RememberSchiff

Transitioning to Red Cross Certification: Opportunities for BSA Aquatics Instructors and BSA Lifeguard Instructors "As part of this transition, currently certified BSA Lifeguard Instructors and BSA Aquatics Instructors will have the option to participate in a crossover course to become American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructors, if they choose. More information about these opportunities will be available soon. For individuals and camps that have relied on National Camping School Aquatics Instructor courses to become certified as lifeguard instructors, opportunities to earn certification as an American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor will be offered both before or after National Camping School in 2025, along with additional certification options available at locations nationwide." More at source: https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/aquatics/bsa-lifeguard-instructor-transition/

Back on Topic: Seems only 4 agencies are recognized to train lifeguards and/or lifeguard instructors? "After careful consideration and evaluation, Scouting America will transition away from the BSA Lifeguard certification program effective December 31, 2024. Over the last decade, training lifeguards across the entire aquatics industry has continued to evolve. While our partnership with the American Red Cross remains strong, the Red Cross materials will no longer be available to be used jointly for instruction of the BSA Lifeguard program. In addition, Scouting America does not possess the scientific and other resources required to develop and update a Scouting America specific lifeguard training curriculum that meets the industry standards mandated through state and federal regulations. Moving forward, we believe that partnering with well-established certifying agencies such as the American Red Cross, YMCA, StarGuard Elite, and Ellis & Associates will still allow us to offer local councils access to top-tier lifeguard training. We are confident that this approach will provide Scouting with quality training while also meeting industry standards. Our primary focus is on ensuring that every council has the support it needs to certify lifeguards for both summer camp and year-round aquatic activities. We will provide further updates in the coming weeks..." More at Source, updated 9/27/2025: https://www.scouting.org/trail-to-adventure-blog/bsa-lifeguard-certification-program-retiring-effective-december-31-2024/

Oh the irony, yesterday on National Boy Scouts Day, we officially rebranded to Scouting America.

Hmmm, that wasn't public long. I don't know if it was a copyright issue with AP or the comments being on? Here's the AP news story with the same video embedded. https://apnews.com/article/boy-scouts-scouting-america-birthday-name-change-796935fe9474fda03d179aa8c087ab42

I would assume that all camp aquatic staff had current lifeguard certification*, but then when one assumes... I found this curious document BSA Aquatics Staff Guide , Revised 3/15/2022, 148 pages. https://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/AQUATICS-STAFF-GUIDE-10072020.pdf page 17 Staff Training, Pre-Camp Training Only 50% of the aquatics staff must be BSA LifeGuard certification? IMHO, seemingly a half-way measure. Meanwhile NPR picked up the story https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2025-02-04/parents-allege-boy-scouts-failed-to-prevent-sons-2023-death-at-gilmanton-camp *Note BSA Lifeguard certification ended Dec, 2024. Seek training through Y, Red Cross,...

Update 2/4/25: The parents of Scout Keoni Hubbard are accusing Scouting America of violating its duty of keeping children in its care safe. In a lawsuit, they are "alleging that Scouting America violated many of its own safety rules, including having a qualified boating operator who is over 21, that the boat operator be a trained lifeguard and that there should be a second person on that boat serving as a lookout for the children in the water. " Sources: https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2025/02/04/boy-scout-killed-2023-new-hampshire-boating-accident-lawsuit/ https://www.wmur.com/article/boy-scout-boating-accident-lawsuit-2425/63667843

Skilled trades teaching centers ... I wonder if Mike Rowe is involved and whether GTSS power tool restrictions will be reconsidered.

