Launch Legacies: Bling for your new Troop of Girls

January 18 update: see this Bryan on Scouting Blog about the rollout of uniform parts and handbooks: https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2019/01/18/details-on-scouts-bsa-uniform-handbook-availability-in-advance-of-feb-1-launch/ And from the National Director of Program, about whether items should be on sale as soon as received: “I’ve reached out to Supply several times this week about this; they are supposed to be sending an updated communication to their stores. We want folks to be buying this stuff!! ☺”

As noted in the prior message, there are some special items that are available for a new troop of girls that launches in 2019 – these items include:

Free: Atlanta Area Council Scouts BSA girl troop activity patches for all your youth and leaders – wear these proudly on the right pocket of your field uniform shirt. See the newly revealed design!

Free: An inaugural flag ribbon for your troop flag (the troop flag itself can be ordered through scoutshop.org, Item 618633 for $39.99). Remember: if you want the same troop number as your existing troop of boys, use it. Yes, there will some sort of internal / reporting ScoutNet prefix or other designation, the exact nature of which is not known as of 1/12/19. If you want a new number, work with your District Professional to see if it is available, and claim it as they require (forms and such).

Order your own custom Troop Number Patch (with added text like your Chartered Organization or “Girl Troop”) through scoutshop.org, Item SKU: 18170 for $7.99. See this great example from Atlanta T2019!

Youth and adults starting a new troop of girls … you’re a “Founder” and can wear the “Founder” patch, available through scoutshop.org, Item SKU: 610129 for $1.79.

Customized neckerchiefs also are available through scoutshop.org and other licensed suppliers.

Your unit organizer(s) should aim to receive the William D. Boyce New-Unit Organizer Award. Details are at https://www.scouting.org/awards/awards-central/william-boyce/.

scout shop girls

As a place to put the bling, keep an eye out for announcements from the Atlanta Scout Shop (they are on Facebook) and from https://www.scoutshop.org/ for female tailored uniform parts.

While existing stock may work for some, the newly tailored pieces may be better for most.

Launch Logistics: “Linked” Committee Structure, or Ad Hoc Coordination.

An earlier BP Pointer flagged the concept of “linked” troops with a common committee for both as a tool towards effective ways of cooperation and communication in supporting multiple troops held by the same Chartered Organization.

outdoor meeting As announced in the spring of 2018, the National Executive Board of the BSA “approved the option of a linked troop structure that would allow boy troops and girl troops the opportunity to be linked through a shared troop committee”, in addition to sharing a Chartered Organization and Chartered Organization Representative.

This is an option, but not required.
It sounded like there would be some sort of simple “click the box” option for units chartering with a shared troop committee.
Of course, as noted in that earlier BP Pointer and below, even if troops don’t “link” in a common Committee, troops chartered by the same Chartered Organization will need to coordinate some.

But here’s a 1/12/19 Update – the “linked” concept is less than it seemed:

It turns out the whole “linked” committee choice is a bit of “much ado about nothing” in terms of BSA Charters and Applications and how your troops will be listed in anything official.
But a “common committee” or “committee coordination” is a terrific option for Chartered Organizations and units they sponsor generally – and not just two troops.
It turns out that the BSA and the Council won’t differentiate at all about whether two troops will be linked, or will share a committee, and you won’t Charter as “linked” troops with a shared committee at all.

- As far as BSA and Charters go, you’ll have two committees.
- Nowhere will it reflect that you have “linked” committees.
- Yeah, there was this sort of big deal announcement about how the BSA Board “approved the option of a linked troop structure”, but it turns out they just meant this: two committees can have the same members and can meet together if and when you want.

But to be on both troop committees you have to register in both troops as a committee member.

“Link” or “Not Linked”, Coordination is Good. So, feel free to ignore the “linked” name if you like … but know that coordination among units sponsored by the same Chartered Organization will be useful, and committees need to consider effective ways of cooperation and communication with each other and their troops. In practice, that might mean that Committees operate on the following spectrum from full common committee coordination to total isolation from each other:

Total Common Committee / Total Common Agenda: Every Committee Member is registered in both Troops.
- Every Committee Meeting covers issues germane to both units (perhaps with “breakouts” for issues really specific to just one troop).

Partial Committee Overlap / Partial Common Agenda: Some, but not all, Committee Members are registered in both Troops – maybe most, many few.
- Some, but not all, Committee Meetings cover issues germane to both units – sometimes (maybe often, maybe not) the “Girl Troop Committee” meets separate from the “Boy Troop Committee”.

