50th Anniversary EPA Award Reaches Conclusion
As part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s 50th anniversary in 2021, the Boy Scouts of America and the EPA partnered to create an award for members of troops, crews and ships.
The objective of the EPA award was to combine a variety of disciplines to challenge and educate youth; introduce them to the breadth of the EPA’s involvement in environmental protection and conservation; and encourage them to research, investigate, experiment, demonstrate, survey, and study air pollution, water pollution, solid and hazardous waste, and ocean dumping.
As planned, the award program was available from January 1 – December 31, 2021, and has now concluded. Scouts who earned the award during 2021 can still order their award from National Supply until March 31, 2022.
What’s new in BSA’s 2021 Guide to Advancement
The Guide to Advancement has been updated with some pretty important changes.
Please read the following article for the highlights:
In Scouting, it’s said that feedback is a gift. It’s also a critical component of the Guide to Advancement, the BSA’s official trail map to the mechanics of advancement in Cub Scouts, Scouts …
blog.scoutingmagazine.org
Safety Moments
Cannon Prohibition Announcement
Effective September 21, 2021, there is no longer an exception for the use of cannons at council camp ceremonies. The use of cannons is prohibited at all Scouting activities. The Guide to Safe Scouting Prohibited Activities listing has been updated to reflect this change. A revised version of the BSA Shooting Sports Manual will be released in January 2022, reflecting this updated BSA policy. Questions? Email shooting.sports@scouting.org.
Update to the Guide to Safe ScoutingThe update to the Guide to Safe Scouting is now available in PDF here and online here. The Fall 2021 updates include: Aquatic Policy BSA’S Commitment to Safety Camping Policy Immunization Policy The Safe Checklist Transportation Policy Prohibited Activity List New Sections Incorporated in GTSS Frequently Asked Questions |
Safety is a value in Scouting! Safety as a core value treats safety as the most important item.Thank you for being part of delivering this value to our Scouts and Scouters. Resource Links:
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SAFETY MOMENTS ARCHIVE
Firearm Safety in the BSA: Best Practices and Reminders
All Boy Scouts of America (BSA) programs are guided by the BSA’s commitment to safety. In Scouting, we will not compromise the safety of our youth, volunteers, and employees. The purpose of BSA shooting sports programs is to teach firearm safety while introducing youth to a variety of programs. The BSA’s programs are developed and implemented through age-appropriate training and experiences. The Boy Scouts of America adheres to its longstanding policy of teaching its youth and adult members the safe, responsible, and intelligent handling, care, and use of firearms, archery, and hand-held throwing sports in planned, carefully managed, and supervised programs for each youth who chooses to participate.
As with many of our programs, we partner with third-party experts for program development and implementation, establishing industry standard safety measures and financial support. The National Shooting Sports Foundation, National Rifle Association, USA Archery, and others have long provided support in instructor training and credentialing, range engineering, safety standards, safety equipment and financial support of BSA-designed and -approved shooting programs.
The Boy Scouts of America continually reviews and improves all the programs that Scouts and Scouters participate in, including our shooting sports programs.
How does the BSA focus on firearm safety?
• Program participants are taught how to be safe around firearms. This includes conversations such as “What happens when you see a gun? Never touch the gun, leave it where it is, and tell an adult right away.” The BSA is committed to teaching youth how to always be safe around firearms, whether at home, in their neighborhoods, or around the community. (Note the use of the word “gun” in this example conversation is to ensure Scouts understand the lesson of the conversation versus using our preferred term “firearm.”)
• Program participants are taught and review the fundamental rules of firearm safety every time they participate in BSA shooting sports programs. All BSA shooting sports programs teach and model this behavior through safety briefings and program instruction.
• Prior to beginning any shooting sport experience, each participant is instructed how to handle a firearm safely and responsibly, reinforcing the rules of firearm safety.
• All shooting sports are facilitated by trained range supervisors and operate under strict participant-to-instructor ratios.
• BSA shooting sports programs collaborate with and utilize industry best practices in program materials, range design, program instruction, and program facilitation.
As we continue to implement these programs in the BSA, please be mindful that:
• All BSA shooting sports programs must align with the policies set forth in the Guide to Safe Scouting and the BSA Shooting Sports Manual. This includes but is not limited to the use of trained staff and range supervision for each type of shooting activity.
• Photos, videos, social media posts, websites, and other digital documentation of shooting sports programs must reflect BSA policies. For example, taking “selfies” with firearms is not appropriate since such action would not align with the BSA’s stance on safe firearm handling.
• As appropriate, language and verbiage used to describe BSA shooting sports programs should align with the BSA’s commitment to safety. This includes use of the term firearm versus gun, use of the term participant versus shooter where feasible, etc.
• All camping operations must adhere to BSA National Camp Accreditation Program (NCAP) Standards for firearm programs. NCAP’s national assessment teams will continue to engage in thorough reviews of all firearms programs for long-term camp operations. All local council led NCAP assessments must also include a thorough review at their day camp and short-term camp assessments.
Winter Sport Safety!
Beyond camping, a number of cold-weather activities present challenges to Scouts and leaders, such as alpine or cross-country skiing, ice skating, sledding, ice fishing, and snowshoeing. Essential ingredients for fun include skill training and an awareness of the hazards unique to these activities….Read more
Pies Are for Eating, Not Throwing!
Do your unit leaders know that throwing things at people or striking people in Scouting is prohibited? For more on prohibited activities that include striking or throwing objects at each other, see #14 and/or #15.
