Girl Scouts - Privacy Rules

[Lilogirl]

I understand the leader's point, too, but I guess I see this as important enough that they should build in some time during the day to allow the kids to change in private.

She can wear her suit under her clothes, but needs to change out of it afterwards. She does have a suit that looks like shorts and a shirt, though, and it dries quickly, so I wonder if they would allow her to stay in her suit for the rest of the day. I don't think it would be too uncomfortable for her.

I remember facing this when I was growing up, but I was not as self-concious about it as DD7 is. DD8 doesn't have a problem with it. I don't generally have a problem with my kids having to do things they don't want to - I understand it is part of growing up, and I understand that sometimes important and valuable lessons come out of doing unpleasant things. But what is being learned here - that your modesty and privacy is not important? I don't think that is a lesson that needs to be taught.

Denae

I completely agree with you here. I don't think what they are insisting on is in keeping with the Girl Scout values. I would challenge it much higher up if the Director agrees with it. If the Girl Scouts are advocating Girls rights in Washington, I would think it should start closer to home.

from:http://www.girlscouts.org/who_we_are/advocacy/
Addressing Girls' Issues

Girl Scouts of the USA's advocacy efforts help demonstrate to lawmakers that Girl Scouts is a resource and an authority on issues affecting girls. Based on over 90 years of experience and developed from extensive research, the Girl Scout program:

Promotes girls' involvement in science, technology, engineering, and math.
Prevents youth violence in communities.
Ensures girls feel emotionally and physically safe.
Encourages healthy living and combats obesity.
Develops financial literacy skills.
Gives a voice to girls in underserved communities.


Forcing your child to remove her clothes in a situation that makes her uncomfortable is NOT helping her to feel emotionally and physically safe.

 

[Nanajo1]

Where do the adults change?

 

[barkley]

I agree. I really don't think that anyone can force another person to remove their clothing in a public place in front of other people. It's this girl's body and it's up to her who sees it.



I don't understand this at all. Why in the world would they care? Also, wouldn't there have to be adults in their watching you get changed in order to "catch" you changing in a stall? Isn't that a little creepy? Also, it was a lot faster for me to grab my clothes and change in a stall then it would have been to try to manuveur out of my clothes so no one saw my body out in the open.

I feel really strongly about this. I couldn't ever imagine forcing a little girl to show off her naked body in front of anybody else if she was not comfortable with it. You think that an organization like Girl Scouts would understand this.

they cared because we only had a minimal amount of comodes and with over a hundred girls changing every period in a very minimal amount of time they had to keep things moving (i want to say our gym class was 50 minutes long and we only had about 5 minutes on each end of the class for changing-unless you were assigned to swimming then you got an extra 5 minutes to dry off and change out of your suit).

the adults did'nt have to stand out and monitor, the stalls were adjacent to the gym teacher's office-you had to pass by the desk to go in and exit. it was pretty apparant to the teachers which of their girls were using them as changing rooms.

 

[agnes!]

Where do the adults change?

Good point.
agnes!

 

[mickeyboat]

Where do the adults change?

DD7 said that the adults used the stalls. I did inquire about that today, and the director said that DD7 was mistaken, and the adults would be changing with the girls. I don't think that is right, either. And to be honest, I don't know who "adults" entails. There are a lot of teen volunteers and some adult volunteers. I don't know who changes for swimming and who doesn't. I will find out tonight, though.

 

[PatsMom]

When DD did both day camp with the girl scouts and overnight camp with the church, she became an expert at changing under a large T shirt. She can still do it very well. Works for her at athletic events and locker rooms.

 

[luvmy3]

I'm sorry that your dd is going through this. Are her leaders aware of how she really feels? I'm sorry but if one, or all of the girls in my troop and came to me and told me that they were not comfortable changing in front of others, then they would not have to. I would not force one or any to do it if the were mortified to take their clothes off in front of others. I can understand the whole time management thing, but to me that would come second to the girls. If one or a couple of girls wanted privacy, then I or our other leader would take them to an area where they were comfortable while the other girls got dressed and headed out with the other. I do have my safety-wise handy but I do not recall any specific rule about public changing areas. There are rules however to ensure we keep the girls safe. Here is a quote "the leader along with the parents is responsible for safe guarding the girls health and instilling in them a sense of safe living which is fundamental to their well being" To me forcing a girl that is mortified to undress in front of others, to do so, is definitely not looking out for her well being.

