Youth Protection Training
It is a highest priority in Sea Scouting and the Auxiliary that no person be treated in an inappropriate, offensive or abusive manner. All adult members of the Ship 25 Committee and Skipper’s Staff have received Youth Protection Training (“YPT”) from the BSA.
In addition, Division 25 Auxiliary officers with program oversight responsibilities have received YPT training. A full explanation of YPT procedures is included in the Skipper’s Letter to Prospective Parents. It is beyond the scope of this brief summary to detail the system of protective procedures, but some principal practices include:
- There are no one-on-one meetings or communications between a youth member and adult leader of Sea Scouts. More than one adult is always a party to any interaction. E-mails or texts involving adult leaders are always copied to at least one parent of every Sea Scout involved and to at least one other Sea Scout leader.
- Other than scheduled and staffed Ship 25 meetings or officer meetings, Sea Scout adult leaders will not have meetings, phone or zoom calls with youth members unless a parent or guardian is also a party. Youth members should not place calls to adult leaders unless a parent or guardian is already on the call. Adult leaders are required to terminate such calls unless there is an emergency circumstance.
- Because Ship 25 is a co-ed organization, there will always be at least one female and male adult present at Ship 25 meetings or activities.
- Sleeping and restroom/shower/changing facilities for youth and adults are separate and segregated by gender. Alternatively, these facilities may be single-person.
- Mandatory Reporting. All Ship 25 Leaders are required by law, Sea Scouting and Coast Guard Auxiliary policy to report youth protection-related incidents or suspicions. Any good-faith suspicion or belief that a child has been abused or exposed to any form of exploitation or obscenity is required by law to be reported to the DC Children and Family Services Agency. Members of the Skipper’s Staff in particular are under an obligation to report to law enforcement any information from a child or adult indicating child abuse may have occurred, regardless of whether there is a connection with Ship 25. Please do not joke or engage in humor about these topics in the presence of Sea Scouts or Ship 25 volunteers. We are also required to notify our local professional BSA Scout Executive and the Auxiliary Division 25 Commander of such matters.
- Parent Reporting. Any parent or guardian who has reason to believe that Sea Scouting youth protection policies are not being followed by Ship 25 should notify our local professional BSA Scout Executive by calling (248) 530-9360 and the Commander of Auxiliary Division 25 by calling (202) 656-6312. Instances of actual abuse should be reported directly to law enforcement, as well as the BSA Scout Executive and Auxiliary Division 25 Commander.
The Buddy System
The Buddy System is one manner Sea Scouts use to keep each other and themselves safe. Whenever Sea Scouts engage in training, boating, swimming or anything else, they never do it alone. They always chose one or more youth Sea Scouts to accompany them. The benefits of the practice are obvious. A Sea Scout is less likely to be faced with trouble when in a group and will never be alone if some kind of difficulty is encountered. The Ship recommends traveling to and from the meetings with buddies, such as when taking the METRO.
Sea Scouts who feel unsafe or uncomfortable in any way should immediately share this with the Skippers Staff, youth officers or any adult in authority if present on a Harbor Patrol or Coast Guard property. Members of the Ship 25 Committee, Skipper’s Staff and leaders of the Auxiliary want you to be safe in Sea Scouts and won’t allow anyone to bully, touch or treat you badly in any manner.
It is never a good idea to keep secret anything that someone may be doing that bothers you. There is nothing secret in Sea Scouts and the Skipper’s Staff will never tell you to keep something secret from your family or friends. Please tell any of the adults associated with Ship 25 or the Auxiliary if you ever feel uncomfortable or fearful about anything. We will protect you and stop anything that is not Scout-like behavior.
General Safety at Meetings and Activities
Ship 25 programming takes place in locations and during activities when injuries can easily occur if safety directives of Ship, Auxiliary, Coast Guard and Harbor Patrol personnel are not followed. The safety practices Sea Scouts must follow during a given activity will always be thoroughly explained immediately prior to an activity. Some of the general safety rules that apply for all activities include:
- Wear A Personal Flotation Device (“PFD”). The Ship owns and provides custom-marked PFDs for Sea Scouts to wear. These are required to be worn during any activity where the possibility of falling overboard or otherwise into water is present. Substitute PFDs are acceptable as long as they are Coast Guard approved.
- Wear the Uniform of the Day. This includes proper shoes.
- Do not touch equipment or engage in activity until the Skipper’s Staff have provided training.
- Do not enter the water or board a boat alone. Follow the Buddy System and Safe Swim Defense at all times. Learn more here.