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FamilyScoutingQuestionsandAnswersUpdatedJune12,2018
I. OverviewandRationale Pages2-6
II. CharteredOrganization Page7III. CubScouts Pages8-9IV. BoyScouts/ScoutsBSA Pages10-11
V. OrderoftheArrow Page12VI. AdultSupervision&YouthProtection Pages13-15
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GeneralQuestions
Q:WhatisdifferentaboutCubScouts/BoyScoutsthisyear?
Startingin2018,familiescanchoosetosignuptheirsonsanddaughtersforCubScouts,ages5-10.Charteredpartnerorganizationsmaychoosetoestablishanewgirlpack,establishapackthatconsistsofgirldensandboydensorremainanall-boypack.CubScoutdenswillbesinglegender—allboysorallgirls.
UsingthesamecurriculumastheBoyScoutsprogram,ScoutsBSAisscheduledtolaunchinFebruary2019,enablingalleligibleyouthages11-17,toearntheEagleScoutrank.ScoutsBSAwillbesinglegender–allgirltroopsorallboytroops.Thisuniqueapproachallowstheorganizationtomaintaintheintegrityofthesingle-gendermodelwhilealsomeetingtheneedsoftoday’sfamilies.
Q:WhydidtheorganizationdecidetomakeCubScoutsandBoyScoutsavailabletogirls?Isitbecauseofdecliningmembership?
TheBSA’sdecisiontowelcomegirlsintotheCubScoutprogramandtoofferaprogramforoldergirlscomesfrominputwehavereceivedfromourScoutingfamilies,aswellasprospectiveScoutingfamilies.Weunderstandthatfamiliestodayarebusierandmorediversethanever.Infact:
• Mostaredual-earners.• Therearemoresingle-parenthouseholdsthaninpreviousdecades.• Manyunderservedcommunities,includingfastest-growingHispanicandAsian
communities,prefertoparticipateinactivitiesasafamily.• And,allfamilieshavelessfreetime.Morethanone-thirdofparentsfeeltheyspendtoo
littlefreetimewiththeirkids,andmillennialparentsaredesperatetospendmoretimeinteractingwiththeirkids.
TheBSAbelievesweoweittofamiliestostructureourprogramofferingsinawaythatfitsintotheirbusylivestodelivercharacterdevelopmentandvalues-basedleadershiptrainingthatScoutingpromises.
Q:IsthischangeadeparturefromtheBSA’scoremissionandvalues?
No.Infact,thisalignswithourmissionandvalues.Afterall,thevaluesofScoutingasdetailedinthe12pointsoftheScoutLaw–trustworthy,loyal,helpful,friendly,courteous,kind,obedient,cheerful,thrifty,brave,cleanandreverent–arerelevantandimportantforbothyoungmenandwomen.
OurmissionistoprepareyoungpeopletomakeethicalandmoralchoicesovertheirlifetimesbyinstillinginthemthevaluesoftheScoutOathandScoutLaw.Toachieveourmission,wecreateinnovativeprogramsandevolveexistingonesthatrespondtotheneedsoftoday’sfamiliesanddeliverthemthroughdedicatedvolunteersincommunitiesacrossthenation.
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Q:AreallBSAprogramsnowco-ed?
TheCubScoutsandBoyScouts/ScoutsBSAprogramsarenotco-ed.
TheleadershipoftheBSAdeterminedthatthebestwaytowelcomegirlstoservetoday’sfamilieswastoofferauniquemodelthatbuildsontheprovenbenefitsofoursingle-genderprogram,whilealsoprovidingcharacterandleadershipopportunitiesforbothboysandgirls.
Q:WhyistheBSArecommendingsingle-genderdensandtroopsunitsinsteadofaco-edmodel?
TheleadershipoftheBSAdeterminedthatthebestwaytowelcomegirlstoservetoday’sfamiliesistoofferauniquemodelthatbuildsontheprovenbenefitsofoursingle-genderprogram,whilealsoprovidingcharacterandleadershipopportunitiesforbothboysandgirls.
Q:WhatresearchdidtheBSAconductthatinformedthisdecision?
