Re: Adults Overnight at Council Camps

We were told the same in Massachusetts. I don't know whether it is a result
of a BSA policy or changes in state law.

Starting this Summer, all Camp staff, paid and unpaid, are required by a new
state law to undergo background (read: criminal history) checks. Council must
secure a signed consent form from each person and I believe must forward it to
a state agency (Criminal Justice History Board or some such thing). At the
same time we were told that any adults who would be part of the Summer Camp
program with their Troop, either staying at Camp full-time or just coming in
part-time, must be registered leaders. (They would not require background
checks.) Also, sign-in, sign-out will be enforced for everyone and
non-BSA-registered visitors, youth or adult, must wear ID badges while at camp.

I have no objections to any of this whatsoever. In fact, I think it should go
a step further and require that all leaders at Summer Camp be not only
registered but TRAINED as well. And, I think a regular part of registering as
a leader should be a background check conducted by the Council/District.

And I don't take the old cop-out that this is because of "today's society", I
think these things are needed purely in the interest of delivering the best,
most competent program possible to the boys.

--
Robert Caron
Troop Committee Secretary, Northborough Troop 101
Brotherhood, Chippanyonk Lodge #59, OA
Knox Trail Council #244, BSA
Massachusetts

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