Below are a collection of resources, documents, training, and other useful items for parents and Scouting leaders alike.
Youth Protection for Leaders and Parents
True youth protection can be achieved only through the focused commitment of everyone in Scouting. It is the mission of Youth Protection volunteers and professionals to work within Scouting America to maintain a culture of Youth Protection awareness and safety at the national, territory, council, district, and unit levels.
- Safeguarding Youth training is required for all Scouting America registered volunteers and is a joining requirement.
- Safeguarding Youth training must be taken every year. If a volunteer’s Safeguarding Youth training is not current at the time of annual registration renewal, the volunteer will not be re-registered.
- Click here to take the training in English or Spanish.
To take the training, go to My.Scouting.org and create an account. You’ll receive an email notification with your account information, including a member ID/reference number.
From the My.Scouting.org portal, you can launch the Safeguarding Training from the home page.
Click here for additional Youth Protection and Mandatory Reporting information from Scouting America.
Guide to Safe Scouting
Single source of information for safe scouting. The guide is designed for adult leaders; topics include Youth Protection, Health and Safety and Reporting information. Frequently-asked questions are also addressed in the Youth Protection and Barriers to Abuse FAQs.
All participants in official Scouting activities should become familiar with the Guide to Safe Scouting and applicable program literature or manuals, and be aware of state or local government regulations that supersede Scouting America practices, policies, and guidelines. The Guide to Safe Scouting is an overview of Scouting policies and procedures gleaned from a variety of sources. For some items, the policy statements are complete. Unit leaders are expected to review the additional reference material cited prior to conducting such activities.
In situations not specifically covered in this guide, activity planners should evaluate the risk or potential risk of harm, and respond with action plans based on common sense, community standards, the Scout motto, and safety policies and practices commonly prescribed for the activity by experienced providers and practitioners.
Perhaps this quote by Sir Robert Baden-Powell from his 1914 book Quick Training for War is appropriate to include here: “… The books lay down definite principles and examples which serve to guide the leaders when applying their common sense to the situation before them. No two situations are ever precisely the same, and it is therefore impossible to lay down exact rules that should guide in every case, but a man who carries precedents and principles in his head has no difficulty in applying their teaching in supreme moments of sudden emergency …”
Other Resources
Camp Leadership … A Guide for Camp Staff and Unit Leaders
Brochure for unit leaders and camp staff who are responsible for providing a safe and healthy camp setting where Scouts are free from the worries of child abuse.
Membership Applications:
Merit Badge Counselor Application:
Are you a registered Scouting America adult with the skills and education in merit badge subjects covered and hold any required qualifications
and training as outlined in the Guide to Safe Scouting or the Guide to Advancement—or use others so qualified? Your skills and experience may allow you to serve as an excellent Merit Badge Counselor, assisting Scoutmasters and their Troops as they pursue any number of required and/or elective Merit Badges on their Path to Eagle.
Unit Resources
- Family Talent Survey
- Unit Advancement Report
- Activity Consent Form (Permission Slip)
- Incident Information Report
- Meeting Place Inspection Checklist
- Annual Health and Medical Record (required for all Scouting trips and events for ALL participants, youth and adult)
- Campfire Program planner
- Troop Meeting Plan
- Application for BSA Lifeguard
- Unit Money-Earning Application
