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The BP 2019 List: Ways to Be Prepared for Scouts BSA on February 1, 2019

Here’s what’s on this BP (Be Prepared) 2019 Blog (click for the links below, or look in the categories above):

Overview of Ideas to Prepare for Scouts BSA Troops of Girls (also set out below), followed by these Categories:

Scouts BSA Troops: How Do (or can) They Run? — options for how to run your Troop of Girls in concert with your Troop of Boys, since there can be many different ways — All Scouting is Local!
Building Consensus on Scouts BSA — Reaching consensus with your stakeholders is an important process. Tips in these posts.
Unit Launch Logistics — details about what you need to start a Scouts BSA unit at any time, plus special issues like troop number, linked committee structure, and unit and personal patches and bling for those who start a new troop
Recruiting Youth and Adults
Planning for Unit Success — Side by side with recruiting is planning or “what will our Scouts do”, so that your troop has a full program of exciting and appealing activities for Scouts and Leaders
Loose Ends — A lot of other things you might want to know

Overview of Ideas to Prepare for Scouts BSA Troops of Girls

Starting February 1, 2019, girls aged 11 (or 10 with Arrow of Light) through 17 can join Scouts BSA troops of girls. Effective on that date, the BSA program for older youth will be named Scouts BSA to represent the new, inclusive program for older sbsa cooking Scouts that the Boy Scouts of America is proud to offer. Scouts BSA is the same iconic program with a name that welcomes young men and women to the adventure of Scouting. The BSA will continue to build the future of Scouting with Scouts BSA, as we deliver character and leadership, and offer a path to the rank of Eagle Scout for both boys and girls.

This note is the first of a series of “Be Prepared” ideas that the Atlanta Area Council Family Scouting Committee marketing team is rolling out in January 2019 to help you prepare for the launch of Scouts BSA troops of girls – this is provided whether you’ve already decided to help with a new troop, or whether you’ve decided to stick with only a troop of boys, or whether you’ve not yet decided or haven’t even begun to think of the options available.

First, a summary of the change – the “Who, What, When, Where, Why” of Scouts BSA.

Who is involved in the change? Primarily girls aged 11 (or 10 with Arrow of Light) through 17 can join Scouts BSA troops of girls, plus their families who will enjoy sbsa canoe group their participation in Scouting. Key to the process will be registered leaders of those troops – both adults who step up to be registered leaders for the first time, and current leaders who add to their existing roles by assisting new troops of girls. Scouts in troops of boys will see changes too – in some cases just because the new troop of girls is chartered by the same chartered organization and the two troops operate with some level of coordination and joint activity, and in other cases because troops of boys and their leaders will see female scouts from troops of girls at summer camp, camp-o-rees, and other events.

What is the change? Girls aged 11 (or 10 with Arrow of Light) through 17 can join Scouts BSA troops of girls – if Chartered Organizations establish troops for those girls (they don’t have to). What has been known as the “Boy Scouting” program will be known as Scouts BSA (but the overall organization name “Boy Scouts of America” tying shoe continues). Troops in Scouts BSA will be either all boy or all girl, with separate youth leadership. This builds on the 2018 change in Cub Scouting when packs could elect to have dens of girls and Chartered Organizations could establish packs solely of girls. (Of course, Venturing and Sea Scouts have included girls for decades in fully coed Scouting programs for youth age 14, or 13 and completed eighth grade, to age 21.)

When is the change? Scouts BSA troops of girls can become officially chartered, with youth officially registered, on or after February 1, 2019. But to do that on day one, there is a lot of preparation work that can and should be done – that’s the paddleboard reason for these BP Pointers (Be Prepared).

Where is the change? Scouts BSA troops of girls can be established anywhere in the United States, whether through existing Chartered Organizations that have troops, packs, crews or ships, or through new Chartered Organizations. But existing Chartered Organizations are not required to establish a Scouts BSA troops of girls, just as they are not required to establish every type of BSA unit available. A BSA charter for one or more Scouting units authorizes the organization to make use of the Scouting program as a part of its total program, under leadership the organization has selected, for all youth who want to join and who satisfy joining criteria.

Why is the change made? Two primary reasons: First, people like the program! In a recent survey of parents not involved with Scouting, 87% were interested in a program like Boy Scouts for their daughters. Second, families want convenience for family activity. Families today are busier than ever and with less free time, families want convenience. BSA research shows that BSA programs are extremely appealing to today’s busy families.