Instead of throwing pies at leaders as a reward for achieving a goal (like popcorn sales) we recommend eating the pies instead. Hitting someone should never be a reward for achievement in Scouting. Also consider the lesson being taught about wasting or throwing food, not behavior we want to reinforce in Scouting. If you know someone has plans to conduct this
activity as a leader or parent, you have a responsibility to stop it.
What are some awesome and fun things leaders can do to reward Scouts for achieving a sales goal?
1. We opened this note with one suggestion. Use a pie (one you that you eat, not throw) as a recognition. Perhaps leaders can break up the goal into eight and track it by using a pie chart.
2. Customize the recognition. At the start of the sale, leaders can ask each Scout, with their parent, to write down what reward they would like. Leaders will want to set a budget limit on this.
3. Hold a special event for those who make the goal. A local sporting activity, trip to the
zoo, or perhaps a movie night.
4. Special unit t-shirt or iron-on for t-shirt. Make a special unit t-shirt that is presented to each Scout who reaches their goal, or perhaps someone can craft a special iron-on that can be placed on an existing t-shirt.
5. Coordinate with the school for a special lunch. Lunch with the Cubmaster or Scoutmaster
is a great example of how we want to reward achievement, something special.
6. Questions? Email Health.Safety@scouting.org.
Do your unit leaders know that throwing things at people or striking people in Scouting is prohibited? For more on prohibited activities that include striking or throwing objects at each other, see #14 and/or #15.
Instead of throwing pies at leaders as a reward for achieving a goal (like popcorn sales) we recommend eating the pies instead. Hitting someone should never be a reward for achievement in Scouting. Also consider the lesson being taught about wasting or throwing food, not behavior we want to reinforce in Scouting. If you know someone has plans to conduct this
activity as a leader or parent, you have a responsibility to stop it.
What are some awesome and fun things leaders can do to reward Scouts for achieving a sales goal?
1. We opened this note with one suggestion. Use a pie (one you that you eat, not throw) as a recognition. Perhaps leaders can break up the goal into eight and track it by using a pie chart.
2. Customize the recognition. At the start of the sale, leaders can ask each Scout, with their parent, to write down what reward they would like. Leaders will want to set a budget limit on this.
3. Hold a special event for those who make the goal. A local sporting activity, trip to the
zoo, or perhaps a movie night.
4. Special unit t-shirt or iron-on for t-shirt. Make a special unit t-shirt that is presented to each Scout who reaches their goal, or perhaps someone can craft a special iron-on that can be placed on an existing t-shirt.
5. Coordinate with the school for a special lunch. Lunch with the Cubmaster or Scoutmaster
is a great example of how we want to reward achievement, something special.
6. Questions? Email Health.Safety@scouting.org.
Energy Drinks – The consumption of energy drinks by children may lead to serious medical consequences. The American Academy of Pediatrics has stated that “stimulant-containing energy drinks have no place in the diet of children and adolescents.” Read more
Hiking is a great way to spend your time in the outdoors. It’s also a good way to get your heart pumping for some exercise or to test your limits. Some hikes are just a few hundred feet while others are many miles, but all can pose potential hazards if not carefully considered. Read more and/or Download PDF
Hammock Camping – https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/safety-moments/hammock-camping/
Safety Moment – A Fatal Fall – Nolan Henderson’s Story: https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/safety-moments/fatal-fall-nolans-story/
Safety Moment – Dangers of Leaving Scouts Unsupervised, Sand Dunes, and Digging in Sand Dunes – Gage Wilson’s Story: https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/safety-moments/dangers-of-leaving-scouts-unsupervised-sanddunes-and-digging-in-sand-dunes-gages-story/
Restart Scouting Checklist
Online Transfer between Councils
NEW! ONLINE TRANSFER BETWEEN COUNCILS!
Online Registration: The ability for parents and/or volunteers to transfer between councils using the online registration system went live this week
Youth Protection Training Modules Update
Updated Youth Protection Training Modules
Over the decades, the Boy Scouts of America has been a leader in developing training and policies designed to keep young people safe. Over time, these policies have become standard with organizations across the nation. True youth protection can be achieved only through the focused commitment of everyone in Scouting. It is the mission of Youth Protection volunteers and professionals to work within the Boy Scouts of America to maintain a culture of Youth Protection awareness and safety at the national, regional, area, council, district, and unit levels.
We have heard your feedback and are now releasing updates to the mandatory online Youth Protection Training to include items such as:
• New mobile friendly design.
• Updates to the certification test to make questions less ambiguous.
We will communicate when this new release is available – the target date is June 1st, 2021. It is recommended that anyone who has started the online training prior to this date complete the training as the new versions will cause the loss of any progress in a module.
MSC Online Merit Badge Classes
Our Tanana Valley District Committee is continuing to host Virtual Merit Badge Classes for our Midnight Sun Council Scouts!
These classes are taking place regularly each Monday evening at 7 pm.
Please contact your Scoutmaster or the Council office at 907-452-1976 for the meeting login information.
For these sessions, please direct your Scouts to be in a room in the house with other adults within earshot, or to invite a parent/guardian to sit in for the class.
The Zoom link will become active at 6:50 pm.
Topic: MSC Virtual Merit Badge Sessions
New Dates will be announced soon!
Fall Recruitment Strategies
Update your BeAScout.org pin today
Update your BeAScout.org pin today, so prospective Scouts can find you blog.scoutingmagazine.org
BeAScout.org tells prospective Scouting families why Scouting is a good fit for their family and where they can find a pack, troop, crew or ship near them.
Click on the following link to read more:
