Adult Leaders

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BSA Online Learning Center

These online courses can help adult leaders deliver quality Scouting experiences to youth. A log-in is required, however anyone may create a user account and view the courses. Registered members of the BSA must provide their member numbers (as part of their user profile) to receive credit.

  • BSA Online Learning Center- Overview
  • Youth Protection- Online Youth Protection course (Required for all Adult Volunteers by BSA).
    • Be sure to designate Bay Lakes Council as local council
  • Boy Scout Leader Fast Start- Fast Start Training session for all new Scouting Volunters (Strongly recommended by BSA). A crash course on the core Scouting program, the troop meeting, troop committee, Outdoor Program, and other basic concepts of Scouting.
  • Safety Afloat Training- Safety Afloat has been developed to promote boating and boating safety and to set standards for safe unit activity afloat. Before a BSA group may engage in an excursion, expedition, or trip on the water (canoe, raft, sailboat, motorboat, rowboat, tube, or other craft), adult leaders for such activity must complete Safety Afloat Training, have a commitment card with them, and be dedicated to full compliance with all nine points of Safety Afloat.
  • Safe Swim Defense Training- Before a BSA group may engage in swimming activities of any kind, a minimum of one adult leader must complete Safe Swim Defense training, have a commitment card (No. 34243) with them, and agree to use the eight defenses in this plan.

Supplemental Trainings:

  • Merit Badge Counselor Instructors Guide- This module will guide new and potential merit badge counselors through their responsibilities in the role and will give them an understanding of the methods of counseling Scouts. It is intended as a short orientation course for new merit badge counselors before they begin working with Scouts.
  • Orientation for New Boy Scout Parents (a Presenters Guide)- The world of Boy Scouting can seem strange and confusing to new parents, even those who have been involved in Cub Scouting or who were Boy Scouts themselves. This brief orientation—actually a series of brief presentations that can be mixed and matched—is designed to draw new parents into the troop experience and give them the information they need to enjoy the program and help their sons succeed.

BSA Legal

BSA Legal's statements and official stances on issues in Scouting, like:
BSA Legal FAQ's

Scoutmaster Online Resource

A comprehensive A to Z resource guide for Scoutmasters and Adult Leaders.