and individuals do the following when making their plans:

• Follow all Safety-Wise procedures that are applicable to national and international travel (see note about uniforms below, however).
• Submit Intent to Travel form B: Request for World Association Card of Introduction to GSUSA from six to eight weeks prior to travel. (Found in "International Travel Packet for Girl Scouts."
• Consider taking out travel insurance (see resources) for air tickets, in case of cancellation, delays or changes while traveling.
• Contact by FAX U.S. Embassies in countries you will be visiting. Provide them with a list of names and group itinerary. (See the U.S. State Department Web site.)
• Do periodic "travel climate checks" on the countries that you will be traveling in to prepare yourselves for anti-American sentiment, cultural considerations, local politics, etc. Do your research on the country before visiting.
• Create an emergency plan to include a phone tree for back home contact, numbers for travel agents, contact numbers in the country of travel (U.S. Embassy, American Express, Red Cross, etc.) and a "lost plan" for each city to which you are traveling in case the group gets separated.
• Have adults and girls carry calling cards that can be used internationally. (See resource list.)
• Avoid the wearing of clothing, pins, logos, buttons, etc. that identify the group as Americans while traveling abroad. (Uniforms can be taken to wear at special Girl Scout/Girl Guide gatherings and ceremonies.)
• Ensure that adult chaperones have the following for each girl when traveling:
• Two individually signed and notarized "Permission to Travel with Minor" forms. Both parents (or guardians) should sign these. In the case of single parent or guardian custody, documentation should be attached that the minor is in the sole custody of the signer of the Permission to Travel with Minor form.
• Health form and insurance information, along with emergency contact information.
• The group first aid kit, which might also include over-the-counter drugs such as Benadryl, Tylenol, something for diarrhea, stomach upsets and motion sickness. Parents/guardians should sign a form allowing girls to be administered the over- the-counter drugs on a health form attachment.
• Girls' medications, unless a girl has physician or parental note to carry her own. This authorization will be needed in situations where home hospitality is given and the girl is away from the first aider.
• Make special plans in the case of girls traveling to meet the group at an overseas destination (such as girls already in Europe traveling to London). The girl should be traveling with money from the country she is going to, a phone card and emergency contact numbers, and a plan for rendezvous points in case of delays on either end. It is recommended that the group work with the girl's parents/guardians to have an adult contact in the country she is traveling to, that she can call in case of a delay. (This might be a military or business contact, or a family friend.)
• Create an electronic list-serve (e-mail list) or secured Web site (with a password) before the event so that girls can get to know each other and share information about the travel destination. It is important that an adult be the origin of the list-serve and Web site to avoid misinformation. Girls can route questions and information to the adult who then sends out the list-serve. Include those girls who do not have computer access via phone or mail.
• Discuss the inappropriateness of calling attention to the group as Americans, being "low-key" and being tolerant of other peoples' opinions when engaged in conversation with locals or peers. It is more important than ever to properly prepare girls for international travel and their role as guests in foreign cultures.
• Draw up and sign an acceptable behavior contract for the event, developed jointly by the girls and adults. Everyone must buy into acceptable behavior for the safety of individuals and the group.

Advise that each girl traveling carry:

• A copy of her health form and insurance information.
• A copy of the group itinerary with all the contact numbers.
• Documentation of citizenship if traveling across any border. If a girl is not a citizen, she must have documentation of her legal status to reenter the United States. Check the US State Department for current requirements on individual countries for passports and other information.
• A telephone calling card. These can be purchased with minutes on them for use overseas. (See resource list)
• Personal medications that must be administered in the event of an emergency, such as bee sting kits, asthma inhalers, etc. (Girls should have a doctor's note about keeping the medication with her at all times.)

The bottom line is that life goes on. We ask people to proceed with safety and knowledge as your watchwords.

Resources:

U.S. Department of State: This site has a wealth of information for traveling abroad, including lists of medical facilities, embassy numbers and faxes, travel warnings, etc. http://www.state.gov/travel/

See especially:

US Department of State Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis_pa_tw_1168.html

US Department of State: Crisis Awareness and Preparedness
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1212.html

A search for "Travel Insurance" on Google will bring up a list of companies offering trip travel insurance that covers ticket cancellations, medical evacuations, and other inconveniences. The cost is figured on cost of the trip, age of the traveler, and in some cases, the number of days you are traveling and where you are traveling from. Many companies have group rates. Ask for the A.M. Best insurance rating of the company you are checking out (you want to hear A++). See A.M. Best Insurance Rating at http://www.ambest.com/.

Prepaid Phone Card Outlet has multiple listings and price comparisons for cards that work in many different countries. See http://www.prepaidcall.com

To find out about cell phones overseas:

Most cell phones that are used in the US will not work overseas. Some will work in Canada and Mexico.
For more information and how to rent cell phones, see Travel Library at:
http://www.travelscience.com

"International Travel Packet for Girl Scouts" has been sent to all Girl Scout councils. Also available as a download from the GSUSA Online Council Network under Resources. This is the resource that contains the forms and information needed to share with anyone planning a trip abroad.

Safety-Wise. Chapter 5: Planning Trips with Girl Scouts should be a resource for both girls and adults.

Any Questions regarding this matter can be directed to our Marilyn Carr Information Center at:
info@gscnc.org

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