Youth Protection Training: Keeping Kids Safe
Creating a safe environment
Learn about adult and youth training programs that make Scouting one of the safest places for youth.
What is Youth Protection Training (YPT)?
Youth Protection Training is split into two groups, one for adults and the other for youth.
Adult training is REQUIRED for all volunteers! This training reviews the policies and procedures that
registered adult leaders and parents in Scouting must know and enforce
during any Scouting activity. Training
also covers what to do if a youth protection incident occurs and how
to report the incident to local authorities and Scouting officials.
Adult leaders take this training in addition to their position
specific training to be considered basic trained. Parents (non-leaders)
are encouraged to take the training, too. Youth Protection Training is to be renewed at a minimum of every two years.
Youth training covers a bunch of topics that are
age-appropriate. The key takeaway is for youth to
"Recognize, Respond, and Report" any situation that is inappropriate
when interacting with an adult or another youth member.
Scouting's buddy system is emphasized as a method to
keep youth safe. For example, youth are taught to never walk off alone, they should
always have a friend with them.
How do I take the Adult Training?
We have two ways for adults to take Youth Protection training:
In person - Your district will typically hold a few in person trainings throughout the year. Youth Protection Trainings are also listed in our Training Wizard on the Training page.
Online - The most popular and easy to access. To get started, go to the my.scouting website and create an
account. You don't have to be a registered adult leader to take
the training. If you are, you'll want to link your BSA member ID
number with your my.Scouting account. Your BSA member ID number is on
your wallet size membership card, the official Scouting unit roster, or
your can call a council registrar to get your ID number at
612-261-2364. Linking your BSA member ID will ensure your official
training record contains the current status of your YPT.
Browse to the e-learning area after logging in and you'll see Youth
Protection
Training, as well as other online courses you can take. Most people can finish the online YPT in 60-90 minutes and you can stop anytime, save your progress, and continue later.
Log On To my.Scouting
How do I Train our Scouting Youth?
Scouting has an age-appropriate training video for
each of our programs which are online in the documents section of this page. New youth members should
receive this training as soon as possible while current youth members should
take a refresher every three years. It's best that
parents of youth be present for the hour-long training. The different videos are:
- It Happened to Me (Cub Scout version)
- A Time to Tell (Scouts BSA version)
- Personal Safety Awareness (Venturing version)
After finishing youth training, fill out the training report form
(In the Forms section of the links on this page) and submit to
training-records@northernstar.org
How do I Report Abuse or concerns?
Mandatory Report of Child Abuse
Everyone 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 possession, manufacture, or distribution of child
pornography, online solicitation, enticement, or showing or obscene
material. You may not abdicate this reporting responsibility to any
other person. Follow the procedures for reporting abuse at the link in
the related pages section on this page.