Toinformthisdecision,theBoyScoutsofAmericaconductedextensiveresearch.TheBSAalsoevaluatedinputfromthousandsofvolunteerswhoparticipatedinthenationwidefamilylisteningsessions.
TheresultswereoverwhelminglypositiveandsupportedthedecisiontowelcomegirlsintoCubScoutsandprovideapathtoearntheEagleScoutrank.TheresearchfoundthatparentsnotinvolvedwithScoutingshowedhighinterestingettingtheirdaughterssignedupforprogramslikeCubScoutsandBoyScouts,with90percentexpressinginterestinaprogramlikeCubScoutsand87percentexpressinginterestinaprogramlikeBoyScouts.
TheBSAalsosurveyedyounggirlsandfoundthat90percentofgirlsage11-18areinterestedinjoiningtheBSA’sprograms.
Educationexpertsalsoevaluatedthecurriculumandcontentandconfirmedtherelevanceoftheprogramforyoungwomen.
Q:IsthisforalllevelsofScoutinginallpartsofthecountry?
BSA’sprogramsareofferedtoyouthnationwideandeverywheretheBSAservesfamilies.Ofcourse,allofourprogramsaredependentonqualityvolunteers.
EffectiveJune11,2018,parentscanchoosetosignuptheirsonsanddaughtersforCubScouts(specificdateiscouncildependent).Existingpacksmaychoosetoestablishanewgirlpack,establishapackthatconsistsofgirldensandboydens,orremainanall-boypack.CubScoutdenswillbesinglegender—allboysorallgirls.
UsingthesamecurriculumasthecurrentBoyScoutsprogram,theorganizationisalsoscheduledtolaunchScoutsBSAinFebruary2019,whichwillserveboytroopsandgirltroops,enablingalleligibleyouthtoearntheEagleScoutrank(ScoutsBSAtroopswillbesinglegender–allgirlorallboy).Thisuniqueapproachallowstheorganizationtomaintaintheintegrityofthesingle-gendermodelwhilealsomeetingtheneedsoftoday’sfamilies.
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Q:Willtheorganization’snamechange?
No.TheBoyScoutsofAmerica,innameandasanorganization,hasstoodforcharacterdevelopmentandvalues-basedleadershiptrainingformorethan108years.Itis,unequivocally,oneofthemostrecognized,respected,andvaluablebrandsontheplanet.Therefore,whilewehaveexpandedthereachofourprogramsamongtoday’syouthandtheirfamilies,ournameremainsthesame,andourbrandwillcontinuetobeasourceofpridethatwewillprotectandfosteraswelooktoextendthereachofourpromisetomorefamilies.Q:HowwilltheBSArespondtoparentswhodon’twantcoeducationalprograms?
ItisimportanttonotethatBSAdidnotdecidetomaketheCubScoutsandBoyScoutsprogramsco-ed;instead,theorganizationhasintroducedauniquemodelthatbuildsonthebenefitsofasingle-genderprogramwhilealsoprovidingcharacterandleadershipopportunitiesforbothboysandgirls.CharteredorganizationsalwayshavetheoptiontoselectfromthenumerousBSAprogramofferings;nooneprogramorformatismandatory–weareofferingourcommunitiesmoreoptions.
Startingin2018,familiescanchoosetosignuptheirsonsanddaughtersforCubScouts.Charteredpartnerorganizationsmaychoosetoestablishanewgirlpack,establishapackthatconsistsofgirldensandboydensorremainanall-boypack.Denswillbesinglegender—allboysorallgirls.
UsingthesamecurriculumastheBoyScoutsprogram,ScoutsBSAisscheduledtolaunchinFebruary2019,enablingalleligibleyouthtoearntheEagleScoutrank.ScoutsBSAwillbesinglegender–all-girltroopsorall-boytroops.Thisuniqueapproachallowstheorganizationtomaintaintheintegrityofthesingle-gendermodelwhilealsomeetingtheneedsoftoday’sfamilies.
