Ranger Safety Is Under Construction

December 9, 2020

You might be thinking, “Wait, didn’t I just read an article like this a few months ago?” Indeed, you did. During these uncertain times due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing postponement and cancellation of several national training events in 2020, it has provided a window of opportunity. A window we have propped wide open to make the most of a bad situation. This has afforded me the opportunity to invest much of my time in updating and overhauling several of our training materials.

The online Ranger Safety you have known and loved for almost a decade has remained unchanged. Sadly, the world has not, and we need to overhaul Ranger Safety to be current with today’s culture. The safety of the young men within our care during a Royal Rangers meeting or outing is of paramount importance.

While participating in Royal Rangers meetings and activities, boys are exposed to a variety of new experiences and opportunities for learning and growth into Christlike manhood. While these activities are conducted for the benefit of the boys, some activities could be harmful if they are not conducted properly and with adequate supervision. It is the responsibility of every Royal Rangers leader to take every action needed to ensure the safety of the boys participating. Keeping boys safe demonstrates the value we place on them and helps us to gain the trust and confidence of the boys, their parents, and other church leaders.

• What is going to change?
• When will it be available?
• How will this affect me?

The entire format of Ranger Safety will be overhauled. It will be in strict alignment with chapter 27 of the Royal Rangers Leader Manual and include supplemental scenarios to ensure your understanding of the material. It will be available only online after LEAD21. Being provided only online allows for full and immediate access for all leaders. The classroom presentation of Ranger Safety is minimal across the country and will be phased out by the end of this year (2020). The full and immediate access for our leaders is important because starting April 1, 2021, Ranger Safety will become a required, renewable course for all leaders. Starting April 1, Ranger Safety will be required to be renewed every three years. Consequently, if you take it on April 1, 2021, you will be required to take it again by April 1, 2024.

On the Saturday of LEAD21 (March 13, 2021), the revised Ranger Safety course will be presented in a classroom format this one time only. All those in attendance who are present and participate during the entire class will be given a Ranger Safety certificate with an expiration date of April 1, 2024.

Next chartering season (starting in August 2021) while you are chartering or renewing your charter, an additional check box will appear that will require you to indicate that all your leaders are current with their Ranger Safety training.

The current Ranger Safety online course will be available until 11:59 p.m., December 31, 2020. Keep in mind, that taking the current Ranger Safety course does not qualify for the 3-year renewal period. You must take the revised Ranger Safety either on Saturday of LEAD21 or online starting April 1, 2021.

I apologize ahead of time for those who get caught in the scenario that you took the course just four or five months before the new Ranger Safety course was released and now need to take the new course. Unlike the transition period we created for Rangers Basics to Ranger Foundations, Safety does not have a grandfather period. We all must be as current as possible. However, to help those who recently completed the current Ranger Safety as well as all our other leaders, the new Ranger Safety course will be priced at 50% off from April 1–September 1, 2021.

By now it should be quite apparent that we are serious about safety. We must be vigilant in this area. Don’t believe me? Ask a carpenter or other tradesmen about his missing finger(s), and you’ll hear that safety is worth the investment of time.

In closing, although the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to be felt, may you and yours have the merriest Christmas ever. I’m so very thankful that our faith and joy are not dependent upon earthly things nor principalities but rather on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Celebrate His birth as He is so worthy of our praise and adoration. May His peace be yours, and may you take rest in His presence.

“Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!” (2 Cor 9:15, NLT)

Mentoring Future Men together/remotely in 2020 and into 2021,
David