I read the article below about value given by Eagle projects of a certain District to its community and comparing the value of Eagle projects in other Districts. The value was in dollars! Only one Eagle project was briefly described "resurfacing of the playground" as it had the highest value to the community at $10,091. "Eagle Scout projects completed in the Powderhorn District — which covers western Oneida County and all of Madison County and serves more than 700 youngsters in 45 units — contributed an average of $2,053 per project, surpassing the contributions from other districts in the region, the announcement said. The Adirondack Foothills District averaged $1,719 per Eagle Scout project, while the Susquehanna Headwaters District averaged $1,329, officials added." Really? The value of Eagle Projects is in the money spent? Maybe the dollar amounts should be removed from Eagle Project Workbooks so as not to confuse people with the true value of Eagle projects. My $0.02 Source: https://www.romesentinel.com/townnews/politics/powderhorn-district-received-massive-contributions-through-eagle-scout-projects/article_f9346c9e-d988-11ef-b040-9fe4062a4095.html

Another "Skilled Trades Center" to be built. This time by Dan Beard Council for $3.25M at Camp Friedlander outside of Cincinnati, OH. Source: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/01/23/dan-beard-council-paul-hemmer-skilled-trades.html

Good morning read provides an answer. https://www.laconiadailysun.com/community/announcements/lakes-region-sea-scouts-train-with-gilford-fire-rescue-team/article_8f0322b0-d849-11ef-bffe-ab377d6ce4c4.html "Among the preventative skills taught by firefighters Lachlan Plache and Tyler Emond (Gilford, NH Fire & Rescue team) were checking ice thickness, use of personal flotation devices in uncertain conditions, the importance of whistles, and not going out alone. Should an emergency occur, Scouts learned the use of emergency ice picks to claw onto the ice and to roll away from bad ice. When assisting others, Scouts were reminded to call 911 first, then assist with reach poles, ropes or other means of pulling out a victim, then taking steps to treat hypothermia until help arrives." ... “A significant percentage of first responders nationally were Scouts as youth, as well as becoming leaders in their communities. That’s a great return on investment, and we’re grateful for the help of the Gilford Fire & Rescue team,” said Brian Beihl, Sea Scout Ship 72 committee member.

Winter 2025 Abilities Digest newsletter https://ablescouts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/abd-v12n1r2.pdf

Richard Nuccio started out as a Cub Scout and became a Boy Scout in 1959 in Connecticut. By age 16, he completed all of his requirements for his Eagle rank, however, before he got his board of review in 1962, his scoutmaster transferred. His troop later folded. "That really kind of upset my mother," Nuccio said. More including mention of Belated Eagle Application at source. Good read with photos. Surprised he found old documents and sash. https://www.fox6now.com/news/78-year-old-wisconsin-eagle-scout Scout Salute,

Update 01/07/2025: The Court ruled that the proceeds from the sale, if it moves forward, can only be used as specified in the 1944 donor's deed when the Scouts were given the property: “for uses that support camping activities for Boy Scouts in Central Maine.” Council may not use proceeds to pay down debt or fund program services elsewhere in Maine. “Consequently, it would defy logic and nullify the law favoring charitable trusts to conclude that the (donor of the Camp Bomazeen property) intended to ‘reward’ Pine Tree with full title to Camp Bomazeen upon its absolute failure to follow his directions,” the justices wrote in their decision. "The state attorney general’s office sued the Pine Tree Council to block the sale of the camp, saying its plans to sell it and use the proceeds to help the council get out of debt violated the terms of the the deed to the property in place since it was donated by Dr. George Averill in the 1940s as a place where Scouts could camp." Source (good read): https://www.centralmaine.com/2025/01/07/camp-bomazeen-sale-must-benefit-central-maine-boy-scouts-court-says/

{0.46] "I use to be Scoutmaster myself, I sympathize with you."

Please respect and honor the passing of a fellow scouter as I believe the OP intended. Please use this topic to post positive and uplifting remembrances of our departed fellow scouter. Also as with President Ford, I expect a large scout presence in President Carter's forthcoming services. I moved "Politics" replies "aside" to a new topic in a more suitable forum.

Another detailed analysis with recommendations from Scouting Maverick. Even Roger Krone took note. https://scoutingmaverick.com/2024/12/20/bsa-new-member-model-creates-embarrassing-membership-loss/?q

"Penyffordd Scouts (Wales) have produced their very own John Lewis style Christmas advert in a bid to help promote one of their biggest fundraisers. For over 35 years Penyffordd Scouts have taken Santa and their Christmas float around Penyffordd, Penymynydd and Drury to spread festive cheer, and help raise much needed funds for the Scout group."