Limited Committee Overlap / Little (or no) Common Agenda: Few (or no) Committee Members are registered in both Troops.
- Every Committee Meeting is separate – boy troop or girl troop.
- Maybe some people are liaisons between the troop committees or between the functions on the committees (e.g., fundraising, PR, joint equipment).
- Maybe they “sit in” on “the other committee” or maybe they coordinate “outside the committee meeting” agenda.

No Committee Overlap / No Common Agenda: No Committee Members are registered in both Troops.
- Every Committee Meeting is separate – boy troop or girl troop.
- Any coordination is done by the Chartered Organization Representative.

Probably most Committees will be somewhere in the “Partial Committee Overlap / Partial Common Agenda” category, and the committees will determine how often and how much the Committees meet together and how much the members of the committees must be registered in both committees (decisions and practices which very likely will change over time).

But unless your committees are really strict, vote-taking, Roberts Rules of Order-reading, you will probably find that meetings of helpful cooperative volunteers may not care whether they are registered in both committees.
Of course, YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary).

How Much “Common Committee” Work Is Right For Your Units? It seems likely that existing troops of boys that will plan to do more activities and meetings jointly with a new troop of girls would get more value out of a “common committee” structure, though other factors may come into play for all.

For example, relatively small troops may find it more efficient to have a single “common committee”, as the committee functions – if done on separate committees for each troop – may be done by the very same people anyway.
But very large troops may find separate committee structure optimal, perhaps with liaison relationships between key committee functions like Chairs, equipment, advancement, recruiting, recognition, activities, fundraising and others that may have joint interest and activity.
Or a single “common committee” may structure both by function and by unit: for example, there may be a single advancement chair (or membership chair, or fundraising chair, etc.), and separate assistants for the two troops.
As noted, All Scouting is Local, so … do it in a way that makes sense.
And Use Your Resources, and know that over time your leader resources may evolve, so your committee structure may evolve with your resources.

Interesting Note – “Common Committee” for All Units is an Option: In explaining why linked troops (common committees) would not be any kind of a big deal in terms of BSA Charters and Applications and won’t look at all different from an “unlinked” pair of troops and committees, a BSA professional involved in the rollout of Scouts BSA noted on 1/12/19 that “this process is no different than what we’ve been doing for decades with packs, troops, crews and ships” – in that many were already “linked” with common membership and (one assumes) common meetings, which is the idea of a “linked” unit with shared committee.

This is a cool acknowledgement, because it makes a lot of sense, even if it isn’t spelled out in, for example, committee training syllabi.
Frankly, it should be spelled out in the training as an option for units to have a “common committee”. But neither the Troop Committee syllabus nor the Pack Committee syllabus breathe a hint of having a “common committee” … just a few points about having “pack-troop relations”, almost all in connection with transition to a troop.
- But it makes a lot of sense to coordinate across units with common committee support.
- Not all the time … but a lot of the time.
Most common committees would likely meet like the “Partial Committee Overlap / Partial Common Agenda” idea above:
- Some Committee Members can be registered in all units.
- Some Committee Meetings can cover issues germane to all units – but sometimes the “Troop Committees” may meet separate from the “Pack Committee” and the “Crew Committee”, and vice versa.
- A common structure for a large committee might include having an agenda with “common issues” covered first for all, with breakouts by special interest areas:
  - These might be “unit based” breakouts of Pack, Troop(s), Crew …

- - Or they might be “function based” breakouts of Fundraising, Membership, Equipment, PR, Advancement, Communications, etc.
  - Or function breakouts followed by unit based breakouts.
  - Or structure your agenda around what needs committee focus.
- This would allow, for example, fundraising people to better coordinate among all the units and mentor the new volunteers in the pack, and for pack people to see the big picture of Scouts BSA and Venturing.

So having a “common committee” structure might be super useful to allow packs, troops, crews and ships to better cooperate and “take the long view” of the arc of a Scout’s program, supporting newer families in Cub Scouting, through Scouts BSA, and coordinating high adventure and more sophisticated activity in Venturing.
More on a “common committee” concept is found on this District Website page, repeating a proposal submitted for consideration in 2016.

- Not one that mandates how your meet.
- Keep meeting separately if that’s what works for you.
- But a “common committee” charter structure makes it easier to apply and be chartered in multiple units at a Chartered Organization.
- And these links between pack and troop and crew committee support will help, especially in dealing with “crossover” from a pack to a troop and joint activities (like high adventure) between troops and crews, and oftentimes troop veterans can offer support to pack newbie leaders.
- Troop and crew support of packs will also aid in the flow of Cub Scouts into the respective troops.

For more about starting a new troop, see this District Resource page.

