NARRAGANSETT COUNCIL, SCOUTING AMERICA

YOUTH PROTECTION AND

CAMP FACILITIES RENTAL PROCEDURES

Important Rules and Regulations

Groups must check-in upon arrival and checkout upon departure with the Ranger and/or the Campmaster on duty. Check-in is no earlier than 5:00 PM Friday. Checkout is no later than 12:00 noon Sunday. (The Ranger must clear exceptions in advance.) A completed roster must be submitted upon arrival.

Cub Scout outdoor activities – Cub Scout groups must follow the Narragansett Council Cub Scout Camping Policy and Guidelines. Family Camping, picnics, and pack overnighters – are encouraged at our Council camps. At least one leader present must have successfully completed the BALOO Training Program. It is recommended that all Cub Leaders camping have the BALOO training. Guidelines established in the BALOO Program must be observed. While all Narragansett Council facilities are approved for Cub Scout use, packs will find, Champlin, Buck Hill, Norse, Yawgoog and Aquapaug most “Cub friendly” for overnight use.

All adults staying overnight in connection with a Scouting activity must be currently registered as an adult volunteer or an adult program participant.  Adult volunteers must register in the position(s) they are serving in. Registration as a merit badge counselor position does not meet this requirement. See FAQ for list of approved adult registration fee required positions.   Limited exception below for Cub Scout overnight Programs.

Cub Scout Programs – Overnight Exception:   Cub Scout parents or legal guardians taking part in an overnight Cub Scout program with their own child or legal ward are not required to register as leaders. All adults must review the “How to Protect your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide” that can be found in the front of each Cub Scout Handbook. In addition, the parent or legal guardian must be accompanied by a registered leader at any time they are with youth members other than their own child/ward.  All other overnight adults must be currently registered in an adult fee required position.

Cub Scout tent camping is prohibited when temperatures are below 40°F (roughly November 1-April 1).

The following are prohibited at all facilities or properties: alcoholic beverages, marijuana, illegal drugs, sheath knives, personal firearms, hunting, chopping or carving of live trees, trenching or ditching of tents, rollerblading, skateboarding, scooters, recreational vehicles, pets, and the destruction or defacing of any facility or property.

Groups are responsible for any damage to the property.

Open fires in established and designated areas are allowed only with the permission of the Ranger or Campmaster on Duty. Open fires include all types of liquid, chemical, or gas stoves, wood fires, or the use of charcoal. State fire regulations in Rhode Island prohibit open fires from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM from March 15th to May 15th. This includes charcoal and stoves. Suitable fire-fighting equipment must be on-hand at all times. Full buckets of water and shovels are acceptable.

Wooden pallets are not allowed as firewood at any Narragansett Council facility.

All youth participants must be registered members of Scouting America or have interest in registering. Siblings of Cub Scouts are only allowed to participate as outlined in BALOO.

Portable propane or gas grills, stoves and lanterns are not allowed inside any Narragansett Council enclosed structure. Space heaters of all kinds are prohibited in any structure.

Campers are not allowed on the ice for any purpose at all Narragansett Council properties.

Be Prepared for a Successful Outing

Secure permission from parents. Let them know your destination, arrival and departure times. As well as names and phone numbers of all leaders that will be present.

Have on hand a current health history for each participant, plan program, meals, etc.

Ensure proper clothing, and footwear for all possible weather conditions.

Provide adequate adult leadership for the group considering the number of youth participants, their                                          age, their training, and experience for the type of outing you are planning                          .

Establish an emergency contact with a responsible adult in the unit’s home community. Specify when      an adult on the outing will check in.

Be alert to weather conditions. The Scouting America requires that at least one leader on every outing be    Hazardous Weather Trained. Direct leaders must complete the training as well.

All leaders should read the Guide to Safe Scouting. An updated copy should be on hand for every outing.

Refunds

A refund will be made to those units who give 4 weeks notice of cancellation. Cabins are in high demand, please be considerate of other units who would like to use the facility.

Youth Protection Guidelines for Group Outings*

Youth Protection and Adult Leadership

Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse

Scouting America has adopted the following policies for the safety and well-being of its members. These policies primarily protect youth members; however, they also serve to protect adult leaders. All parents and caregivers should understand that our leaders are to abide by these safeguards. Parents and youth are strongly encouraged to use these safeguards outside the Scouting program. Registered leaders must follow these guidelines with all Scouting youth outside of Scouting activities.

Registration Requirements

The chartered organization representative, or in their absence the executive officer of the chartered organization, must approve the registration of the unit’s adult leaders.

Registration includes:

Completion of application including criminal background check and mandatory Youth Protection training

Volunteer Screening Database check

Current Youth Protection training is required for leaders when renewing their registration or at unit charter renewal.

