Troop 918 is sponsored by Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. Our goal is to develop Godly young men of great character with a heart of service for others and knowledge and respect for the outdoors. ________________________________________________________________________________________
The Boy Scouts of America places the greatest importance on creating the most secure environment possible for its youth members. To maintain such an environment, the BSA has developed numerous procedural and leadership selection policies, and provides parents and leaders the following online and print resources for all scouting progams. For more information please visit: www.ocbsa.org/youth-protection/
What changes have been made to rank advancement/camping requirements given the need to maintain social distancing during this time? We have implemented temporary changes, detailed below, to allow Scouts to complete rank requirements, detailed below, by video conferencing through September 1, 2020. This deadline will be re-evaluated as needed. The goal when using video conferencing must be to preserve the ideals and intent of each requirement as best as possible. Scoutmasters or their designee(s) should remain mindful of the Methods of Scouting, such as the Patrol Method, before implementing the modified requirements listed below. Some advancement activities can be completed by video conferencing but not all. For example, virtual visits to a city council meeting, national historic landmarks, museums, and art galleries may be acceptable, but swimming, rifle shooting, and motorboating merit badges cannot be completed virtually. Even when using video conferencing, all virtual campouts and activities should consist of as many elements found on a normal outdoor campout or activity as possible. The most significant difference is that patrol or troop members are not all in the same location. All existing youth protection policies and digital safety guidelines must be followed.
Tenderfoot rank requirements 1b. – Virtual patrol or troop campouts via video conferencing will be permitted. 2a. – During the same day as your virtual patrol or troop campout, assist in preparing one meal with the help of those with whom you live. Tell your patrol or troop why it was important for each person to share in meal preparation and cleanup. 2b. – During the same day as your virtual campout, demonstrate the appropriate method of safely cleaning items used to prepare, serve and eat a meal. 5a. – Explain the importance of the buddy system as it relates to your personal safety on outings and in your neighborhood. Verbally commit to following the buddy system on your next troop or patrol outing. 7a. – Tell how to display, raise, lower, and fold the U.S. flag.
Second Class rank requirements: 1a & 1c. – Virtual patrol or troop activities via video conferencing will be permitted. 3b. – Using a compass and map together, plan a 5-mile hike approved by your adult leader. 4. – Evidence of wild animals can be demonstrated with information or photos of your local area found online. 5c. – May be completed virtually via video conferencing on dry land. 7c. – Learn about the dangers of using drugs, alcohol and tobacco and other practices that could be harmful to your health. Discuss what you learned with your family and explain the dangers of substance addictions. Report to your Scoutmaster or other adult leader in your troop about which parts of the Scout Oath and Scout Law relate to what you learned. 8a. – May be completed virtually using video conferencing. 8d. – May be completed by comparing costs at three (3) online sites or locations.
First Class rank requirements: 1a – Virtual patrol or troop activities via video conferencing will be permitted. 2e. – On the same day as your virtual campout, serve as the cook. Supervise your assistant(s) in using a stove or building a cooking fire. Prepare the breakfast, lunch, and dinner planned in First Class requirement 2a. Supervise the cleanup. 4a. – By drawing, computer software, or other virtual methods, plan an orienteering course that would cover at least one mile. Explain why measuring the height and/or width of designated items (tree, tower, canyon, ditch, etc.) is helpful. Explain how you would complete your course using a real map and compass. 4b. – Scouts do not need to follow their route. 5a. – Evidence of native plants can be demonstrated with information or photos of your local area found online. 6e. – May be completed on dry land. 9a. – Visit may take place virtually or by phone. 9c. – Outings can include past or future plans. 10. – Invite the potential new member to a virtual meeting or future activity using video conferencing.
All youth protection policies still apply in an online environment.Ensure you always have two-deep leadership for online activities and meetings. Our ban on one-on-one contact between an adult leader and youth applies to all interactions – whether in person, online, through a web conference, over the phone, via text, or in any other form.
All aspects of the Scouting program are open to observation by parents, and the BSA suggests parents take part in online activities and meetings.
Use business-oriented conference platforms that include good safety and privacy features instead of platforms with other primary purposes (such as gaming).
Review the terms of service, safety and privacy features, and data collection policies of any platform you use, and review the BSA Digital Privacy and Social Media Guidelines linked below.
Regularly review and implement the latest security features of your chosen platform to avoid unauthorized visitors or other security issues in your meetings.
Just as you put in place plans for the physical security of your meeting place, here are some tips to consider as you get started developing your own strategy to manage online security:
Use unique meeting identification numbers for each session.
Utilize password features for all meetings.
Do not publish meeting invitations via public forums and remind attendees not to pass along invitations.
Use “waiting room” features to manage letting individuals into your meetings.
Disable features that you will not need, such as screen-sharing by non-hosts, private chats, and whiteboards.
Do not record online activities/meetings that include youth participants.
Recording of online activities that only involve adults is subject to local council legal review and approval. Check with your local council for guidance.
Call recording is subject to various legal requirements under U.S. law and the laws of individual states, some of which require all parties to a call consent to recording.
Safeguard personal information.
If you collect a person’s personal information online—for example, through web forms used to register people for online meetings—then you should post a notice or disclosure at the point of collection describing how you will use the information. The notice should be conspicuous and written in plain English.
Meeting organizers must keep such information private and not share a youth’s personal information with anyone except that youth’s parent or guardian or the unit leader responsible for tracking advancements. For example, a merit badge counselor should not publicly post or otherwise show a roster with personal information of Scouts the counselor has worked with.
Collecting personal information from youth under 13 is not recommended.
Do not collect personal information directly from youth under 13 years of age due to the parental notice and consent requirements under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”). You should collect any data needed from the parent or legal guardian only.
BSA Youth Protection Mission Statement
True youth protection can be achieved only through the focused commitment of everyone in Scouting. It is the mission of Youth Protection volunteers and professionals to work within the Boy Scouts of America to maintain a culture of Youth Protection awareness and safety at the national, regional, area, council, district, and unit levels.