Discussions with Chartered Organization

The first 5 BP Pointers from “The BP 2019 List” were all about “What’s the Change” and “How Does It Work”, which are essential to know if you’re going to consider establishing a Scouts BSA troop for girls. Some initial reactions to Scouts BSA seemed to be based on rumor and misconception, and these BP Pointers are intended to reduce rumor and minimize misconceptions.

With that as the background, how do you build consensus about whether – or how – cor 2 to establish a Scouts BSA troop of girls at a Chartered Organization.

For this, the decision begins and ends with the Chartered Organization itself, though there are a a lot of other stakeholders. If the Chartered Organization wants to make use of a Scouts BSA troop of girls as a part of its total program for youth, then parties interested in the troop can get to work on putting together a package for the new troop. You’ll want to be sure they understand why Scouts BSA is now welcoming girls in all program levels, and that we’re trying to “serve the whole family” and have more families “do Scouting”.

But some Chartered Organizations may be reluctant to approve a Scouts BSA troop of girls. Reasons for this include the following (and some notes about mitigating factors that might change a Chartered Organization’s view are added below):

The Chartered Organization may be adamantly opposed to anything like a “co-educational” program.
- Of course, most (but not all) churches and schools are co-educational, so this may not be a common objection.
- Also, Scouts BSA troops for boys and girls can, with adequate leader and other resources, operate completely separately, so a Chartered Organization that believes the values of the Scout Oath and Law apply as well to young women as to young men may well welcome a Scouts BSA troop for girls that runs separately.
The Chartered Organization may be worried about adequate space and scheduling issues.
- All Scouting is Local, and all meeting space issues are local too. There may be other space options at other community locations, and there may be opportunities to recognize that joint meetings, if approved by stakeholders, will reduce the stress points of space and scheduling.
The Chartered Organization may be worried about how current Scouts and families will view a Scouts BSA troop of girls – some will be worried about the negative impacts of girls around the boys, and vice versa.
- This is absolutely a valid concern, and BP Pointers to follow shortly will address discussion points for Scouts and for families.
- Organizers of a possible Scouts BSA troop for girls are wise to assure the Chartered Organization that there have been, and will continue to be, discussions with Scouts and families about the establishment of a Scouts BSA troop for girls, and how it will operate, because separate operation will often ensure that concerns about “coed” activities are addressed.
The Chartered Organization may be worried about whether there is sufficient adult leadership to support a Scouts BSA troop of girls, especially depth of female leadership.
- Another valid concern, and BP Pointers to follow shortly will address discussion points for current leaders and how to recruit new leaders.
- Organizers of a possible Scouts BSA troop for girls are wise to assure the Chartered Organization that there have been, and will continue to be, discussions with leaders of the existing troop of boys, and a robust plan for ongoing recruitment of new leaders.
The Chartered Organization may be worried about whether there are sufficient interested female youth to join a Scouts BSA troop of girls.
- Another valid concern, and BP Pointers to follow shortly will address recruiting and organization and planning in advance of launching a troop.
- Organizers of a possible Scouts BSA troop for girls are wise to assure the Chartered Organization that there have been, and will continue to be, recruiting efforts with youth in the age range, and share progress reports on those efforts.
The Chartered Organization may be worried about whether a Scouts BSA troop of girls might negatively impact other youth organizations supported by the Chartered Organization – especially any perception that the Scouts BSA troop will draw down participation in other organizations.
- Another valid concern, and BP Pointers to follow shortly will address discussion points for dealing with other community organizations.
- Organizers of a possible Scouts BSA troop for girls are wise to assure the Chartered Organization that there have been, and will continue to be, discussions with other youth organization about the establishment of a Scouts BSA troop for girls, to identify the extent of concerns, and the opportunities for cooperation, as there may be opportunities here, not problems.
- That said, this might be a “deal breaker” for some Chartered Organizations, at least for now, at least until the success of other Scouts BSA troops can be shown.
The Chartered Organization may be worried about the general community it serves, and “what will people think” since it is a relatively novel concept for girls to participate in what has been known as “boy scouting”.
- Another valid concern, and organizers of a possible Scouts BSA troop for girls are wise to work with the Chartered Organization to share the story of Scouts BSA and why it has evolved to serve girls.
The Chartered Organization may be concerned about “branding” the troop … whether it can have the same troop number or whether it can have a distinct troop number. Other stakeholders may have the same concern.
- The good news here is that a new troop of girls may use the same number as the troop of boys or use a new number from those otherwise available. The bad news is that if stakeholders are split about this issue, it may be difficult to reconcile.
- More on this to follow in a later BP Pointer, including some tips on how to reach consensus, and differentiate troops even with the same “number”.