Adult program participants must register as adults and follow Youth Protection policies. (see below update April 2024 on 18 – 20 Adult Leader/Program Participant Policy)

Adult Supervision

Two registered adult leaders 21 years of age or over are required at all Scouting activities, including all meetings. There must be a registered female adult leader 21 years of age or over in every unit serving females. A registered female adult leader 21 years of age or over must be present for any activity involving female youth or female adult program participants.  

Notwithstanding the minimum leader requirements, age and program-appropriate supervision must always be provided.  

All adults staying overnight in connection with a Scouting activity must be currently registered as an adult volunteer or an adult program participant.  Adult volunteers must register in the position(s) they are serving in. Registration as a merit badge counselor position does not meet this requirement. See FAQ for list of approved adult registration fee required positions.   Limited exception below for Cub Scout overnight Programs.

Cub Scout Programs – Overnight Exception:   Cub Scout parents or legal guardians taking part in an overnight Cub Scout program with their own child or legal ward are not required to register as leaders. All adults must review the “How to Protect your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide” that can be found in the front of each Cub Scout Handbook. In addition, the parent or legal guardian must be accompanied by a registered leader at any time they are with youth members other than their own child/ward.  All other overnight adults must be currently registered in an adult fee required position.

One-on-one contact between adult leaders and youth members is prohibited both inside and outside of Scouting.

In situations requiring a personal conference, the meeting is to be conducted with the knowledge and in view of other adults and/or youth.

Private online communications (texting, phone calls, chat, IM, etc.) must include another registered leader or parent.

Communication by way of social media (Facebook, Snapchat, etc.) must include another registered leader or parent.

Discipline must be constructive.

Discipline must reflect Scouting’s values.

Corporal punishment is never permitted.

Disciplinary activities involving isolation, humiliation, or ridicule are also prohibited.

Adult Supervision: Youth Protection and Barriers to Abuse FAQs

 

Responsibility

Leaders must ensure that all participating in Scouting activities abide by the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

Adult leaders and youth members share the responsibility for the safety of all participants in the program, including adherence to Youth Protection and health and safety policies. 

Adult leaders are responsible for monitoring behavior and intervening when necessary.

Physical violence, sexual activity, emotional abuse, spiritual abuse, unauthorized weapons, hazing, discrimination, harassment, initiation rites, bullying, cyberbullying, theft, verbal insults, drugs, alcohol, and pornography have no place in the Scouting program and may result in revocation of membership.

All leaders are required to adhere to the Scouter Code of Conduct.

Accommodations

Tenting

In Cub Scouting

Parents and guardians may share a tent with their family.

In Older Youth Programs (I.e., Scouts BSA, Sea Scouts, and Venturing)

Separate tenting arrangements must be provided for male and female adults, and for male and female youth.

Youth and adults must tent separately.

Youth sharing a tent must be no more than two years apart in age.

Spouses may share a tent.

As an exception, a parent or guardian may share a tent with their own child if they are of the same sex.

Lodging/Cabin Accommodations

Whenever possible, separate cabins or lodging should be provided for male and female adults as well as for male and female youth. Where separate accommodations cannot be provided due to group size or limited availability, modifications may be made. Where completely separate accommodations are not available, additional supervision is required.

If adults and youth of the same gender occupy single-room accommodations, there must be a minimum of two adults and four youth, with all adults being Youth Protection trained.

Physical separation by other means, including temporary barriers or space, should be used only when no other arrangements are possible.

Restrooms

Separate shower and latrine facilities should be provided for male and female adults as well as for male and female youth. If separate facilities are not available, separate times should be scheduled and posted.

Privacy of youth is respected.

Adults and youth must respect each other’s privacy, especially in situations such as changing clothes and taking showers at camp.

Adult leaders should closely monitor these areas but only enter as needed for youth protection or health and safety reasons.

Accommodations: Youth Protection and Barriers to Abuse FAQs

Program Requirements

The buddy system should be used.

The use of smartphones, cameras, mirrors, drones, etc., in places or situations where privacy is expected is prohibited.

All aspects of the Scouting program are open to observation by parents and leaders.

Scouting America does not recognize any secret organizations as part of its program.

Hazing and initiations are prohibited and have no part during any Scouting activity.

All forms of bullying and harassment including verbal, physical, and cyberbullying are prohibited.

Inappropriate public displays of affection are prohibited.

Sexual activity is prohibited.

Appropriate attire is required for all activities.

Program Requirements: Youth Protection and Barriers to Abuse FAQs

 

Reporting Requirements

Adult leaders and youth members have a responsibility to recognize, respond to, and report Youth Protection violations and abuse.

Reporting

Youth Protection Policy Violations 

Serious Youth Protection policy violations or behaviors that put a youth’s safety at risk must be reported to the Scout executive.

