National Organization Bankruptcy Information

  • If you are a volunteer, you’ve taken youth protection training, undergone a criminal background check, and play an integral role in the BSA’s commitment to keep kids safe. At the Mid-America Council, and at all councils across America, adhering to and upholding our youth protection policies is a duty we take extremely seriously.
  • Our multi-layered process of safeguards includes the following measures, all of which act as barriers to abuse:
    • A leadership policy that requires at least two youth-protection trained adults be present with youth at all times and bans one-on-one situations where adults would have any interaction alone with children – either in person, online, or via text;
    • A thorough screening process for adult leaders and staff including criminal background checks; and
    • The prompt mandatory reporting of any allegation or suspicion of abuse to law enforcement.
  • The BSA also offers 24/7 Scouts First Helpline (1-844-SCOUTS1) and email contact address (scouts1st@scouting.org) for help reporting suspected abuse or inappropriate behavior and for victims or members of their family to request funding for counseling by a provider of their choice.
  • I encourage you to learn more about the BSA’s expert-informed youth protection policies and see why Scouting is safe now than ever before. You can view a safety video, infographic, and additional information here.
  • For more details on the BSA’s bankruptcy case and the claims process, please see the FAQ available here.

Below are current COVID-19 safeguards for the Mid-America Council as of November 19, 2020 and are subject to revision. These safeguards are in place to mitigate the risk of contracting COVID-19.  

General

  • Follow local, state, and federal guidelines as it pertains to participation in activities.
  • Remember, your chartered organization owns your unit and may have its own policies and requirements in addition to local, state, and federal guidelines.  If so, you must adhere to their additional requirements.
  • Maintain social distancing and limit large gatherings.
  • Sanitize the meeting area as well as the equipment used for each activity.
  • Keep attendance for both youth and adults in the event contact tracing is needed.
  • Adhere to Youth Protection Policies.
  • Ensure that hand sanitizer is available and used regularly (either supplied or each person brings their own.)
  • Encourage frequent handwashing with soap and water.
  • Additional guidance and resources can be found HERE.

COVID-19 Plans

  • Units should have and share with families their chartered organization approved COVID-19 safety plan.
  • For guidance, please refer to the Restart Scouting Checklist which can be found HERE.

Face Coverings

  • Adhere to the state/county mandate on face coverings.
  • Again, your chartered organization owns your unit and may have its own policies and requirements in addition to local, state, and federal guidelines.  If so, you must adhere to their additional requirements.

Welcoming New Members

  • As new youth are being invited to join our program, there is an exciting new subscription feature on SignUp4Scouting.org
  • For the youth that are joining this fall, the on-line system is automatically collecting fees through the end of 2021.
  • For those families who need an alternative method for registering, we can still collect paper applications and charge families the pro-rated rate until the end of 2020.

Unit Meetings

  • Meeting outdoors is encouraged when available and weather permitting.
  • If the unit is still not ready to meet, we continue to encourage virtual meetings. All youth protection policies and guidelines for online meetings, including having multiple adults over the age of 21 present the entire time, must be followed.
  • If both male and female youth are on the same conferencing event, one adult of each gender must also actively participate. As a reminder, make sure youth are never being recorded or filmed without permissiongiven.

Meals

  • While many unit activities include the sharing of meals, especially during the holiday season, there continue to be restrictions regarding the sharing of food.  It is important that the unit develop dining protocols (including but not limited to):
    • No self-serve buffet meals or common water coolers.
    • Use of disposable utensils, napkins, cups, and plates.
    • Clean and disinfect eating and cooking gear after each use.
    • When in doubt, the safest answer is for families to bring their own food or to not have any “community or potluck” food at your events for the time being.
  • Here are some additional suggestions to consider:
    • Utilize single-serve, prepackaged foods.
    • Choose a caterer or restaurant that could provide the meals and separate the servings appropriately.
    • If commercial food is offered, make sure that the food is not repackaged by the unit.

Camping

  • MAC’s full camping guidelines including the temperature and prescreening questionnaire can be found HERE.
  • Reservations at council facilities can be made HERE.

Scouting at Home

  • The Mid-America Council has set up this page to serve as a resource hub for parents and leaders to help support Scouting at home, with stay-at-home educational activities for any Scout rank, tips for continuing to work on advancements and kid-friendly content that connects Scouting with their daily lives.