# Keeping Scouting Safe Part of the Safety Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/safety/guide/index.md) *5. Safeguarding Youth* > **5.** Do the following: This requirement is about how a safe Scouting culture is built. The policies matter, but so do the habits behind them: clear boundaries, group accountability, speaking up, and reporting concerns instead of trying to handle abuse situations alone. ## Requirement 5a > **5a.** Discuss Scouting America's Safeguarding Youth guidelines that adults and Scouts must follow so that everyone is safe at Scouting activities. Safeguarding rules are designed to remove secrecy, reduce opportunities for abuse, and make expectations clear. Different trainings and updates may use slightly different wording over time, but the big ideas stay consistent. ### Core principles Scouts should understand - **No one-on-one situations in private** between an adult and a youth member - **Two-deep leadership and supervision** in appropriate settings - **Respect for privacy** in showers, restrooms, and changing areas - **Appropriate communication** that follows Scouting rules and includes transparency - **Buddy system habits** so youth are not isolated - **Boundaries around touch, language, and behavior** A good counselor discussion answer explains that these are not "extra paperwork rules." They are layers of protection that make unsafe behavior easier to spot and harder to hide. > **Safety First!** > > If a rule designed to protect youth gets treated as optional, that is a warning sign. Safety systems work only when people follow them even when it feels inconvenient. ## Official Resources [Youth Protection Policies (video)](https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/YPSAT/YT%20Mod4%20Final%20Master%20Small.mp4): A Scouting America training video covering core youth protection expectations and safe program boundaries. ## Requirement 5b > **5b.** Discuss with your counselor what situations and behaviors would prompt you to Recognize, Resist, and Report a possible abuse situation. The phrase **Recognize, Resist, and Report** gives you a simple structure: - **Recognize** behavior or situations that are wrong, manipulative, secretive, or unsafe. - **Resist** by leaving, saying no, refusing secrecy, or getting closer to safe people. - **Report** to a trusted adult or official reporting channel right away. ### Recognize Warning signs can include: - someone asking you to keep contact or favors secret - gifts, special treatment, or attention that feels manipulative - repeated attempts to isolate you - requests for private photos or personal information - touching, comments, or jokes that cross boundaries ### Resist Resisting does not always mean arguing. It can mean moving toward other people, ending the conversation, blocking contact, refusing a ride, or saying clearly, "No. I am not doing that." ### Report Reporting matters because unsafe behavior often does not stop on its own. Adults with authority can investigate, protect others, and connect people with the right support. > **Tip** > > If you are ever unsure whether something "counts," report the concern anyway. It is better to raise a concern early than to stay silent because you were afraid of overreacting. ## Requirement 5c > **5c.** Discuss how you, other Scouts, leaders, and anyone can report situations suspicious for abuse through the Scouts First Helpline and other means. A strong safety culture makes reporting easy to understand. People should know **who to tell**, **what to say**, and **why quick reporting matters**. ### Who can report Anyone can report suspicious behavior: you, another Scout, a parent, a leader, camp staff, or any bystander who notices something concerning. ### How reporting can happen - tell a trusted parent or guardian immediately - tell a leader or other responsible adult - use the Scouts First Helpline or the current Scouting America reporting channel - call 911 if someone is in immediate danger - report to child protective services or law enforcement when the situation calls for it ### What to include when reporting Give facts, not rumors: - who was involved - what happened or was said - when and where it happened - whether anyone is in immediate danger now - whether there may be messages, photos, or witnesses **Good reporting habits** — What helps adults respond quickly and correctly - [ ] **Report early**: Do not wait for proof beyond what you honestly observed. - [ ] **Be specific**: Share facts, dates, places, and exact concerns. - [ ] **Protect the person at risk**: Stay with them or get them to a safe adult if needed. - [ ] **Do not spread it as gossip**: Tell the people who need to act. The same clear thinking you used for hazards and home planning also matters here. Next, you will apply it to personal safety and reducing the risk of assault in different situations. --- - Previous: [Public Place Emergencies](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/safety/guide/req4/index.md) - Next: [Avoiding Assault Risks](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/safety/guide/req6/index.md)