Patricia Wellen, Director of Research and Program Innovation for the Boy Scouts of America presented this at CPSC's ATV Safety Summit on Oct. 11, 2012. The Boy Scouts of America's Innovation Team seeks fun and safe programs to enhance retention and recruitment and fulfill the aims of Scouting; character development, participatory citizenship, and physical fitness. We have been successful in doing this by designing programs based on what youth want. In a survey of Scouts and non-Scouts in 2009, we found that riding ATV's was the fourth highest ranked activity they wanted to try. This finding led to a partnership between the BSA and the ATV Safety Institute to provide an ATV rider education pilot program in 2010 and 2011. This program was so successful that in 2012 it became a part of the camping program and is currently conducted at BSA camps across the country. This program has grown from being offered in four camps in 2010 to being offered in 18 camps this past summer, and we anticipate even greater growth during the 2013 camping season. Older Scouts are returning to camp to take part in the ATV program, which is helping us achieve our retention goal. The ATV program is also helping us achieve our goal of having activities youth have never had the opportunity to experience since more than 60 percent of the youth participating have never ridden an ATV before.

1. BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
ATV SAFETY TRAINING
PROGRAM

2. Goals of Program Innovation
• Youth retention
• Youth recruitment
• Fun and safe programs
• Fulfill the Aims of Scouting
• Character,
• Citizenship, and
• Fitness

3. Idea Concept Testing
Activity Like or Would Like to Do
Total Males Females
Swimming/diving 84.8% 83.0% 86.6%
Laser tag 81.7% 86.3% 76.9%
Camping 78.8% 80.5% 77.1%
All-terrain vehicles (ATV) 74.4% 79.9% 68.9%
Boating 73.8% 75.0% 72.6%
Hiking 73.6% 75.5% 71.7%
Horseback riding 72.1% 62.0% 82.6%
Paintball 70.8% 81.6% 59.5%
Snowboarding/skiing 70.6% 73.7% 67.3%
Rock climbing outdoors or in
climbing gym 68.8% 72.1% 65.4%
Volleyball/beach volleyball 68.8% 66.9% 70.7%
Jet skiing 68.5% 73.0% 64.1%
Basketball 66.7% 72.4% 60.7%
Base: 1,392 youth

4. Program Development / Piloting
• Curriculum & Safety
• ATV Safety Institute rider education curriculum adopted
• State requirements for age of operator and other applicable laws
• American Honda ATV Rider Education loaner program
• Manufacturer recommendations and guidelines

5. 3 councils in 2010
9 councils in 2011
19 councils in 2012

6. 61% had no experience on an ATV.

7. Scouts in the ATV pilot were
significantly more likely to
recommend the camp.
(NPS - 49% pilot, 44% non-
pilot)

8. 80% indicate it exceeded
their expectations
98% of Scouts in the
pilot were somewhat
or very satisfied with
the ATV program.

9. 73% of non-pilot and 92%
of pilot participants will
return for ATV’s.

10. 58% say the ATV program
increases their likelihood
of staying in Scouting

11. Youth are not
understanding following
distance.