Additionally,VenturingcrewsandSeaScoutshipscanbeestablishedasall-girlorall-boyunits,inadditiontotheoptionofbeingcoeducationalunits.
Q:WhatareyouhearingfromBSAleadersaroundthecountryaboutthisannouncement?
ThedecisionwasinformedbymembersoftheBSAatalllevelsoftheorganizationandfromallpartsofthecountry,soweareseeingsupportforthedecisionreflectthatinput.ThisisanexcitingtimefortheBSA.
Duetoearlyinterest,theBSAofferedanEarlyAdopterprogramthatlocalcouncilscouldoptinto,whichenabledunitsthatexpressedanearlyinterestandcapabilityinwelcominggirlstodosostartingJanuary15,2018.Over5,000girlsjoinedCubScoutssincetheEarlyAdopterprogramwasintroduced,andwecontinuetoreceivegreatfeedbackfrompacksandfamiliesabouttheopportunity.
WevaluethepartnershipwithBSAleadersacrossthecountryaswecontinuetoinnovateandevolveourprovenprogramstomeettheneedsoftoday’sfamiliesandprovidethetypesofexperiencesthatparentsandtheirchildrenwantmost.
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Q:Doyouthinkcurrentyouthmembersoradultvolunteerswillwithdraw?
Thisprogrammingisinresponsetowhatwe’veheardfromourScoutingfamiliesinadditiontothosewhoarenotinvolvedintheBSA.AmajorityofparentssurveyedsaidtheyareinterestedinhavingtheirdaughtersinvolvedinaprogramliketheCubScoutsandBoyScouts.
What’smore,manyofourcurrentfamilies,Scouts,donors,volunteersandprofessionalstaffareinsupportofthisdecision,andinanumberofcasesfromourEarlyAdopterefforts,wehaveheardthatmoreparentshavestartedvolunteeringsincetheirentirefamilycouldnowbeinvolved.
Q:AreBSAprogramsrelevantforgirls?
Yes.Onaverage,morethan90percentofScoutingfamiliesandleadersbelievetheBSAprogramsarerelevanttobothboysandgirls.What’smore,educationexpertsalsoevaluatedthecurriculumandcontentandconfirmedthattheprogramsarebothrelevantandempoweringforbothyoungmenandyoungwomen.
Q:Whydidn’ttheBSApartnerwiththeGirlScoutsoranotherorganizationtoservegirls?
TheBSAhadseveralconversationswithotheryouth-servingorganizations,butfoundthroughextensiveresearchandconversationswithparentsthatthereisaneedandaninteresttowelcomegirlstoourexistingprograms.Wecelebrateallyouth-servingorganizationsthatbuildcharacterandfeelthemostimportantthingistoallowparentstheabilitytochoosetheprogramthatisbestfortheirfamily.
What’smore,theBSAhasbeenprovidingprogramstoyounggirlssince1971whenweextendedourExploringprogramtoyoungwomen.GirlsalsoparticipateinourVenturing,SeaScoutsandSTEMScoutsprograms.
Q:HowaretheBSAprogramsdifferentfromwhatgirlswouldexperiencewithGirlScouts?
BSAprogramsprovidecharacter-andleadership-buildingexperiencesthatgiveyoungpeopleasolidfoundationfortheirfutures.Wecelebrateallyouth-servingorganizationsthatbuildcharacterandfeelthemostimportantthingistoallowparentstheabilitytochoosewhatprogramisbestfortheirfamily.
Q:WhyareyoujustnowallowinggirlsintotheBoyScouts?
ItisimportanttounderscorethattheBSAhasprovidedprogrammingtoyoungwomenandyoungmenformanyyearsthroughSeaScouts,STEMScouts,ExploringandVenturing.
STEMScouts:45%ofparticipantsaregirls/youngwomen,55%areboys/youngmen
Exploring:39%ofparticipantsaregirls/youngwomen,61%areboys/youngmen
Venturing:36%ofparticipantsaregirls/youngwomen,64%areboys/youngmen
SeaScouts:40%ofparticipantsaregirls/youngwomen,60%areboys/youngmen
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Q:AtwhatagecangirlsjoinScouting?
