Youth Protection
The Boy Scouts of America and Troop 35 place the greatest importance on creating the most secure environment possible for our youth members. One aspect is having our leaders trained in youth protection. Our youth protection policies state:
- Youth Protection Training is required for all BSA registered adults.
- No new adult can be registered without first completing Youth Protection Training at the time of registration.
- Youth Protection Training must be taken every two years.
- If a volunteer's Youth Protection Training record is not current at the time of charter renewal, the volunteer will not be reregistered.
- Adults who will be present at a Scouting activity for 72 hours or more must register with BSA and complete a criminal background check and Youth Protection Training. The 72 hours need not be consecutive.
There are two standing rules in Troop 35:
1) No adult should ever be alone with a youth scout. We call this Two-Deep Leadership.
- This includes phone, text, video conferencing (i.e. Zoom) and email communications between an adult and youth scout. In addition, two adults must be copied on all official scout text and email communications (meeting and event reminders) within the troop. Everyday communications amongst scouts do not require adults be present or copied, unless it is official scout business. All texts between the SPL and an adult should include the Scoutmaster.
2) No youth scout should ever be by himself at a scout outing or event. We call this the Buddy System.