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 reviews 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.

Northern Star Council requires that all units have at a minimum of two registered adult leaders Youth Protection Trained to charter a Scouting unit, it is expected that all registered leaders are Youth Protection Trained. This 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, either online or in a classroom. Online is 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 763-231-7204. 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 30 minutes or less. Cub Scout and Boy Scout adult leaders take the same YPT. Venturing leaders take a slightly different YPT due to the co-ed nature of the program.

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 or can be checked out at a Scout Service Center. 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 (Boy Scout 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 [email protected]

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.