 

[sha_lyn]

Where do the adults change?

At our camp we either send the girls out of the tent so we can change, or we can change in the bathroom in the office.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Have you bought a sports bra for her yet? It was a godsend for my dd during gym changing time.(target sells tiny "bras" too which she tends to prefer- whic h I don't understand because I HATE my bras)

She needs a real bra. She has been to GS camp many times and doesn't have issues with changing....thank God.

She has other issues.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

To imply that girls need to be nude around one another and adults when there is an alternative solution is being unreasonable, in my opinion.

I did not "imply" anything. You are reading that wrong.
I was asking what is she going to do in Middle School.

 

[barkley]

I'm sorry that your dd is going through this. Are her leaders aware of how she really feels? I'm sorry but if one, or all of the girls in my troop and came to me and told me that they were not comfortable changing in front of others, then they would not have to. I would not force one or any to do it if the were mortified to take their clothes off in front of others. I can understand the whole time management thing, but to me that would come second to the girls. If one or a couple of girls wanted privacy, then I or our other leader would take them to an area where they were comfortable while the other girls got dressed and headed out with the other. I do have my safety-wise handy but I do not recall any specific rule about public changing areas. There are rules however to ensure we keep the girls safe. Here is a quote "the leader along with the parents is responsible for safe guarding the girls health and instilling in them a sense of safe living which is fundamental to their well being" To me forcing a girl that is mortified to undress in front of others, to do so, is definitely not looking out for her well being.

i'm surprised gsa does'nt have a specific rule that prohibits any adult (or teen volunteer) other than one's parent from taking a single child to a private area. that's a major componant of almost every child safety program. the camp my kids go to won't permit any adult to be alone with a child, there always has to be another adult present unless you are in an area openly visable (which would defeat the purpose of the op's concerns).

 

[Lilogirl]

DD7 said that the adults used the stalls. I did inquire about that today, and the director said that DD7 was mistaken, and the adults would be changing with the girls. I don't think that is right, either. And to be honest, I don't know who "adults" entails. There are a lot of teen volunteers and some adult volunteers. I don't know who changes for swimming and who doesn't. I will find out tonight, though.

I don't see how this is "better". Adults taking their clothes off in front of or with young girls? I really don't see how the GS Council could possibly be "ok" with this. Sounds to me like this Council needs a new Director.

OP, I am sorry your DD is going through this.

 

[Geoff_M]

DD7 said that the adults used the stalls. I did inquire about that today, and the director said that DD7 was mistaken, and the adults would be changing with the girls. I don't think that is right, either. And to be honest, I don't know who "adults" entails. There are a lot of teen volunteers and some adult volunteers. I don't know who changes for swimming and who doesn't. I will find out tonight, though.

Hello... Long-time Boy Scout leader here! I don't know much about the GSA program and I like reading these types of threads to learn more about how the BSA and GSA programs are similar and different. I used to teach leader training at the Boy Scout level and know a great deal about BSA policies. Here are a couple of observations that I have:
- I'd be surprised if the GSA policies didn't allow group youth changing areas and not require that scouts be afforded a private changing area if desired. This would be consistent with the way that it works in the BSA.
- If GSA policy allows non-related adults to change with youth, that would be a BIG difference with the way that the BSA works. In the BSA, adults and non-related youth must sleep, change, shower, and use the restrooms apart from youth. Adults are only permitted into such facilities that youth are using for such purposes only as much as the minimum requirements are needed for safety and health reasons.

- From what's been posted here, "Safety-Wise" appears to be the GSA equal to the BSA's "Guide To Safe Scouting". I tried to find a copy of SW on-line, but it appears that the GSA wants you to buy a copy. The BSA hands out copies of GTSS like they're Halloween candy and also posts it on-line in case anyone is interested. They figure that the more leaders and parents have access to the BSA safety policies, the better.

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

I just want to clarify that it is the camp (not a troop leader) making the kids change publically in the locker room -- correct?

As a girl scout leader I would never force my troop to change publically. But there is a difference between a troop event and a camp event. The main difference being the number of girls and that a camp is run by girl scout employees while a troop event is run by volunteers and often has few girls.

