Welcome! This forum has a treasure trove of great info – Scouters helping Scouters! Just a heads up, though - all content, information, and opinions shared on this forum are those of the author, not the BSA.
“Effective June 1, 2018, adults accompanying a Scouting unit who are present at the activity for 72 total hours or more must be registered as a leader”
registration as an adult volunteer leader is required in order to do and track the criminal background check.
Effective June 1, 2018, adults accompanying a Scouting unit who are present at the activity for 72 total hours or more must be registered as a leader, including completion of a criminal background check and Youth Protection Training. The 72 hours need not be consecutive.
Per Guide to Safe Scouting, 2019:
Adult Supervision
Two registered adult leaders 21 years of age or over are required at all Scouting activities, including 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. Notwithstanding the minimum leader requirements, age- and program-appropriate supervision must always be provided. (Youth Protection and Barriers to Abuse FAQs)
All adults accompanying a Scouting unit who are present at the activity for 72 total hours or more must be registered as leaders. The 72 hours need not be consecutive.
I have a question about the 72-hour rule and a scouting event. I have leaders who say that a troop meeting is a scouting event. And since the 72 hours do not need to be consecutive, that any adult who comes to the unit meetings (say 2 hours weekly) would reach the 72-hour threshold after 36 meetings and therefore must register as a volunteer. Is this correct? Does this apply to parents who stay at cub scout den/pack meetings as well?
This is not correct. Each meeting is an individual event.
The rule applies to things like summer camp that are typically a week long. A parent cannot stay for 2 nights, leave then come back for another 2 nights without being registered.
I suggest talking to your Council professionals if you need more clarification.
BSA Guide to Safe Scouting Adult Supervision
Two registered adult leaders 21 years of age or over are required at all Scouting activities, including 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. Notwithstanding the minimum leader requirements, age- and program-appropriate supervision must always be provided.
All adults accompanying a Scouting unit who are present at the activity for 72 total hours or more must be registered as leaders. The 72 hours need not be consecutive.
Based on the definition above, Scout meetings at all levels (den, pack, patrol, troop, crew, ship, etc.) are Scouting activities and the BSA’s Youth Protection rules apply.
The 72 hours rule says “who are present at the activity for 72 total hours or more”. Because it says “the activity”, I would interpret this to mean a single activity – not multiple Scout meetings added up together. Some examples of this would be Scouts BSA summer camp or a 50-miler. A parent who will be accompanying a Scout troop for 72 hours or more (need not be consecutive) would need to be registered.
Chartered organizations and councils might have more stringent requirements, so I would recommend that you also check with them.
“All adults accompanying a Scouting unit who are present at the activity for 72 total hours or more must be registered as leaders. The 72 hours need not be consecutive.”
The intent of this policy is to protect participants - both youth and adults - and maintain a Safe Scouting environment.
It is event centric. Examples of where this applies today in Scouting are resident camps, treks, long term camping.
UNITS & Charter Partners, however, may make policies that are MORE stringent than BSA guidelines.