In2018,familiescanchooseCubScoutsfortheirsonsanddaughters,startingatagefive,upthroughage20inVenturingandSeaScouts.
Q:HowdounitsrespondtogirlswhowanttojoinBSAprogramsimmediately?WeareexcitedtowelcomegirlswhoareinterestedinjoiningtheCubScoutingprogramin2018.ForthosecouncilswhodidnotparticipateinthesoftlaunchofFamilyCubScouting,implementationbeginsJune11,2018,orlater(eachcouncildecidedtheirownstartdate).ForScoutsBSA,itisrecommendedthatallcouncilsthatreceiveinterestintheprogramfromtheircommunitydevelopalistwithcontactinformation,sotheycanreachouttothoseinterestedasunitsarebeingdeveloped.Q:Willtherebenewcurriculumforgirlparticipants?Willyouchangetheprogramtoaccommodategirls?
No.Ourexistingprogramsarerelevantforyoungmenandwomen.Afterall,thevaluesofScoutingasoutlinedintheScoutLaw–trustworthy,loyal,helpful,friendly,courteous,kind,obedient,cheerful,thrifty,brave,cleanandreverent–arerelevantandimportantvaluesforbothyoungmenandwomen.
Q:Canaunitthatcannotmeetthefive-girlminimumoffertheloneScoutprogram?
CouncilswilldeterminetheviabilityoftheloneScoutprogram,justastheydonowwithboys.
Q:HowwillBeAScouthelpidentifywhichunitsarewelcominggirls?
Unitpinshaveanindicatoriftheunitisacceptinggirls.Thisindicatoronthepinwillbesetthroughtheorganizationmanagersettings.
Q:Willwehavedifferentuniformsforboysandgirls?
Alluniformscontinuetobereviewedandadjustedtomeetparticipantneeds.Whilethefitandstylingmaybeabitdifferent,theuniformswillremainfundamentallythesame.
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CharteredOrganizationsQ:WerecharteredorganizationsconsultedbeforetheBSAdecidedtowelcomegirlsintotheCubScoutandBoyScoutprograms?Charteredorganizationswereconsultedthroughouttheresearchandevaluationprocess.Sincethedecisionwehavereceivedsupportivefeedbackfromanumberofourpartners.Q:Docharteredorganizationshaveachoicewhetherornottoadopttheexpandedprogram?Yes.CharteredorganizationsalwayshavetheoptiontoselectfromthenumerousBSAprogramofferings.TheycanselectalloroneoftheBSAprogramsthattheyfeelbestmeettheneedsoftheirmembersandthecommunitiesaroundthem.
Q:HowshouldweapproachacharteredorganizationthatdoesnotwanttoofferFamilyScouting?
CharteredorganizationscanchoosewhichprogramstoofferandwhethertheywanttoofferFamilyScoutingorremainfocusedonsingle-genderprograms.Ifthecharteredorganizationhasmadeawell-informeddecisiontofocusonsingle-genderprograms,werecommendworkingwithyourdistrictorcouncilmembershipteamstoidentifynewunitdevelopmentopportunities.
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CubScoutingQ:Howwillpacksanddensbestructured?
CubScoutdenswillbesinglegender—allboysorallgirls.CubScoutpacks,meanwhile,canincludeanycombinationofall-boyorall-girldens.Thechoiceislefttoindividualleadersinconsultationwiththeircharteredorganization.
Thishybridmodelbuildsonthebenefitofasingle-genderprogramwhilealsoprovidingcharacterandleadershipopportunitiesforbothboysandgirls.
Q:Shoulddensforgirlsanddensforboysmeetatthesametimeandplace?
Itisuptothecharteredorganizationandthepackorthedentodecidemeetingtimesandplaces.
Q:Canseparateboyandgirldensworkonthesameactivityatthesametimetogether?
Thereisnosetruleorguidelineonthis.Ifappropriate,thiscanbetreatedthesameastwodensofthesamegenderworkingtogether.Itwillbeuptothegoodjudgementofleaderstodecidewhatisbestfortheirunits.
