This page contains resources to assist leaders and parents, in their roles as "Akela," to promote the Cub Scouting program, and enrich the Scouting experience.

Adult Leader Training:

To be considered fully trained, Adult Leaders must complete the following training:
• Cub Scout "Fast Start" Training on the Internet
• Youth Protection Training
• Risk Zone Training
• Cub Scout Leader Training (includes Cub Scout Essentials Training and Leader-Specific training for your position)

Advanced Training Opportunities:

• Safe Swim Defense & Safety Afloat Training:
• BALOO (Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation)
• Webelos Leader Outdoor Training
• Wood Badge Training
• Pow-Wow/Univ. of Scouting

Youth Protection Training

Youth Protection is a REQUIRED training for all adult leaders accompanying Scouts on field trips, outings, camping trips, etc. Youth Protection Training is also offered by many individual units.

How to Report Child Abuse
The problem of child abuse has become one of the most significant social problems facing our nation. Recent public opinion polls rank the problem of child abuse second only to drug abuse as a national concern. Your participation in this training not only reflects your concern about children’s safety in this society, but also your willingness to take steps toward halting child abuse and its detrimental effects.
Youth Protection Overview:

FIVE POINT STRATEGY
Guiding the BSA’s Youth Protection is a five-point strategy to prevent child abuse:

1. Educating adult volunteers, parents, and youth to aid in the detection and prevention of child abuse.
2. Establishing leader-selection procedures to prevent offenders from entering your organization leadership ranks.
3. Establish policies that create barriers to child abuse within the program.
4. Encourage youth to report improper behavior in order to identify offenders quickly.
5. Swift removal and reporting of alleged offenders.

THE THREE R’S OF YOUTH PROTECTION
Members of the Boy Scouts of America are taught the Three R’s of Youth Protection. This stresses that the child needs to RECOGNIZE situations that place him at risk of being molested, how child molesters operate, and that anyone can be a molester. The child needs to know that if he RESISTS, most child molesters will leave him alone. And, if the child REPORTS attempted or actual molestation he will help protect himself as well as other children from further abuse, and will not be blamed for what occurred.

EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME INVOLVED
Along with conducting Youth Protection training for the council scouting units, the Youth Protection Committee is involved in community programs bringing our message to as many youth as possible. We are only limited in what we can do by our imagination and the number of volunteers who are involved. We invite you to become a member of our committee and to bring with you your enthusiasm and concern for the young boys and girls in the communities we serve. Please contact Dennis Kohl at 908-654-9191 x113 or dekohl@bsamail.org

Risk Zone Training:
 
WHAT IS THE RISK ZONE TRAINING?
• To promote understanding and acceptance of responsibility for the well-being and safety of Scouts entrusted to their care when Leaders conduct unit activities
• To introduce the BSA "Sandwich Principle" in safety.
• To identify Risk areas in Scouting activities
• To acquaint Unit Leaders with BSA resource materials in planning safe activities.

SESSION OUTLINE
The Risk Zone Training is a 90-minute session which covers the following subjects:
• Guide to Safe Scouting
• Vehicle Safety
• Medical Requirement
• Accident Reporting
• Safety Afloat
• Safe Swim Defense
• Climb on Safely
• BSA Bike Safety
• Youth Protection

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Unit Leaders, Committee Chairmen, Unit Health & Safety Chairmen, Webelos Leaders, Commissioners, any volunteer who will serve as a Tour Leader or Assistant for a Tour Permit and any other interested Scouter - a three-year certification will be issued.
Either the tour leader or assistant tour leader must complete Risk Zone training to secure a tour permit.

THE SWEET 16 of BSA SAFETY
• Qualified Supervision
• Physical Fitness
• Buddy System
• Safe Area or Course
• Equipment Selection & Maintenance
• Personal Safety Equipment
• Safety Procedures & Policies
• Skill Level Limits
• Weather Check
• Planning
• Communications
• Permit & Notices
• First Aid Resources
• Applicable Laws
• CPR Resource
• Discipline

Cub Scout Leader Training

NEW LEADER ESSENTIALS
An introductory session that highlights the values, aims, history, funding, and methods of Scouting. It addresses how these aims and methods are reached in an age-appropriate style within Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, and Venturing. Videos, discussions, and hands-on reinforcement are presented during the 90-minute training session. Ideally, all unit-based volunteers —Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, and Venturing leaders — take this session at the same time, so they understand that they are all striving for the same results with the youth they serve. Each leader completes New Leader Essentials training only once.

Benefits of New Leader Essentials:
Assistance in implementing the full Scouting program with chartered organizations
A better understanding of the advantages of encouraging youth and adult volunteers to move through the traditional program as their youth mature
An awareness of the different aspects of the Scouting program, which may result in leaders taking advantage of those programs for a child in a different age group

LEADER SPECIFIC TRAINING
Once a volunteer has a solid overview of the BSA's values-based program, he or she can begin training for a specific Scouting position through Leader Specific training. This training provides the specialized knowledge a new leader needs to assume a leadership role. Leader Specific training has been developed for the following positions and their assistants:
• Tiger Cub Den Leaders
• Cub Scout Den Leaders
• Webelos Den Leaders
• Cub Masters
• Pack Committee Members
• Troop Committee Members
Leader Specific Training is required each time a leader changes positions within the Pack.

Safe Swim Defense & Safety Afloat Training
 

Why Have This Training?
 
Most accidents in aquatics activities are caused by the lack of adult supervision and discipline. Almost every accidental drowning can be attributed to the violation of one or more safe swim defenses.
Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat are required training courses for your unit to participate in ANY aquatics activity. This training is offered to any registered adult leader, and is appropriate for Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, Venturing or Explorer Leaders.
Classes will also be offered once a week at all of our Boy Scout Summer Camp Programs.
How Do You Register?
The Patriots’ Path Council would like you to take advantage of the Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat training classes that we are currently offering.
For more information about the classes, or the training itself, contact Terry Paicer at 973-361-1800 x226 or tpaicer@bsamail.org

Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO)
 
The target participant for BALOO training is a new Cub Scout leader with a desire to plan and carry-out an entry-level outdoor experience for the pack. Successful completion of this training will result in an increased level of confidence and a willingness to plan an age-appropriate pack overnighter.
The goal of the pack overnight activity is to provide a successful pack event that is Age appropriate
• Based on the purposes of Cub Scouting
• Successful in whetting the appetite of the Cub Scout, his parents, and the leaders to want to do more in the outdoors
• A fun time with family and friends
BALOO Learning Objectives:  By completing this training course the participants will:
1. Understand the focus of the Cub Scout level of the BSA program;
2. Acquire the skills and confidence necessary to plan and carry out a successful Cub Scout-level overnight activity; and
3. Increase their knowledge of the resources available from the BSA for carrying out this activity.