Youth Protection Training Information

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, Boy Scout, and Venturing programs.

Leadership Selection

The Boy Scouts of America takes great pride in the quality of our adult leadership. Being a leader in the BSA is a privilege, not a right. The quality of the program and the safety of our youth members call for high-quality adult leaders. We work closely with our chartered organizations to help recruit the best possible leaders for their units.

The adult application requests background information that should be checked by the unit committee or the chartered organization before accepting an applicant for unit leadership. While no current screening techniques exist that can identify every potential child molester, we can reduce the risk of accepting a child molester by learning all we can about an applicant for a leadership position—his or her experience with children, why he or she wants to be a Scout leader, and what discipline techniques he or she would use.

Effective June 1, 2010

• Youth Protection training is required for all BSA registered volunteers, regardless of their position.
• New leaders are required to take Youth Protection training before submitting an application for registration. The certificate of completion for this training must be submitted at the time the application is made and before volunteer service with youth begins.
• Youth Protection training must be taken every two years. If a volunteer’s Youth Protection training record is not current at the time of recharter, the volunteer will not be reregistered.
• View more information about this change in English and Spanish.

Barriers to Abuse Within Scouting

The BSA has adopted the following policies to provide additional security for our members. These policies are primarily for the protection of our youth members; however, they also serve to protect our adult leaders from false accusations of abuse.

• Two-deep leadership. Two registered adult leaders or one registered leader and a parent of a participant, or other adult, one of whom must be 21 years of age or older, are required on all trips and outings. The chartered organization is responsible for ensuring that sufficient leadership is provided for all Scouting activities. There are a few instances, such as patrol activities, when the presence of adult leaders is not required and adult leadership may be limited to training and guidance of the patrol leadership. With the proper training, guidance, and approval by the troop leaders, the patrol can conduct day hikes and service projects. Appropriate adult leadership must be present for all overnight Scouting activities; coed overnight activities—even those including parent and child—require male and female adult leaders, both of whom must be 21 years of age or older, and one of whom must be a registered member of the BSA. The chartered organization is responsible for ensuring that sufficient leadership is provided for all activities.
• No one-on-one contact. One-on-one contact between adults and youth members is not permitted. In situations that require personal conferences, such as a Scoutmaster's conference, the meeting is to be conducted in view of other adults and youths.
• Separate accommodations. When camping, no youth is permitted to sleep in the tent of an adult other than his own parent or guardian. Councils are strongly encouraged to have separate shower and latrine facilities for males and females, as well as separate facilities for youth. When separate facilities are not available, separate times for male and female use and/or youth and adult use should be scheduled and posted for showers. Likewise, youth and adults must shower at different times.
• Respect of privacy. Adult leaders must respect the privacy of youth members in situations such as changing clothes and taking showers at camp, intruding only to the extent that health and safety require. Adults must protect their own privacy in similar situations.
• Cameras, imaging, and digital devices. While most campers and leaders use cameras and other imaging devices responsibly, it has become very easy to invade the privacy of individuals. It is inappropriate to use any device capable of recording or transmitting visual images in shower houses, restrooms, or other areas where privacy is expected by participants.
• No secret organizations. The Boy Scouts of America does not allow any secret organizations as part of its program. All aspects of the Scouting program are open to observation by parents and leaders.
• Hazing prohibited. Physical hazing and initiations are prohibited and may not be included as part of any Scouting activity.
• Bullying prohibited. Verbal, physical, and cyber bullying are prohibited in Scouting.
• Junior leader training and supervision. Adult leaders must monitor and guide the leadership techniques used by junior leaders and ensure that BSA policies are followed.
• Constructive discipline. Discipline used in Scouting should be constructive and reflect Scouting’s values. Corporal punishment is never permitted.
• Appropriate attire. Proper clothing for activities is required. For example, skinny-dipping or revealing bathing suits are not appropriate as part of Scouting.
• Member responsibilities. All members of the Boy Scouts of America are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the principles set forth in the Scout Oath and Law. Physical violence, theft, verbal insults, drugs, and alcohol have no place in the Scouting program and may result in the revocation of a Scout’s membership.
• Unit responsibilities. The head of the chartered organization or chartered organization representative and the local council must approve the registration of the unit’s adult leader. Adult leaders of Scouting units are responsible for monitoring the behavior of youth members and interceding when necessary. Parents of members who misbehave should be informed and asked for assistance. Any violations of the BSA’s Youth Protection policies must immediately be reported to the Scout Executive.

Digital Privacy

A key ingredient for a safe and healthy Scouting experience is the respect for privacy. Advances in technology are enabling new forms of social interaction that extend beyond the appropriate use of cameras or recording devices (see “Barriers to Abuse Within Scouting”). Sending sexually explicit photographs or videos electronically or “sexting” by cell phones is a form of texting being practiced primarily by young adults and children as young as middle-school age. Sexting is neither safe, nor private, nor an approved form of communication and can lead to severe legal consequences for the sender and the receiver. Although most campers and leaders use digital devices responsibly, educating them about the appropriate use of cell phones and cameras would be a good safety and privacy measure.

The "three R's" of Youth Protection

The "three R's" of Youth Protection convey a simple message to youth members:

• Recognize situations that place you at risk of being molested, how child molesters operate, and that anyone could be a molester.
• Resist unwanted and inappropriate attention. Resistance will stop most attempts at molestation.
• Report attempted or actual molestation to a parent or other trusted adult. This prevents further abuse and helps to protect other children. Let the Scout know he or she will not be blamed for what occurred.

HOW TO get a YPT Card - read this before you take the course.

1. Go to the BSA Online Learning Center and click on Youth Protection Training. This will require you to register at MyScouting. Click on click here to create an account. Afterwards, you will need to respond to the confirmation email that was sent to the email address you assigned to your MyScouting account.
2. In the box for “Council Number” select: “Longhorn Council – Hurst, TX – 662”
3. In the box for “Member ID” enter your BSA Member ID number from your BSA Registration card. If you don’t have a BSA Member ID number just leave it blank! It is not required. (You can also enter it at a later date.)
4. Once logged in, click on E-Learning and click the "Take Course" link for Youth Protection Training under the General tab. Take the Online YPT Course and test.
5. PRINT the screen that shows your card after you take the test (in case you don't get the email). For Windows users, if you have trouble printing the screen, enter [ ctrl ] + [ print screen ], (it might read: prt sc), then open a Word document, paste the screen into the document, adn print the Word document.
6. BSA will send you an email with a printable PDF copy of your YPT card.
7. Write down the date you take the course. (It can help you get a card later in case there is printer or computer error after you finish)
8. If you have problems printing the card please email Patricia at pphillips@longhorn.org. Include the date when you took the test and your name. (Include your BSA Person ID number if you have one.)
9. If you experience other problems before you finish the course and test - such as computer lock-ups, network freezes, etc. - try the system again. BSA regularly updates the software and glitches are fixed as fast as they are found. At times of peak use your may have to try multiple times! Remember - there are millions of BSA volunteers around the USA!

Click here to get started with your YPT Course! http://www.scouting.org/myscouting