Q:Willgirlswhoenterinthefallof2018asArrowofLighthaveatroopreadytoacceptthematcrossovertimein2019?Thoughwecannotguaranteeatroopwillbereadywhereyouare,theScoutingprogramforoldergirlsisscheduledtobereadytoacceptparticipantsFebruary1,2019,tocoincidewithtimingformanycrossoversacrossthenation.
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Q:Willgirlswhoregisteredintheearlyadopterprogramneedtoregisteragainlaterintheyear?
Thosewhoregisteredinthespringof2018werechargedtheproratedmembershipfeebasedontheirunit’snextrecharter.Forexample,ifanewCubScoutregisteredinFebruaryandthatpackhasaDecemberrecharter,thenthatCubScoutregistrationfeewasfor11months.So,theywillneedtore-registerwiththepack,alongwiththeothermembersofthepack,inDecember.
Q:IfIhaveaquestionabouthowtoincorporategirlsintothepack,whoshouldItalkto?
Inanoverwhelmingnumberofexistingpacksacrossthecountry,girlshavealreadyinformallybeenparticipatinginactivities,includingpackmeetingsandfamilycamping,sotheBSAdoesn’tforeseemajorissuesinwelcominggirlsofficiallytopacks.Becausetheprogramitselfisnotchanging,yourunitcommissionerwouldbethemostknowledgeablepersontotalktoabouttheScoutingprogram.Yourdistrictexecutiveisalsoaresource.
Q:Canpacksshareunitnumbers?Ifso,howdowetellthemapart? A:Yes,theycansharepacknumbers.Youwillbeabletotellthemapartinthesystemthesamewaythatwedowhencouncilsmerge—thereisaprefixinScoutNetthatIDseachunit.
Q:WhatifIonlyhaveoneortwogirlswhoareinterestedinjoining?
Keeprecruiting–havethegirlsinvitetheirfriends.Packswillcontinuetohavetheoptiontocombinegradelevelstoformadenaslongastheyareworkingontheirrespectiveranks.Forexample,ifyouhavetwothird-gradegirlsandtwofourth-gradegirls,youmaycombineintoonesingle-genderdenaslongastheyareworkingontheirBearandWebelos,respectively.
Q:CantheLionbadgebewornontheblueCubScoutuniform?
Yes.TheLionbadgecanbewornontheblueCubScoutuniform.
TheproperbadgeconfigurationfortheCubScoutingbadgesfromLionthroughBearisdepictedhere.
Q:AreWebelosrequiredtowearthetanuniformorcantheyweartheCubScoutblue?
TheWebelosuniformisthetanuniform.Note:thediamondWebelosbadgeisbeingphasedout.BelowistheproperWebelos/ArrowofLightbadgeconfiguration.
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ScoutsBSA
Q:Whatisthenameoftheprogramforolderyouth?
Thenameoftheprogramservingyouth11-17yearsoldwillbeScoutsBSA,whichperfectlyrepresentsthenew,inclusiveprogramforolderScoutsthattheBoyScoutsofAmericaisproudtooffer.ThenamechangeiseffectiveFebruary2019,whenScoutsBSAwillbeginwelcominggirlsandboys.ScoutsBSAbuildsonthelegacyoftheScoutname,theScouthandbook,Scoutsthemselves–wehavemorethan108yearsofheritageandtraditionbuiltontheScoutname.ScoutsBSAisthesameiconicprogramwithanamethatwelcomesyoungmenandwomentotheadventureofScouting.TheBSAwillcontinuetobuildthefutureofScoutingwithScoutsBSA,aswedelivercharacterandleadershipandofferapathtotherankofEagleScoutforboysandgirls.Q:Whatwillthemembersoftheprogrambecalled?
Justastoday,theywillbecalledScouts.Forexample,“I’minScoutsBSA,soIamaScout.”Q:WhydidtheBSAnotkeeptheBoyScoutprogramnameandintroduceaseparatenamefortheprogramforgirls?Sinceallsingle-gendertroopswillrunthesameScoutingprogram,earnthesamemeritbadgesandachievethesameranks,itbecameclearthatthereshouldbeoneprogramname.Q:WilltheBoyScoutHandbookbeupdatedtoreflectthenewname?