Okay -- that being said I think the idea of changing under a t-shirt is a great one. When I was on the crew team in High School I often used this method of changin on the bus ride home!

It is not ideal though. Have you tried talking to her group counselor or leader? Someone lower in level than the camp director? I would try and talk to the person who is with her most of the day and will be with the kids when they change. MAybe that person can help her without such a big fuss being made over it - maybe not but it is worth a try. The person who is with your daughter the most will know and understand her better than the camp director ever will.

 

[sha_lyn]

From what's been posted here, "Safety-Wise" appears to be the GSA equal to the BSA's "Guide To Safe Scouting". I tried to find a copy of SW on-line, but it appears that the GSA wants you to buy a copy. The BSA hands out copies of GTSS like they're Halloween candy and also posts it on-line in case anyone is interested. They figure that the more leaders and parents have access to the BSA safety policies, the better.

Yes it sounds our Safety-wise is equvilent to the Guide to safe Scouting.
I think the old version was available as a PDF online and I know our council or service unit gave some many copies to each troop for free.
Right now the entire GSUSA program is going through huge changes. The new version of Safety wise was suppose to come out late winter, but last I knew it wasn't out yet. The new prgram guides just came out a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

- From what's been posted here, "Safety-Wise" appears to be the GSA equal to the BSA's "Guide To Safe Scouting". I tried to find a copy of SW on-line, but it appears that the GSA wants you to buy a copy. The BSA hands out copies of GTSS like they're Halloween candy and also posts it on-line in case anyone is interested. They figure that the more leaders and parents have access to the BSA safety policies, the better.

Our council hands them out all the time. I am always having to turn down extra copies!

 

[sha_lyn]

As a girl scout leader I would never force my troop to change publically. But there is a difference between a troop event and a camp event. The main difference being the number of girls and that a camp is run by girl scout employees while a troop event is run by volunteers and often has few girls

Our daycamp is ran 100% by volunteers. No one is a paid employee of GSUSA.
ITA about the numbers making a huge difference. 2-3 units swam and 2 canoed at a time. Each unit had 13-15 girls this yr. So that was 52-75 girls changing at the same time. There just isn't enough time between activites to allow that many girls to use the portapotties to change. As I said eariler to be fair the rules have to apply to everyone. If we made an exception for one, we would have to make an exception for all.

 

[luvmy3]

i'm surprised gsa does'nt have a specific rule that prohibits any adult (or teen volunteer) other than one's parent from taking a single child to a private area. that's a major componant of almost every child safety program. the camp my kids go to won't permit any adult to be alone with a child, there always has to be another adult present unless you are in an area openly visable (which would defeat the purpose of the op's concerns).

My point was that I would make sure that they had an area that they were comfortable changing in as opposed to changing in front of everyone. I guess I should have said I would find them a place and while the other leader was making sure the other girls got to the activity in a timely manner, I would do the same with the girl/s that wanted to change elsewhere. I have a Jr. troop so they are perfectly capable of changing and using a restroom on their own, I didn't mean to imply that I would be there while they were changing.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

DD7 said that the adults used the stalls. I did inquire about that today, and the director said that DD7 was mistaken, and the adults would be changing with the girls. I don't think that is right, either. And to be honest, I don't know who "adults" entails. There are a lot of teen volunteers and some adult volunteers. I don't know who changes for swimming and who doesn't. I will find out tonight, though.

I think this is absolutely terrible. I'm a minister. I work with youth all the time as part of my ministry. I couldn't imagine when it would ever be acceptable for adult leaders to be nude in front of children.

I did not "imply" anything. You are reading that wrong.
I was asking what is she going to do in Middle School.

It seems to me that by asking what she will do when she gets to middle school, you are saying that this child will inevitably have to change in front of other people so the mother shouldn't complain. Perhaps I did understand you wrong and I apologize if I did. However, if that's not what you meant, why did you ask the question?

 

[ChrizJen]

OP, hopefully your DD is doing better with her situation. Hopefully either you can come to an agreement with the GS council, or you'll find an alternative for her. I feel for her. I had issues with that sort of thing too when I was growing up.

I guess it's an easy answer for anyone who never had any real body issues. But for me it was always a source of fairly severe anxiety when I knew I was going to have to change in public.
I found ways to deal with it. The big shirt DOES work well!
Good luck, OP!!