Boy Scouts of America

Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse

Adult Audience Only


SUMMARY

The BSA has adopted the following policies for the safety and well-being of its members. These policies primarily protect youth members; however, they also serve to protect adult leaders. Registered leaders must follow these guidelines with Scouting youth outside of Scouting activities.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Registration Requirements

  • The chartered organization representative, or in their absence the executive officer of the chartered organization, must approve the registration of all unit’s adult leaders. Scouting uses a Volunteer Screening Database which prohibits known or suspected abusers from registering. Additionally, youth protection training and criminal background checks are mandatory for all registered volunteers and staff.

Adult Supervision

  • One-on-one contact between adult leaders and youth members is prohibited both inside and outside of Scouting, either in person, online, over the phone, or via text. Two-deep adult supervision by registered adult leaders 21 years of age or over are required for all Scouting activities. This includes patrol activities, meetings, and service projects. These enhanced requirements have been in effect since 2018.

Responsibility

  • Adult leaders and youth members share the responsibility for the safety of all participants in the program, including adherence to Youth Protection and health and safety policies. In addition, adult leaders are required to adhere to the Scouter Code of Conduct.

Accommodations

  • Separate accommodations for adult males and females and youth males and females are required for tenting, lodging, and restroom facilities. Youth sharing tents must be no more than two years apart in age. In addition, Adult participants age 18-20 are treated as adults and cannot share tents with youth participants.

Program Requirements

  • Adult leaders emphasize the buddy system in unit planning, and training activities. Buddies must stay together during activities. Scouting is a transparent program with parental involvement.

Reporting Requirements

  • Adult leaders and youth members have a responsibility to recognize, respond to, and report All Youth Protection violations and abuse including, mandatory reporting to law enforcement.

RESOURCES

Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.