More about the Who, What, When, Where, Why – and How – of Scouts BSA will follow in the BP 2019 List as a Countdown of ways to Be Prepared for Scouts BSA on February 1, 2019 (or when you decide to launch a Scouts BSA troop of girls). See posts here and to follow, and on this page (and the pages that open under it) for past and upcoming items in the BP 2019 List (and for upcoming items that are not complete, shoot your comments to this Family Scouting email, as that might result in updates and clarifications). More about what troop leaders might want to know about family scouting and girls is found on this District page of Scouts BSA resources and ideas.

Post-Planning Publicity – Joining Nights, Media and More

In the PLC Pre-Launch Planning Pointer, the end note was about Publicizing your Plan:

“Publicize. And when you get a program and activities on the calendar, be sure to get that word out to your community:

Especially prospective Scouts and their families.
Let your Chartered Organization know of your progress.
Share on social media about what you’re going to do.
Use traditional media, maybe a press release about girls getting it done where they will go camping.
Contact your troop of boys and/or other troops of girls and let them know your plans – maybe some will want to do activities with you.”

How to Publicize? Let us count the ways … here’s a recap of the many media and avenues you can use to get the word out, both by adults and by youth – but All Scouting is Local, and you may have more:

paperwork 1) Open House Events – Do activities that youth want to do, right now: show them what they will do in your Scouts BSA troop. Brief parents too.

2) Unit Websites – Put your best face forward.

3) Unit BeAScout Pin – Put your best Words forward, briefly.

4) Organization Websites – churches, schools, community groups, your Chartered Organization.

5) Unit Facebook, Instagram, etc. – Follow Social Media Guidelines.

6) Personal Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. – Follow Social Media Guidelines.

7) Word of Mouth – tell the story of your troop plans to friends and families.

8) Hand to Hand – put something about your troop in their hands.

9) Text to Text / Email to Email / Tweet to Tweet / Post to Post – communicate how your target audience receives information.

10) Tell Your Story – you can make brief appealing announcements in public forums, like schools (parent meetings, student community meetings), churches, community groups, etc.

11) News Media – your city’s newspaper, local newspapers, community new bulletins, TV, Radio … however news is shared in your community.

sbsa smores 1 12) Demo / Parade / Show your Stuff – you may have the opportunity to demo what you do at a community event, at a Pinewood Derby or other Cub Scout event, or by being in a parade, or providing service at a community event.

Publicity Resources: include, but not limited to:

BeAScout.org
Any District or Council website that lists units
These BSA Unit Public Relations resources.
A Scouts BSA Join Night PowerPoint you can download and revise (psst: take out “Tour Permits” from Slide 22 about “Troop XXX Structure” if National doesn’t fix that).
Fliers in the BSA Brand Center.
Email Templates in the BSA Brand Center.
Posters in the BSA Brand Center.
Photos and Videos in the BSA Brand Center.
Troop Cards in the BSA Brand Center.
Web Banners in the BSA Brand Center.
Your Fliers and Posters and Such that are consistent with the “Branding Dos and Don’ts” (see below) and obtain any required approval – maybe business cards, or “peer to peer” cards or tickets (“admit one”)
Put your calendar of events on your materials, or as a standalone list.
A Scouts BSA girl troop launch Press Release template is at this District Resource Page.

And remember the “Branding Dos and Don’ts”, like:

“never use the word “girl” before “Scouts.” This includes fliers, in conversation, social media, etc.
Do say:
- Join Troop 123 for girls.
- Our church has a boy troop and is forming a girl troop.
- Join the BSA. Find a troop for girls near you at BeAScout.org.”
- “… Don’t … use names, programs, marks, logos, or images of the GSUSA or combine them with those of the BSA.”

These apply not just to fliers, but to how you talk, text, tweet and otherwise transmit words.

Pre-Launch Training: Leadership and Scout Skills

Knowledge is Good! While girls are not registered as Scouts in a Scouts BSA troop until their troop is chartered on or after February 1, 2019 and their youth applications are accepted, there are things that they can learn before that first day.

Leadership Knowledge. One element is troop leadership skills, and so you can conduct the program called “Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops” or “ILST”. The purpose of ILST is to teach Scouts with leadership positions about their new roles and how to most effectively reach success in that role. It is intended to help Scouts in leadership positions within their troop understand their responsibilities and to equip them with organizational and leadership skills to fulfill those responsibilities. The syllabus, updated in July, 2018, is found at the Scouting.org “Training for Youth” page. girls at table

As with all Scouting resources, All Scouting is Local, and your troop may do it differently than others or differently than some parts of the syllabus – and you may do it differently in month one than you do in month six as your troop evolves.
You might see if your “brother” troop wants to participate in that with you … they might, as you might emulate some of how they operate.
But you might do it better than them!

