Youth Protection

The Boy Scouts of America places the greatest importance on creating the most secure environment possible for our youth members. To maintain such an environment, the BSA developed numerous procedural and leadership selection policies and provides parents and leaders the following online, video, and print resources for the Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Venturing programs.  **Effective June 1, 2010, ALL registered scouters must complete Youth Protection Training before their application or recharter is accepted**.  Youth Protection Training must be repeated every two years. This on line course can be found here.

Fast Start Training

Fast Start training provides an immediate comfort level for new leaders and enables them to say, “I can do this!”Fast Start training is the first step for any new volunteer and is to be delivered immediately after a new leader registers and before he or she meets with any youth member. Click the following link to select an online Fast Start training module. These on line courses can be found here.

This is Scouting

While continuing to address many of the “essentials” that give beginning adult leaders an understanding of the program, the new training, titled, “This Is Scouting,” stresses some important points for leaders to consider as the BSA moves forward into the future. Although continuing to address organization, goals, history and traditions, and funding, the new course places increased emphasis on the BSA’s mission, vision, and values; its programs for boys of all ages and abilities; its role in the community; its aim to protect youth members; and its legacy. And it stresses the fun boys can have when they join Scouting. This on line courses can be found here.

Position Specific Training

Once the new leader obtains a solid overview of the BSA’s values-based program, he or she can begin training for a specific Scouting position through Leader Specific training. This training provides the specialized knowledge a new leader needs to assume a leadership role. Because each course is designed for a specific leadership position, the training time varies. A different Leader Specific training course has been developed for each leadership position:
– Tiger Cub Den Leaders and Assistants,
– Wolf and Bear Den Leaders and Assistants,
– Webelos Den Leaders and Assistants,
– Cub Masters and Assistants, and
– Committee Members.
This training must be taken whenever your position changes.

These on line courses can be found here. or instructer led classes can be found on the council training schedule here.

How long is my training good for?

While most training course only need to be taken once and have no expiration, there are a few courses which must be renewed periodically:

• Youth Protection—every two years
• Safe Swim Defense—every two years
• Paddle Craft Safety—every three years
• Aquatics Supervision/Swimming and Water Rescue—every three years
• BSA Lifeguard—every three years
• Safety Afloat—every two years
• Chain Saw Safety—every two years
• Trainer’s EDGE—every three years
• Hazardous Weather—every two years
• Physical Wellness—every two years
• Climb On Safely—every two years
• Trek Safely—every two years