Ultimately, a Chartered Organization might approve a Scouts BSA troop for girls cor-training-course-pgg-161108-1-638 “tentatively” or conditionally, provided that the unit organizers can demonstrate that the troop will be successful (plenty of youth and adult leaders), with a good program plan, while minimizing negative reactions from current Scouts, Adult Leaders and families in the troop of boys. But … that’s all part of the plan for launching a successful Troop, and will be the subject of BP Pointers to follow.

And if you have, or project, difficult issues that may arise, feel free to contact District resources, as District Executives and Commissioners may be able to assist you in these discussions.

For more, see posts here and to follow 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.

Discussions with Current Leaders

This BP Pointer from “The BP 2019 List” (or: ways to Be Prepared for Scouts BSA on February 1, 2019) is another about how to build consensus with current leaders about whether – or how – to establish a Scouts BSA troop of girls at a Chartered Organization.

Assuming that the Chartered Organization approves of a Scouts BSA troop for girls leader dinner (or will if the unit organizers can demonstrate that the troop will be successful), here are some topics to consider as you pitch current adult leaders of your troop of boys to “multiple” register with a troop of girls.

A key element of all discussions with leaders in your current troop of boys is to be sure that all are aware of how your two troops might operate, and what the current plans are for separate and joint operation – though those plans may well change over time, including as you conduct planning for launch of a troop of girls and get feedback from leaders in your troop of boys. But many may have “heard about” how things must be done, which often may be exaggerated or misunderstood.

As you address current leaders in your troop, you want to be sure to seek not only “addition” responses (like “sure, I’ll also be an ASM for the troop of girls”), but also “subtraction” responses (like “if we start a troop of girls, I’m done”). The latter may be rare, and not always be as obvious – but in some cases may be more critical than adding another “multiple” leader, because you want to be careful if decisions will reduce leadership corps of an existing troop of boys. That doesn’t mean that any one current leader necessarily has a “veto” over whether to start a troop of girls (or how to run it), but it’s important to evaluate the impact. wait

And it will be important to ensure that leaders you approach feel free to respond, and free to share their thoughts – in some cases the position may be intractable, but in other cases, there may be the potential to secure continued valuable volunteering by education, and by reaching understanding and consensus about what the troop of girls will mean for the adult leader in question. This consensus might occur either on a macro basis (e.g., whether the troops will meet and camp mostly or completely separately), or on a micro basis (e.g., that the leader won’t be expected to participate with the troop of girls, or at events that include them). The ideas of other leaders might often result in a change of how the two troops will operate for the better.

When you poll your leaders, some will be eager to help a Scouts BSA troop of girls – others, not so much. Reasons for reluctance include ones noted in the BP Pointer about Chartered Organizations, as well as the following (and some notes about mitigating factors that might keep a leader engaged in the existing troop of boys are added below):

The leader may be worried about whether the “multiple” registration will in fact “multiply” the leader’s commitment of precious time.
- This is a common concern, and organizers of a possible Scouts BSA troop for girls are wise to assure leaders that they are not, in fact, asked to increase their overall time commitment.
- Where troops of boys and troops of girls have some level of joint meetings and campouts, having a leadership role in both troops should result in little or no increase, similar to years when the troop of boys has grown with a strong recruiting year. Most are happy to see that sort of increase in Scouting.
The leader may be worried about how to deal with girls in Scouting, as many (especially men) know how to deal with boys, but not girls.
- This is a very valid concern, and organizers of a possible Scouts BSA troop for girls are wise to assure leaders that there have been, and will continue to be, robust recruitment of female leaders. Share the status of successful recruitment.
The leader may be adamantly opposed to anything like a “co-educational” program, or may believe that Scouting is a last bastion of “boy only” program, and must be protected as such.
- If your troops will operate completely separately, this may not be a significant issue, since there will be minimal joint activities of the two troops.
- If there will be joint activities, it may be possible to describe or develop how there will be sufficient separate activities that recognize the value of single-gender time.
- And troops will want to implement “joint” camping protocols. While some are directed by Youth Protection rules (like no sharing of tents between boys and girls, separate facilities or times for showers/latrines), others must be developed by the troop and adapted to your local campsites, like putting the separate troops apart from each other, with watchful eyes and waking ears between or among them. Of course, it is said that patrols on campouts should be separated at some distance from each other to operate properly.
The leader may be worried about whether there is sufficient commitment to successfully launch a Scouts BSA troop of girls, whether numbers of Scouts, numbers of adult leaders, space/planning issues, or similar issues.
- Another valid concern, and organizers of a possible Scouts BSA troop for girls are wise to get consensus with the leader that there have been, and will continue to be, sufficient progress on all fronts to allow success.

These are not all the reasons why a leader might be reluctant to be a “multiple” leader in a troop of girls, so be sure to get the feedback of your current leader team … it’s a gift.

