Boy Scouts of America

ATV Safety Program

Polaris is the Official ATV Provider of the Boy Scouts of America

All-terrain vehicles combine dirt and a motor — what’s a Scout or Venturer not to like?

Recognizing this winning mix, the BSA launched council-level ATV programs at camps across the country. In March 2014, Polaris — a leading manufacturer of off-road vehicles — entered a 10-year partnership with the BSA, to provide top-of-the-line ATVs, safety equipment and ASI Rider Safety Training to help deliver this exciting safety program to even more youth. 

Now, with the help of Polaris, Scouts and Venturers age 14 and older will not only learn to drive the crème de la crème of ATV equipment, but they’ll also receive safety instruction vetted by a company with 60 years of industry expertise.

Scouts and Scouters can become certified riders through the Polaris ATV Safety Program at BSA Scout camps allowing them to rent and drive off-road vehicles in states that require the training.

ATV SAFETY WEEK | The ATV Safety Institute (ASI) launched ATV Safety Week in 2013 and continues to provide safety information to families who ride. Read more.

TREAD LIGHTLY | Tread Lightly is recognized by the BSA Outdoor Ethics committee as the leading expert on balancing the need to maintain a healthy ecosystem with the needs of people who enjoy outdoor recreation activities. Scouts and Scouters learn how to ride off-road vehicles in an environmentally friendly manner. Visit the Tread Lightly website for access to these materials and more.

MORE RESOURCES:

     BSA Safety Moment on All-Terrain Vehicles

     Polaris Safety Resources

     Polaris Safety Video

ELIGIBILITY | Youth must be 14+ years old and registered in any BSA program to ride an ATV. Youth are not allowed to drive or ride UTV’s.

RECOGNITION | Every youth who participates will receive a patch and certificate from their local council (provided by Polaris).

patch

CURRENT CAMPS | Click here to find a Polaris ATV Safety Program at a Scout camp near you.

This is 60+ miles with four days of travel on ATVs. Trails will include a mixture of singletrack, doubletrack and a small amount of gravel. The trails are easy to intermediate in difficulty with some optional difficult mud holes. Stops along the way include epic vistas, exciting side programs and natural STEM education moments. Everyone will especially love the Thursday afternoon mud hole training. We’ll intentionally get as stuck as possible in the biggest mud holes we can find. Then get ourselves out using ATV techniques, z-drag systems, and winches.

Participants need no prior ATV experience, just a readiness to get dirty and push their limits. Trail riding an ATV requires moving your body around over the machine and can be significantly more exhausting than new riders expect.

Click here to learn more.

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.