THANKS TO YOU, MILLIONS OF SCOUTS … … Develop self-reliance … Learn to work well with others … Are better citizens … Learn life skills … and have fun!! You have our unending thanks for helping make this a reality! The Boy Scouts of America welcomes your comments and suggestions on how to improve this resource. Please email your thoughts to [email protected]. BALOO WELCOME Welcome to BALOO training! It is the Cub Scout leader training required for any Cub Scout den or pack outdoor event, including pack camping overnighters and Webelos den overnighters. This training should be presented by council or district level training teams as needed. Councils may decide to require periodic refreshers based on local situations. BALOO training is comprised of two components—an online component and a practical, hands-on component. Both components must be completed to qualify as a “TRAINED” Cub Scout outdoor leader. The online component must be completed prior to the practical component. The online training contains introductory and basic information that will be built upon during the practical training. A WORD ABOUT YOUTH PROTECTION Child abuse is a serious problem in our society and, unfortunately, it can occur anywhere. Because youth safety is of paramount importance to Scouting, the Boy Scouts of America continues to strengthen barriers to abuse through its policies and leadership practices, through education and awareness for youth, parents, and leaders, and through top-level management attention to any reported incidents. Key to Success: Leadership Education and Training Registered leaders are required to complete Youth Protection training within 30 days of registering. Parents, guardians, and any adults working with youth (whether in Scouting or not) are also encouraged to take the training. To take the training online, go to My.Scouting.org and establish an account. If you do not yet have your membership number, be sure to return to My.Scouting later and sign in or create an account. This site will not work properly unless you have the latest version of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, or Internet Explorer v11. The training must be retaken periodically to remain current. Some regions require that it be retaken annually. BSA requires that it be retaken at least biennially, or every two years. If a volunteer does not meet the BSA’s Youth Protection training requirement at the time of recharter, the volunteer will not be reregistered. BSA Youth Protection Training The BSA created Youth Protection training to address the needs of different age groups as follows: • Youth Protection Training for Volunteer Leaders and Parents—Adults come away with a much clearer awareness of the kinds of abuse, the signs of abuse, and how to respond and report in case a situation arises. • Youth Protection Guidelines: Training for Adult Venturing Leaders—Designed to give guidance to the leaders in our teenage coed Venturing program. Supervision and relationship issues have a different focus regarding personal safety with this age group. • It Happened to Me—Developed for Cub Scout–age children from 6 to 10 years old and their parents. It addresses the four rules of personal safety: Check first, go with a friend, it’s your body, and tell. 4 Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation • A Time to Tell—A video for Boy Scout–age youth from 11 to 14 years old— the target group for most molesters. It stresses the three R’s of youth protection: Recognize, Resist, and Report. • Personal Safety Awareness for Venturing—Developed for youth ages 13 through 20 in the coeducational Venturing program. It deals with issues pertinent to this age group. The BSA has Youth Protection policies to protect youth, and these same policies help protect adult volunteers. These and other key policies are addressed in the training: • Two-deep leadership is required on all outings and at all Scout activities and meetings. • One-on-one contact between adults and youth members is prohibited. • Privacy of youth is respected. • Separate accommodations for adults and Scouts are required. • Units are responsible to enforce Youth Protection policies. To find out more about the Youth Protection policies of the BSA and how to help Scouting keep your family safe, see the Guide to Safe Scouting at www.scouting.org/ HealthandSafety/GSS/toc.aspx and “How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide” in any of the Cub Scouting or Boy Scouting handbooks, or go to www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS/toc.aspx. 100-014.indd 1 2/18/15 12:21 PM Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation 5 PLAN AND METHOD You, the Instructor You have been chosen to train leaders on the Cub Scout outdoor program. You were selected as an instructor not only because of your knowledge and experience, but also because of your enthusiasm for the program. Now you have the opportunity to share both qualities with the people who will make a difference in your Cub Scouting program. Your attitude as an instructor needs to be one of support and helpfulness. Let everyone know you are genuinely interested in helping them do their jobs successfully. BALOO is a nationally developed training delivered at the local level. The implication of the word nationally is that BALOO trainings, and the information imparted by them, are as standardized as possible. There will, of course, be differences. Nature is an excellent example of variances that occur: For example, there are few swamps in Arizona, no deserts in Mississippi, and no mountains in Florida. Despite these differences, the course content should be presented to the participants as outlined in this guide. Additional examples from your own experience may be added when they are supportive of the positions in the guide, and if time permits. Remember, this is a nationally developed training course presented by your region, district, or council. Ensure your presentation reflects national policy, not local practices. “Do Your Best” to deliver the same learning objectives as those in other councils, no matter where the course is held. It is not difficult to teach the job. However, you must be equally concerned about the teaching manner. This often involves personal motivation. You should work to set the example by your own enthusiasm. When participants leave your course, be sure they have not only the skill to do the job, but also the will to do it! To accomplish the objectives, use the following methods: Discussion The group examines or explores a topic or question by means of an exchange of ideas or viewpoints. Training participants can be divided into small, den-sized groups, or the entire group as needed. The discussion leader summarizes at the conclusion. Demonstration One person (or several people) show(s) participants how to carry out tasks. These tasks usually relate to Cub Scout or camping skills. After the demonstration, allow everyone to practice. Be sure that everyone in the group can see the demonstration as it is being presented. Lecture One person conveys information to the participants by talking to them and sometimes by using training aids. Participation is usually limited in this method, so not much feedback is received. Role-Playing Members of a group are presented situations requiring them to act out the roles. Participants may be more inclined to show their true feelings when acting the role of someone else. The way the situation is resolved is analyzed and evaluated by other members of the group. Simulation Use this method to create the environment in which participants would normally carry out a task, and any situation that might arise. Role-playing is a simple form of simulation. 6 Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation Talk This method is similar to lecture. However, there may be more involvement of participants, including feedback through questions and answers or brief discussion. A talk is often used with training aids such as electronic presentations, slides, films, posters, charts, flip Remember: charts, flash cards, and others. Support and Use Notes, But Don’t Read help fellow Use your notes as a reminder of the important points that must be covered. Notes also help keep the instructor on track. Do not read to the participants. Tell it in your own words. instructors. As we help Stick to the Time Schedule BALOO has a very tight schedule. Fit your presentation into the time allotted to ensure and support adequate time for the rest of the material to be covered. Practicing your presentation in each other in advance will help with this important consideration. Write into your notes the amount of time allotted to major items. This will help keep a schedule. Have another instructor watch our efforts, the time for you, thus avoiding your constant clock watching. Arrange to be signaled by the we also helper when the time is up. accomplish Stay on Track our primary Do not be tempted to get off the subject. This is especially true when questions are received from the floor. If the question is irrelevant to the subject, don’t hesitate to say, purpose of “If you don’t mind, I will discuss that with you after the session.” Present to the skill level providing as written; resist the temptation to impress your audience with your in-depth knowledge of the subject matter. information and Use Thought-Provoking Questions Questions should help stimulate everyone’s thinking. Begin the presentation with a inspiration question so the participants will listen for the answer. Questions also help in encouraging to the feedback so progress may be evaluated. participants. Use Stories Use human-interest stories to illustrate important points. True stories that may or may not be funny are excellent. When interest is waning, a funny story in good taste is helpful.