Online reporting is also available at Incident Reporting.

Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse

All persons participating in Scouting programs are mandated reporters of child abuse.

Reports must be made to local law enforcement and child protective services. State law may require additional reporting.

This reporting duty cannot be delegated to any other person.

Reporting to the Scout executive or Scouts First Helpline ensures that follow-up can occur for the safety of our youth. Scout executives and Scouts First coordinate follow-up actions.

Scouts First Helpline

As part of its “Scouts First” approach to the protection and safety of youth, Scouting America has established a dedicated 24-hour helpline to receive reports of known or suspected abuse or behavior that might put a youth at risk.
1-844-SCOUTS1 (1-844-726-8871)

If immediate assistance is needed in the handling of a sexual abuse allegation, contact Scouts First Helpline (1-844-SCOUTS1).

If someone is at immediate risk of harm, always call 911.

Additional Resources:

Accommodation

The older youth Scouting America programs (Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scouting, and Exploring) encourage leadership development, growth, and independence by recommending that youth share accommodations with other youth (must be the same gender per Barriers to Abuse). However, we also recognize that exceptional circumstances may warrant a parent or legal guardian sharing accommodations with their same-gender* child if the parent/legal guardian meets all leader registration requirements.

Youth siblings of the same gender may share sleeping accommodations regardless of age with permission from their parents or legal guardians.

Campsites must be arranged to separate genders adequately.  This separation could be achieved through natural barriers, physical distance, or by the campsite being divided, so long as the separation achieves privacy for both adults and youth, as well as by gender.  Adult leaders are responsible for establishing the barriers and reminding Scouts that members of one gender must not enter the tent/housing of another. 

The Buddy System

The buddy system is designed to provide an additional layer of safeguarding by ensuring no youth member is alone and that a buddy can get help in an emergency. 

The buddy system is used whenever youth members are outside the line of sight of qualified adult leadership and specific activities where the buddy system is required for participation. Of note:

The adult unit leadership oversees and approves buddies.

Buddies are two and can also be three to prevent youth members from being alone.

A buddy pair cannot be mixed gender, where appropriate a third youth must be added (for a buddy group of 3).

Youth siblings of the same gender may serve as buddies regardless of age with permission from their parents or legal guardians.

Except for siblings, it is recommended that the age gap between buddies be at most three years for all non-sleeping activities but must be no more than two years for all tenting.

When exceptional circumstances warrant, a parent or legal guardian may serve as a buddy for their child’s Scouting activities, but youth buddies meeting the above criteria, if available, are always preferred.

Participation by Parents and Legal Guardians

Parents and legal guardians are encouraged to participate in Scouting activities with their children. However, to meet youth protection policies, some participation—including all overnight activities**—requires the parent or legal guardian to be a registered adult in their child’s unit.

*Special needs remain unchanged.

**See and note the Cub Scout Exception

18 – 20 Adult Leader/Program Participant Policy 

17-year-old* youth members transitioning to an adult leader (Scouts BSA), Camp Staff or adult program participant (Order of the Arrow, Venturing and Sea Scouts) upon their 18th birthday may continue to participate while their adult application and CBC are processed, but this period shall not exceed 30 days. These individuals are subject to the same youth protection policies and guidelines as all adult Scouters even during this registration transition period.  

This includes:

Adhere to the Youth Protection and Barriers to abuse polices of Scouting America.

Follow housing and tenting policies that apply to adult membership.

Utilize restroom and shower facilities for adults.

Buddy system is not required but is recommended for all participants.

While adult program participants do not require two deep leadership, as they are subject to the same youth protection policies and guidelines as all adult Scouters. All Scouting activities are still required to meet barriers to abuse and must have two leaders over 21.

*Exception

 17-year-old youth members whose 18th birthday occurs during active participation at Summer Camp, a High Adventure Base or any Scouting America National Events may complete the activity they started as a youth participant without interruption; however, at its conclusion they must immediately register as an adult. This exception is intended for limited use in scenarios such as completing a trek while staying in the same tent or accommodation in the last few days of an event. It does not change or extend Eagle Scout or other advancement required to be completed by a Scouts 18th Birthday; they will need to follow all applicable advancement policies.

Youth Protection and Barriers to Abuse FAQs

Youth Protection Training

State-by-state Mandatory Reporting Information 

 

Check in no earlier than 5pm Friday night. 

Upon arrival at Camp please check in with the Campmasters.  The Campmaster Office is located on the right hand side of the road as you drive in.

Check out no later than 10am Sunday morning.

We kindly ask you let us know 30 days prior to your reservation of a cancellation so we can open your site to other units. 

Refunds after 30 days prior are subject to the Camp Director.