RichardB

https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/gss01/ is the most up to date location moving forward for the Barriers to Abuse. A one source of truth if you will. The "72 hours rule" is All adults accompanying a Scouting unit who are present at the activity for 72 total hours or more must be registered as leaders. The 72 hours need not be consecutive." The intent of this policy is to protect participants - both youth and adults - and maintain a Safe Scouting environment. It is event centric. Examples of where this applies today in Scouting are resident camps, treks, long term camping. Sorry for any confusion. Can assure you all the member care team is now aligned. As you have bantered, there are mixed messages locally. Some councils may be requiring all folks to be registered, as are some chartered organizations. That EXCEEDS the Barriers to Abuse, and that's okay. So if you are hearing something different, might check to see what your local folks have established. You might hit the link above if you haven't this week and review some to the linked FAQ's. Yours in Scouting, RichardB

Ever consider how would this look to parents of youth who might want to join scouting if it was plastered as a headline? It isn't 1954 anymore. Wow, just wow...

Came across this article, posting in issues and politics. Just wondering what the group thinks about it? https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/14/nyregion/kaaterskill-falls-catskills-deaths-instagram.html?action=click&module=Editors Picks&pgtype=Homepage RichardB

Knowing how to swim is integral to advancement, it is also about providing a safe aquatics environment. Yes, you should say something, kids are being put at risk if they are doing other aquatics activities without knowing their abilities. A safety moment on why it's important to do aquatics in Scouting following safety afloat and safe swim defense: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/HealthSafety/pdf/680-055(17)_Aquatics_WEB.pdf Incidents that really happened: Swimming- https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/HealthSafety/pdf/680-056.pdf Boating and Paddling - https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/680-056_Boating.pdf https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/680-056_RiverPaddling.pdf RichardB

It is actually an insert pull out of the printed GTSS and has been for over a decade. It and the camping age appropriate guidelines were assigned separate BIN #’s. That’s really the difference. All things shooting sports including MGA. https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/shooting-sports/ Please let me know what B.B. guns you were using for tigers? Mfg, make and model details needed.

Just curious, since this is a pack camping experience, has someone in the pack taken BALOO? Camping on a island? Has the council reviewed this location as appropriate for your campout? It would seem that would be a little bit outside the box for the Cub Program. Big difference between what you may have experienced in Scouting and the actual Cub Scout program of today. These are not new requirements, they have been around for over 80 years. https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/HealthSafety/pdf/680-055(17)_Aquatics_WEB.pdf

@TAHAWK and @ Kryten: So are you all saying the adults you currently have supervising units wouldn't know / cannot figure out how to provide adult supervision of a patrol activity without interfering? Help me understand. How are they doing this now for your unit activities? Are you saying that 80% of patrol activities now are conducted without adult supervision? @Kryten - what would lead the patrols to believe they couldn't be trusted? How did that discussion go exactly?

Attention @tahawk The patrol method hasn't changed. Supervision requirements by adults of that patrol activity has. You can find the latest here: https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/gss01/#a RichardB

That would be Voice of Scouting surveys. They go out monthly as well.

Couple of questions for deliberation: How many of you that want to be "in the know" are signed up for a weekly Scoutingwire feed? https://scoutingwire.org/ Are you promoting that? Does you council have a newsletter? Do you get that? Any articles in there on changes? Do you get Scouting Magazine 6 times a year? Do you read it? Do you subscribe to Bryan's Blog? Do you really want an email and a dead tree letter? @Hawkwin Richard Bonus Question: did you know the Program Hazard Analysis http://scouting.org/filestore/pdf/680-009.pdf narrative was based on management of change document: http://scouting.org/filestore/HealthSafety/doc/Narrative.doc?

Advancement is a method of Scouting. Perhaps the best and most current content on running the program (that is safety related) is found here: https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/gss07/ I'd specifically call out the following excerpts, but of course, please review all. "The Boy Scouts of America’s Charter and Bylaws, Rules and Regulations, policies, and program guidelines help provide a safe and consistent program. Council and unit charters as well as individual registration are conditioned upon adherence to those requirements." "Activity Planning and Risk Assessment No organization, including the Boy Scouts of America, can anticipate every possible activity that could be conducted as part of a unit, district, or council event. As such, it is neither the intent nor the desire of the BSA to provide specific guidance on subjects that are not core to the program or part of our literature. For those activities that support the values of the Boy Scouts of America, there are several tools available for participants that will help them plan for a fun and safe tour, activity, or event. Good planning and preparedness prior to executing the activity is key to success. This guide is one of those tools. "

A couple of questions: Is your indictment of the these rules (please be specific so we can what "rules" are in play) that they are unclear without exception or that you just disagree them and they should have exceptions for (you, your unit, your situation, etc.). What does the hive mind think about rules with exceptions from the hypothetical point of view that perhaps they could develop into a culture that folks think they are acceptable to bend or break those exceptions at will. Does your council not respond to your questions or do you post the contact for the NSC because you didn't like the answers you got, something in the FAQ's wasn't clear? Asking for a friend.

Not quite right. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/stateface/or/03or020.html I'd also suggest the group puruse the incident reviews, perhaps you have a use for reviewing these, and they make a case at times of why it is important to follow the program materials. https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/incident-report/incident-reviews/ As to the call for training, why would any organization develop a training program for something that isn't part of the program? And exactly what does the group think it takes to make a 5 min training program for electric screwdrivers? Last I checked there were not any requirements to use laser tag equipment - thus not the program of the BSA. Discuss.

Et al, it's 2018, the 90's were a long time ago. Lots of other ways to bond found in the actual literature, no need to make it up as you go and put kids and yourself at risk. https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/gss07/ - suggest you all review, it's got some new material and presented in a different format. Even includes a safety moment to share on why somethings need to be unauthorized. RichardB

Happy Monday, https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2014/01/15/whats-that-age-again-a-complete-guide-to-when-scouts-can-do-what/ The links in the blog are out of date since the transfer of the www.scouting.org website, but this pretty much sums it up: "...The BSA’s Health and Safety team developed the age- and rank-appropriate guidelines based on the mental, physical, emotional and social maturity of Boy Scouts of America youth members..." The updated info can be found here: https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/toc/ So couple of discussion items: What requirements are there for youth to use wheelbarrows or wagons? Unaware of any but please let me know. What risks would be present for younger scouts in the use of wheelbarrows or wagons? Discuss.