Information updated on March 8, 2023
The below information was posted a few weeks ago concerning the changes in Scouting’s “Barrier’s to Abuse” requiring all adults to be registered with the BSA for all overnight activities with one exception allowing parents to camp with their child in the Cub Scouting program (these parents however do NOT count for 2 deep leadership if not registered).
Below is a recording of a webinar that goes over the new policy and answers al lot of questions. It is worth reviewing at your convenience.
Information update February 21, 2023
Details on the Update to BSA’s Barriers to Abuse |
As part of our ongoing commitment to abuse prevention, the Boy Scouts of America is updating the adult supervision requirements for overnight activities. This update enhances the minimum “two deep leadership” requirements by additionally requiring every adult present on overnight activities to be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America. These adults must submit an adult application and registration fee, undergo a criminal background check, a volunteer screening database check and must complete mandatory Youth Protection training. A limited exception for parents and legal guardians of Cub Scout youth attending overnight with their children is planned due to the family centric nature of Cub Scouting. All Cub Scout Packs, Scouts BSA Troops, Venturing Crews, Sea Scouting Ships, Exploring Posts, council, and district overnight programs will be required to comply with this update by September 1, 2023. We encourage early adoption prior to the effective date. This updated Barrier to Abuse can be referenced as part of the Guide to Safe Scouting, Youth Protection and Adult Leadership section, Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse. Youth Protection and Barriers to Abuse FAQs will be expanded to include additional FAQs as they are developed. Learn more about the BSA’s Commitment to Safety here. If you have additional questions that are not addressed as part of the Youth Protection FAQs, please submit them to health.safety@scouting.org. |
February 17, 2022
The national Council just announced an update to the Youth Protection guidelines for “Adult Supervision” that will go into effect September 1, 2023. In short, the “72-hour rule” is going away and any adult that is staying overnight in connection with a Scouting activity must be registered in a fee-paying position (Merit Badge Counselors will not count). There is an exception in the Cub scout program for parents attending with their child. There is not an exception for this in the Scouts BBSA program. The text below is from the National BSA website.
Adult Supervision
Two registered adult leaders 21 years of age or over are required at all Scouting activities, including meetings. There must be a registered female adult leader 21 years of age or over in every unit serving females. A registered female adult leader 21 years of age or over must be present for any activity involving female youth. Notwithstanding the minimum leader requirements, age – and program – appropriate supervision must always be provided.
All adults accompanying a Scouting unit who are present for 72 total hours or more must be registered as leaders. The 72 hours need not be consecutive.
Effective September 1, 2023, two registered adult leaders 21 years of age or over are required at all Scouting activities, including all meetings. There must be a registered female adult leader 21 years of age or over in every unit serving females. A registered female adult leader 21 years of age or over must be present for any activity involving female youth or female adult program participants. Notwithstanding the minimum leader, age and program-appropriate supervision must always be provided.
All adults staying overnight in connection with a Scouting activity must be currently registered in an adult fee required position as listed or as an adult program participant. A Merit Badge Counselor does not meet this requirement.
Cub Scout Programs – Overnight Exception: Cub Scout parents or legal guardians taking part in an overnight Cub Scout program with their own child or legal ward are not required to register as leaders. All adults must review the “How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide” that can be found in the front of each Cub Scout Handbook. In addition, the parent or legal guardian must be accompanied by a registered leader at anu time they are with youth members other than their own child/ward. All other overnight adults must be currently registered in an adult fee required position.
This information is for overnight camps council wide including but not limited to Spring and Fall Camporees, All OA conclaves, Cuyuna Summer Camp and all unit overnight camping activities.
This will also affect Cub Camps to a degree including but not limited to Cub Scout Resident Camp, NorthWoods Webelos Camp, Cuyuna Family Experience and Pack Family Campouts. Cub Camping activities should have a copy of the “How to Protect your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide” at events as a reference if necessary and have parent review if they have not.
Although this does not go live until September 1, 2023, it will take some time to spread the word and get people prepared for the compliance by fall.
More information will be added to this post as it becomes available.