Who's Insured At Cub Scout Family Camp?

are extended family members insured during cub scout family camps

Cub Scout camping is a family-oriented activity that offers a great opportunity for families to bond and spend quality time together outdoors. While it is a fun and exciting experience, ensuring the safety and well-being of all participants is of utmost importance. This includes understanding the insurance coverage provided by Scouting America and how it applies to different family members attending Cub Scout camps. So, are extended family members insured during these camps? This is an important question that needs clarification to provide peace of mind for all those involved.

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Siblings of Cub Scouts are generally allowed to join, but they are not insured by the BSA

Cub Scout camping is a family-oriented activity. While siblings of Cub Scouts are generally allowed to join, they are not insured by the BSA.

The Cub Scout program encourages family participation and engagement. Parents and guardians are allowed to share a tent with their family, including siblings registered in other Scouting America programs. However, it is important to note that unregistered siblings are not covered by BSA insurance. In the event of an accident, the responsibility would likely fall on the parent or guardian.

To ensure the safety and well-being of all participants, it is recommended to follow the Youth Protection policies and guidelines established by Scouting America. These policies apply to both recreational family camping and council-organized family camps. Council-organized family camps, involving multiple packs, are required to be conducted by trained leaders at approved sites and must accommodate the participation of nonmembers (siblings).

Additionally, specific requirements must be met for Cub Scout overnight camping. For example, Webelos and Arrow of Light dens/patrols must be supervised by a BALOO-trained adult leader, and each Scout is expected to attend with their parent(s) or legal guardian(s). In cases where a parent or guardian is unable to attend, supervision by another registered adult member of Scouting America is permitted.

While siblings of Cub Scouts can generally join family camps, it is important to prioritize their safety and adhere to the guidelines set by Scouting America, even though they are not insured by the BSA.

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Unregistered adults are not permitted to join Cub Scout camps

Cub Scout camping is a family-oriented activity, and parents and guardians are encouraged to participate and share tents with their children. However, unregistered adults are not permitted to join Cub Scout camps. This is an absolute and direct violation of safe scouting rules. The only unregistered adults allowed on overnight campouts are parents of registered Cub Scouts.

Unregistered adults have not been subject to a background check and are not covered by BSA insurance, with no health forms on file. This poses a potential risk to the safety and well-being of the Cub Scouts and registered adult leaders. The presence of unregistered adults can also create complications in the event of an insurance claim. If an unregistered adult or youth is injured during a campout, they may not be covered by the Scout's insurance, and the financial and legal liability would likely fall on the parent or guardian.

Cub Scout camps require qualified, registered, and trained adult leadership to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants. These leaders must meet the leadership requirements outlined in Scouting's Barriers to Abuse, including two-deep leadership for all activities. The leaders are responsible for establishing barriers and maintaining privacy between adults and youth, as well as separating genders at campsites. They also ensure that youth sharing tents are no more than two years apart in age.

To maintain the safety and integrity of Cub Scout camps, it is essential to follow the Youth Protection Policies and guidelines established by the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). These policies apply to all participants, including parents and unregistered adults. While little siblings of Cub Scouts are generally allowed, unregistered youth who are not immediate family members, such as friends or cousins, are not permitted to join campouts.

In summary, unregistered adults are not permitted to join Cub Scout camps to maintain safety, comply with insurance requirements, and adhere to Youth Protection Policies. Only parents of registered Cub Scouts are allowed as unregistered participants on overnight campouts. It is important to prioritize the well-being of the Cub Scouts and follow the guidelines set by the BSA to create a safe and enjoyable experience for all involved.

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Youth Protection policies apply to Cub Scout camps

Scouting America has developed numerous procedural and leadership selection policies and provides parents and leaders with resources for the Cub Scout, Scouts BSA, and Venturing programs. The Cub Scout program is family-oriented, and parents and guardians are encouraged to participate in Scouting activities with their children.

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. 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.

Scouting America has established the following guidelines for a safe and quality camping experience. Supervision of camping activities must include qualified, registered, adult leadership. At a minimum, one leader present is current in Hazardous Weather Training for all unit types. It is recommended that all leaders complete this training.

All Youth Protection policies apply to Cub Scout camps. Webelos den and Arrow of Light den/patrol coordinated campouts must have a BALOO-trained adult leader in attendance. Cub Scout overnight camping is limited to their council's designated locations with appropriate facilities. Each Scout should attend with their parent(s) or legal guardian(s). A Webelos Scout or Arrow of Light Scout whose parent or legal guardian cannot attend a Webelos den or Arrow of Light patrol overnight camping trip may participate under the supervision of at least two registered leaders. The leaders and a parent or legal guardian must agree to the arrangement, and all Youth Protection policies apply.

