Covid-19 Guidance
NCAC has released new guidance on resuming in-person meetings, outings, and activities. Please refer to this guidance, check local restrictions, and coordinate with your chartered organization as you consider your plans to resume in-person activities.
Youth Protection & Incident Reporting
While BSA continuously evaluates and strengthens its Youth Protection programs, the organization recognizes that abuse can happen anywhere, even in Scouting. BSA’s safeguards include the following:
All volunteers must complete a rigorous application and screening process before joining Scouting. As part of this requirement, applicants must provide references and submit to a national criminal background check. BSA also verifies that the organization has not received any prior allegations of misconduct on the volunteer’s part by checking names in the Ineligible Volunteer Files. BSA’s goal is to ensure that all adult volunteers represent the values and character outlined in the Scout Oath and Scout Law and are good leaders for youth.
All volunteers are required to complete Youth Protection Training and must renew the training every two years.This training is accessible to the general public online at My.Scouting, under the Youth Protection tab. Please review the training, as it provides important information about detecting and preventing abuse, no matter where it may occur.
BSA has a mandatory reporting policy, which means all persons involved in Scouting shall report to local authorities any good faith suspicion or belief that any child is or has been physically or sexually abused, physically or emotionally neglected, exposed to any form of violence or threat, exposed to any form of sexual exploitation including the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child pornography, online solicitation, enticement, or showing of obscene material. No person may abdicate this reporting responsibility to any other person.
Incident Reporting: Timely, clear, concise, and complete incident reports allow for an appropriate response and an opportunity for analysis while promoting continuous improvements of our programs. You can report incidents, near misses, and youth protection / membership infraction incidents by clicking here.
The Guide to Safe Scouting
All participants in official Scouting activities should become familiar with the Guide to Safe Scouting. The Guide to Safe Scouting is an overview of Scouting policies and procedures gleaned from a variety of sources. For some items, the policy statements are complete. Unit leaders are expected to review the additional reference material cited prior to conducting such activities.
In situations not specifically covered in this guide, activity planners should evaluate the risk or potential risk of harm, and respond with action plans based on common sense, community standards, the Boy Scout motto, and safety policies and practices commonly prescribed for the activity by experienced providers and practitioners.
Training
BSA and the Chain bridge District provide many opportunities for adults to become trained leaders. From the basics of Youth Protection to advanced training in outdoor leadership and back country survival, there are plenty of resources to ensure that every scout has a trained leader. You can find more information on training opportunities here.
District Roundtable
The District Roundtable provides an opportunity to gather with other unit leaders on a monthly basis and share suggestions and best practices for providing the best possible program for youth involved in scouting activities. Separate Roundtable discussions for Cubs and Scouts BSA units take place each month. You can view the upcoming activities calendar for the schedule for the Chain Bridge District Roundtable.
If you are a Den, Pack, or Troop leader, subscribe to Cubmail or Chainemail, the district’s monthly newsletter, to be notified of events and opportunities for adult leaders.
Basecamp
Basecamp is a collaborative space for our current Scout leaders to discuss topics, share ideas and resources, as well as keep in touch with one another. We want to minimize the amount of recreation every year between transitions of Scouters and Key-3 leaders so we are better prepared to serve our youth. Every youth we serve deserves not only a 100% trained leader, but a knowledgeable one too!
If you haven’t done so already, We’d recommend downloading the “Basecamp 3” app to your smart phone and/or bookmarking the Basecamp login page to your preferred internet browser. This way, you’ll have access to all of the great ideas and resources shared here at the tips of your fingers!
Access the Cub Scouts BSA Information Exchange Basecamp Project: CLICK HERE
Access the Scouts BSA Information Exchange Basecamp Project: CLICK HERE
Access the Venturing BSA Information Exchange Project: CLICK HERE
Program Launch
The Chain Bridge District’s Program Launch is an annual showcase of scouting programs, resources, activities, and information from Chain Bridge scouters, our Council, and exhibitors from outside of scouting. Together, they all offer your unit great ideas and resources to help provide your scouts a great scouting program!
Every unit should have at least one leader at Program Launch. But don’t stop there! Scoutmasters and Venturing Advisors, bring your Senior Patrol Leaders and Crew Officers! Assistant Scoutmasters and Den Leaders should attend too! The more leaders that attend, the more you’ll be able to bounce ideas around.
Volunteer Recognition
Each year, the Chain Bridge District recognizes the Scouters who go above and beyond the call of volunteer duties to provide exemplary service to their units, their district, and scouting in general. The Silver Beaver Award recognizes one scout who stands out among their fellow Scouters and is recognized by their council for their service. A list of District Award of Merit winners, and Silver Beaver Award winners is available at https://www.ncacbsa.org/chain-bridge/sample-page/resources-for-leaders/volunteer-recognition/.