Discussions with Current Scouts

This BP Pointer from “The BP 2019 List” (or: ways to Be Prepared for Scouts BSA on February 1, 2019) is another about how to build consensus about whether – or how – to establish a Scouts BSA troop of girls at a Chartered Organization – some topics to consider as you pitch current Scouts in your troop of boys about launching a “sister” troop of girls.

Yes, your Scouts have a voice in this too … a critical voice, since your troop of boys campfire 2 should be run by the youth leaders, so even any sharing of space or gear needs a “heads up” and, ideally, approval by your Scouts in the troop of boys. And hopefully it will come, because, after all, “A Scout is friendly. A Scout is a friend to all. He is a brother to other Scouts.”

Many troops will want to start briefing and obtaining consensus at the level of the Senior Patrol Leader, and then the Patrol Leaders Council.
- They may be best able to both absorb how a new troop of girls might impact their Scouting life, and also understand why it may be good for the girls and the Chartered Organization.
- They may set the example for the Scouts they lead.
Especially with respect to meetings, campouts and other activities, your youth-led troop will need to have an opinion about whether, and how, a new troop of girls can coordinate with the current troop of boys – it’s their troop, after all.
And key also is to consider the leaders of the other troop in question: the girls who will join the new troop of girls. A troop of boys may well be fully willing to do joint meetings and campouts with a new troop of girls, but if the girls want to go their own way and blaze their own trail separately, well … blaze on!

A key element of all discussions with Scouts in your current troop of boys is to be sure that all are aware of how your two troops might operate, and what the current plans are for separate and joint operation – though those plans may well change over time, including as you conduct planning for launch of a troop of girls and interact with your existing PLC and the prospective PLC of the new troop of girls. Their feedback might change the minds of the adults and the way you play the game of Scouting.

plc Like your current adult leaders in your troop, you want to be sure to seek not only “positive” responses (like “I don’t mind doing meetings and campouts with a troop of girls”), but also “negative” responses (like “No. Girls. Allowed.”). The latter may not always be as obvious – you may need some Scoutmaster conferences to check in with some Scouts – but you want to be careful if decisions will reduce the number of boys in their existing troop. That doesn’t mean that any one current Scout has a “veto” over whether to start a troop of girls (or how to run it), but it’s important to evaluate the impact, and, ideally, counsel all on an acceptable path forward. cooking boys 2

Discussions with Current Families

This BP Pointer from “The BP 2019 List” (or: ways to Be Prepared for Scouts BSA on February 1, 2019) is another about how to build consensus about whether – or how – to establish a Scouts BSA troop of girls at a Chartered Organization – some topics to consider as you pitch current families of Scouts in your troop of boys about launching a “sister” troop of girls.

Like your Chartered Organization, current leaders in your troop of boys, and your adults roundtable Scouts, the families of Scouts will have an interest and curiosity about what this means. Many of them might not be in sync initially with their Scout sons, but may well sway them, either to accept a troop of girls or (in the worst case) pull them from a troop if they don’t agree with whether, and how, a new troop of girls will be launched and operate from the same Chartered Organization.

three So families need to be briefed in order to become aware of how your two troops might operate, and what the current plans are for separate and joint operation – though those plans may well change over time, including as you conduct planning and get parental feedback. Family feedback might change the course of plans about how your troops will coordinate. This is a fine time to renew your regular requests that family members register as leaders to assist their troop, as more Scouts will mean more help is needed.

Like your current adult leaders and Scouts in your troop, you want to be sure to seek not only “positive” responses (like “A troop of girls is fine”), but also “negative” responses (like “I do not want my son on campouts near girls ever”). You may want a series of “one on one” conversations to get the sense of some families – as troops need to be careful about decisions that may reduce the number of boys in their proto troop existing troop. That doesn’t mean that any one current family has a “veto” over whether to start a troop of girls (or how to run it), but it’s important to evaluate the impact, and, ideally, counsel all on an acceptable path forward.

Discussions with Other Youth Serving Groups

This BP Pointer from “The BP 2019 List” (or: ways to Be Prepared for Scouts BSA on February 1, 2019) is another about how to build consensus in your community about a Scouts BSA troop of girls at a Chartered Organization – because other parties may have concerns or interest about the launch of a troop of girls, including the Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA).

girls on bridge Some leaders of these other programs might be concerned that the existence of Scouts BSA troops for girls will threaten or diminish their programs for youth or confuse the public. Addressing this with leaders of other youth programs that serve your community and discussing concerns about the change can create some great opportunities – for understanding our respective programs and what they offer youth, and for identifying how we can be supportive of what other programs do for youth.

