A Time to Tell - Annual Youth Protection Video for Scouts

Child sexual abuse is so prevalent in American society that one in seven boys might be sexually abused before reaching adulthood; the percentage of sexually abused girls is even greater. To respond to this growing social problem, the Boy Scouts of America has developed comprehensive Youth Protection training that addresses the problem of child abuse and at the same time helps Scouting continue to provide a safe environment and meet high standards of leadership for our youth members.

Each year before heading out to Summer Camp we schedule one Monday troop meeting for the sole purpose of viewing the video, A Time to Tell. This award-winning video was produced by the Boy Scouts of America to educate boys 11 years of age and older about child sexual abuse and show the steps they should take to protect themselves from being sexually abused.

A Time to Tell is an important part of the BSA's Youth Protection training. Each Boy Scout troop is encouraged to show the video to its members once a year. The video presents common situations in which sexual abuse might occur. It emphasizes the BSA's "three Rs" of Youth Protection that instruct children to recognize that child molesters can be anyone and to be aware of situations in which the youth can be at increased risk of being abused, resist advances made by child molesters, and report to parents or another trusted adult any molestation or attempted molestation.

You are encouraged to attend the viewing of A Time to Tell with your son. Child abuse professionals unanimously agree that open communication between parents and children is vital to prevent child abuse. Your viewing of this video will help to provide a common point of reference for subsequent discussions between you and your son on this topic.

Nobody expects that you are going to be sexually abused. However, just as we learn first aid skills to prepare ourselves in case we ever need to use them, we also need to learn about sexual abuse. As you watch this video, think about what you would do if you were the intended victim. Would you

Recognize the situations that should be avoided to stop abuse from happening?
Know how to resist the unwanted attention and touching by a child molester?
Have the courage to report the incident to an adult (such as your parent) so that future molestations would be stopped and other children would be protected?