Last Frontier Council Scouters,
The National Council has updated our Barriers to Abuse. There are a few key updates that we need to pay attention to. All the updates go into effect on September 1st, 2023. The updates are listed below.
The “72 – Hour Rule” is being eliminated. All adults staying overnight in connection with a Scouting activity must be currently registered in an adult fee required position as listed or as an adult program participant. There are limited exceptions for Cub Scout programs. Cub Scout parents or legal guardians taking part in an overnight Cub Scout program with their own child or legal ward are not required to register as leaders. All adults must review the “How to Protect your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide” that can be found in the front of each Cub Scout Handbook. In addition, the parent or legal guardian must be accompanied by a registered leader at any time they are with youth members other than their own child/ward. All other overnight adults must be currently registered in an adult fee required position.
To put this very simply, all 18+ adults attending a Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scout, or Exploring overnight event/activity must be currently registered in an adult fee required position. Any 18+ adults attending a Cub Scout event/activity who are not the parent or legal guardian of a Scout in attendance must be registered in an adult fee required position.
Adults may select from the list of adult fee required position options here. Some positions in the Boy Scouts of America do not meet this requirement (Merit Badge Counselor, Lion Cub Partner, Tiger Partner are some examples).
There is an updated Youth Protection Policy and Frequently Asked Questions that can be found here.
Thank you for being vigilant in keeping our program one of the safest in the world. Thank you for all that you do for our youth through Scouting!
Rory Barneche | Council Commissioner
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
Last Frontier Council
