What is the Guide to Safe Scouting?
Guide to Safe Scouting is, is the BSA’s resource for leaders that contains policies and guidelines for Scouting activities created to keep the youth in the program safe. Find this document at https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/safety-moments/gss/. It is important to only use the online version to get the most current version of the resource.
Updated Guidelines, 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 requirements, 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. Limited exception below for Cub Scout overnight Programs.
See FAQ for list of adult fee-required positions. Registration as 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 any 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.
How to Become a Registered Adult Leader in the Alamo Area Council
The BSA is open to all who meet the requirements, and leaders are selected based on individual merit. Adult leaders must possess the moral, educational, and emotional qualities that the BSA deems necessary for positive leadership to youth. Before submitting their completed application packet to their unit leadership, adult applicants must also:
- Abide by the Scout Oath, Scout Law, and Scouter Code of Conduct. The Scouter Code of Conduct can be found at www.scouting.org/health-andsafety/gss/bsa-scouter-code-of-conduct/
- Subscribe to the precepts of the Declaration of Religious Principle.
- Reside within the USA or a U.S. territory, or be a U.S. citizen residing outside the USA.
- Be 21 years of age or older for primary leadership positions.
- Be 18 years of age or older for assistant leadership positions.
- Complete online Youth Protection training (YPT) and Leader Specific Training by going to my.scouting.org and creating an account.
- Completed application.
Your completed application packet to your unit leaders for further processing. Items must include:
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- Completed adult application: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/524-501.pdf
- Completed and signed Background Check Authorization form.
- A printed copy of your Youth Protection Training certificate.
- A printed copy of your position-specific training certificate.
- Registration fees.