Scouting's Barriers to Abuse are published in the Guide to Safe Scouting, and the online version is maintained as the most current. Frequently asked questions are also addressed in this FAQ. A key ingredient for a safe and healthy Scouting experience is respect for privacy. The use of smartphones, cameras, mirrors, drones, etc., in places or situations where privacy is expected is prohibited. Sending sexually explicit photographs or videos electronically or "sexting" by cell phones is a form of texting practiced by young adults and children as young as middle-school age. Sexting is neither safe nor private nor an approved form of communication and can lead to severe legal consequences for the sender and the receiver.

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Cub Scout camping requirements: council-approved locations, BALOO-trained adult leaders

Cub Scout camping is a highly anticipated activity for many young scouts. The Cub Scout program is family-oriented, and there are several requirements that must be met to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all participants.

Firstly, council approval is necessary for unit-coordinated overnight camping activities involving other units not chartered by the same organisation. This includes events for packs, troops, crews, and ships from the same or neighbouring councils, or from the same or other territories. It's important to note that youth who are not registered in the unit may not accompany parents or siblings in camping programs. This means that unregistered siblings cannot attend as part of a "family camp".

Secondly, Cub Scout camping is restricted to council-approved locations with appropriate facilities. These locations are carefully selected to provide a safe and suitable environment for the scouts. Webelos and Arrow of Light dens are the only groups permitted to conduct den campouts, and these campouts are limited to no more than two consecutive nights.

To ensure the safety of the scouts, it is recommended that all Cub Scout leaders who go camping with Cub Scouts undergo Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) training. This training consists of an online component and a practical, hands-on component. The goal is to prepare leaders to plan and execute safe and enjoyable camping experiences that align with Cub Scouting's principles. At least one BALOO-trained adult leader must be in attendance for overnight outdoor events, including pack camping and Webelos den overnighters.

Additionally, all Youth Protection policies must be adhered to during Cub Scout camping trips. This includes policies related to barriers to abuse, such as separate tenting for youth and adults in all programs except Cub Scouting. In Cub Scouting, parents and guardians are allowed to share a tent with their family, including siblings registered in other Scouting America programs. However, youth sharing tents must be no more than two years apart in age.

While extended family members are allowed to attend Cub Scout family camps, it is unclear whether they are insured during these camps. Scouting America's commercial general liability policy does not cover scouting youth (under 18), but it is unknown if this extends to extended family members. It is important for families to review the insurance policies and guidelines provided by Scouting America to understand the extent of their coverage during these camps.

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Cub Scouts may experience overnight activities in venues other than accredited resident camping

The second category is pack-organized overnight events involving more than one family from a single pack, focused on age-appropriate Cub Scout activities and conducted at council-approved locations. If non-members (such as siblings) participate, the event must be structured to accommodate them. Scouting America health and safety and Youth Protection policies apply. In most cases, each youth member will be under the supervision of a parent or guardian. In all cases, each youth participant is responsible to a specific adult. At least one adult on a pack overnighter must have completed Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO).

Cub Scout camping is a family-centric program. Cub Scout camping is limited to their council's designated locations with appropriate facilities. During Webelos Scout dens and Arrow of Light den/patrol camping, each Scout should attend with their parent(s) or legal guardian(s). A Webelos Scout or Arrow of Light Scout whose parent or legal guardian cannot attend a Webelos den or Arrow of Light patrol overnight camping trip may participate under the supervision of at least two registered leaders. The leaders and a parent or legal guardian must agree to the arrangement, and all Youth Protection policies apply. Webelos dens and Arrow of Light dens/patrols coordinated overnight campouts are restricted to no more than two consecutive nights. Webelos dens and Arrow of Light dens/patrols coordinated overnight campouts must have a BALOO-trained adult leader in attendance.

Cub Scouts may be eligible for the summertime elective adventure. These new "Summertime Fun" elective adventures encourage a Cub Scout to participate in an activity each month of the summer. Each Scout can earn the elective based on their individual participation. Units that wish to camp or participate in activities with units outside their charter organization must have permission from the local council to do so. Local council approval is needed for unit-coordinated overnight camping activities involving other units not chartered by the same organization. Units that wish to host events involving other units that do not share the same charter partner must have approval from their council. This includes events for packs, troops, crews, and ships from the same council, neighboring councils, the same territory, or other territories. Activities must be age- and skill-appropriate for all participants. Youth who are not registered in the unit may not accompany parents or siblings in camping programs.

Frequently asked questions

Scouting youth (under 18) are not insured under Scouting America's commercial general liability policy. Unregistered youth are not covered by BSA insurance.

Yes, in Cub Scouting programs only, parents and guardians may share a tent with their family, including siblings that may be registered in other Scouting America programs.

Yes, in all other programs, youth and adults tent separately. Youth who share a tent cannot be more than two years apart in age.

Yes, youth with special needs or disabilities who require a parent or legal guardian to tent with them must develop a plan with their local council Scout Executive to address their specific needs.

Friends of Cub Scouts are not considered family members and are not allowed to attend unless they are signed up.

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