Hold Harmless Agreement Procedure
There are occasions when a troop/group or service unit may participate in an activity involving a facility or
event that requires the participant to sign a Hold Harmless Agreement. This potentially includes schools,
community centers, churches/synagogues and other troop meeting places.
1. GSUSA recommends that for protection of both Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania (GSWPA) and
the girls and volunteers participating in the activity, participation is limited to those sites and
events that carry at least $1 million in liability insurance, and GSWPA requires a copy of the
Certificate of Insurance (see Certificate of Insurance procedures).
2. Do not sign a Hold Harmless Agreement without consulting GSWPA staff.
3. If the Hold Harmless Agreement or indemnity agreement relates to a waiver by GSWPA, the
document must be forwarded to GSWPA staff a minimum of four (4) weeks prior to the date of
the event or first meeting, along with the Certificate of Insurance from the hosting facility or
organization.
4. GSWPA staff will forward the Hold Harmless Agreement to the Vice President, Recruitment &
Retention or Director, Recruitment & Retention for signature, and the signed agreement will be
returned to the leader one (1) week after receipt in the office.
5. If the Hold Harmless Agreement cannot be signed due to a determination that GSWPA or the
troop/group would be assuming an unacceptable level of risk, the Vice president, Recruitment &
Retention or Director, Recruitment & Retention will contact the leader or event director within
one (1) week of receiving the documentation.
6. If an agreement to participate in an activity requires a personal waiver, it must be signed by
each girl’s parent/guardian. The troop and/or the council cannot sign on behalf of the girl or her
parent/guardian. Each parent/guardian must read and evaluate the waiver before signing it.
Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania does not make any recommendation about whether or not to
sign the waiver.