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  Parent Handbook - Youth Protection

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Behavior - Scouts are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the ideals outlined in the Scout Oath and Scout Law at all times. Scouting is a program designed to give each and every participant a safe environment to learn, grow, and have fun. Behavior that supports this ideal is expected from both youth and adults.

Scouting activities are meant to be fun memorable adventures that enhance the learning experience. Troop leaders want the scouts to enjoy themselves while working hard at the day's activities. The fun and enjoyment, however, must stay within the boundaries of proper behavior. Not only does inappropriate and disruptive behaviors ruin the scouting experience for others, it can also be dangerous. Examples of misbehavior and inappropriate activities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Hitting, fighting or any other physical abuse
• Intentionally damaging property or equipment
• Leaving a designated area without an adult leader's permission
• Using inappropriate language or gestures
• Using mood altering chemicals, alcohol, or tobacco
• Gambling
• Fireworks
• Refusing to take prescribed medications
• Not following safe scouting procedures
• Being disruptive or uncooperative or disobeying the leaders or doing anything that is considered dangerous by the leaders.

Discipline - The consequences for misbehavior will vary depending on the severity of the offense. In most cases a progressive form of discipline will be used. The exception to the progressive nature of discipline is related to safety. The troop will maintain a zero tolerance for behaviors that endanger the safety of any other person. If your son endangers himself or others you will be asked to come and remove your son from the activity. Parents will be expected to pay for any transportation necessary.

The troop guidelines for behavior related progressive discipline are:

• First offense - a verbal warning.
• Second offense - the parents of the scout will be contacted
• Third offense - the parents of the scout will be expected to attend events with their scout and actively engage in controlling their scouts behavior
• Fourth offense - the scouts participation will be limited by the troop. A scout may not attend campouts until a confidence that he will conduct himself with behavior appropriate for the situation has been established.

Any Scout found using electronics during an outing will have them confiscated and they will be returned at the discretion of the event leader.

BSA Youth Protection - The BSA program has a child protection policy to help keep scouts safe from any form of physical and / or sexual abuse. All adult leaders must complete Youth Protection Training before taking an active role in the troop. This training is also available to parents and is free of charge through the council or online and is conducted at many of the summer scout camps. Some of the elements of youth protection used by the troop are:

• Two deep leadership - no adult leader may be alone with youth unless it is the scouts parent. If an adult needs to talk with a scout privately, they may go out of hearing range of the group but not out of sight.
• The Buddy System - Scouts are never to leave a camp or other activity without notifying an adult and another scout must accompany the scout. Two or more scouts together act as buddies and keep each other safe.
• Ban on physical punishment - No leader in the troop may use any physical punishment while on a scouting activity. This includes parents with their own son. If a situation arises that a parent must use physical punishment with their child then first remove yourselves from the troop activity. Absolutely no form of hazing is allowed.
• Reporting Requirement - If a scout reports any type of abuse to a leader or if a leader learns that a scout was abused, that leader must report it to the scoutmaster and the troop committee chair. They in turn must report it to the proper representative at the district and council level.

In addition the troop operations include camping rules that outline what is expected of the scout in preparation for camping. By being prepared the troop and scout will avoid situations that are dangerous.

Carrying Knives - A scout must earn the right to carry and use a pocketknife while participating in any scout program by the completing the training for his "Totin' Chip" card. After a scout has completed the requirements for the "Totin' Chip" card, he is expected to follow all the safety rules and carry their "Totin' Chip" card any time they are using sharp tools. Any adult leader or parent who observes inappropriate behavior or is responding to a report of such behavior can revoke the scouts "Totin' Chip" privilege at any time. The scoutmaster will determine when a scout that has lost his scouts "Totin' Chip" privilege is eligible to take the requirements again to re-earn this scouts privilege.

Folding pocketknives are the only permitted knives. Straight blade knives are forbidden at any scout function for both the youth and adults. (If the knife is lost a folding knife is not as dangerous on the ground as a fixed blade knife.) Any misuse of a knife in a threatening manner will not be tolerated. The knife will be taken away immediately and returned to the scouts' parent with an explanation of the scout's behavior.