As a parent, you're a primary role model for your child. Scouting provides a time-tested structure that helps bond parent/child development through group and individual activities, recognition and advancement. Your son needs your encouragement, guidance and participation along his scouting path.

Adult role models in Scouting provide an ideal learning experience for all youth. Every adult volunteer has something valuable to offer. On a typical weekend campout, a Scout might work with an adult volunteer who teaches the fishing belt loop, work with a mom teaching the compass belt, go on a 5-mile hike with another adult leader and at the end of the day learn how to clean and cook fresh fish from his dad.

As your child progresses through the ranks of Scouting, your involvement and interaction with him will change. Tiger Cubs require much closer supervision and guidance on individual projects and activities as you "search, discover and share." As young boys learn to interact with others, the parent is constant-someone safe to return to-as they learn and grow in their world.

When you join the Boy Scouts of America, Scouting becomes an extension of your family: it follows your values, it sees to the overall care and well-being of your child and it's always there for you.

The safety and protection of your child while involved in any Scouting activity is the unit leader's number one priority. For this reason, we work closely with our chartered organizations to help recruit the best possible leaders for our units. The BSA also has created extensive safety and youth protection policies and procedures in two publications: The Guide to Safe Scouting, which establishes age-appropriate guidelines for all Scouting activities, and How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide, an educational exercise and requirement for all Scouts and parents included inside the front cover of every Scout Handbook.