Even if you are not a registered Scouting leader or volunteer, it is your responsibility as a parent or guardian to know and understand Scouting America’s youth protection guidelines. One of the best ways to do this is to take Scouting America’s Safeguarding Youth Training.

• Safeguarding Youth training is required for all Scouting America registered volunteers and is a joining requirement
• Safeguarding Youth training must be taken every year
  • If a volunteer’s Safeguarding Youth training is not current at the time of annual registration renewal, the volunteer will not be re-registered
• You do not have to be a registered member of Scouting America to take Youth Protection training

Safeguarding Youth training provides parents and leaders with resources for the Cub Scout, Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scouting, and Exploring programs. The training is done online at my.scouting.org (Not familiar with My.Scouting.org? Visit this page to learn more) and must be renewed every year.

Directions to take the training:

1. Go to My.Scouting.org (note the “dot” between “my” and “scouting”) and create an account.
2. From My.Scouting.org, click on the Safeguarding Youth training logo on the right side of the screen (or select “My Training” from the “Home” navigation in the upper left corner).
3. Upon completion, print a certificate of completion and keep with your records.
4. A copy of your certificate of completion is required any time you submit a new membership application.

Youth/Family Resources:

Handbook – Scouts and their parents/guardians are required to review information found at the front of each Scout handbook. This information contains age-appropriate content to help Scouts and the adults in their lives talk about child abuse. You may also find this information at the following links:

• Parent-youth discussion guide – Cub Scout version
• Parent-youth discussion guide – Scouts BSA version

Personal Safety Awareness – Scouting America also partnered with the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center Foundation on the Personal Safety Awareness training series for members of the Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scouting, and Exploring programs. The primary goal of these training videos is to educate youth about what to do if they experience abusive behavior, educate them about safe and unsafe situations, and encourage them to go to a parent or another trusted adult for help when needed. Before reviewing these videos, Scouts should complete the exercises in the “How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide” pamphlet with their parent or guardian. This pamphlet can be found in the front of the Scout Handbook.

• Personal Safety Awareness – Scouts BSA version (for Scout and Star ranks)
• Personal Safety Awareness – Venturing, Sea Scouting, Exploring version (fulfills the Personal Safety Awareness Training for the Venturing Rank requirement)