Health and Safety Guide - I. Current Guidelines, Procedures, and Policies

A. Adult Leadership

The selection of adult leadership for units granted a charter by the Boy Scouts of America is the joint responsibility of the head of the chartered organization and the unit committee. The Boy Scouts of America has established recommended guidelines for the selection process and requires that all adults submit an application for membership. The unit leader must be approved by the head of the chartered organization.

Primary reference: Rules and Regulations of the Boy Scouts of America.

Trips and Outings

Two registered adult leaders, or one adult leader and a parent of a participating Scout, one of whom must be at least 21 years of age or older, are required for all trips or outings. It is the responsibility of the chartered organization of any Cub Scout pack, Boy Scout troop, Varsity Scout team, or Venturing crew or ship to inform the committee and leadership of the unit that sufficient adult leadership must be provided on all trips and outings (coed overnight activities require male and female adult leaders). See "Coed Overnight Activities," Venturing Reference Guide.

Leadership Requirements for Trips and Outings

During transportation to and from planned Scout outings

Meet for departure at a designated area.
Prearrange a schedule for periodic checkpoint stops as a group.
Plan a daily destination point.

A common departure site and a daily destination point are a must. If you cannot provide two adults for each vehicle, the minimum required is one adult and two or more youth members never one-on-one supervision.

The "safety rule of four" requires that no fewer than four individuals (always with the minimum of two adults) go on any back-country expedition or campout. If an accident occurs, one person stays with the injured, and two go for help.

Additional adult leadership requirements must reflect an awareness of such factors as size and skill level of the group, anticipated environmental conditions, and overall degree of challenge.

Male and female leaders require separate sleeping facilities. Married couples may share the same quarters if appropriate facilities are available.
Male and female youth participants will not share the same sleeping facility.
When staying in tents, no youth will stay in the tent of an adult other than his or her parent or guardian.
If separate shower and latrine facilities are not available, separate times for male and female use should be scheduled and posted for showers. The buddy system should be used for latrines by having one person wait outside the entrance, or provide Occupied and Unoccupied signs and/or inside door latches.
Two-deep adult leadership is required for flying activities. For basic orientation flights, the adult licensed pilot in control of the aircraft is sufficient for the flight while two-deep leadership is maintained on the ground.

Primary reference: Tours and Expeditions. Additional references: Scoutmaster Handbook, Venturing Reference Guide, Guide to Safe Scouting.

B. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

On January 26, 1992, the new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) began to affect every council across the nation in some way.

The law intends to integrate disabled people into all areas of American society and end the discrimination that long has affected their participation in even the most basic aspects of life that most of us, as American citizens, consider our basic "rights."

While the ADA is sweeping federal civil rights legislation, the actual determination of what is "reasonable" service or a "reasonable" accommodation will be determined in the courts. Case law will establish the standards. The law does not contain an inspection provision (e.g., OSHA) by the government.

It does contain opportunities for alternative dispute resolution systems short of lawsuit in order to mediate disagreements between parties.

Every council has excellent resources in their respective area; for employment matters, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and for camp matters, the Camp Director's Primer to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, No. 19-460, available from the national office Bin Resources Service.

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Source: BSA Health and Safety Guide #33415B - 2000 Printing