FAQ - COLUMBIA MALL SLEEP IN

Columbia Mall Sleep In FAQs

1. How much does registration cost?

3. What do adults do at the event?

All attending adults must have a job and stay for the entire event.
OG adults provide supervision for all activities run by their scouts.
YG adults contribute in two categories:
- Security Adults help ensure the safety and well-being of participants by guarding an entrance or other critical area, in 2 hour shifts. Outside of those shifts, they wear a safety vest and help enforce general safety rules.
- Program Adults take shifts supporting activities that take place during the event. They are asked what their interests and skills are, and we do our best to help pair them up with related activities.

4. How many Adults need to attend the event with my troop?

Each YG troop is required to provide a MINIMUM of 3 DIFFERENT adults:
- 1 Adult-In-Charge (AIC) which may be the Troop Leader
- 1 Security adult (+1 for every 12 scouts)
- 1 Program adult
It is preferred that OG troops have at least 2 adults attend the event, but bigger troops might want more adults (maximum of 5) to properly supervise the larger group of scouts. Adults must stay at the activity station with the troop to provide supervision and support.

5. Can I work on the registration a little at a time, and return to complete it later?

No. Registration has to be completed in one sitting. If you need extra information to be able to do that, please contact us so we can help you get that information.

6. I am the person registering our YG troop, what information can I give our adults so they know what to expect?

When you provide YG program or security adults, as part of registration, we will contact them via email and ask them to fill out digital forms that will explain more what they should expect, and ask them questions about their skills and interests so we can do our best to task them appropriately.

7. In what ways do the Older Girls (aka Teens) differ from the Participants?

An OG troop only needs to register 2 adults (maximum of 5) who will stay with the troop the whole event. No need to fill out Program or Security forms.
The OG troop will be assigned an activity and that will be your “home base” for the event.
The event lasts approximately 6 hours. The OG troop needs to provide a schedule for the girls to give each girl approximately 2 hours off to enjoy the event. The CMSI committee will provide the template for this at the Older Girl mandatory meeting.
OG troops can sign up together under one troop number to provide adequate staffing for the event.
The two adults to supervise the OG troop can be husband and wife. Every effort should be made to have the adults attending with the girls be GSCM membership registered and background checked.
If an OG troop wants to attend, but has only one adult, we can work around this if necessary.
7th graders generally get assigned to whatever is available, but we do try to give troops an assignment that is close to what they mark on the survey question (like crafts or badges). If your OG troop has 3 or 4 girls—you will likely be buddied with another OG troop—it may be an older troop or it may be a troop with other same level girls.
Badges that the Teens usually offer are: Jeweler, Drawing Badge, Savvy Shopper, Staying Fit—and CMSI provides all the supplies.
Crafts that the Teens usually do are: Appreciation stations, Balloon Sculpture, most bracelets, God’s eyes, Swaps, Wire Rings, and Bead Critters.

8. What is the event like for troops and parents attending for the first time?

The event takes place after the mall has closed for the day.
Troops are stationed on the second floor, and wait until booths (crafts, badges, patches, and other activities) are prepared for them to attend on the first floor.
Event lasts all night, and ends around 6 am the following morning.
Girls tour the event in pairs, and the primary goal is for them to be independent and make decisions for themselves.

9. How safe is the event?

The event is very safe! Parents volunteer as security (roughly 150 in total) and take shifts to maintain order, and make sure safety guidelines are being followed.
Additional police patrols make sure the parking lot areas are safe.
Mall security supports our parental volunteer in making sure all outside doors are secure.
Only registered people can enter, and no one leaves until check-out in the morning.

10. How do we order t-shirts for the event?

T-shirts can be ordered right from our website!
We will provide a handy PDF that can be printed or digitally shared with parents, so they can see what the shirts look like and the size charts for Youth/Adult shirts. They can fill these out and hand them back in to the person doing the registration for the troop.
Event shirt sales will only be handled through our website, so if you want one, make sure to look on the Younger Girls/Older Girls page or under the "Shirt Shop" tab!

11. I want to make sure this event is the best ever! How can I help?

In order to keep costs down, we need as much volunteer help as we can get to assist us in getting our stations ready.
We welcome anyone who is willing to help prepare materials, pack boxes before the event, or help us clean up and pack things away after the event.
If you want to find out more, keep an eye on this page, for when we announce Program Work Sessions.

12. Where can I find more information about Girl Scout SWAPS?

You can click this link, it will take you to the Girl Scouts tradition page. SWAPS information can be found half way down.