The ILST course, and many others (including some great camping skills courses), are offered at the February 16 University of Scouting, held all day at Life University. Register at http://www.atlantabsa.org/training/supplemental-training/university-of-scouting/6962. Take everyone, adults and youth, and let them learn!

The Scouting.org “Training for Youth” page has other useful syllabi and links for you, like Den Chief Training, Hazardous Weather Training, and more.

Scout Skills Knowledge. If the girls joining your troop are keen on earning rank advancement quickly, they might want to acquire some knowledge about it … starting with the Scout Rank.

Remember: in 2015 this got elevated from a “joining badge” to a rank, and so the requirements are more fulsome than before.
Your best resource for that is a Scout Handbook, and even before the handbook version for girls is released, you can use the existing “Boy Scout Handbook”, since the rank requirements are the same.
Another resource is the Cub Scout Arrow of Light adventure called “Scouting Adventure” … the den leader guide for that is found at the end of this leader guide excerpt.

eggs girl But if They are Tested Before Becoming Scouts, Can They Get Credit for Advancement? Nope. Not until they register as Scouts on or after February 1, 2019. They can get instruction now at a troop activity or other BSA activity like a Merit Badge clinic (if invited to participate). That will benefit them, and make “testing” and signoff easier after they are Scouts registered on or after February 1, 2019. For example, a Cub Scout’s earning the Arrow of Light doesn’t mean he or she also earns the Scout Rank upon joining a troop – it just means the Scout has benefitted from instruction before joining a troop, and is likely to be better able to be tested and pass the Scout Rank requirements quickly. So too with girls who get Scout skills or merit badge instruction before they join a troop: after they are registered on or after February 1, 2019, they are likely to be better able to be tested and pass the requirements quickly.

More on advancement and whether things done before officially joining can be “counted” on or after registration, from the Guide to Advancement (the most recent version, from 2017):

A general note at the top of Section 7 says: “All merit badge requirements must be met while a registered Boy Scout or Varsity Scout, or a qualified Venturer or Sea Scout. Accomplishments before joining, or while a Cub Scout, do not apply.”
- So, for example, the nights camping while a Cub Scout don’t apply either to T-2-1 camping requirements, nor to Camping Merit Badge. Nor do nights camping in 2018 while visiting a Troop in anticipation of joining a Scouts BSA Troop.
On Merit Badge Work, Section 7.0.0.2 says: “Even though Scouts may benefit from reviewing requirements with a counselor before pursuing them, a boy may begin working on a merit badge at any time after he is registered. It is the counselor’s decision whether to accept work or activities completed prior to the issuing of the signed blue card. Common sense should prevail, however. For example, nights already camped as a Boy Scout, or coins or stamps already collected, would count toward their respective badges.”
- So, for Coin Collecting Merit Badge, the knowledge from a period of time before joining will serve the Scout well in being able to be tested on the “Explain”, “Know”, “Describe”, “Identify” and “Demonstrate” parts, but for the “do” parts the existing collection will need to expand a bit to meet minimum requirements.
On Advancement generally, Section 4.0.0.1 says: “If a former member rejoins a BSA program, still as a youth member, then that youth may carry on in the advancement program, picking up where he left off when last he was a member, but not receiving credit for activities while not registered.”
- Extending that logic, what you do generally before becoming a member (at whatever age) doesn’t get “credit”, though it may inform a Scout and give the Scout skills to get a signoff faster when tested.

More about advancement in the BSA is found at this Scouting.org Advancement and Awards page.

More Resources: A Cornucopia of National and Local Resources

There are many official and unofficial website resources to help you do Scouting, and many of them are helpful – but with both “official” and “unofficial” resources, the ancient Latin maxim of “Caveat Scouter” (Scouter beware) applies, as despite best intentions, some material – even on “official” sites – is out of date, or incomplete, or confusing, or conflicts with other pieces.

aac But, collectively, there is wealth of useful information out there. Here are some links you might want to keep (and feel free to contact us for more that you know of):

