| The BSA has been looking at the barriers to joining for today’s families and we want to simplify this for any youth who wants to participate in our programs. The joining requirements for the Scouts BSA program currently state: Youth can be Scouts if they have completed the fifth grade and are at least 10 years old, OR have earned the Arrow of Light Award and are at least 10 years old, OR are age 11 but have not reached age 18. Beginning April 18, 2022, the Scouts BSA program joining requirements will be changed to the following: Youth can be Scouts if they are at least 10 years old, currently in the fifth grade and register on or after March 1st; OR have earned the Arrow of Light Award and are at least 10 years old, OR are age 11 but have not reached age 18. Now, your troop can recruit fifth graders in the spring regardless of whether they were in an Arrow of Light Den! No longer will they have to wait until they are out of the fifth grade potentially falling behind their classmates in rank advancement or missing out on those crucial first few months of camping before summer camp. |
News
BSA Guidance on Donations to Ukrainian Scouting
| 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. |
BSA Updates to Unit Fiscal Policies
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.
How Do I Get My Membership Card or Unit Charter?
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.
Online Transfers and Multiples Applications Now Available
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.
Citizenship in Society Merit Badge
The Citizenship in Society merit badge has officially joined the over 100 merit badges Scouts can earn. Here is what you need to know!
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- 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.
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- 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.
Links and Documents form Nationals
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
