Youth Protection

Youth Protection . . . and YOU

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and Golden Gate Area Council (GGAC) emphasize youth safety for all of our programs. To support a safe environment, is it critical that all registered volunteers be compliant with required Youth Protection Training (YPT) from the BSA and California Law AB-506, which adds requirements for volunteers in all youth serving organizations. Parents are highly encouraged to complete YPT.

Youth safety is the responsibility of EVERYONE in Scouting.
Help the GGAC Executive Board maintain a safe culture at the
Unit, District, and Council level!

Important:
For ALL registered volunteers, you have 60 days to become YPT and AB-506 compliant from the date of your registration (whether new or renewed), or your membership will be suspended.

You are YPT Compliant if YOU:

Are a registered adult volunteer in the BSA

Have completed Scouting America YPT
Have current YPT for your entire registration period

Note: You may need to update your YPT once a year, unless you take it on the date of your annual registration anniversary.

You are AB-506 Compliant if YOU:

Complete Mandated Reporter Training

Ensure you have completed or are accessing the latest version of the Mandated Reporter Training (January 2023 or later).
Follow the instructions to complete the training. This is a “one and done” training, meaning it does not expire.
Your Certificate will be automatically filed by the training vendor. You do not need to upload or send it to Council.
Fee Issue: If prompted to pay $7.99, you have accessed the wrong site. Click the help button and indicate you are with the Golden Gate Area Council to resolve the issue.

Complete LiveScan Fingerprinting

Find a LiveScan fingerprinting service provider. Here is the prepopulated form for GGAC.
Use legal name. Ensure the name you provide matches exactly with your official government document (e.g., driver’s license).
Complete the fingerprinting process. The results will be sent to the council’s AB-506 administrator. This is also a “one and done” process.
If your BSA registration uses a different name (e.g., a nickname), inform your unit or district leadership to ensure a proper match.

FAQs - AB-506 and YPT Compliance

Our Office and Retail hours change occasionally. Follow this link to view our Current Business Hours.

Alameda Trading Post

1714 Everett Street
Alameda, CA 94501 | (510) 965-5631

Fairfield Trading Post

1955 West Texas St. Suite 1
Fairfield, CA 94533 | (925) 674-6166

Pleasant Hill Scout Shop

508 Contra Costa Blvd, Suite K2
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 | (925) 674-8500

Pleasanton Trading Post

6601 Owens Drive, Suite 100
Pleasanton, CA 94588 | (925) 674-6100

GGAC Service Center

6601 Owens Drive, Suite 100
Pleasanton, CA 94588 | (925) 674-6100

Outdoor Program Office

1714 Everett Street
Alameda, CA 94501 | (925) 674-6130

General Information

GGAC Refund Policy

The Golden Gate Area Council has instituted a refund policy to ensure our Scouts receive high quality programs & activities. A great deal of advanced planning and purchasing takes place for programs and events of the Golden Gate Area Council during the months and weeks prior to an event.

The Council will refund up to 100% of the costs for any event it cancels. In order to maintain the most cost effective and positive program impact activity, camping, and event refunds of 100% cannot be given. Refunds are not given for No-Shows, schedule conflicts, weather conditions, or behavior issues occurring before or during the event. Refunds are considered based upon the following criteria and timeline and are returned to the person or entity and in the manner in which they were received.

Time Until Start of Event	Percentage Refund
Up to 14 days prior	80% refund
Up to 7 days prior	60% refund
7 days or less	No refund*

*Participants who cancel from an event within 7 days will be considered for up to a 60% refund if the refund request is accompanied by a Doctor’s note. Requests under these circumstances will not be considered if not received at the Council Service Center less than 14 days after the start of the event.

Camperships

The Golden Gate Area Council believes each Scout should be given every opportunity to attend Camp. At times it can be hard for a family to raise the money, and Camperships can help cover part of the cost of a week of Camp for Golden Gate Area Council members attending one of the Golden Gate Area Council Camps. Campership applications are due by March 27^thfor continuing Scouts and May 29^thfor newly bridged Arrow of Light Scouts.

Early Arrivals

Due to the need for Staff time off, Saturday arrivals are NOT allowed.

ALL of our Camps are CLOSED and the Staff is off duty from 11:00 AM on Saturday to 11:00AM on Sunday each weekend.

Provisional Camper

No Troop……..No Problem! You don’t have to miss out on all the fun just because your troop isn’t going to summer camp or because other summer plans mean you won’t be able to go to camp with your Troop. You may even want to do an additional week of camp just because you had such a great time.

New Friends…….New Experiences! Provisional Camping is just like camping with your home troop, except you’ll have the opportunity to camp with new friends as you join Scouts from all over the council and beyond. You’ll meet new people and have the opportunity to develop friendships that can last a lifetime. Provisional Scouts will partner with a selected Golden Gate Area Council Troop with an experienced leader. You’ll have a full time Scoutmaster for the week that, just like your Scoutmaster back home, will make sure you have a safe and fun camp experience. Provisional scouts can participate in all of the camp’s exciting programs including advancement, competitions, and patrol events. It’s a great way to finish additional Merit Badges, or to try a new part of the program that you weren’t able to try before.

NOTE:

First-year summer campers cannot attend as Provisional. Youth must have attended at least one Summer Camp at the camp prior to this year.
We will contact you after receipt of your reservation to coordinate registration into specific camp programs, get health forms, emergency contact info, permission slips, etc…
Adults attending with provisional Scouts must pay a leader fee.

SO, sign up now if you’d like to attend camp as part of the provisional camping program!

Provisional Camping is the creation of a temporary Troop or an opportunity to work with another unit. Provisional camping allows youth to attend camp without their home unit. Provisional camping is not new; it is used during many different Scouting events including National Jamborees and High Adventure trips.

The Scout’s family is responsible for transportation to and from Camp. Please contact the Golden Gate Area Council Camping and Outdoor Programs Department ([email protected]) for questions or more information.

How to verify an out of Council Merit Badge Counselor.

First, try to connect the Scout and counselor in Scoutbook. If that is successful, the counselor is registered and qualified. If unsuccessful, go to the counselor’s home council and search for their Advancement Administrators. Most will have an email address for either the Council Advancement Committee or Professional Advisor. Send an email asking if the counselor has been registered and qualified for the merit badge(s) in question and the status of their Youth Protection Training. Ask California councils if the counselor has completed AB506 training and LiveScan. The unit leader’s “blue card” signature verifies their counselor credentials verification.

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You are YPT Compliant if YOU:

You are AB-506 Compliant if YOU:

FAQs - AB-506 and YPT Compliance

Alameda Trading Post

Fairfield Trading Post

Pleasant Hill Scout Shop

Pleasanton Trading Post

GGAC Service Center

Outdoor Program Office

General Information

Due to the need for Staff time off, Saturday arrivals are NOT allowed.

How to verify an out of Council Merit Badge Counselor.

International

Highlander

Shooting Sport

Scouting for Food