The Boy Scouts of America applauds the work of all youth-serving organizations that serve our nation’s youth and is committed to respecting the organization’s rights and programs, including the Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA).

Bottom line: we want to be sure other leaders in other programs understand sbsa canoe portage why Scouts BSA is now welcoming girls in all program levels, and that we’re trying to “serve the whole family” and have more families “do Scouting”.

And we don’t want to confuse the public at all.

For more, see the points on these slides about “Brand Guidance” or how to talk about the BSA and other programs given litigation with the Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA).

Intro to Troop Organization in Scouts BSA (All Scouting is Local).

This is the first note in “The BP 2019 List” (or: ways to Be Prepared for Scouts BSA troop line on February 1, 2019). If you’ve read this page (an Overview of Ideas to Prepare for Scouts BSA Troops of Girls) or followed the news about Scouts BSA, you’ve got at least an initial handle on the Who, What, When, Where, Why of Scouts BSA – and you have made, or will make, your community’s decisions on whether to establish a Scouts BSA troop of girls (a decision that may evolve and change over time). But to help hone that process, it’s useful to review “How” Scouts BSA troops of girls can operate, so that decisions are made with a full understanding of how Scouts BSA troops can succeed in your community with your Scouts and families and resources.

troop trailer First point: Scouts BSA troops of girls will operate just like Scouts BSA troops of boys. But that does not mean that every troop of girls will operate exactly the same way, just as not all troops of boys operate exactly the same way. Because, in practice, All Scouting is Local. While certain core elements are the same in all troops, like the Oath and Law, Youth Protection rules, and standards for advancement, every troop is different, sometimes in significant ways.

A troop of 7 Scouts operates much differently from a troop of 70 Scouts – both are troops, but their organizational structures, like the Patrol Leaders Council, will be dramatically different.
Some troops have legions of adult leaders in Assistant Scoutmaster and Committee roles, with support functions running as a well-oiled machine over the years, but others will have the minimum 4 or 5 adult leaders (and not all fully engaged), and tackle tasks only when they become urgent for the program.
Some troops will have ambitious outdoor agendas, with backpacking, canoeing, rock climbing and other regular monthly outings, while others may have more limited camping calendars, or may focus more on other methods of Scouting, like advancement.
Some meet more often, some less.
Some troops have a Scout hut, a trailer full of camping gear and plenty of space to operate at their Chartered Organization. Others? Maybe some gear, maybe cramped quarters.
Some troops vigorously empower the youth leaders to run their troops, despite the inevitable challenges and failures that may result, while others have very heavy coaching (if not direction) by adult leadership.
And in all kinds of troops, the turnover of youth and adult leadership over time may result in changes in troop operations, meeting format, communication, activities and emphasis, as new corps of leaders run their troop (maybe not like they did last year).

Troops that are different from other troops on these scales are usually not doing campfire girls anything wrong – Scouting teaches to “use your resources”, and so troops do the best they can with the resources (time, leadership, space, gear, money, skill, family support) they have at their disposal, and so we as fellow Scouts don’t judge. And all Scouts BSA will be local too … units will approach their operations differently.

Ways that all Scouts BSA troops of girls will be the same:

Scouts BSA troops are either all-girl or all-boy. So you don’t have one troop with patrols of boys and patrols of girls. You have separate troops, boys or girls.
For a Scouts BSA troop of girls, there must be at least one female registered adult leader age 21 or older. It need not be the Scoutmaster – it can be any registered role (SM, ASM or Committee Member). But you’ll want multiple registered adult females, because …
… at events that include female Scouts, at least one female registered adult leader age 21 or older must be in attendance. Again, it can be any registered role (SM, ASM or Committee Member). So you will want several female leaders 21 or over available, to be sure you have coverage.
There will be a separate Scout handbook for girls, identical in all respects to the Scout handbook for boys, except for the photographs (of girls) and certain hygiene information. But advancement is the same.

Ways that all Scouts BSA troops of girls can be different:

All of the ways that troops of boys can be different, as noted above, like size, adult leader depth, outdoor schedule, meeting schedule, equipment/space, youth-run, leadership turnover, and more.
So don’t worry if your troop is not like a perfect well-resourced large troop … all troops are on a “journey to excellence”, because whatever your circumstance, you’re in a process of improvement.
Relationships with an existing “brother” troop at the same Chartered Organization will be another way that Scouts BSA troops of girls can be different. More on this in the next BP Pointer about “Troops of Boys and Troops of Girls”.

Troops of Boys and Troops of Girls at the Chartered Organization Level

This is the second BP Pointer in “The BP 2019 List” (or: ways to Be Prepared for Scouts BSA on February 1, 2019). This is about how Scouts BSA troops of boys and troops of girls chartered by the same Chartered Organization might – or might not – coordinate Scouting activities.

