Youth Protection
The following amendments to the “Policy and Guidelines for Child and Youth Off-site Activities” have been made by the Archdiocese of Santa Fe to address the specifics needs of the Archdiocese to protect Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA in parish sponsored programs. These amendments are binding on Pastors, Youth Directors, and the leadership of all Cub Scout and Scouts BSA units operating under youth ministries within the Archdiocese.
Cub Scout Camping: A parent or legal guardian must accompany their child on all camping activities, with the exception of Boy Scout Council sponsored camping for 4th and 5th grade Webelos Scouts. Webelos Scouts are allowed to attend summer camp (Webelos Week in the Woods) provided that there is at least one adult per every two scouts camping.
Scouts BSA Camping: Scouts BSA under the age of 13 are allowed to camp provided there is a minimum of one adult advisor per every four scouts camping. The adults designated as advisors to these scsouts must be in addition to the BSA required “two-deep leadership” and their primary focus is the safety and well being of the scouts with whom they are charged.
Additionally, scouts under the age of 13 are not permitted to tent with scouts 13 years old or older. It is preferred that scouts 13 years old or older tent with others their age, or at most within a year or two of their age.
Additional Instructions to BSA Units chartered by a parish in the Archdiocese: Pastors, Youth Directors, and BSA Unit Leaders must adhere to all Archdiocesan policies regarding the safety of youth. BSA Cub Scout and Boy Scout Leaders of parish-sponsored units must attend the Archdiocesan Sexual Misconduct Prevention Workshop as soon as possible after registering with the unit.
The entire policy may be found on the Archdiocesan Program for Child & Youth Protection web page under Guidelines for the Protection of Children and Youth 2015-2016.
The workshop must be retaken every 5 years.
The current schedule for the in person Archdiocesan Sexual Misconduct Prevention Workshop along with links to the online Virtus Code of Conduct training can be found at the Archdiocese Program for Child & Youth Protection web page.