Adult Leadership of Troops of Boys and Troops of Girls

This is the fourth BP Pointer in “The BP 2019 List” (or: ways to Be Prepared for Scouts BSA on February 1, 2019). This is about how adults might be registered as leaders in Scouts BSA troops of boys and troops of girls – either in one troop, or in both troops.

The basic rule is simple: any adult leader registered in a troop may register as an adult leader in another troop, at no charge (no BSA registration fee), by registering sbsa screen as a “multiple”. On the “paper application” (an online version is here), check “multiple” to avoid transferring “out” of the first troop. Online application should have a similar option (but, sadly, it did not exist as of spring of 2018).

The only restriction is that the two troops are not to have the same Scoutmaster, but it is OK for the Scoutmaster of a troop of boys to be an Assistant Scoutmaster in the troop of girls, and vice versa: the Scoutmaster of the troop of girls can be an Assistant Scoutmaster in the troop of boys. It will not be unusual for two Scoutmaster to collaborate a fair deal, and may not be unusual for the more experienced of the two to mentor the newer Scoutmaster.

So:

A current leader in a troop of boys can, if desired, also be a leader in a troop of girls. Or not. It’s up to the leader.
A new leader in a troop of girls can, if desired, also be a leader in the troop of boys. Or not. It’s up to the leader.
Except for the Scoutmaster role, you can be in the same role, or a different role, in the other troop.
Many troops will make clear that the “multiple” registration need not result in “multiple” time commitments:
- Most Chartered Organizations are grateful for volunteer time, whether the volunteer makes all, most, or only a few events.
- Troops that have many joint activities (meetings and campouts) will find it most convenient to have “multiple” adult leaders on both rosters.
If you “multiple” in a bunch of leaders from an existing troop of boys, be sure that there is at least one female registered adult leader age 21 or older. 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.

A note about the Scoutmaster role: the National FAQs include this:

“Q: Can a boy troop and a girl troop share the same Scoutmaster?
- A: No. Chartered organizations should have separate Scoutmasters for their boy troop and girl troop.”

troop service 2 So … No you can’t. But: why does it say “should”? And not “must always”? Probably because separate Scoutmasters are absolutely the optimal right answer for healthy units to enable them to grow and avoid problems (like ensuring enough attention to each troop), but there may be other reasons that may (rarely) from time to time arise in some situations.

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.

Adult Leader Coverage Requirements

This BP Pointer from “The BP 2019 List” (or: ways to Be Prepared for Scouts BSA on February 1, 2019) is about how adult leader coverage requirements – some new for Scouts BSA troops of girls, and some new for all effective October 1, 2018.

New Rule for all: effective October 1, 2018, two registered adult leaders 21 years of troop service 3 age or over are required at all Scouting activities, including meetings. This is a huge change from prior BSA policy where only one adult needed to be registered, and one adult could be age 18 – so troops that plan high adventure treks in reliance on 18-20 year old Scouters as the second trek advisor will need to re-calibrate trek recruiting!

Reasons for the change: Safety and Precaution.
- A second adult who is actually registered as a volunteer with the BSA will have gone through a background check, and must be up to date on Youth Protection training.
- And should the first adult become incapacitated, the second will be registered and with Youth Protection training.
- 21 year olds are usually more mature than 18 year olds.
Steps to Take: Register and train more adults as leaders.
- After all, the information in Youth Protection training is good information for parents to be aware of.

Rules for Units with Girls: There must be at least one registered female adult leader over 21 in every unit serving females. A registered female adult leader over 21 must be present for any activity involving female youth.

Reasons for the change: Safety and Common Sense.
Steps to Take: Register and train more female adults as leaders.

But but but … does that mean I have to have a second registered leader participate in post board a Scoutmaster’s Conference? And a female leader if I’m a male Scoutmaster with a young woman? Answer: No. The Guide to Safe Scouting says: “in situations requiring a personal conference, the meeting is to be conducted with the knowledge and in view of other adults and/or youth.” The same answer would seem to apply to a conference regarding a merit badge.

But but but … does that mean we need two registered leaders over 21 at an Eagle Scout Service Project? Answer: well, it appears so. The good news is: you can enlist the aspiring Eagle to recruit for his or her project. troop service

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.