Fees are based on a tiered system:

1. GSNorCal groups
2. Other non-profit groups (including out-of-council Girl Scouts)

Questions? info@GirlScoutsNorCal.org or call (800) 447-4475 ext. 0

Reservation Periods

Reservation Opening Dates/Process

Ropes Course Rentals

We offer different options for groups to choose from when renting the ropes course at either Camp Bothin or Skylark Ranch. Unique opportunities are available to build teamwork with your group, develop climbing skills, participate in an individual challenge, and more through this ultimate high adventure activity!

Dynamic Course: High Elements  Participant is attached to a dynamic rope that passes through a pulley or karabiner above them and is kept tensioned by a belayer or belay team. Participants must be in 4th grade or higher.

Challenge Course: Low Elements An element for which safety is achieved through safe and effective spotting. Participants must be in 2nd grade or higher.

Static Course: Participant attaches themselves to various anchor points. This involves the use of a pair of karabiners, attached to the climbers harness with loops of webbing. Participants must be in 4th grade or higher.

Zip Line: Girls will develop courage and confidence in participants as they climb through the cargo nets and descend the zip line through the trees. Participants must be in 4th grade or higher.

For more information and fee information:  www.camprocks.org/ropes-course or contact: info@GirlScoutsNorCal.org

Property Reservation FAQs

Q. Must I rent an entire site?
A. Smaller groups can plan their own special trips by renting unit areas within the larger site, and service units and large groups may rent entire campsites for their events. 

Q. May we exceed the stated capacities for sites?
A. No. Day use and overnight capacities at each site are based on several factors, including American Camping Association safety standards and may not be exceeded.

Q. Where can I find out what the rental fees are for properties?
A. Go to www.GSNorCal.org/property-rental, email 
registration@GirlScoutsNorCal.org, or phone (800) 447-4475 ext. 2091

Q. How can I tell if the site is available for my desired dates?
A. Go to www.GSNorCal.org/property-rental, email
registration@GirlScoutsNorCal.org, or phone (800) 447-4475 ext. 2091

Q. How will I know if my reservation has been accepted?
A. Online reservations are confirmed at the time of reservation. Paper reservations are sent a confirmation within 5 business days if the site is available, or you will be informed that the site is not available for the dates requested.

Q. How do I reserve a ropes course?
A. Ropes course information can be found at www.GSNorCal.org/ropes-course or you can contact info@GirlScoutsNorCal.org

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• CampRocks! Camp Brochure for council-run camps. Information about these and volunteer-run camps also can be found at www.CampRocks.org
• Volunteer Essentials This online guide is a great resource for all questions related to Girl Scouting. We call it the encyclopedia to Girl Scout volunteering. The guide is fully digital, searchable and printable and can be found at ve.girlscoutsnorcal.org.
• GSNorCal Annual Report Mailed and/or emailed to all donors and available on our council website
• GSNorCal websites
• www.GSNorCal.org (Council website)
• www.CampRocks.org (Camp)
• facebook.com/GSNorCal
• twitter.com/GSNorCal
• pinterest.com/GSNorCal
• http//bit.ly/GSNorCalYouTube
• instagram.com/GSNorCal/
  
• Inspire Donor newsletter mailed to all donors
• The Trailhead GSNorCal's official troop leader and volunteer support blog. From quick and easy tips to fun and creative activity ideas, the Trailhead will provide you with exciting new content every Tuesday and Thursday that will help you on your leadership journey. 
• Program and Event Guide The activity guide for girls grades K-12 listing program events throughout the council https://www.gsnorcal.org/content/dam/girlscouts-gsnorcal/documents/programs/PEG-2017.pdf
• Special Events and Announcements Includes special e-newsletters such as CookiE-news, Camp News and Notes, and other updates about special events like Discoveree and much more. www.GSNorCal.org/subscribe
• Update from Marina* The electronic message from our council CEO, Marina Park, is sent to all registered adults and girls in grades 6-12. www.GSNorCal.org/subscribe

*To subscribe or unsubscribe from GSNorCal electronic mailings   www.GSNorCal.org/subscribe

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• Suspected fraud or questionable or improper accounting
• Abuse or misuse of the GSNorCal’s resources or assets
• Dishonest actions or deeds, including theft
• Suspected conflict of interest
• Experienced or awareness of harassment or discrimination of any kind
• Safety concerns, including child endangerment
• Violations or suspected violations of the Council’s policies
• Illegal activity
  

We promote direct “open door” communications with our volunteers, parents/caregivers and staff. Volunteers' Concerns or suspected violations can be reported directly to her/his Council representative, the Chief Mission Delivery Officer or the CEO.

If you are not sure who to report to or want to report anonymously,  call our confidential third party automated telephone service, available 24/7: 
TellGirlScoutsNorCal@getintouch.com (877) 767-7781

Handling of Concerns All reports received will be treated seriously and investigated to the extent possible to determine the facts and circumstances. GSNorCal will contact the individual within five business days, if possible. It will not be possible to acknowledge receipt of anonymously submitted concerns. Actions taken by the Council will include follow-up with the complainant for complete closure.

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1 (800) 447-4475 ext. 0

info@GirlScoutsNorCal.org

Much of our staff spends a great deal of time “in the field” away from their email or phones. Each Member Services Specialist has information at their fingertips via an extensive solutions database. In the unlikely event they are not able to answer your question, they will forward your inquiry to a staff person who can. Help is also available in Spanish.

