Our Responsibility to our Scouts and Pack Family

Our responsibility to our scouts and pack family is to provide safe scouting experiences. As of August 17th, 2020, the Western Area Los Angeles Council (WLACC) has approved Scout units to resume limited in​-​person meetings and some activities. We are excited about the opportunity to responsibly and incrementally get back to meeting in​-​person. In order to resume limited​ in-person activities we must follow the WLACC COVID policies. These “policies” need to be considered “rules”​ and must be followed at all times.​ We will need to have 100% compliance, 100% of the time, without exception.

To ensure safety remains at the forefront of every event and all COVID precautions are followed, WLACC requires a trained and dedicated Health & Safety Monitor (HSM) at every event. The Health & Safety Monitor is someone who has familiarized themselves with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Order and is responsible to ensure that social distancing, masking, health screenings, and other guidelines are followed.

Public Health Order: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/reopening-la.htm

In addition to the LA County Public Health Order, all Safety Monitors must be knowledgeable of the WLACC guidance for resuming limited in person activities for Scouting units.

• Until further notice, all Scouting activities and meetings must take place outdoors.

• Meetings and Activities will have an adult designated as the Health & Safety Monitor

• Meetings and activities are prohibited from taking place indoors.

• Unit Meetings and Activities are prohibited from taking place in a private residence.

• Overnight camping is prohibited at this time.

• All Scouting activities and meetings must not exceed 15 youth and 3 adults

• Masking in Los Angeles County and California is required of all participants both youth and adults

• Physical distancing of six (6) feet between each participant is always required.

• Screening is conducted before youth and adults may participate in activities.

• Hand washing should take place after utilizing shared equipment and before and after activities

https://bsa-la.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/WLACC-Unit-Activity-Guidelines-August-17-Update-Final.pdf

Frequently asked questions

Is the Health & Safety Monitor required to wear a BSA uniform?

At this time, we are not requiring a uniform for the Health & Safety Monitor. You must verbally identify themselves at the event and have a visual indicator of their role at the event: vest, name tag, button, etc.

What do I do if a participant arrives showing COVID-like symptoms but they provide a clear screening form and they do not have a fever?

Talk to that adult participant or scout parent. Many other conditions have similar symptoms. However in the best interest of all, no one should attend a scout event while they are sick. For many scouting activities we can offer an alternative way to complete the activity.

As the Health & Safety Monitor for an upcoming event, whose temperature do I need to take? Who do I collect screening forms from? Does someone else check me in?

As the Health & Safety Monitor you should screen yourself before coming to the event. Once at the event, have another adult who took the Health & Safety Monitor training, verify your forms and take your temperature. If you are cleared to participate, then collect and review the screening forms and take temperatures of all scouts, participating adults, and scout leaders at the event.

What do I do if I take a temperature and it is 100.4 F or above?

Notify the individual (scouts parent or adult participant) of the reading, have them step aside and distance themselves from the group for a retest. After a few minutes break, retake their temperature. If it is again 100.4 F or above then do not admit them to the event. Provide them the reading result, explain our safety standard, and let them know the event leader will follow up with them on how to make up the activity. However, if the retake temperature is below 100.4 and the screening questionnaire is clear, they may participate.

What do I do if a parent, leader or scout is not following all WLACC and Pack 527 COVID safety precautions during the scout meeting or event?

Address the issue immediately and provide the corrective direction to the scout, adult and event leader. If the behavior continues, politely but firmly dismiss that participant from the meeting. Report the details of the incident to the CC once the event has concluded.

Does the pack have masks we can provide at each event?

All participants are required to provide and properly wear their own mask. However the Pack does have a limited supply of disposable masks that Health & Safety Monitors can bring to scheduled events should a participant's mask become lost or soiled.

How many participants can attend a scout event?

WLACC guidelines are as follows.....Due to these restrictions siblings and other guests are not permitted to events at this time. Work with the meeting or event leader to ensure event restrictions and expectations of participants are well communicated before the event.

What do I do if after a scouting event, I learn that a scout or adult participant is being treated for COVID-like symptoms, or has tested positive for COVID19?

Any registered youth or adult who tests positive for COVID after the resumption of limited in person meetings should confidentially notify Andrew Sisolak at WLACC immediately by contacting (818) 785-8700.

Will small groups be allowed to go camping as of August 15, 2020 (e.g., the 15 youth plus 3 adults)?

We cannot predict the future. Small groups will NOT be allowed to go camping until reopening guidance is received from our State and County Health Departments which allows overnight youth camping. Reopening plans will be communicated as information becomes available

Can Scouts carpool if they wear masks during the car ride?

No. Current restrictions forbid persons outside of immediate family members to ride in the same car.

When will the COVID-19 training be available for unit leaders?

The training is currently being developed by BSA National. We expect it to be finalized soon. Until then, a great resource is this restart Scouting checklist, https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/HealthSafety/pdf/680-693.pdf.