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Youth Safety
Keeping Scouts Safe
Youth Safety
Our Ongoing Commitment to Keeping Kids Safe
Boy Scouts of America has some of the strongest barriers to child abuse found in any youth-serving organization and we are continuously taking proactive measures to safeguard youth. We require two registered adult leaders on all trips and outings, and we do not permit one-on-one contact between adults and youth members. Additionally, the Grand Canyon Council conducts background searches on all adult volunteer applications and requires all registered volunteers complete youth protection training every two years.
Youth safety requires sustained vigilance by parents, volunteers, and the community, especially youth serving organizations. The Boy Scouts of America will continue to work every day to protect children through mandatory policies and procedures at every level of our organization.
Training for Youth & Adults
The Boy Scouts of America’s Youth Protection Training is mandatory for all registered adult leaders in all BSA programs. All adults and parents participating in Scouting are strongly encouraged to take this 90 minutes online training; however, you do not have to be a member to take it.
Thanks to the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center Foundation, there is also a “Protect Yourself” training for our youth members that helps them recognize, respond to and report abuse.
National Camp Accreditation
All Camp sites are certified through the National Camp Accreditation Program (NCAP). NCAP is a rigorous review of camps and properties for continuous improvement, and correction or elimination of substandard practices. Only camps that successfully complete all five aspects of the NCAP are BSA accredited camps.
Know the Facts
The safety and protection of children is the most important priority of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).
Today, the BSA has a multi-layered process of safeguards that serve as barriers to abuse, including:
- Criminal background checks for all volunteers
- Mandatory ongoing youth protection training for all volunteers, along with educational materials for parents and Scouts: view the “Protect Yourself” Training for Youth Members
- A prohibition on one-on-one contact between adults and youth – either in person, online, or via text
- The Volunteer Screening Database, a tool the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends for all youth-serving organizations, which prevents individuals who were removed from Scouting from re-registering
- Prompt mandatory reporting to law enforcement of any allegation or suspicion of abuse
- A 24/7 helpline (1-844-SCOUTS1 or 1-844-726-8871) and email address (scoutsfirst@scouting.org) to access counseling and help to report any suspected abuse or inappropriate behavior
Youth Protection Training
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.
Youth Protection Training
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.