Outdoor Service Guides is committed to the protection of all people who are associated with its programs, such as registered scouts, volunteers, guests, and other organization members. Safety is the highest priority. OSG shall conduct criminal history checks of all registered Rovers (18 years of age and older) and Non-Rover Adults. These checks will be carried out at the time a person joins the organization and annually thereafter upon re-registration. OSG will carry out these checks in a fair, consistent, and non-discriminatory manner, complying with all applicable state and federal laws, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Criminal history check findings shall be assessed in a fair, impartial and confidential manner. Full background assessment policies furnished upon request.
Criminal history checks are handled by a third party service, Sterling Volunteers.
After registration or renewal, each adult scout or volunteer will receive an email from Sterling Volunteers with instructions about how to complete their background clearance. The invitation is time-sensitive and must be completed within 3 days. Members will receive an email confirming that their background check has been reviewed, and then they are released to participate in scout activities.
Please note: Any adult who has completed the 3-part clearances required by the state, as outlined below, may use those clearances in lieu of the OSG membership background check for 64th Brandywine activities. Please see your section leader.
Additional clearances for leaders
In order to comply with Pennsylvania law (2015 Act 15), all Rover leaders must also complete the state-required 3 part clearances to volunteer with children.
1. Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance
2. Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check
3. Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Background Check*
The first 2 above can be completed online for free. The third, The FBI Criminal Background Check, requires fingerprinting; therefore, it must be done in person and requires a fee. See below for more information.
All necessary instructions and links to apply for these clearances can be found at PA Department of Human Services..
All clearances must be completed and submitted in advance of any group activity for which the clearances are required. Volunteers should provide photocopies of their clearance results directly to the Group Scoutmaster or Secretary. We recommend that you keep the results of all of your background clearances for your own records. PA clearances must be renewed every 60 months. For more information regarding PA law, please see PA Department of Human Services.
*Additional information for FBI Criminal Background check
The FBI Criminal Background Check is only required if the volunteer has lived outside the Commonwealth of PA in the last 10 years. If volunteer is exempt, please print and complete exemption form instead.
The FBI Criminal Background Check is administered by a private contractor to the PA Department of Human Services, Office of Children, Youth, and Families. The contractor is called IdentoGO. To schedule your background check, go to https://uenroll.identogo.com/ and use the code 1KG6ZJ to order the correct volunteer background check.
IdentoGo does charge $22.60 for the service, but the 64th will reimburse you upon request. When you receive your results, please provide a copy to the Group Scoutmaster or Group Secretary.
This page last updated on August 24, 2022 | 11:09 am