Boy Scouts of America

Outdoor Ethics Guide

FOREWORD

The purpose of this handbook is to guide units in developing a culture that effectively demonstrates responsible outdoor choices that reduce impacts of Scouting activities. The handbook identifies the responsibilities of the outdoor ethics guide, provides ideas on how to carry out this role, and lists resources. It also provides methods for leaders to support Scouts selected for this position and a way to evaluate success.

The outdoor ethics guide is a troop position of responsibility that counts for the leadership requirement for Star, Life, and Eagle ranks. It was instituted in the 13th edition of the Scouts BSA Handbook. This replaces the role of the Leave No Trace trainer, which was also a Star and Life leadership position. Venturing crews may elect to assign the responsibility of outdoor ethics guide to a member, but it is not a leadership position.

Specific information about Leave No Trace and Tread Lightly! are not addressed in this handbook. Information about specific skills and how to demonstrate them can be found in the Scouts BSA Handbook and the fifth edition of the BSA Fieldbook.  Information on these are also found at the Leave No Trace and Tread Lightly! websites.

ON BREAKING UP CAMP LEAVE TWO THINGS BEHIND YOU:
1—NOTHING. 2—YOUR THANKS.
—LORD BADEN-POWELL, OCTOBER 1919

 

You can download the Outdoor Ethics Guide Handbook, here.

Outdoor Ethics Guide Contents

THE PRACTICE: MAKING RESPONSIBLE OUTDOOR DECISIONS

THE OUTDOOR ETHICS GUIDE

SCOPE OF POSITION

HOW TO BE MOST SUCCESSFUL IN THE ROLE

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OUTDOOR ETHICS GUIDE

OUTDOOR ETHICS GUIDE DUTIES

  1. EXPLAIN AND DEMONSTRATE ADVANCEMENT REQUIREMENTS
  2. HELP YOUR UNIT PLAN AND CONDUCT AN EFFECTIVE OUTDOOR ETHICS PROGRAM
  3. PREPARE DEN CHIEFS TO SHARE PRINCIPLES
  4. HELP SCOUTS TO UNDERSTAND AND PLAN CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES
  5. ENCOURAGE SCOUTS TO COMPLETE OUTDOOR ETHICS AWARDS AND MERIT BADGES
  6. COMPLETE SELF-EVALUATION

OUTDOOR ETHICS GUIDE ADVISOR HANDBOOK

APPENDIX A: UNIT RESOURCES

  1. OUTDOOR ETHICS GUIDE GOALS AND EVALUATION
  2. THE TEACHING EDGE METHOD
  3. OUTING DUTY ROSTER
  4. TROOP ASSESSMENT FORM
  5. PLANNING AN OUTING WORKSHEET
  6. CONSERVATION PROJECT PLANNING CHECKLIST

APPENDIX B: OUTDOOR ETHICS

  1. THE OUTDOOR CODE
  2. LEAVE NO TRACE SEVEN PRINCIPLES
  3. TREAD LIGHTLY! PRINCIPLES
  4. LEAVE NO TRACE PRINCIPLES FOR KIDS

APPENDIX C: WEBSITES

Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.