Many volunteers across the country have requested information on how to help Scouting in Ukraine. Please see the official statement from the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) below.    WOSM recognizes one National Scout Organization per country. For Ukraine, the Member Organization is National Organization of Scouts of Ukraine (NOSU). We encourage all NSOs that any Scouting support is channeled through the mechanisms made available through WOSM.     We are aware that many other non-WOSM but Scout-like entities are active in the region, including PLAST. We are not affiliated with organizations in Ukraine besides NOSU.    In most cases, the best way to help with the unfolding humanitarian crisis is to make a financial contribution through WOSM or another reputable NGO.    To directly support Scouts’ humanitarian relief work in Ukraine and for refugees, you can donate at bit.ly/scoutsukraine. Representatives on the ground know what is needed and financial contributions help them purchase the most needed and locally-appropriate supplies.    For additional and ongoing updates, please visit: https://www.scout.org/Ongoing-Scouts-Emergency-Response-in-Ukraine.    Questions? Email international@scouting.org.

The Boy Scouts of America has updated FAQs for its Fiscal Policies and Procedures for BSA Units. These FAQs include information on current unit registration options, tax exempt status, unit banking, equipment insurance, dissolution of the unit, and fundraising. They have also provided updates to the Pay Pal/Venmo reporting procedures to in accordance with recent IRS new reporting requirements.

For more information on these and other unit finance questions, go to our Unit Information Page.

The BSA is committed to streamlining basic operations by putting tools in the hands of volunteers. For several years now, individuals and unit key 3 have had access to print membership cards through my.Scouting. The functionality has now been added to my.Scouting to enable members of the unit key 3 to print their unit Charter Certificate.

This “self-service” functionality allows you to print membership cards and your unit charter certificate in a timely manner and enhances the onboarding experience for new youth and adults.

Instructions on how to print Charter Certificates.

Instructions on how to print Membership Cards.

In My.Scouting, users can now make transfers between units. Members can now transfer themselves or parent/guardian can transfer their child from one unit to another. Unit leaders also have the ability to transfer youth from their unit to another such as in Arrow of Lights transferring to a Scouts BSA troop. Unit leader transfers are done in the “Roster” tab of Member Manager or Organization Manager. Transfers or multiple registrations for members or youth can be done under Menu > “My Application” tab.

Frequently Asked Questions 

How does the unit I’m transferring to know I transferred? – Standard approval is still required. Youth transfers are approved by unit leaders and Adult transfers are approved by the COR or their designee. The approval is done just like all other approvals with online registrations, through “Application Manager”.

Can I transfer my youth who is Arrow of Light to a Troop not associated with my Pack? Yes, youth can be transferred to any active unit in your council.

Can I transfer people into my unit? – No, only Unit leaders or parent/guardians can transfer youth from their Scout Unit.

Can all adult leaders transfer out of the unit? – No, the Chartered Organization Reps cannot be transferred.

Can other adult leaders transfer an adult? No, adults can only be self-transferred using the “My Application” tab.

Don’t adults need to fill out the application form again? – No, but when an adult transfers, they will need to answer the basic Youth Protection questions again and cannot transfer if their Criminal Background check is not completed.

What are reasons I cannot transfer a youth? 

Only youth in our database with a “parent relationship” can be transferred so a notification can be made. This relationship can be corrected in ScoutNet, contact your scout office to have them make this connection.

Youth that are too young to join a unit will not be able to transfer (such as a Cub Scout joining a Venture Crew).

For detailed instructions and visual aids please CLICK HERE. 

The Citizenship in Society merit badge has officially joined the over 100 merit badges Scouts can earn. Here is what you need to know!

• • This merit badge has 11 requirements that will include scenarios and definitions along with topics like Ethical Decision Making, Addressing Stereotypes, and Impacting Others.
  • This merit badge will be a completely new format.

• • November 1, 2021 as an elective merit badge to begin with meaning it will not be Eagle required at this time.
  • On July 1, 2022, it will become Eagle required.  Currently, Scouts have to earn 21 merit badges with 13 from the list of required merit badges.  After July 1, the requirement will be to earn 21 merit badges with 14 from the list of required merit badges. The number of merit badges needed will not change; just the number needed from the required list.
  • Any Life Scout that does not complete their Eagle Board of Review by July 1, 2022 will have to earn Citizenship in Society. This is important to share as your Scouts get close to the July 1, 2022 date.  It is not just getting the paperwork turned into the office (like the 18th Birthday deadline) but the Board of Review needs to be completed prior to July 1.
  • No Merit Badge Handbook Citizenship in Society Scout Requirements
  • Rather than prescriptive based, it will be conversational based
  • Designed for each Scout to take their own unique journey towards completion of the merit badge

The Merit Badge Counselor process for this merit badge will be different from other merit badges.  Rather than the counselor sharing their own expertise/skills/experiences, the intent of this merit badge is to focus on the Scout’s personal journey to understanding the concepts of the merit badge.  Citizenship in Society Counselor Guidelines It is designed to be less influenced and more driven by the Scout readiness levels.

This Merit Badge Counselor training will be required to offer the Citizenship in Society merit badge in the Jayhawk Area  Councils (Citizenship in Society Merit Badge Counselor Toolkit). Merit Badge Application will need to be summited to our council office for approval (Application).

It is NOT recommended to be a part of a council’s summer camp merit badge schedule as it is more appropriate to take place in the Scout’s local environment and not camp.

The Jayhawk Area Council looks forward to this new merit badge rollout as we add Citizenship in Society to the family of Citizenship merit badges our Scouts can earn.

Citizenship in Society Introduction

Citizenship in Society Scout Requirements

Citizenship in Society Counselor Guidelines

Citizenship in Society Merit Badge Councilor Guide 2021

Nationals Press Releases Article

Diversity Equity & Inclusion

Bryan on Scouting Article

Citizenship in Society Merit Badge Counselor Toolkit

Fact Sheet

Over the next few months, the Boy Scouts of America will be migrating its membership data base completely over to My.Scouting. This process will not only retire a program that has been used since 2000, but offer new features in managing unit rosters allowing greater ability to make changes at the unit level such as leadership position changes, transfers, etc. It should also make for an easier transfer of advancement records from ScoutBook since the programs will be more compatible.  

As many of you have probably experienced, any transition/conversion of platforms may cause some unforeseen challenges. It is our intention to make sure all advancements are properly uploaded into our membership database and ensure your Scouts’ records are accurate. To accomplish this, we are asking for your assistance.

Beginning June 1, 2021, all units must have an advancement report to purchase rank badges and merit badges from the Jayhawk Scout Shop. The advancement report can be supplied in one of three ways.

1. Hard Copy/Printed Version of the BSA Advancement Report (link)
2. Copy that the advancements have been entered into Scoutbook
3. Printout from a third-party advancement program

This ONLY applies to rank advancements and merit badges. All other recognition items or award can be purchased without an advancement report. If, after a period of time, we see that everything is migrating across without issue, then we can pull back on this practice. Our goal is to make sure the advancements earned are properly credited.

For units from our neighboring councils, your reports will be sent to your respective council on your behalf.

Please make sure you share this with the people that are purchasing awards for your unit. We want everyone to, “Be Prepared” to provide an advancement report when they come in. If you have any questions about Scoutbook, please let us know so we can can connect you with someone that can address your concerns.

Thanks to everyone for your help as we do our best to ensure all your Scouts’ hard work is properly recorded.