Official BSA Links:

http://www.atlantabsa.org/ is the Atlanta Area Council website, with local contact information for BSA professionals here, Council activities, camping signups, training dates, Youth Protection resources (like if you have an issue arise), and more.
https://my.scouting.org/ is your personal portal for your information, and the unit, District and Council roles you may hold – key useful parts are the “Member Manager” for identification at any time of “who is on the roster” (or “when an application cleared”), as well as application intake, and “Training Manager” for seeing the status of training and updating as your leaders complete live training.
- https://my.scouting.org/ is also the best “starting” portal for the “BSA Learn Center” where online training may be taken.
- https://scoutingwire.org/ has a plethora of communication and resources for volunteers, employees, parents, and more, including Marketing & Membership resources, brand resources for communication and recruiting, and news.
- https://beascout.scouting.org/ is the online registration portal for new Scouts and Leaders, and is one way to promote your unit, by completing your “pin” with an appealing description and up to date contact information.
- https://www.scouting.org/ has evolved a lot recently, and is (still) somewhat inscrutable as an entry portal (it looks like BeAScout), but if you click the “Menu” in the upper right hand corner, you’ll find some structure, including:
  - Scouting Programs Overview at https://www.scouting.org/programs/, but there is yet to be launched a “coming soon” for Scouts BSA.
  - Scouting Safely Resources at https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/, including the current Guide to Safe Scouting at https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/ (remember: the GtSS sometimes has rules, but often has “guides” of what you “should” do, which are not the same as what you “must” do). ‘
  - For those who ask “is there a badge for that?” – see the Awards page at https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/, because there probably is.
  - The Training page at https://www.scouting.org/training/ is super useful, since there are many current syllabi for adult and youth training. And more resources.
  - https://www.scouting.org/resources/ has subpages you might like, including:
    - Troop Leader Resources at https://troopleader.org/ — useful.
    - Troop Program Resources at https://www.programresources.org/ — some seriously great stuff, including videos.
    - Scouting Magazine at https://scoutingmagazine.org/
    - Boys’ Life Magazine at https://boyslife.org/ (yes, teased in May, 2018 was that in September, 2018 there would be a new name for this magazine, and the early betting was that the name would be “Scouts’ Life” but, uh, that hasn’t happened, so …stay tuned?).
    - https://podcast.scouting.org/ has podcasts, including “Scoutcast” for troop leaders.
    - https://www.scoutshop.org is the online Scout Shop.
    - https://www.scoutbook.com/ is the free (as of 1/1/19) advancement (and more) software that Scouts and units can use, and units can use to report advancement and charter renewal data and more. There is an app for that.
    - https://www.scouting.org/training/youth-protection/cyber-chip/ has Cyber Chip resources you’ll want, and that you need for advancement.
    - https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org has a daily update that you can register for, and it may pay off in $$ like with this blog about deducting Scouting expenses from your taxes.
    - http://licensingbsa.org/bsa-licensee-list/ has a list of official suppliers licensed by the BSA, so that you can shop for your official licensed bling for your Scouts and Troop.
    - https://www.scouting.org/resources/bsa-fit/ has the SCOUTStrong Healthy Living Initiative, which is tool to tire your Scouts and make them fit.
    - https://www.scouting.org/familyscouting/ is where the BSA is putting a plethora of Family Scouting resources for many audiences.

Useful Unofficial Links:

For Family Scouting, here’s some key Facebook sites:
- BSA Family Packs/Girl Troops (this was originally the Cub Scout “early adopter” page, and has much official interaction): https://www.facebook.com/groups/BSAFamilyPacksTroops/
- BSA Family Scouting: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FamilyScoutsBSA/
- BSA Girl Troops: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BSAGIRLTROOPS/
- The Atlanta Area Council group is at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/278546589455397/
A District Website on Family Scouting is at https://www.southfultonscouting.com/node/3888
https://scoutmastercg.com/ is a posts and podcasts project curated by Clarke Green, a Scouter willing to share opinions that ring true.
http://usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mbbooks.asp is part of the U.S. Scouting Service Project at http://usscouts.org/usscouts/, which is an enormous resource for all parts of Scouting. Not all parts are current, but there’s lots of great resources here.
http://scoutmaster.org/ is also hosted on that USSSP site, with enormous resources.
http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page is another online site with a plethora of advancement resources, most widely known for Merit Badge “worksheets”, which can be a useful tool for Scouts working on a badge, but should not be a substitute for counseling and testing of the Scout by seeing the Scout “do” and “show” and “tell” what the badge requires.
https://www.animatedknots.com/ by Grog is a super cool site. Comes with an app too.
http://www.macscouter.com/ has lots of program resources, now archived at the USSSP site.
https://www.scouter.com/ has a variety of forums with a variety of quality and like all online forums a variety of trolls, but you can find good ideas there. So too http://scouts-l.org/, which has some really great posts, but also some epic trolling.
http://www.meritbadge.info/index.html has a list of Merit Badge Events, some of which are great, some of which are not – Merit Badges should be earned by completing all of the requirements and being tested by the Counselor, so beware programs that “credit” for completion simply because the Scout drew breath for he duration of a class! (Same goes for summer camp instruction, by the way).

