Orange County Council BSA Training Policy – Updated April 2020

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Is Youth Protection required and mandatory for all adult volunteers?

Yes.  All adult volunteers are required to complete Youth Protection Training before they start as a volunteer, and every two years thereafter. The enhanced and updated content will allow leaders and councils to comply with all current legal requirements and it reflects the BSA’s commitment to the safety of all youth

• Youth Protection Training is mandatory for any adult who participates in an outing lasting longer than 72 hours.
• All Adult Volunteers are required to take Youth Protection Training prior to completing the registration process.
• Units cannot re-charter unless all unit leaders have completed the new YPT within the last two years.
• Adult Youth Protection Training is required for adult program participants 18 years or older. Adult program participant (Venturing, Order of the Arrow, Exploring) must complete adult Youth Protection Training before submitting their adult application.

2. What is BSA Youth Protection?

The BSA strives to prevent child abuse through comprehensive policies and procedures, which include the following safeguards to serve as barriers to abuse.

• Ongoing youth protection education for all volunteers, parents and Scouts.
• A formal selection and screen process for adult leaders and staff that includes criminal background checks.
• A volunteer Screening Database system to prevent the registration of individuals who do not meet the BSA’s standards due to know or suspected abuse or misconduct inside or outside the organization.
• Two or more adult leaders are required to be present with a youth at all times.

Youth protection begins with you.  All units, adult leaders and youth members have responsibility to enforce youth protection program policies.  Our education and training programs are specifically designed to teach Scouts, parents, and adult volunteers to recognize, respond, and report abuse-in and out of Scouting.

3. Who is required to take Position Leaders Specific Training?

All registered leadership positions: Committee Chair, Committee Member, Charter Representative, Den Leader, Cub Master, Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, Venture Crew Advisor, Associate Advisor, Sea Scout Skipper and Mate, Pack Trainer and New Member Coordinator . Training can be taken by going to My.Scouting.org. Position Specific Training is now required for all registered adults serving the program.

4. What training is required for me to be considered fully trained?

To see the current required training by position, please {CLICK HERE} to go to the Orange County Council Training Chart.

5. Who is required to take Hazardous Weather training?

All direct contact positions are now required to take Hazardous Weather to be consider position training, effective April 30, 2018.  Direct contact positions are Cubmaster (CM), Den Leaders (DL), Webelos Den Leaders (WL); Scoutmasters (SM); Leaders of 11 -year old Scouts – LDS; Crew Advisors (NL); Skipper (SK); Post Advisor (AA).  Course can be taking by going to My.Scouting.org.

6. I’ve been in Scouting since I was a youth, why do I need to go to training?

Many of our Scouters have years of experience and we value their knowledge.  100% trained leaders are the best way to achieve the highest quality program and Scouting experience for our youth.  We thank you in advance for your willingness to build upon your existing knowledge and affirm skills you already demonstrate, knowing it is a gift to the scouts you serve.  Additionally, from a risk management standpoint, given the nature of what we do in Scouting and the outdoor environment in which we take both our youth members and our adult volunteers, documented trained leaders are absolutely necessary in order to protect our volunteers, the Orange County Council and the Boy Scouts of America from exposure to unwarranted legal liability actions.

7. I took training years ago but it doesn’t show on my record. Do I have to take it again?

Over the years training courses and their names have changed.  If you have a training certificate or other information about the training you had such as the: year, name of the course, place and instructor, you could be given credit for the course.  Contact your Unit Commissioner or District Training Chair.

8. How will I know if I need to do training and which courses to take?

Your Unit Commissioner and District Training Chair will work together to give a training report to your unit’s committee chair who will let you know what training you need to complete.  Some courses are available online at My.Scouting.org where you took your Youth Protection Training and others are “live” courses. The “live” course calendar is posted on our council website OCBSA.org under training calendar. You can also download our “What Makes a Trained Leader” syllabus {CLICK HERE} and see what course(s) you need to take based on your Scouting position.

9. I’m trying to take my training (example: Scoutmaster/Assist Scoutmaster) and it’s not showing it on my Requirements / TO-DO list, what do I do?

You may not officially be registered for that role yet.  If you are not registered in this position you have to add that particular training to your account, after its been added you can then take the training.  Here’s How: Sign into their my.scouting.org account.  From the Menu in the upper left, choose “My Dashboard”.  Once in My Dashboard choose “Training Center” from the upper center selections.  Now you can choose any Scouting program you require training in.  When you click on your selection, it will open a new window and take you to “ScoutingU”.  Scroll down, find the class you require and choose + Add Plan.   You can now take the course.

10. What if I can’t attend the training course I need to be “Trained”? What is my next option?

The Council and Districts will be providing training courses multiple times throughout the year.  As mentioned above, several of the courses are available online in “My Dashboard” where you took your online Youth Protection Training through My.Scouting.org. You will have ample opportunities to complete your training requirements and you can take the training in any District or Council.  Summer camps often offer required training as well.  If you take training at a summer camp or out of council, be sure to send a copy of your training certificate to Kim Whitaker, the Council Registrar, to update your records.

11. I’m currently trained as a Webelos Den Leader but plan on registering as an Asst. Scoutmaster when my youth joins a troop. Do I have to complete my new online training training within 30 days?       

Yes.  Leaders need to do the online “Joining”, “Orientation” and “Position Specific” training within 30 days of assuming your new role.  A leader who assumes a position that also requires Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills (IOLS) has 90 days immediately following the date he/she assumed the new position to complete IOLS.  If current timing or schedules do not allow you to attend a multiday training event within those 90 days, your District training chair can provide an extension for an additional 90 days.  Courses can be taken in advance of assuming your new role.

12. What is IOLS Training?

IOLS is Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skill.   IOLS is a two day program that provides Scouter with the confidence to take youth into the outdoors.  Specifically, this hands-on-program gives adult leaders a practical introduction to the patrol method of a scout-led-troop by teaching many of the practical outdoor skills they need to lead Scouts in the out-of-doors.  In addition, the teaching methods, activities, and games model the variety of teaching used in effective and engaging Scouting programs.  The skills sessions presented in IOLS closely follow the Scouts BSA Handbook, trainers can be sure new leaders are proficient in many of the basic outdoors skills through First Class rank and gain exposure to the patrol method and numerous teaching methods and learning games.

13. What is a BALOO Training?

BALOO is Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation.  This is a two day program designed as introduction to the Cub Scout outdoor program for those leaders who are interested in adding a camping component to their pack activities.  BALOO is an instructor-led course which is conducted at the District and Council level.  BSA’s Cub Scout level camping policies will be taught along with necessary tools to help units carry out successful camping experience.  Completion of this course is mandatory for a MINIMUM OF ONE adult on a Pack overnighter.

14. Whose responsibility is it to keep track of training records and make sure all training is completed and up to date?

Ultimately, it’s up to the Unit Key Leadership team and the individual leader to be responsible for tracking required training and making sure that Youth Protection Training is updated every two years.  Unit Commissioners and District Training Chairs can access online training records to assist in this.  Official training record validation is located in the Training Manager in My.Scouting.org, and each unit should have a designated member of the unit committee (Training Coordinator), whose responsibility it is to keep the records up to date. As an individual volunteer, you can access your entire training record in “My Dashboard” in My.Scouting.org where you took your Youth Protection Training. In doing so, make sure you have linked your account to your membership number (located on your membership card) and to the Orange County Council (#039–Santa Ana). If courses are missing from your training record, follow-up as was discussed under question No. 7, above.

Remember, EVERY SCOUT DESERVES A TRAINED LEADER!