Yes.Q:WillScoutsBSAberolledoutlikeapilot,orimplementedallatonetime?TheBoyScoutsofAmerica’sBoardofDirectorsunanimouslyapprovedtowelcomegirlsintoitsiconicScoutingprogramsandtodeliveraScoutingprogramforoldergirlsthatwillenablethemtoadvanceandearnthehighestrankofEagleScout.Thiswillnotbehandledasapilot.ForScoutsBSA,therewillbenosoftlaunch;implementationforthisprogramisscheduledforFebruary2019.
Q:Canlinkedtroopssharetroopnumbers?Ifso,howdowetellthemapart? A:Yes,theycansharetroopnumbers.Youwillbeabletotellthemapartinthesystemthesamewaythatwedowhencouncilsmerge—thereisaprefixinScoutNetthatIDseachtroop.
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Q:Willgirlsbeabletoearnthesamemeritbadges?
Yes.AllmembersofScoutsBSAwillbeeligibletoearnmeritbadges.
Q:WillgirlshavetomeetthesamerequirementtoachieveEagleScout?
Yes.YoungwomenwillhavetheopportunitytoearntheEagleScoutrankbymeetingthesamecriteriaandachievementsasyoungmen.
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OrderoftheArrowQ:WillgirlsbeabletobemembersoftheOrderoftheArrow?BeginningFebruary1,2019,unitelectionswillbepermittedinScoutsBSA,VenturingandSeaScoutunits.Q:WillcampingbecountedretroactivelyforthosecurrentlyinVenturingandSeaScouts?
Yes.CampingthathastakenplacewithinthetwoyearsimmediatelypriortotheelectionwillbecountedbeginningFebruary1,2019.ThiscampingmusthavetakenplacewhileanindividualwasregisteredwiththeBSAasaprogramparticipantandmustbewhileparticipatingwithaBSAVenturingCreworSeaScoutShip.
Q:CanIbeelectedintotheOAifIamovertheageof18?
Yes!Aslongasyouareundertheageof21atthetimetheelectionisheld.Ifyouareover21,youwillneedtogothroughtheadultselectionprocess.
Q:WilltherebeanyopportunitiesforVenturerstolearnmoreabouttheOAandVenturing?
Yes!WewillprovidehighlevelinformationandtheopportunitytogatherfeedbackfromyouthVenturingparticipantsatVenturingFest2018,whichwillbeheldJuly1-6,2018.
Q:WhenwilltheOAliteraturebeupdatedtoreflectthesechanges?
WeareplanningthatallliteraturewillbeupdatedbySummerof2019.
Q:Willwestillbeabletowearlodgeflapsonanyfemaleuniformsthatmaybecreated?
Yes.WecontinuetoworkwithBSANationalSupplytohelpensurethatthecurrentOAlodgeflapshapeandsizewillbeaccommodated.
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YouthProtectionandAdultSupervision
Q:Mayanadultmaleleadanall-girlunit?
Yes,anadultmalecanleadanall-girlunit,justaswealreadyhaveadultfemalesleadingall-boyprograms.Youthprotectionrequirementsstillapplytobothmaleandfemaleparticipants.
Effective,October1,2018,tworegisteredadultleaders21yearsofageoroverarerequiredatallScoutingactivities,includingmeetings.Theremustbearegisteredfemaleadultleaderover21ineveryunitservingfemales.Aregisteredfemaleadultleaderover21mustbepresentforanyactivityinvolvingfemaleyouth.Notwithstandingtheminimumleaderrequirements,age-andprogram-appropriatesupervisionmustalwaysbeprovided.
Eligiblevolunteersneedtobe:
1) 21andover2) RegisteredasavolunteerwiththeBSA3) Havegonethroughabackgroundcheck,and4) BeuptodateonYouthProtectiontraining
Thisisachangefromourpreviouspolicywhereoneleadercouldbe21yearsofageorolderwithasecondleaderwhocouldbe18yearsofageorolder.Q:Aretheregoingtobechangesintherequirementsforadultleadership?