To find more, see https://www.google.com and search away.

“Aging Out” Soon? Eagle Options for the new older Scout in 2019

Temporary transition rules exist for youth over 16 but not yet 18 years of age on February 1, 2019 who are interested in earning the Eagle Scout rank and who join Scouts BSA for the first time in 2019, so that these newly joined older Scouts can earn the Eagle rank even if they join in 2019 at age 16 or 17. eagle patch

The full announcement is posted here — NOTE on 1/31/19 it became apparent that while the initial guidance said that extensions “will provide not more than twenty-four months from the date of initial registration to complete all requirements”, that was reduced at some point since 10/1/18 to reflect 22 months. The request for extension is an attachment to the Guide to Advancement.

The basic rule for youth joining Scouts BSA during 2019 – both girls and first-time joining boys – is:

Youth 16 years of age or older, but not yet 18, on February 1, 2019 who register as members of Scouts BSA on or before December 31, 2019, may request extensions to complete the Eagle Scout Award requirements after they turn 18 years of age.

Another note in the announcement states that “these temporary transition rules apply to all youth joining Scouts BSA during 2019–both girls and first-time joining boys”.
So, for example, they would not apply to boys who joined before 2019.

Requests for extensions must be received no later than thirty (30) days after turning 18 years of age. Extensions must be in writing by submitting the designated form to the National Service Center.

It is noted that requests for extension can be submitted at any time after joining …
… so, especially for your 17 year old signups, get their requests for extension filed as soon as you can, so that you can have a final extended deadline set in stone.

These are temporary transition rules and will not be available to any youth who is under 16 years of age on February 1, 2019 as they will have adequate time to earn their Eagle before turning 18.

More detail and commentary is found in that announcement at https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/Implementation-Details-for-Scouts-BSA-FINAL.pdf.

Still Boy Only: What Troops at Chartered Organizations with only a Troop of Boys can do to help their fellow Scouts and Potential Scouts

Some wonder: If Won’t Add a Troop of Girls, Do We Have To Deal with Girls and Their Families? Well, you don’t, but …

… even if you’re not going to have a “sister” troop, we hope you’ll be helpful to girls interested in Scouting – even if you’re referring them to another Chartered Organization’s troop.
After all, “A Scout is friendly. A Scout is a friend to all. He is a brother to other Scouts.” And that includes girls interested in Scouts BSA.

welcome campsite If we don’t plan to start a troop of girls, can we have Arrow of Light girls do troop visits? Sure. You can let them visit your troop, just like you always do with boys! You can still have them visit your troop and see how you do Scouting. After all, the purpose of the troop visit is to let the Scouts see how a troop operates (whether they join you or not). Plus, if the girls decide to start their own troop by themselves and copy how you do Scouting – that’s an excellent result!

sbsa climbing Can Arrow of Light Girls Camp and Hike with Us? Yes they can, just like you already do with boys – but be sure to follow the Youth Protection rule that a registered female adult leader over 21 must be present for any activity involving female youth. Some troops will insist it be a registered female from the pack, to be more familiar with the girls, but it could be a female troop leader.

sbsa archery 2 Will there be Girl Troops at Summer Camp with Us? Probably. At Bert Adams Scout Camp and Woodruff Scout Camp, troops of girls are welcomed all weeks, and the first year camper program at Woodruff becomes “Mountaineer” (it remains “Rawhide” at Bert Adams). At the Atlanta Area Council Camps, Girl troops will have designed areas to camp in, meaning that Scouts BSA troops of girls, will be put in campsites adjacent to each other, including any brother/sister troops that elect the same campsite – this will facilitate hospitality between troops of girls. Locations and numbers will depend on the week and the census of troops of girls in camp. Some other council’s camps make take a different approach, like having some mixed weeks, some boy-only, some girl-only.

What Your Scouts might do to help bring along new Scouts Next Year (and the year after and the year after): Be a Den Chief

A Den Chief is a Scout in a troop, a Venturer or a Sea Scout assisting a Cub Scout den. Now that Cub Scout packs can have dens of girls, there is an opportunity to lead them in Cub Scouting and help them cross over into Scouts BSA troops. den leap

Pack Adult Leaders can request the assistance of one or more Den Chiefs from Scoutmasters, Crew Advisors or Ship Skippers, but your troop can also contact local packs with girls to see if they want any Den Chief help from your Scouts willing to serve. Many will be excited to take you up on the offer to have young women serve as role models to these female Cub Scouts.

