Youth Protection Policy

According to the NSP website, many events over the past several years have demonstrated the need for policies like this in organizations that work with children and youth under the age of 18. Many NSP patrols have Young Adult Patroller (YAP) programs, and so adults work frequently with youth, both on training and day-to-day patrolling activities. Youth often participate in NSP training events as patients or other capacities. And, NSP patrollers are often working at or present in some patrol capacity at events where youth are present. (This excludes on-hill patrolling activities which fall under area operations where the area’s policies would apply.)

This policy also ensures that NSP is complying with the Safe Sport Act, which passed into law in 2017. It also establishes training and reporting requirements for NSP leaders and other members working with youth, under the age of 18.

It is recommended that everyone reads the NSP’s P&P Chapter 13 to gain a thorough understanding of the policy and training requirements. It should be noted that “protected parties” include all youth under the age of 18, not just YAP’s. click here to read NSP P&P

Eastern Division notes leaders within the Division are required to participate in an NSP approved training program.

This includes:
  • Patrol representatives, directors or unit representatives in any patrol or unit if protected parties are members (ED recommends all PD’s/PR take the training regardless of whether protected parties are involved)
  • Assistant Region Directors/ Section Chiefs
  • Region Directors
  • Region Program Administrators or Advisors in any discipline in which protected parties participate or could potentially participate in courses or other events
  • Region Legal Advisors
  • Division Directors
  • Division Program Supervisors in any discipline in which protected parties participate or potentially participate in courses or other events
  • Division Legal Advisors
  • National Program Directors and Advisors
  • National Board Members
  • National Legal Advisors
  • National Safety Team

There are several training programs that will fulfill the requirement. These include:


Other online trainings may complete the requirement. The Division Director for Eastern Division must approve any alternative online training. In-person trainings that are provided by other youth-serving organizations such as school districts and childcare centers will also fulfill the requirement if they are at least 2 hours in length and provide documentation of completion.

To access the Armatus training, contact memberrecords@nsp.org. For the other trainings, follow the web links above.

Please note, not all Instructors are required to participate in this training. If an instructor will be in a supervising role for students during an overnight event, they should have taken the training. At least one instructor at an NSP educational event that has young adults involved needs to have the required training.

This training is to cover NSP Educational programs; not day to day patrolling and mountain training activities that include youth. That scenario should be addressed through Mountain protocols.

Completion of the YPP training for Division Leadership is December 31, 2020.

The button below is for ED Leadership and Instructors to upload certificates of completion.​
Questions regarding the YPP should be directed to the Division Director, Assistant Division Director or Division Legal Advisor. Questions should not be directed to the YAP program Supervisor or Assistant Supervisor.
Cal Goldsmith
Division Director
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Kim Terwilliger
Assistant Division Director​
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Bill Cline
Legal Advisor
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