[Troop139] Fwd: Tour Plans

Thu Apr 6 10:30:13 EDT 2017

Tour & activity Plans no long needed!!! :)

Tour and Activity Plan Terminated FAQ

*A cross-functional team has completed an evaluation of the BSA's Tour and
Activity Plan, resulting in a recommendation to terminate the plan
effective April 1, 2017.*

The following FAQ provides answers to the questions we anticipate most
people using the tool might have regarding the rationale and process for
the termination.

We recommend that you sign up for the weekly ScoutingWire
<http://scoutingwire.org/newsletter/> newsletters to ensure that you
receive updates directly in your inbox.

*Q. Why are you terminating the plan? What does this mean for me, my unit,
council and the Scouting family?*
*A. *The Scouting program, as contained in our handbooks and literature,
inherently integrates safety considerations. However, no policy or
procedure will replace the review and vigilance of trusted adults and
leaders at the point of program execution. We expect that the elimination
of the BSA Tour and Activity Plan will:

   - *Reduce complexity*, cutting back on processes and paperwork for unit
   leaders.
   - *Increase consistency *with the Commitment to Safety
   <http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/SafetyThoughts/1192016.aspx>,
   the *Guide to Safe Scouting*
   <http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS.aspx>, Risk
   Assessment Strategy
   <http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS/gss08.aspx>, as
   well as Camp Standards
   <http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/OutdoorProgram/CampAccreditation.aspx>
   planning tools.
   - *Change the conversation,* engaging everyone in risk-based planning
   vs. process.
   - *Eliminate processing*, freeing staff to focus on membership and
   removing administrative burden.

In addition to the above reasons, the BSA has adopted a flexible risk
assessment strategy for your use.  This is summarized in the Guide to Safe
Scouting
<http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS/gss08.aspx>, and
detailed in the Enterprise Risk Management Guidebook
<http://www.scouting.org/filestore/healthsafety/pdf/680-026.pdf>.

*Q. What is the new process?*

*A.* There is no required process, Scouters are reminded to conduct the
Scouting program consistent with BSA rules, regulations, and policies.
Flexible risk assessment tools are summarized in the Guide to Safe Scouting
<http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS/gss08.aspx>, and
detailed in the Enterprise Risk Management Guidebook
<http://www.scouting.org/filestore/healthsafety/pdf/680-026.pdf>.

*Q. Will there be a replacement for the Tour and Activity Plan?*
*A.* No.

*Q. Will the entire activity plan idea go away? * *A.* No, having a plan is
part of “Be Prepared”. Planning is integral into the program literature.

*Q. What will this mean for considering safety on these outings? A.* The
Scouting program, as contained in our handbooks and literature, integrates
many safety features. However, no policy or procedure will replace the
review and vigilance of trusted adults and leaders at the point of program
execution.  Source:  Commitment to Safety
<http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/SafetyThoughts/1192016.aspx>

*Q. Will units have to file any trip forms of any kind?  Is there any
REQUIRED notification to council for trips?*
*A.* No, however the BSA Program includes several planning tools (Checklists
<http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS/gssax.aspx>, The
Sweet 16 of BSA Safety
<http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/healthandsafety/gss/gss08.aspx#a>,
Flying Plan) which are designed not for “filing” but to prompt discussions
/ conversations about risks.

*Q. Does this include Learning for Life and Exploring?*
*A.* Yes, the manual process used by Learning for Life and Exploring is
also discontinued.

*Q. When does this go in effect?*
*A.* The termination of the plan is effective on April 1, 2017.

*Q. Is the change simply - Don't have to fill out a Tour and Activity Plan
anymore?  All the other steps are the same?*
*A.* The program hasn’t changed. For example, permission from parents is
still needed to take youth on a trip, as would be program requirements for
annual health and medical records for all participants. The Cub Scouts
camping program is still limited to council approved locations, and so on.

*Q. Has all literature been updated to reflect this change?*
*A.* Key documents are either updated or in the process of being updated.
Other literature will be updated in the normal revision cycle so it may
take several years to complete. If you find something to be updated feel
free to let us know with the “Got Questions” link to the left.

*Insurance Questions*

Based on initial feedback, many questions have arisen on insurance.  The
elimination of the tour and activity plan was not driven by insurance, or
the many myths / misconceptions including “…you have to file a Tour and
Activity Plan, and / or be in a field uniform to have insurance…”
surrounding insurance.  The following insurance related FAQ’s and sources
are offered.

*Q. Will the liability insurance policy still provide coverage if a tour
and activity plan is no longer required?*
*A.* Yes.  Registered volunteers are provided primary general liability
insurance coverage for *official scouting activities* except when using an
automobile or watercraft. A volunteer’s (whether registered or not)
automobile liability insurance is primary with the local council automobile
policy providing excess automobile coverage. Non-registered volunteers are
provided excess general liability and automobile liability insurance
coverage for official scouting activities. Link
<http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/Alerts/Insurance.aspx>.
There is not a requirement to fill out a form for coverage.

*Q. What is an official scouting activity?*
*A.* An official scouting activity is defined in the insurance policy as
consistent with the values, Charter and Bylaws, Rules and Regulations, the
operations manuals, and applicable literature of the Boy Scouts of America.
Link
<http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/Alerts/Insurance.aspx>.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Barry Goldman <barrydistcomm at gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Apr 5, 2017 at 12:10 PM
Subject: Tour Plans
To:

Please read the attached link
regarding Tour Permits.
It will please you.

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/TourPlanFAQ.aspx

-- 
*Barry Goldman * |   District Commissioner
*3 Rivers District*

*http://3riversdistrict.blogspot.com/
<http://3riversdistrict.blogspot.com/>*
*BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA*

*Northern New Jersey Councilwww.nnjbsa.org <http://www.nnjbsa.org/>*25
Ramapo Valley Rd.
Oakland, NJ  07436

[image: Description:
http://www.scouting.org/filestore/marketing/images/bsa_preparedforlife.gif]
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