As with historic relationships between packs and troops, troops will want to have some profile with Cub Scouts and their packs and Webelos Scout dens: help at a Pinewood Derby, tell the story of Scouts BSA at a Pack activity, conduct joint outdoor activities or service projects, so that the Cub Scouts will want to do what Scouts in your troop do, and parents will want to see their Cub Scouts grow up to be Eagle Scouts.

boy-scouts-girl-cub-scouts-promo See this Den Chief Training page and training facilitator’s guide for more.

Order of the Arrow: the Brotherhood of Cheerful Service will be open to male and female youth in 2019

As announced in May, 2018, your Scouts in Scouts BSA troop for girls will become eligible for membership in the Order of the Arrow just like boys in a troop. 2019-national-oa-officers

For youth in Scouts BSA, the same rules apply to be eligible to stand for election: be registered as a Scout, 15 nights of camping within the two years immediately prior to the election (including one, but no more than one, long-term camp consisting of at least five consecutive nights of overnight camping), and hold at least First Class Rank. Then, following approval by the Scoutmaster, a youth may be elected by the youth members of their unit.

From the FAQs:

Q. Will camping be counted retroactively for those currently in Venturing and Sea Scouts?
- A: Yes. Camping that has taken place within the two years immediately prior to the election will be counted beginning February 1, 2019. This camping must have taken place while an individual was registered with the BSA as a program participant and must be while participating with a BSA Venturing Crew or Sea Scout Ship.

So, for most Scouts BSA troops in the Atlanta Area Council starting in February, unless you have Scouts who did long term camping in the last two years as a Venturer or Sea Scout, your first OA election will be in the spring of 2020, after you’ve had a long term camp.

But, if you have a Venturer or Sea Scout who meets the camping and rank requirement, you might be able to schedule an OA election – but coordinate with any Venturing Crew or Sea Scout Ship that the Scout is registered in, as the Scout may be elected from the Crew or Ship.

egwa And in case someone asks, no, Cub Scout camping does not qualify for Order of the Arrow camping eligibility.

More detail in the announcement from May, 2018, and see the Website of Egwa Tawa Dee, the local OA Lodge.

What Can the Girls Do Before the Troop Launches?

This BP Pointer from “The BP 2019 List” (or: ways to Be Prepared for Scouts BSA on February 1, 2019) is about what girls can do with a troop before their Scouts BSA troop for girls officially starts on or after February 1, 2019.

Basically, girls visiting your current troop of boys can do anything with your troop girls on bridge that you might let a boy do who is “thinking about” joining – but be sure to follow the Youth Protection rule that a registered female adult leader over 21 must be present for any activity involving female youth.

Whether or not your Chartered Organization will charter a “sister” troop, you may have girls contact your troop, and you may have girls visit your troop activities as they consider joining Scouts BSA. Here’s some things in mind as girls and their families contact you:

It’s a lot like Arrow of Light Girls doing a Troop Visit or Outdoor Activity. You can let girls visit your troop, just like you always do with boys! And if you plan to stand up a new troop of girls, use the visits as a time to recruit new leaders from the families of Arrow of Light girls.

Can Girls Camp with You? Yes they can, just like you already do with boys – but be sure to follow the Youth Protection rule that a registered female adult leader over 21 must be present for any activity involving female youth. Some troops will insist it be a registered female from the pack, to be more familiar with the girls, but it could be a female troop leader. It’s a good planning practice to do “soft recruiting” (so you eggs girl 2 can plan how many girls are likely to join 2/1/19), and, if your Patrol Leaders Council invites them, perfectly fine for those interested in joining to attend events as visitors at troop meetings and campouts and other events. They can even receive instruction in Scout skills.

What About Insurance?!? Visitors, including girls, are covered “while attending scheduled activities for the purpose of becoming registered Leaders and Scouts”, says Atlanta Area Council ACE Policy Number PTP N00327402. And this is confirmed in a September 22, 2018 message authorized by Wendy Shaw, Membership Growth Group Director, entitled “Scouts BSA Prior to 2/1/2019: Insurance and Permitted Activities”, which confirms that this “has been communicated to councils” that “non-Scouts and non-Scouters are provided Accident & Sickness Insurance but only while attending scheduled activities for the purpose of becoming registered Leaders and Scouts”. This is also confirmed through the National Risk Management Team.

scouts shouting And even if you’re not going to have a “sister” troop, we hope you’ll be helpful to girls interested in Scouting – even if you’re referring them to another Chartered Organization’s troop. After all, “A Scout is friendly. A Scout is a friend to all. He is a brother to other Scouts.” And that includes being a brother to girls interested in Scouts BSA.

