Re: Learning for Life Applications
Bob Amick (amick@SPOT.COLORADO.EDU)
Mon, 26 Jul 1999 11:52:56 -0500
John is correct that there are no individual membership forms,
as those have been replaced with a roster, since Explorers
in the Learning for Life program are now called "participants"
rather than members. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
is the document of affiliation between the sponsoring
organization and the Learning for Life
program and is administered through the local council.
Learning for Life does provide the same general liability
insurance to Learning for Life Explorer Posts as it does
for BSA affiliated Venturing and other Scouting units. Thus
leaders and sponsoring organizations are similarly covered
with general liability insurance.
With regard to comments about access to BSA facilities,
a clarification is in order. Learning for Life Explorers
are not allowed to participate in National High Adventure
bases such as Philmont, Northern Tier, Seabase, however they
are encouraged to participate in local council activities
and may use local council facilities such as summer camps,
offices, equipment, etc., without restriction.
As an example, LFL Explorers were present at a recent
Scout show in our area with an impressive display of
emergency vehicles, fire safety demonstrations, etc.
Learning for Life is a wholly-owned subsidiary corporation
of BSA and is administered through the Local Council office.
Many Councils still have the same professional staff and volunteer
committees administering Learning for life Exploring as well
as Venturing, mainly for reasons of cost. It may be that
in the future, separate professional staff and volunteer
comittees will be assigned exclusively to Learning for
Life Exploring.
The charge for Learning for life is also $7 per youth just as
it is for regular Scouting membership which covers the
insurance costs.
Learning for Life Explorers may also register and belong to
Venturing crews and/or other Scouting units pursuant to
eligibility requirements, however they cannot multiple
register, but must pay a separate $7 fee for membership
in the BSA unit which they wish to join. They may multiple
register in BSA units as always (e.g., in one or more
Venturing Crews and/or Scout troops) by paying only
the annual $7 fee for their primary BSA unit affiliation.
Some of our youth have chosen to do this so they can
be involved in an Exploring career interest post such
as law enforcement, and still maintain membership in
a Venturing Crew or Scout troop.
Bob Amick, Advisor, Venturing Crew/SSS 72, Boulder Co
Longs Peak Council Exploring/Venturing Training Chair
