Scouting Safely
Quick Connections to Help Keep Our Kids Safe:
Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline – 800-800-5556
Scouts First Helpline – 844-726-8871
Hoosier Trails Council Scout Executive, Glen Steenberger – 812-344-7605
The BSA’s Commitment to Safety
In Scouting, we will not compromise the safety of our youth, volunteers, and employees. Safety is a value that must be taught and reinforced at every opportunity. We are all responsible and must hold each other accountable to provide a safe environment for all participants. We are committed to abuse prevention by utilizing:
- Mandatory youth protection training.
- Criminal background checks.
- Banning one-on-one adult and youth interactions.
- Mandatory reporting of suspected abuse to law enforcement.
- A volunteer screening database.
- Scouting is Safer than Ever Before Infographic
- BSA’s Commitment to Keeping Kids Safe
We are committed to injury and illness prevention by integrating safety measures in our handbooks, literature, and training materials, including the Guide to Safe Scouting. We expect leaders to use the four points of SAFE when delivering the program. SAFE Scouting measures include:
- Youth are Supervised by qualified and trustworthy adults who set the example for safety.
- Activities are Assessed for risks.
- Pre-requisite Fitness and Skill levels are confirmed before participation.
- Appropriate Equipment is utilized, and Environmental conditions are monitored.
When incidents do occur, we expect a timely, clear, and complete incident report. We are committed to learning from the data and modifying program guidance for the prevention of future occurrences.
Safety Moments are exactly what the name implies: opportunities to prepare for an activity, review safety measures and report incidents correctly. Topics of this new series include incident reporting helps, safe use of medication in Scouting, weather-related safety, winter activity, and winter sports. Search for Safety Moments Here
Scouting Safely Resources:
- Accident & Illness Insurance Policy Booklet
- Accident and Sickness Claim Form
- Age – Appropriate Guidelines for Scouting Activities
- Annual Health and Medical Record
- BSA Sweet Sixteen of Safety
- Climb on Safely
- Cyber Chip Online Youth Protection
- Enterprise Risk Management Guidebook
- Guide to Safe Scouting
- Health & Safety Guide
- Heat Index & Urine Chart
- HSR Instructions
- Incident Reporting
- Incident Reporting Infographic
- Incident Reporting Form
- Policies, Guideline, and Model Plans
- Safe Swim Defense
- Safety Afloat
- Trek Safely Flier
- SAFE Checklist
- Weather-Related Safety
Youth Protection Mission Statement
Youth Protection Reporting Procedures for Volunteers – Any individual who has reason to believe that a child under the age of 18 is a victim of child abuse or neglect must make a report. Call the Indiana Department of Child Services’ Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline (1-800-800-5556) if you suspect child abuse or neglect. Failure to make a report can be a Class B misdemeanor under Indiana Code § 31-33-22-1.
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 the Boy Scouts of America to maintain a culture of Youth Protection awareness and safety at the national, territory, council, service area, and unit levels.
Required Training
- Youth Protection training is required for all BSA registered volunteers and is a joining requirement.
- Youth Protection training must be taken every year in the Hoosier Trails Council. If a volunteer’s Youth Protection training record is not current at the time of recharter, the volunteer will not be re-registered.
- Watch the Understanding Youth Protection Video
New to Scouting? Click here to login and take Youth Protection training. You do not have to be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America to take Youth Protection training.
To take Youth Protection 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, click Menu then My Dashboard from the menu list. The My Training page displays to take Youth Protection training. Upon completion, you may print a training certificate to submit with a volunteer application. Your training will automatically be updated in our system and associated with the member ID/reference number issued when you created the account.
If your volunteer application is approved, you will receive a BSA membership card that includes your member ID number.
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 with resources for the Cub Scout, Scouts BSA, and Venturing programs.
