“Risk Management in Scouting – Essentials for Leaders”, new in 2015, (3rd edition 2020) is written by a Scout volunteer with 24 years of experience specifically for Scout volunteers to help them better understand their role in monitoring the health and safety of Scouts under their care while exercising risk management principles.
This 207 page, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch, spiral-bound book makes clear the legal and ethical obligation of Scout volunteers from a risk management standpoint in the conduct of the Scouting outdoor program. The book explains how Scout volunteers can best conduct their outdoor program by combining industry-recognized outdoor risk management principles with BSA’s safety guidelines as set forth in the Guide to Safe Scouting, the Scouter Code of Conduct, and associated BSA training.
The book, the result of several years of research and discussions with experienced outdoor risk management practitioners, is intended to be a user manual for adult volunteers new to Scouting, but should be a valuable resource to all adult Scouting volunteers, experienced or not.
This book is not merely a rehash of BSA’s policies and procedures! Instead, the book focuses on industry-recognized outdoor risk management principles intended to supplement, and used in conjunction with, that which resides in BSA literature such as the Guide to Safe Scouting. The book also includes numerous anecdotes which are discussed in relation to such principles.
The book’s 14 chapters are as follows:
Chapter I: What is risk management, and why does it matter in Scouting?
Chapter II: What happens if risk is mismanaged?
Chapter III: Who can be liable . . . and for what?
Chapter IV: Good judgment is crucial, and not easily achieved!
Chapter V: The “Big 3” – Gear, people, environment!
Chapter VI: Participating youth & adults = risk!
Chapter VII: Stick to the mission of Scouting!
Chapter VIII: Aquatic venues – sink or swim?
Chapter IX: Weather need not be a surprise, but sometimes it is!
Chapter X: Transport participants safely!
Chapter XI: Parents can help, and sometimes need help!
Chapter XII: How can leaders deal with risk?
Chapter XIII: Waivers, gross negligence, and informed consent
Chapter XIV: Take advantage of available resources
The book concludes with an 12 page appendix identifying BSA’s S.A.F.E. activity assessment criteria (new in 2020), as well as relevant BSA and non-BSA outdoor risk management resources, which should prove to be an invaluable asset for leaders seeking to enhance their level of knowledge, as well as the knowledge of all participants in Scouting’s outdoor program.
Read a sample section of the book here.
Reader comments:
- “Thank you for sending me a copy of “Risk Management in Scouting” which is now the definitive go to guide! Your book is well written , thorough, detailed and cross-referenced to sources. More importantly it is written by someone who has been there/done that with real world experience in situations that scouts encounter.”
- “I want to thank you for writing this book, the information is timely and well written; the material is delivered in an understandable way. Leaders would benefit greatly by reading and applying those principles.”
- “Your book was invaluable!”
- “I really like your book. It is very pertinent to our [high adventure] program, and has made me think about some of our operations and the risks associated.”
- Chapters IV (Judgment) and VIII (Aquatic venues) have been extremely helpful to me. It is easy to forget how big a risk you carry in high adventure, and the decision-making mistakes have really opened my eyes to potential shortcomings [in our procedures].”
- “We will be using your book to guide discussion during our [high adventure] staff week.”
- “I met and heard you speak at a course a few years ago. In turn I promptly purchased your book and have been a fan of the concept of risk management in Scouting from the time I heard you speak. Risk management as a SM and Crew Advisor is a huge factor for me so again, thank you for inspiring that and offering some key building blocks at a great time in our transition as a new troop.”
- “I would like to commend you on your book you’ve put together; very conclusive! I enjoy referencing it.”
- “Awesome book!!!! You can tell you put a lot of time into it. People, Equipment, Gear (PEG). Don’t put a round PEG in a square hole. Really liked your emphasis on training for adult leaders as well. The combination of training and experience develops adult leaders into an asset for the troop by developing their ability to apply proper judgement.”
- “I’m an engineer who has dealt with product liability cases, with similar concepts. Great concepts, yet simply stated.”
- “Just finished your book. Nice work.”
- I read your book on risk management. It’s pretty sobering. It did an excellent job of explaining the practical and legal challenges faced by all adult leaders. It’s given me a heightened awareness of how we need to conduct ourselves. Thanks for writing and sharing your thoughts.”
Buy the book today! Care, learn, share!
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Disclaimer #2: No information contained in this website, or in the above book, shall constitute, be considered, or is intended to be considered or constitute, legal advice, or legal opinion, and cannot be relied on as such.