Our friendly Member Services staff can help you with your needs and questions including:

• Any questions about Girl Scout Programming
• Adult screening process or status
• Online membership registration and renewal
• Troop Banking
• Program and Event Guide: program event information and registration
• Camp information and registration
• Property information and reservations
• Online and In-person adult learning course information and registration
  

Council Support

Finance: Responsible for paying the bills and keeping track of our income, as well as managing the reporting process for grant projects.

Fund Development: Responsible for soliciting grants and individual gifts. If you plan to solicit donations of goods, services, or funds, you should check with our Fund Development Department before doing so. They can assist you with solicitation and/or acknowledgement letters and ensure that donations are tax deductible for your donors.

Organizational Development and Learning: Responsible for administering employment processes, including job posting, recruiting, and performance evaluation systems, as well as managing employee on-boarding and benefits. OD & L also addresses employee relations programs such as diversity, health and safety and employee policies and procedures. The e-learning team creates and maintains e-learning modules for volunteers and staff.

Marketing/Communications (MarComm): Responsible for recruitment of new members, as well as all interaction with print, radio, or television media. They also produce the Weekly News and other communication pieces. If you’ve been approached by the media, or would like to place articles in your local media, MarComm can help.

Mission Delivery

Our Mission Delivery departments work together to plan and determine how best to support our volunteers and provide the best service possible to each area.

Volunteer Experience: Responsible for retaining members and volunteer recognition. Your local Volunteer Development Manager (VDM) or Membership Manager (MM) can assist with many basic questions or can help you find who can. They support the volunteer teams that provide services to leaders and girls in local areas and attend Service Unit Team and Leader meetings.

Outdoor Program: Responsible for the summer council-run and volunteer-run Day and Resident Camps. If your service unit or region is interested in or is running a camp, Outdoor Program can assist and support you. They are also responsible for the operation of our ropes courses and school-year outdoor experience programming.

Product Sales: Responsible for our two largest girl programs, focused on financial literacy and entrepreneurship. The Product Sales Department supports volunteers and girls in achieving their goals through the Fall Sale and Cookie Sale programs.

Program: Responsible for ensuring that all girls in GSNorCal have the benefit of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE). Program staff partner with service units to deliver program opportunities for girls, manage council-run events offered in the Program and Event Guide, oversee girl awards, run girl training courses and in-person adult learning courses, and supply Green by Nature (environmental) and Girls Go Tech (science, technology, engineering, & math) program boxes. Staff also serve girls directly through Discover Together (a program for girls in low-income communities), Got Choices (a program for girls involved with the juvenile justice system), and Daughters of Farm Workers (a program for girls and their families in migrant communities).

Property: Responsible for maintaining GSNorCal’s twenty-nine properties (offices, program centers, outdoor program centers, and camps). If you rent any of our camp properties, you will meet our friendly site managers.

Retail Stores: Responsible for running our retail stores in the Alameda, Chico, Eureka, Redding, San Jose, and Santa Rosa office locations. They also bring mini-stores to major events in the council. Shop online anytime: www.girlscoutshop.com/NORTHERN-CALIFORNIA-COUNCIL

Risk Management & Travel: Responsible for Risk Management, Insurance and the Travel Pathway. Can assist you with trip approval process, travel questions, high-adventure approved vendors, purchasing insurance for non-members/members, Certificate of Insurance requests, rental vehicles, council sponsored trips and more. Contact Insurance@GirlScoutsNorCal.org for any insurance or policy questions. Contact travel@GirlScoutsNorCal.org for travel questions.  

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Two categories of decisions are made in the Girl Scout organization - governance decisions and operational decisions. Both types of decisions are based on the belief that members should have a voice in major decisions that will have an effect on all or a large part of the membership.

Governance

Governance decisions are broad policy decisions made by the Board of Directors to provide stability within the council and to give direction for the way Girl Scouting is implemented in the council jurisdiction. Governance decisions relate to strategic planning, fund development, fiduciary oversight, selection and evaluation of the Chief Executive Officer, and organizational performance appraisal.

• Regional Delegates
  Regional Delegates attend our council’s annual meeting, vote on any amendments to our Council Bylaws and elect the Board of Directors, Board Development Committee and National Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the National Council of GSUSA.
• Board of Directors
  The Board of Directors are volunteers who are nominated by the Board Development Committee, a group of volunteers who take great care to make sure that the Board of Directors represent the council in terms of geographic representation, as well as demographically.
  Regional Delegates Each of our fourteen regions may elect up to eight delegates, including at least two girl members aged 14 or older. Remaining nominees may be elected to serve as alternate delegates. Visit our Volunteer Learning Portal for information about the Delegate positions. Nominations are open each year in October. Visit the council website for more information about our Board of Directors and Regional and National Delegates. www.GSNorCal.org/en/our-council/leadership/board-ceo.html
  

Operations

Operational decisions relate to annual planning, budgeting, the selection, placement, and supervision of operational volunteers and staff, the development of systems to ensure the effective delivery of Girl Scout program to all girls within
the jurisdiction, oversight of fiscal and physical resources, and the implementation of policies and standards established by the Board of Directors.

Operational decisions are made by the Chief Executive Officer and are concerned with the organization and management of all operational work within the framework of the council’s goals. They are based on governance decisions made by the Board of Directors, as well as reflecting input from volunteers and staff who bring ideas from their experience.

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