CategoriesTraining by

Updated Safety Afloat Training

ScoutingU Releases Updated Safety Afloat Training

In collaboration with the BSA National Aquatics Subcommittee, ScoutingU has released an updated version of “Safety Afloat” online training that is also mobile compatible. Since the inception of Scouting, learning to swim and engaging in aquatics activities such as boating and paddle sports have been core to the program. Safe Afloat training is required for any BSA unit who will participate in boating activities. This online training ensures that adult leaders are prepared to facilitate safe use of canoes, kayaks, rowboats, rafts, floating tubes, sailboats, motorboats (including waterskiing), and other small craft. To access the updated training, log onto my.Scouting.org and search the catalog in the BSA Learn Center for “Safety Afloat.” For additional information regarding BSA aquatics programs, please refer to the Guide to Safe Scouting and the BSA’s Aquatics Supervision Guide.

 

FAQs

Does Safety Afloat training have to be renewed?
Yes, adults supervising boating activities must have completed Safety Afloat training within the previous two years.

Do I need to take the new version of Safety Afloat training if my current training is not expired?
No, you can complete the updated version of Safety Afloat when your current certification expires.

Is Safety Afloat training available to take in person?
No, Safety Afloat is only available online. It is also mobile compatible.

CategoriesCouncil Resources by

Update to Scouts BSA joining requirements

Update to Scouts BSA joining requirements opens the door to more young people

While Scouts love to climb mountains and hike across rugged terrain, their path to joining Scouts BSA shouldn’t be met with similarly daunting obstacles. To that end, a change to the Scouts BSA joining requirements will make it easier for young people to join a troop alongside their friends and classmates.

Effective April 18, 2022, the Scouts BSA joining requirements have changed. They now state that a young person can be a member of Scouts BSA if they meet any of these requirements below.

 

New Scouts BSA joining requirements (effective April 18, 2022)

  • At least 10 years old, currently in the fifth grade and register on or after March 1

or

  • At least 10 years old and have earned the Arrow of Light Award 

or

  • At least 11 years old (but not yet 18)

 

As a reminder, the previous joining requirements stated that a young person could be a Scouts BSA member if they met any of the requirements below.

Old Scouts BSA joining requirements (prior to April 18, 2022)

  • At least 10 years old and have completed the fifth grade

or

  • At least 10 years old and have earned the Arrow of Light Award

or

  • At least 11 years old (but not yet 18)

 

In comparing the two sets of bullets, you can see that the change primarily applies to young people who are still in the fifth grade. Thanks to the change, a 10-year-old who wants to join a Scouts BSA troop in March of their fifth grade year (or beyond) is welcome to do so.

 

An option to cross over

Some parents might wonder whether a Cub Scout working on Arrow of Light must move to a Scouts BSA troop if they turn 11 but haven’t finished the rank.
The answer is no. The pack can continue to work on rank advancement as normal and move the Scout into a troop when they complete the rank or at the regular program roll-up in June.
In other words, the only mandatory crossover is when they have completed the fifth grade. Like all the other ranks in Cub Scouting, once school ends, the Cub Scout is now the next rank.

CategoriesBlog by

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. 

CategoriesMidnight Sun Council by

Clarification – Eagle Scout Requirements – Citizenship in Society

Citizen in Society MB
Eagle Scout candidates will continue to use the current rank requirements until June 30, 2022, and will not be required to complete the new Citizenship in Society Merit Badge as long as they complete all of the current Eagle Rank requirements before July 1, 2022.

They do not have to submit their final Eagle Scout application nor complete their Eagle Scout Board of Review prior to July 1, 2022, but must complete all current Eagle Scout requirements before then. 

Starting July 1, 2022, Eagle Scout candidates will be required to complete all Eagle Scout requirements including the new Citizenship in Society merit badge. 
 
As has been the practice, the Local Council will be responsible for verifying in the system the Eagle Scout candidate and their completion of the Eagle Scout requirements.

The Local Council will determine those Scouts that meet all requirements before July 1, 2022, under the current requirements, and those Scouts that fall under the new Eagle Scout requirements as of July 1, 2022. 

CategoriesTraining by

Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews (ILSC)

Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews (ILSC) Has Been Updated! 

The Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews Course (ILSC) has been created to help Venturers learn and practice the attitudes and skills that good leaders demonstrate. The course is a series of lessons divided into three modules: Leading Self, Leading Others, and Leading Crews. The syllabus contains six and a half hours of instruction, but a course’s length may vary depending on facilitators’ choice of games, the content chosen for more extensive discussion, and the needs of the crew. 
 
Completion of ILSC is a prerequisite for Venturers to participate in the more advanced leadership courses, such as National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT), National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE) and Kodiak. 
 
The 2021 Revision of Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews (ILSC) instructor-led course includes the following major changes: 
• This version of ILSC was reviewed by the NYLT task force to ensure that it was compatible with the new NYLT syllabus. 
• Course format revised to make it easier to read online or as a downloaded document. 
• EDGE is now referred to as Scouting EDGE to align with NYLT during the Team Development session. 
• Leadership tied to the Venturing motto “Lead the Adventure.” 
• Venturing terminology updated. 
• Vision session revised to align with NYLT “Start with Why” (reference to mission statement eliminated). 
• Distinction between delegating and tasking added to the session on delegating. 
• Session on calendaring (time management) added. 
• Session on keeping the crew on task added. 
• New games/activities with options added (a few activities were “retired”). 
• Feedback from Venturers included as sidebars. 
The updated material can be found at https://www.scouting.org/training/youth/.  
 
Questions? Email Kathy.Craig@scouting.org.