Echoes of the prior BP Pointer apply: All Scouting is Local, and Use Your Resources. sbsa classroom 2 Provided that you follow key rules (like Youth Protection, including adequate female adult leadership), Chartered Organizations and their troops have significant discretion in how to operate Scouts BSA troops of boys and troops of girls and in how much the two troops do together.

So if your community (Chartered Organization, Adult Leaders, Youth Leaders, Scouts, Families, Community) wants to have fully gender-separate programs, activities, space, and adult leadership, that’s fine. You have that option.
And if your community wants to have joint programs, activities, space, and adult leadership between the two troops, that’s fine too, with just a few caveats. You have that option.

Most pairs of troops will do some things jointly, and some things separately, because there can be advantages to both approaches in the right time and place and with the right people. All Scouting is Local. Use Your Resources.

This BP Pointer will focus on “upper level” troop cooperation and administration … the next note will address troop program level joint and separate activities.

What Must Pairs of Troops Do Together? Only one thing: cooperate with Chartered sbsa canoe 2 Organization rules, like schedules for use of space. Both troops will report to the Chartered Organization through the Chartered Organization Representative (who will also be supporting any pack or crew or ship chartered there), and so use of space must be coordinated with the other troop, as well as all other organizations sponsored by the Chartered Organization.

As a reality check for troops with lots of “stuff”, like gear, trailer, Scout hut, library, etc.: your ‘troop’ doesn’t own it! Your troop, and all troop “stuff”, is owned by the Chartered Organization. Usually, there’s no resulting discord or dispute, since troops and Chartered Organizations usually remain on good terms.
So, the new dynamic of a Scouts BSA troop of girls will lead to the question of whether, or under what terms, a new troop of girls gets to share “stuff” like space and gear. How that is determined will depend on the three parties: the troop of boys, the troop of girls, and the Chartered Organization.

What Should Pairs of Troops Do Together? Following on that note, you’ll see that it tent 1 would be best for the first two parties (the troop of boys and the troop of girls) to find a way to cooperate with each other on matters like use of space and gear and libraries – putting the Chartered Organization in the middle of every issue will be dysfunctional at best. There no one way to implement a foolproof solution, but here’s some basic concepts:

Short on Separate Space? Consider all options (use your resources).
- If you’ll meet at the same time as the other troop, consider whether there is other space at (or near) the Chartered Organization that might be used.
- As part of that, consider the outdoors (psst: it’s one of the methods of Scouting), because a troop meeting does not need to be done indoors.
- Maybe you’ll be able to use the same space, but at different times.
- Maybe rotating when you meet if one day and time is better for both.
Yours? Mine? Ours? A new troop of girls getting to use “your” troops gear doesn’t have to be a loss. It might be a challenge, at least temporarily, but in most cases not worse than if your troop increased in size overnight – you’ll find a way to make it happen.
- Yes, you might have to split up the gear if you’re doing separate campouts on the same weekend, but … you have to split up gear as patrols go to separate campsites too.
- True that a trailer can’t be in one place at one time, but … many troops camp without trailers.
- Some wags have noted that maybe when another group is using the same patrol box later, this weekend’s patrol just might clean it better!
Not forever, just for now! The 2019 sharing of patrol boxes, cooking gear – and even trailers – need not last forever, as one or both troops might use the launch of a new troop as the launch of fundraising for new gear for both Troops.
Committee Cooperation. A later note will focus on the concept of “linked” troops with a common committee for both, but whether “linked” or not, committees need to consider effective ways of cooperation and communication with each other and their troops.
- [1/12/19 Update: turns out the whole “linked” committee choice is a bit of “much ado about nothing” in terms of BSA Charters and Applications, though coordination is a terrific option for Chartered Organizations and units they sponsor generally – and not just two troops. Here’s the update:
- The BSA, and the Council, won’t differentiate at all about whether two troops will be linked, or will share a committee, and you won’t Charter as a “linked” committee at all.
  - As far as BSA and Charters go, you’ll have two committees.
  - Yeah, there was this sort of big deal announcement about how the BSA Board “approved the option of a linked troop structure”, but it turns out they just meant this: two Committees can meet together if and when you want.
  - But to be on both troop committees you have to register in both troops.
- More at this Unit Launch/Committee Structure post about how two committees might cooperate. ]
The Kids Are Alright. Stewardship over troop “stuff” will be part of the responsibility of youth leaders like Quartermasters and Librarians, and they may be able to work it out between themselves, but can use the guidance of kind and cooperative adult advisors.