Update 11/28/2024: "As the story goes, a local woman, Myra Greeno Bass, learned of scouting during a trip to England, where cavalry officer Robert (later Lord) Baden-Powell had founded the organization, and was so taken with the concept that she started a troop when she got home. That was in the spring of 1908, almost two years before the Boy Scouts of America was incorporated in February 1910. The rules at the time barred Bass from being scout master, so her husband, Billy, took the title, but “left most of the actual planning to his capable wife,” according to an account in a book on the 100th anniversary of the city being incorporated in 1890. (Note: this is also the first known instance of a BSA scoutmaster delegating to another volunteer! ) ...There hasn’t been a troop based in Burnside for years. Now local leaders are working to change that. “If you’re going to claim to be the first Boy Scout troop in America, you better have a Scout troop,” said Mayor Robert Lawson, who was himself a Scout. City leaders have discussed starting a troop with representatives of the Blue Grass Council of the Boy Scouts, which is headquartered in Lexington and covers 55 counties in Central, Southern and Eastern Kentucky..." More at source (including video): https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/kentucky-town-seen-as-the-birthplace-of-boy-scouts-in-the-us-tries-to-bring-back-troop/ar-AA1uUwpG

Nov, 2022: Scouts preparing 22 Thanksgiving meals for others. More at source including video: https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/scouts-step-up-to-cook-thanksgiving-meals-for-their-community Scout Salute.

IMHO, 1. The "Gold Standard List" is a work in progress, particularly in the areas of accountability, certification, transparency, and false reporting. 2. As @mrjohns2 detailed, the BSA has more work to comply with this version of "Gold Standard List" The BSA public Annual Report should have YP data from previous years and current year: a table of youth safety incidents by type, number, program; number of employees and volunteers removed; number reinstated,... When I hear Scouting is safer, show me the data! Similarly, Councils should have a public list of locally removed employees and volunteers in hand when YP training is given. I know, try to get Council to release a list of MBC's. My $0.02,

Gold Standard Checklist (Child USA's Gold Standard pages 19-21) Primary Prevention Background Screening Written, signed employment or volunteer application Conducts structured interviews Calls and speaks to at least 3 references Conducts multiple levels of checks for every employee or volunteer Conducts background screenings for all third-party contractors who have contact with children Conducts international background checks for all potential employees and volunteers who have lived in other countries Employee must pass background investigation before beginning employment Repeat background screening at least every five years Safe Physical Environment and Adequate Supervision Visibility throughout the building, Bright lighting in all areas Clear windows to allow visibility into offices and meeting rooms Formal screening procedures for building entrances and exits, including a sign in/out sheet and a staff monitor Video surveillance technology in all spaces where adults have contact with children. Adequate staff-to-child ratios Adequate supervision to staff to perform regular, unannounced site visits Separate sleeping, changing, and bathing accommodations for adults and children during overnight trips Prohibit staff / volunteers from providing one-on-one transportation for children Prevention Training Provides child sexual abuse prevention training for employees / volunteers, parents, and children Require training for employees / volunteers to be completed within 30 days of being hired and before working with minors Repeat training at least annually Utilizes evidence-based training programs Code of Conduct Provides guidelines on appropriate physical contact Provides guidelines on verbal interactions, prohibiting sexualized conversations or emotional boundary violations Provides guidelines for interacting digitally and/or on social media [12] Prohibits grooming behaviors such as forming special relationships or giving children special gifts or privileges Prohibits sharing sleeping quarters with children during overnight trips or travel for competitions The Code of Conduct explained to children and parents and posted on the organization’s website Prohibits off-site interactions between staff / volunteers and children unless part of organizational activity with parental permission. Prohibits one-on-one interactions between adults and children Requires staff and volunteers to sign a statement of receipt and agreement with the Code of Conduct upon being hired and annually thereafter Reporting Red-Flag Behaviors Designates an internal officer within the human resources department to receive all reports of “red flag” behaviors and coordinate a response Provides a confidential means of making reports if the reporter wants to remain anonymous Conducts a risk assessment following reports of concerning behaviors Determines fitness for employment and decide on any restrictions Limits contact with minors to supervised interactions until decision is made Notify all future employers of boundary violation concerns Response to Abuse Reporting Abuse to Civil Authorities Makes it clear in policies that abuse only needs to be suspected; personnel are not to attempt to carry out their own investigation Reports all allegations of abuse, including those beyond any statute of limitations, to authorities as required by law Requires reporting within 24 hours of first knowledge or disclosure of abuse Lay out who to call, information to include in call, and phone numbers to call Provides information on how to report abuse on website and in child-friendly posters on the organization’s premises Suspected abusers should not be confronted by staff; first contact should be made by law enforcement Establishes penalties for failures to report, including organizational and legal consequences Establishes whistleblower protection policies and provide good-faith immunity for reporters Cooperation with Independent External Investigations Informs law enforcement of suspected or known abuse and cooperate with investigation Seizes evidence in a timely fashion Describes and documents evidence in writing and preserve descriptions in records Turns all evidence over to civil authorities Suspends accused staff member or volunteer during investigation Prohibits accused from contacting or retaliating against victim in any way Asks coworkers and direct supervisors to report any inappropriate behavior they have observed Prohibits transfers within the organization or employment recommendations while investigation of abuse is pending Victims' Rights and Assistance Posts victims’ rights throughout the premises, on the website, and in an employee /volunteer handbook Establishes rights for victims to: Physical and emotional safety Privacy Report abuse Receive support and assistance (e.g., counseling, mental health treatment) Know the status and results of any investigation An apology letter from YSO leadership Not be bound to a confidential settlement agreement Acquire legal representation Establishes an independent victim’s assistance coordinator Provides funding for counseling or mental health treatment regardless of victim’s decision to pursue legal action Recognizes need to prevent revictimization and develop a plan to meet any special needs of the child so that he or she can feel safe within the organization Monitoring and Evaluation Takes corrective action to strengthen policies and practices following the completion of civil investigations Strengthens policies and practices through continuous evaluating effectiveness of practices and programs Evaluates policies and programs with evidence-based methods and strategies Establishes regular benchmarks and milestones for meeting prevention goals Considers external audits to probe for other areas of weakness in program and policies

