The Data Is In: The Protect Yourself Rules Cub Scout Adventure Is Working

It’s been nearly two years since the BSA debuted Preview Adventures, elective Adventures for Cub Scouts that count toward advancement just like other Adventures, but haven’t yet made their way into the printed handbooks.

During the preview period, these Adventures remain under evaluation — and up for possible revision, depending on response from Cub Scouts and leaders alike.

As Youth Protection Month comes to a close, it’s a good time to review the data we’ve collected so far from one of the original Preview Adventures, Protect Yourself Rules.

To sum it up as succinctly and efficiently as possible: It works.

Developed in coordination with the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center Foundation, the Protect Yourself Rules Preview Adventure is designed to provide Cub Scouts information on how to recognize, respond and report abuse. It’s available for Cub Scouts from Lion through Arrow of Light.

You can do this Adventure as a den or pack activity, or at home as a family.

Once you have completed the Adventure, you are invited to complete a survey to let us know how it went.

Scene from the Kindergarten/Lion Protect Yourself Rules video.

What the Data Shows

With more than 2,000 responses to date, nearly 93% of the parents said the Adventure helped them have a conversation with their child about protecting themselves. Nearly 92% of them said their child enjoyed the videos included in this Adventure. (Scroll down for more on the videos.)

The survey also asks parents if their child disclosed at least one uncomfortable situation to them as a result of this Adventure. This is significant: It’s the first time any major youth-serving organization has sought data to accurately measure the impact a safety awareness program can have on the actual reporting of unsafe situations. The BSA is truly leading the way in this area.

Personal Space Bubble activity from the Bear Protect Yourself Rules den meeting plan.

How the Adventure Works

Just one of the many youth protection resources available through the BSA, The Protect Yourself Rules Preview Adventure is unique because it doesn’t just focus on teaching adults how to behave around children. It focuses on giving children the knowledge and techniques needed to protect themselves.

Before starting work on this Adventure, the Cubmaster, den leader or parent should review the BSA’s Barriers to Abuse. Next, you’ll need to review the videos, requirements and meeting plans available here. The curriculum was developed in conjunction with the experts at the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center to be age specific, so make sure you’re viewing the right one.

It’s important to note that the Protect Yourself Rules Preview Adventure may be used as an elective Adventure, or it may be earned in place of the Cyber Chip requirement for the Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos and Arrow of Light badges of rank; but not both. In other words, if the Adventure is used in place of the Cyber Chip requirement for a rank, it may not also be used as an elective Adventure for that rank.

Tiger Cub Scouts are asked to draw a bathing suit on the figure, and learn that “the areas of your body that are covered by the bathing suit are your private body parts.”

Don’t Forget the Survey

The BSA as a whole, and the Cub Scout division in particular, makes important decisions not based on opinions, but instead on good, solid data.

One of the ways we acquire the data is from people like you! Whenever you complete a Cub Scout Adventure with your family, den or pack, you’re invited to fill out a survey to let us know what you think. Do it! It helps!

In addition to the Protect Yourself Rules Preview Adventure, there is also a Yo-Yo Preview Adventure and a Modular Design Preview Adventure.

Got your own idea for a new Preview Adventure? Fill out this form and send it to us to let us know.


About Aaron Derr 429 Articles
Aaron Derr is the senior editor of Scout Life and Scouting magazines, and also a former Cubmaster and Scouts BSA volunteer.