The Boy Scouts of America, the Capitol Area Council, and the North Shore District want you and your Scouts to be safe. Taking the proper precautions – including training and planning – will go a long way toward preventing injuries or illness. But we also understand that accidents can still happen despite the most thorough preparation.
We provide insurance coverage to protect Scouts, volunteer leaders, families, and chartered organizations in case of accident and/or injury during “official Scouting activities” (more on this in a moment). This coverage comes in two main forms: general liability and accident and sickness.
You might be wondering what these categories cover and how they protect you and your youth. Let’s check out both forms of coverage:
General Liability
- A portion of your annual national membership fee provides BSA’s general liability coverage; this policy also provides coverage for your chartered organization.
- This is an insurance policy that deals with negligent actions taken by people or organizations that lead to personal injury or property damage claims.
- This insurance policy also provides coverage during an official Scouting activity to Scouting parents and volunteers who are not registered, but only as additional coverage beyond their personal insurance.
- This insurance policy also provides Scouting volunteers with additional or excess coverage beyond their own personal insurance policies for automobiles or watercraft; of course, the automobile or watercraft must be in use during an official Scouting activity to be potentially covered.
Accident and Sickness
- You pay for accident and sickness coverage provided through our council when your unit recharters at year’s end (recharter is where your unit “signs up” to continue being a Scout unit for the next year); we charge $1 per Scout and adult leader for this coverage.
- This coverage furnishes medical reimbursement in case of death, accident, or sickness within the policy amounts.
- This coverage is in excess of any and all other sources of medical insurance or other health care benefits.
- All registered youth, leaders, and volunteer leaders are eligible.
What are “Official Scouting Activities?”
The coverage described above provides primary general liability coverage for registered volunteer Scouters with respect to claims arising out of an official Scouting activity, which is defined in the insurance policy as consistent with the values, Charter and Bylaws, Rules and Regulations, the operations manuals, and applicable literature of the Boy Scouts of America.
The general liability policy does not provide indemnification or defense coverage to those individuals who commit intentional and/or criminal acts. The Boy Scouts of America does not have an insurance policy that provides defense for situations involving allegations of intentional and/or criminal acts. Volunteers (whether registered or not), units, and chartered organizations jeopardize insurance coverage for themselves and their organization by engaging in unauthorized activities. For more on these prohibited activities, visit this page on the Boy Scouts of America’s national website. You should also consult the Guide to Safe Scouting whenever you are planning and implementing scout activities.
An accident or injury has happened. What do I do?
Whether or not you think an insurance claim is necessary, you must first complete a BSA Incident Report. An injury or accident may seem minor but might turn into something bigger down the road. It is in the best interest of the scouts and scout leaders for incident reports to be filed as soon as possible after an incident has occurred. This provides protections for everyone involved and helps us ensure we provide the safest possible scouting experience for every youth who joins the adventure of scouting.
You can get a fillable version of the form at the link provided above. Once you’ve filled it out, save it and email it to our office using the form on the Capitol Area Council Insurance Page. We will follow up with you with the appropriate information, claim forms, etc.