Nov 20, 2024 Scouting America will adopt Child USA's Gold Standard Tool According to Glen Pounder, Chief Safeguarding Officer at Scouting America, “As an organization, Scouting America is dedicated to becoming a leader in safeguarding youth, inside and outside of Scouting. We are impressed with CHILD USA’s Gold Standard not only because of its efficiency, but also what we have been able to learn from it. We would recommend this for any youth-serving organization dedicated to effective and comprehensive child sex abuse prevention.” Conclusion from Child USA's Gold Standard Tool "YSOs exist to improve children’s lives. Unfortunately, organizations have failed too often to put adequate protections in place to prevent CSA and to respond appropriately when abuse is uncovered. CHILD USA’s Gold Standard provides an accessible set of recommendations that YSOs can implement to make sure they are up to date on best practices in CSA prevention. Youth-serving institutions need strong policies to provide a blueprint of appropriate behavior. Policies and procedures also represent important risk-management tools for the prevention and early identification of sexual misconduct and for protecting those vulnerable to or already victimized by misconduct. However, good policies are only the first step to preventing CSA. Risk of CSA grows in an atmosphere of secrecy. Preventing future abuse requires educating children, parents, and personnel at all levels of an organization about abuse and encouraging them to speak up whenever a concern arises. YSO leaders must also work closely with their employees and volunteers to constantly reinforce an organizational culture of prioritizing child protection first and foremost. Values such as transparency, accountability, and an emphasis on children’s rights can form the basis of such a culture. Ultimately, it is up to the adults responsible for caring for children to demonstrate a total commitment to their safety, which starts with sound policy and continues as a constant process of vigilance, evaluation, and recommitment to preventing CSA. - Child USA Gold Standard" Sources: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/11/20/2984723/0/en/CHILD-USA-Partners-with-Scouting-America-to-Prevent-Child-Sexual-Abuse-Through-the-Adoption-of-the-CHILD-USA-Gold-Standard-Diagnostic-Tool.html https://childusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/CHILD-USAs-Gold-Standard.pdf

Instead of looking to sell camp. maybe apply for conservation grants. Here is an example with Tampa Bay Water and a Girl Scout Camp. Application deadline is this Friday Nov 22!