For more on starting a Troop, see this District resource page.

Some “Easy Button” or “Just Do It” events to get on your calendars now

This BP Pointer from “The BP 2019 List” (or: ways to Be Prepared for Scouts BSA on February 1, 2019) is about some “easy button” events that you might want to sign up for right now, many at the Atlanta Area Council Website Calendar.

February 1: the “Launch Party” for Scouts BSA in the Atlanta Area Council, at the Volunteer Service Center. Late afternoon into early evening. More information to follow.

February 16: University of Scouting, all day at Life University. Register at http://www.atlantabsa.org/training/supplemental-training/university-of-scouting/6962, both for adults and for youth in select courses, like ILST (Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops).

February 23 and March 2: Automotive Maintenance Merit Badge at Porsche Cars North America. See the Atlanta Area Council Website Calendar.

March 22-24: Scout Challenge at Bert Adams Scout Camp. Details at https://www.campbertadams.org/Scout-Challenge.

April 5-7: COPE Weekend at Woodruff Scout Camp. See the Atlanta Area Council Website Calendar.

Starting June 2, through July: Summer Camp at Woodruff Scout Camp and/or Bert Adams Scout Camp. There is no reason why you can’t go to both! See the Atlanta Area Council Scouts BSA Camping page.

More events will appear there, and on District Websites.

Counseling the “proto-PLC” of the new Troop of Girls on Event Calendar Options and Process (and your PLC of the existing Troop of Boys on Possible Joint Activity Invitations)

OK, so you’ve recruited some Scouts, you’ve recruited some adult leaders, you’ve done some “pre-launch” activities, maybe on your own, maybe with another unit – but when can you start to plan what your new Scouts BSA troop of girls will do in the first few months of the troop, in the first year, and beyond?

When? Right Now. Get started. Let the girls go plan. campfire girls 2

But what if we don’t have a full, formal Patrol Leaders Council yet? After all, the young women are not yet registered Scouts until February 1, so technically they are not installed as youth officers – so doesn’t that mean we have to wait?

Get started right now!

But what if we really don’t have enough girls yet to form a troop? We only have 2 or 3 – so we should probably wait.

Get started right now!
Frankly, a small troop that is also a single patrol often will not have a “PLC” at all: you’ll have a patrol, with a Patrol Leader, Assistant, Quartermaster, etc., and have Patrol Meetings for planning, not PLC meetings.

Shouldn’t we wait until we have 12 or 15 or more Scouts? That way, we’ll have multiple patrols, and a full Patrol Leaders Council like the big troops.

Get started right now!
The enemy of a really good PLC now is the Perfect PLC later.
And when you do get big, at startup you might still invite the Scouts who are not yet officers to witness how the PLC works – and during planning PLCs from time to time their Patrol Leaders might then meet with just their patrol on key issues.

What Do We Want To Do – What Are We Going To Do? People will want to join a venturing 3 program more if they know what they will really do – it’s harder to get people to commit to join something if the activities are ambiguous and the calendar a blank slate. Let the girls tell you what they want to do, and if needed to “prime the pump”, give the girls a menu of activities they might want to do:

Do they want biking or badges or both?
Are they interested in hiking or caving or canoes and kayaks?
Shooting sports? Fishing? Rock Climbing and Rappelling? COPE?
Snakes and Lizards and Frogs and Toads? Trees and ferns and lichens and mold?
Pioneering? Performance? Orienteering and geocaching? Cooking? Robotics?
Service Projects? Civic Knowledge? First Aid? Leadership Training?

Proto-PLC and Proto-Patrol Meetings. Once you get any interested girls, let a girl spl “proto-PLC” form for planning, or for patrol sized troops, have Patrol Meetings for planning. The Scoutmaster of the new troop should advise the girls about how it’s going to be their troop, not the Scoutmaster’s troop, not the parents’ troop, not a patrol in the troop of boys, but a troop that they run, that they lead, that does what they want to do. And the Scoutmaster and other adult leaders and Committee exist to work with the Scouts to support their plans as best they can.

Planning Tools. You can start into full fun program planning with the girls, even before you officially charter, register and launch. For resources on troop planning, see:

For annual planning, https://troopleader.org/annual-planning-conference/ describes how to do an annual planning conference.
For monthly planning, https://troopleader.org/patrol-leaders-council/ describes that, and how the Patrol Leaders Council operates.
For Adventure Planning, http://bsatap.org/ has more detail that you can ever want.
The Troop Leader Guidebook Appendix at https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/512-150_Appendix(15)_WEB.pdf has many useful resources.
For Program Planning, https://troopleader.org/program-features/ has plenty of ideas for the girls to consider about what they would like to do.
Here’s a PLC piece from Clarke Green a volunteer with many great ideas posted at https://scoutmastercg.com.

