Youth Protection

 Our most important asset is our youth. Our most important    responsibility in Scouting is to keep them safe. Youth  Protection is how we do that.

  The three keys to any successful youth event or activity are: 1   – Keep Them Safe; 2 – Make It Fun; 3 – Have a Purpose. Youth  Protection is essence of number one.

Catalina Council and Youth Protection

The Catalina Council of 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.

How does the BSA prevent child abuse in Scouting?

The Boy Scouts of America has adopted a number of policies aimed at eliminating opportunities for abuse within the Scouting program. These policies focus on leadership selection and on placing barriers to abuse within the program.  

Youth Protection Training  

To learn how to keep our youth safe is of the utmost importance. Youth Protection Training is readily available on-line and from council and district facilitators and is designed for all not just scouts and Scouters.  It only takes approximately 90 minutes and is available to any adult with a responsibility on behalf of our youth. You may access it through our online training page or for a regular class, please check with your district executive or call the Council Service Center at 750-0385 or 1-800-765-2543.  

Tour Permit Changes  

As a reminder, changes to both the Local and National Tour Permits require that at least one adult present during the event or activity must have completed BSA Youth Protection Training. National Tour Permit will continue to require that all registered adults must have completed the BSA Youth Protection Training for participation in a nationally sponsored event or activity.  

The Internet and Youth Protection Training  

To support the continued efforts to make Youth Protection Training available to as many Scouters and other adults as possible and to support the requirement of having at least one Youth Protection-trained adult, an internet version of this training is now available through the Catalina council web site. Click on “On-line Training” and this will take you to the a list of options, including youth protection. If you provide an email address, a certificate will be mailed to you upon completion. If you have supplied an email address, you will be sent a completion certificate by return email. If you supply your member ID number (from your membership card), your record in the BSA Scoutnet database, will be automatically updated. (Otherwise, it has to be done manually).

How Can Your Unit Participate?  

Ensure that your unit’s leaders have all completed Youth Protection Training. Discuss with your youth in a unit meeting the exercises found in the pull-out pamphlet found in the front of each youth and adult handbook.  

Present the age-appropriate, award-winning video-based training with the meeting guide to your youth and their parents.  A Time to Tell – Cub Scout; It Happened to Me – Boy Scout; Youth Protection – Personal Safety Awareness – Venturing / Learning For Life. Also available for leaders and parents is Youth Protection Guidelines.

  For Cub Scout Packs, distribute and discuss the new “Power Pack Pals” comic books, which focus on bullying and internet safety.

Barriers to Abuse Within Scouting

The BSA has adopted the following policies to provide additional security for our members.

Protecting Youth on the Internet