Scouting Safely
The Boy Scouts of America has nearly a century of experience conducting high-adventure outdoor activities in a manner that is safe for all participants. The following resources and information are provided to enable adult leaders and youth to help us maintain our impeccable safety record.
General Resources
- Weather Smart Resources
- The Health and Safety Service offers online news, links, and resources to help you plan and prepare for hazardous weather.
Managing Risk (from the Fieldbook)- The best way to stay safe in the outdoors is to avoid getting into trouble in the first place. That requires planning, training, leadership, good judgment, and accepting responsibility—in short, risk management.
Age-Appropriate Guidelines for Scouting Activities- This chart provides an at-a-glance reference to activity guidelines that are based on the mental, physical, emotional, and social maturity of youth members.
Guide to Safe Scouting- The Guide to Safe Scouting is the unit leaders' guide to current policies and procedures.
The Sweet 16 of BSA Safety- As an aid in the continuing effort to protect participants in Scout activity, the BSA National Health & Safety Committee have developed 16 points that embody good judgement and common sense for all activities.
The Driver's Pledge- This pledge outlines five key points that a driver should attend in order to safely convey Scouts of their outings.
Risk Management Newsletter- The Risk Management Newsletter provides timely news about current issues and recent updates to our policies and procedures.
Health and Safety News- The Health and Safety Service provides periodic updates for Scouting leaders on a variety of relevant health- and safety-related topics.
Safe Swim Defense- The Safe Swim Defense is a plan for conducting swimming activities in a safe manner.
Safety Afloat- Safety Afloat has been developed to promote boating and boating safety and to set standards for safe unit activity afloat.
Policy on Use of Chemical Fuels- This policy is intended to encourage safe practices when using chemical fuels - liquid, gel, and gas.
Emergency Preparedness Award- Working with the United States Department of Homeland Security, the Boy Scouts of America has developed an award program to help Scouts to be prepared for emergencies of all kinds.
BSA Bike Safety Guidelines- This set of guidelines and procedures provides guidance for the use of bicycles in program activities on every level of the organization.
The Latest First Aid for Wounds and CPR- The BSA has checked with experts in the federal government’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and with
the American Red Cross.
Training
American Red Cross and Boy Scouts of America Training Agreement
Is your Unit, District, or Council taking full advantage of the National Agreement that Boy Scouts of America has with the American Red Cross?
Planning and Preparing for Hazardous Weather
- Planning and Conducting a Safe Scout Outing
- Safe Scouting can happen if you follow the Scout motto: Be Prepared. This unit of supplementary training will describe how to plan for and conduct a safe Scout outing.
- Youth Protection Training
- An online course that guides adults in creating the most secure environment possible for our youth members.
- Safe Swim Defense
- The Safe Swim Defense is a plan for conducting swimming activities in a safe manner.
- Safety Afloat
- Safety Afloat has been developed to promote boating and boating safety and to set standards for safe unit activity afloat.
- Camp Health Officer Training (Powerpoint)
- This powerpoint presentation provides requisite information for camp health officers.
- Health and Safety/Risk Management Conference
- Philmont Training Center will conduct a conference on Health and Safety and Risk management.
Awards
Cub Scouting
- Cub Scout Leader Fast Start
- This training is provided to get new leaders in the Cub Scout program up to speed quickly, familiarizing them with their role and responsibilities in supporting a Cub Scout den or pack.
- Basic Leader Training
- Every Cub Scout leader should complete Basic Leader Training; it prepares leaders to deliver a quality, fun-filled program.
- Outdoor Skills for Webelos Leaders
- Designed specifically for Webelos den leaders and their assistants, the Outdoor Leader Skills for Webelos Leaders course teaches outdoor-related skills through demonstration and hands-on practice.
- Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO)
- Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) is a one-day training event that introduces leaders and parents to the skills needed to plan and conduct pack outdoor activities, particularly pack camping.
Boy Scouting
- Boy Scout Leader Fast Start
- This training is provided to get new leaders in the Boy Scout program up to speed quickly, familiarizing them with their role and responsibilities in supporting a Boy Scout troop.
- Fieldbook, No. 33104
- The Boy Scout Fieldbook contains an excellent discussion of outdoor risk management in chapter 6, "Risk Management."
- Climb on Safely
- Climb On Safely is the Boy Scouts of America's recommended procedure for organizing BSA climbing/rappelling activities at a natural site or a specifically designed facility such as a climbing wall or tower.
- Principles of Leave No Trace
- In addition to preserving the wilderness, Leave No Trace practices help Scouting units stay safe during backcountry expeditions.
Venturing
- Venturing Advisor Fast Start
- This training is provided to get new leaders in the Venturing program up to speed quickly, familiarizing them with their role and responsibilities in supporting a Venturing crew.
- Venturing Out: Keys to Safe Driving
- "Smart Choices" is a presentation for Venturers that discusses the dangers of drinking and driving.
Forms
Got Questions?
For immediate response, contact your local council service center with questions regarding Scouting safely.
Click here to e-mail questions specific to health, safety, or risk management to the national council.