But But But … OK, now a lot of those linked materials are sort of pie-in-the-sky, the girls perfect planning process for the perfect troop registered in the Utopia District of the Unicorn Council – and we all know that the perfect troop doesn’t really exist, nor does Utopia, and there is no Unicorn. No worries. All Scouting is Local, and everyone is on a journey: your new troop is taking beginning steps. Things that you should not worry about and that should not hold you back from planning now include:

Your Scouts find the full formal “program planning conference” to be too much!
- Not to worry – take it in bits and pieces as you can.
- Focus on the most important things – what they think is important, and easy items to agree to do.
None of your Scouts have any experience at all with this – all are young, and none have any Scouting background.
- Not to worry – many troops start this way.
- Just adjust your coaching accordingly: for now, you’ll need to be more of a guide, and later you’ll be able to sit back and let them lead.
Your Scouts might not come up with a complete calendar.
- Not to worry – at least get something on the calendar.
- Especially Summer Camp, and monthly outings in advance to prepare.
Your Scouts might want to change events later because they didn’t think things through, or new members join who want different activities.
- Not to worry – everyone changes plans.
- As new members join, bring them into the planning.
- After all, you don’t plan just once a year, you plan all year long. Especially when you’re just launching a new troop.
Unlike your troop of boys, your Scouts don’t have a template from “last year”.
- Not to worry – this might be an opportunity to best find out what the girls want.
- And as a coach and guide, you can offer a “menu” of examples of what some troops do to add to the ideas of the girls.
Our troop of boys doesn’t want to invite the troop of girls to join them on any activities or meetings.
- Not to worry – that’s their right, and that may be their loss!
- So your girls will truly be their own leaders.
- Another option: maybe contact other troops of girls, and share notes about how they plan. You might also do joint activities with them.
Our troop of boys invited our troop of girls to join them on their activities and meetings, but we don’t want to do all of those.
- Not to worry – that’s natural. Not all of the boys want to do all of the activities either (in fact, some patrols form around a common interest, like a backpacking patrol or a biking patrol).
- Just because the troop of boys invites the troop of girls to do an activity doesn’t mean that the troop of girls must join them.
We’re not sure which adult leaders will be able to attend which campouts and treks.
- Not to worry – let the girls make the plan, and then use it as a challenge to the parents.
- This is not unlike Scouts planning to go to Philmont or Northern Tier or Seabase, and only when they make their commitment do some of their parents step up, register as leaders, and attend.
- Plus, one way to recruit adults to be registered leaders is to let the Scouts recruit them: “Mom, if you don’t register and go with us, we can’t go!”

How can an existing troop of boys help in this startup process?

If they are willing and cooperative and functioning, you might see if the PLC of the troop of boys would like to invite the girls to attend a PLC to witness how it operates.
If they have a good model for how to plan, then that can be a model for the new troop of girls.
Or an SPL or Junior Assistant Scoutmaster might help counsel the new youth leaders of the troop of girls. Be sure that they don’t run things, but help enable the girls to lead.

Joint Activities. An existing troop of boys might also help a lot by doing joint activities as the troop of girls gets started – it is not uncommon for some troops to start by meeting and camping alongside a larger troop. This doesn’t mean that they set up their tents right with the boys – in fact, even patrols in a single troop should have campsites set up at a distance from each other. smores in fire

“In Scout camps the tents are not pitched in lines and streets as in military camps, but are dotted about in Patrol units, fifty or a hundred yards apart or more, in a big circle round the Scoutmaster’s tent, which, with the flag and camp fire, is generally in the centre.” – Robert Baden Powell
More useful comments and ideas for Scouting are at this site about patrol operations (yes, the troop of girls is not a patrol in a troop of boys, but the same concepts apply) and this page about all sorts of original Scouting ideas.

Publicize. And when you get a program and activities on the calendar, be sure to get that word out to your community:

Especially prospective Scouts and their families.
Let your Chartered Organization know of your progress.
Share on social media about what you’re going to do.
Use traditional media, maybe a press release about girls getting it done where they will go camping.
Contact your troop of boys and/or other troops of girls and let them know your plans – maybe some will want to do activities with you.

Praise. And whatever the planning, during the process, be sure to praise the work and encourage the ideas.