Safety
Safety is our number one concern in Troop 60. Scouts will get to experience specialty training and outdoors activities with inherent risk. We mitigate these risks by taking appropriate precautions and require mandatory training and equipment for certain activities.
Knife Skills
Per the Safe Guide to Scouting:
A sharp pocketknife with a can opener on it is an invaluable backcountry tool. Keep it clean, sharp, and handy. The BSA believes choosing the right equipment for the job at hand is the best answer to the question of what specific knife should be used. We are aware that many councils or camps may have limits on the type or style of knife that should be used. The BSA neither encourages nor bans fixedblade knives nor do we set a limit on blade length. Since its inception, the BSA has relied heavily on an outdoor program to achieve its objectives. This program meets more of the purposes of Scouting than any other single feature. We believe we have a duty to instill in our members, youth and adult, the knowledge of how to use, handle, and store legally owned knives with the highest concern for safety and responsibility.
We feel that it is important that Scouts learn basic knife skills so that they can safely use these tools in the outdoors. This is a learning and growing process that requires proper training, supervision and guidance. Training is led by our Wilderness Survival team which includes a former Special Forces operator, Wilderness Survival instructors, forester and hunters.
Totin' Chip
All Scouts much complete Totin' Chip Training to use a Knife
We use this guide developed by ScoutMaster Dave:
Appropriate Knife
There are many types of knives that can be used in scouting and we discuss options in our Knives Page.
Our Recommendation:
Swiss Army Style Knife such as the Spartan or Farmer (shown)
Locking Blade Knife such as a small Buck Knife
Bushcraft Knives are allowed on certain outings if Scouts can demonstrate maturity. Although not entirely banned, we recommend against big tactical/hunting knives as they provide little added utility and tend to distract from the Scouting experience.
Scouts should also have a sharpening stone such as
Fire Skills
Fire is another one of those Scout Skills that is vital to learn, respect and to use safely. Scouts will learn basic fire skills as part of their scouting experience and will have an opportunity to learn advanced skills from our Wilderness Survival Team and Leave No Trace instructors.
Firem'n Chip
All Scouts will be given the opportunity to complete Firem'n Chip Training
We use this guide developed by ScoutMaster Dave:
Appropriate Fire Starter
We teach our Scouts many different ways of safely starting a fire. There are also many gear options to choose from when prepping for an outing. These are discussed on our Fire Starting Page. A Scout should have 2 methods for starting a fire on every outdoor outing.
Our Recommendation:
Bic Lighter (shown) or Storm Matches
Ferrorod
Please note that the BSA Prohibits the use of accelerants (e.g. white gas, gasoline, alcohol, bug juice) for starting fires. This is a dangerous practice and unacceptable for use on Troop 60 events.
Canoe Skills
Paddle Sports are likely the the most potentially dangerous activities that Scouts will participate in. Risk is significantly reduced when applying BSA safety protocols, ensuring adequate training and precautions, and providing qualified Adult supervision.
See our Canoe Outings Page for more on Canoe Safety.
Medical
Wilderness outings carry with them an increased risk of injury. This is compounded by the likelihood of delay in transport to a hospital due to the remoteness, communication and weather obstacles. Because of this, we take special steps in mitigating risk.
Medical Training
We take Medical Training very seriously in Troop 60. The Council Wilderness Medicine program is run by adult leaders from our Troop. We are lucky enough to have a professional medical provider on most remote outings and several adults with advanced Wilderness Medical Training. We also encourage all adult leaders and older scouts attend our Wilderness First-Aid Course. This decreases the chance of a medical emergency occurring during an outing and enables us to better deal with emergencies.
Medical Issues
Anyone going on an outing with out troop, Scout or Adult, must inform us of ANY medical issues they may have. We discuss this on our Medical Page.
GPS Tracking
Any outing in a Wilderness Setting (greater than 30 minutes from medical care) requires the use of a GPS Tracker/Beacon. This allows us to find and evac our crew if needed due to a medical, weather or other emergency. Our troop generally has two GPS Tracker/Beacons on remote outings.
If you have any questions, please contact our Wilderness Medical Team.
See our Satellite Messengers page for more information.
Proper Gear
A packing list is provided for each outing. These are more than just recommendations. Certain outings, such as winter camping, require outing specific gear. If Scouts don't have the proper gear, it's more than an excises in "toughing it out", it becomes a matter of safety for that and all other Scouts and Adults on an outing.
If your Scout would like to attend an outing, but doesn't have the proper gear, talk to us and we will help those Scouts get geared up.
We provided a brief overview of equipment used by Scouts on most outings in our Gear and Equipment Section.
Youth Protection
Troop 60 follows the BSA and Mount Baker Council's policies on Youth Protection. This training is completed annually and our Troop takes these requirements and guidelines seriously.
Resources:
Youth Protection Training - required BSA login
Internet Safety
Troop 60 does a lot of communication via email and internet.
All adult leaders practice 2-deep leadership when corresponding to youth on digital platforms per the Safe Guide to Scouting and Youth Protection Rules.
All Youth will updated their Cyber Chip Annually. This is usually done at a December Troop Meeting prior to LanJam.
See our Cyber Chip Section
Safe Guide to Scouting
All participants in official Scouting activities should become familiar with the Guide to Safe Scouting and applicable program literature or manuals, and be aware of state or local government regulations that supersede Boy Scouts of America practices, policies, and guidelines. The Guide to Safe Scouting is an overview of Scouting policies and procedures gleaned from a variety of sources. For some items, the policy statements are complete. Unit leaders are expected to review the additional reference material cited prior to conducting such activities.
In situations not specifically covered in this guide, activity planners should evaluate the risk or potential risk of harm, and respond with action plans based on common sense, community standards, the Scout motto, and safety policies and practices commonly prescribed for the activity by experienced providers and practitioners.
Perhaps this quote by Sir Robert Baden-Powell from his 1914 book Quick Training for War is appropriate to include here:
“… The books lay down definite principles and examples which serve to guide the leaders when applying their common sense to the situation before them. No two situations are ever precisely the same, and it is therefore impossible to lay down exact rules that should guide in every case, but a man who carries precedents and principles in his head has no difficulty in applying their teaching in supreme moments of sudden emergency …”