Joint and Separate Activities of Troops of Boys and Troops of Girls

This is the third BP Pointer in “The BP 2019 List” (or: ways to Be Prepared for Scouts BSA on February 1, 2019). This is about much – or how little – Scouts BSA troops of boys and troops of girls can do activities together, which is often a key point in developing how to make Scouts BSA work in your local situation.

scout podium This note in the prior BP Pointer is worth repeating: All Scouting is Local, and Use Your Resources. Provided that you follow key rules (like Youth Protection, including adequate female adult leadership), Chartered Organizations and their troops have significant discretion in how much the two troops do together.

So if your community (Chartered Organization, Adult Leaders, Youth Leaders, Scouts, Families, Community) wants to have fully gender-separate programs, activities, space, and adult leadership, that’s fine.
- You have that option.
- Your troops can walk their own separate trails apart from each other.
And if your community wants to have joint programs, activities, space, and adult leadership between the two troops, that’s fine too, with just a few caveats.
- You have that option.
- Your troops can share the same trail, so long as Youth Protection rules are followed.

Most pairs of troops will do some things jointly, and some things separately, because there can be advantages to both. All Scouting is Local. Use Your Resources. sbsa canoe group

While troops will be single gender – all boys or all girls – the chartered organization and the troop leaders (the youth leaders in the patrol leader’s councils, advised by the respective Scoutmasters) can decide meeting times and places, so separate girl troops and boy troops could meet at the same time and place, and plan joint events together (like campouts). So:

Troops of girls and troops of boys may choose to have some – or many (or all) – meetings and activities in the same time and space, with coordination by the respective Patrol Leaders Councils of the two troops, advised by the respective Scoutmasters.
- In some cases, this is to provide the convenience that some families prize and that the BSA wanted to deliver through Family Scouting, like avoiding separate program dates and times and locations for brothers and sisters.
- This may also maximize limited adult leader time (especially for leaders with both daughters and sons), so that they don’t have to double their volunteer commitment if the two troops have separate meeting and activity schedules.
And troops of girls and troops of boys may change their plans and programs over time.
- Some years the different troops may “go their own way” if that’s what the youth leaders of the troops plan. They run their troops, after all.
- Other years they may do more together.

boys with woman leader But but but … what exactly is the National advice on troop meetings? The 2018 Program Update page from National includes these points in Frequently Asked Questions:

“Q: Can a boy troop and girl troop meet at the same time?
- A: Yes. Based on the preferences of the chartered organization, the boy troop and girl troop could meet at the same time and place.
- Q: Can a boy troop and girl troop meet as one big troop?
  - A: Opening and closing of the meetings can be together or separate, depending on space and desire of the chartered organization and unit leadership. The other components of the Scout meeting should be run separately.”

So, yes, a troop of girls and a troop of boys can meet at the same time and in the same place. Certain parts of the troop meeting can clearly be done together, other girl spl items “should” be run separately (note that “should” does not mean “must”). For context, the components of a troop meeting are (1) Preopening, (2) Opening Ceremony, (3) Skills Instruction, (4) Patrol Meetings, (5) Interpatrol Activity, (6) Closing, and (7) After the Meeting. The FAQs clearly authorize openings and closings done together or separate. Review of the other five components may shed some further light on what should be done and when:

Since Part 1 (Preopening) is “gathering” time for Scouts and planning, if you do any meeting parts together, you’re likely doing any planning part together. And Scouts will participate in informal gathering activities together or separately as they choose.
For Part 3 (Skills Instruction — or Group Instruction and Skills Instruction), that may depend on the nature of the instruction: for example, if the two troops PLCs determine to have a Merit Badge Instruction program, maybe all can receive instruction together, but if they have general “stations” of different instruction topics, maybe the Troops do that separately.
By definition, Part 4 (Patrol Meetings or Breakout Groups) will be separate, since the patrols in the two troops are separate by definition.
It’s easy to see how Part 5 (Inter-patrol Activity or Game) might become also an “inter-troop” activity between the respective patrols of the two troops. If the PLCs approve.
While Part 6 (Closing) can be done together, there are strong reasons to do those separately, including having the separate Scoutmasters tailor their SM Minutes to their separate troops and Scouts.
And for Part 7 (After the Meeting), since that involves the leadership team reviewing plans for the next meeting or event, if the two troops do things together, having some planning time together makes sense for the parts done together.

Bottom line is that troop activities can be as separate or together as the chartered high five organization and the troop leaders want. No answer is always right, nor is any answer always wrong. There are advantages and disadvantages to each choice. For some tips on how to navigate the decision, and how to get to the best possible (or least worst) decision on joint activities, see the BP Pointers to follow on building consensus with adult leaders, Scouts and families.