Asalways,wewillmaintainourcontinuousimprovementmodeltoensurethesafetyofallyouth.
Effective,October1,2018,tworegisteredadultleaders21yearsofageoroverarerequiredatallScoutingactivities,includingmeetings.Theremustbearegisteredfemaleadultleaderover21ineveryunitservingfemales.Aregisteredfemaleadultleaderover21mustbepresentforanyactivityinvolvingfemaleyouth.Notwithstandingtheminimumleaderrequirements,age-andprogram-appropriatesupervisionmustalwaysbeprovided.
Eligiblevolunteerswouldneedtobe:
5) 21andover6) RegisteredasvolunteerswiththeBSA7) Havegonethroughabackgroundcheck,and8) BeuptodateonYouthProtectiontraining
Thisisachangefromourpreviouspolicywhereonevolunteercouldbe21yearsofageorolderwithasecondvolunteerwhocouldbe18yearsofageorolder.ExamplesofapprovedleadershipBoydens,troops,crews,orshipsVolunteersmaybeallmale,allfemale,oracombinationofmaleandfemale,butatleasttwovolunteersmustbe21yearsofageorover.
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Girldens,troops,crews,orshipsVolunteersmaybeallfemaleoracombinationofmaleandfemale,butatleasttwovolunteersmustbe21yearsofageoroverandatleastonemustbefemale.FamilypacksVolunteersmaybeallfemaleoracombinationofmaleandfemale,butatleasttwovolunteersmustbe21yearsofageoroverandatleastonemustbefemale.OvernightactivitiesAchangefromthepreviouspolicywhereonlyoneoftheadultswasrequiredtoberegistered,wearenowrequiringtwo21yearsoldoroverleadersforallactivities,includingovernights;ifgirlsarepresent,atleastoneofthevolunteersmustbefemale(tobeavolunteer,youmustberegistered).AdditionalleadershipAsoneexampleofadditionalleadership,campstandardsrequirenotonlytheminimumadultleadership,butalsorequirecertainratios(e.g.,aquatics(PS-201-1)andCOPE(SQ-409-3)).AlladultsaccompanyingaScoutingunitwhoarepresentattheactivityfor72totalhoursormoremustberegisteredasleaders.The72hoursneednotbeconsecutive.Q:Whatfacilitychangeswillneedtohappenatourcamps?
TheBoyScoutsofAmericahasbeenservingyoungwomenfordecades,somanycampsalreadyaccommodatewomen.Eachcouncilwillevaluatetheirfacilitiesandmakeanyneededchanges.
Q:Whatisthepolicyforrestroomandshoweringfacilities?Separateshowerandlatrinefacilitiesshouldbeprovidedformaleandfemaleadultsaswellasformaleandfemaleyouth.Ifseparatefacilitiesarenotavailable,separatetimesshouldbescheduledandposted.Thisisnotachange.Q:Whatarethepoliciesforsleepingaccommodations?Separateaccommodationsforadultmalesandfemalesandyouthmalesandfemalesarerequired.• Separatetentingarrangementsmustbeprovidedformaleandfemaleadultsaswellasfor
maleandfemaleyouth.
• Youthsharingtentsmustbenomorethantwoyearsapartinage.
• InCubScouting,parentsandguardiansmayshareatentwiththeirfamily.
• Inallotherprograms,youthandadultstentseparately.
• Spousesmaysharetents.
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Q:Whattrainingwillbetakenbycampstaff?Campdirectorandcampstafftrainingincludes“UnderstandingandPreventingYouth-on-YouthAbuse,”whichaddresseskeyissuesthatapplytoallyouth:bullying,harassment,inappropriatebehavior,privacy,andotherimportantsubjects.Q:WhatwillhappenatDayCampifweonlyhaveafewgirls,andtheyarenotthesamerank?Maintainingtheall-boydenandall-girldenisanoverallCubScoutingprogramrequirementthatextendsintoallactivities;however,DayCampscanofferjointactivitiesthatareavailabletomultipledens.