National Scouting News

Dan Beard Scouters:

The National Office of the Boy Scouts of America has announced some important changes that will be coming soon to the Scouting program. We’ve only just learned much of this news ourselves, and we would have liked to have been able to provide you with more lead-time to prepare. Please see the details below for these important announcements:

  • · The BSA membership fee will increase from $24 to $33 for all registered youth and adult leaders, effective December 1, 2017. This fee goes towards services including primary liability coverage for all volunteer leaders and chartered organizations, ongoing advances in technology, fundraising support, new program development, membership recruiting strategies, and support materials.
  • · Please take note: Fees for new members joining this fall prior to December 1 are calculated using the old rate.
  • · Additionally, there is an increase in the cost of Sickness and Accident Insurance. The Dan Beard Council has elected to cover a portion of this increase itself, but there will also be a change in cost to participants. Insurance fees will increase from $4.80 to $5.50. The total annual cost will be $38.50 for an entire year of Scouting.
  • · As an additional change, effective on December 1, the insurance fee will only be charged once annually at recharter. We will no longer be collecting it during the year as a pro-rated charge along with the membership fee (for example, when a new Scout joins in the fall).
  • · The BSA National Office has provided an FAQ on the membership fee increase, which is available HERE.
  • · Effective immediately, the national council is requiring that Youth Protection Training (YPT) be completed for all adult leaders at the time of registration. Paper applications from new leaders must be accompanied by a Youth Protection Training completion certificate, which must be filed with the application. This is a practice that has already been in place in the Dan Beard Council. Additionally, there will be a new feature in the online recharter system to help units track YPT completion.
  • · Effective for the 2018 BSA summer camp season, any adult accompanying a Boy Scout troop to a resident camp or other Scouting activity lasting 72 hours or more must be registered as a leader, including completion of a criminal background check (CBC) and YPT, even if they are the parent of a youth on the trip.
  • · The protection of youth is the primary obligation of every individual involved in the Boy Scouts of America – including leaders, parents, members, and professionals. As part of the BSA’s “Scouts First” approach to the protection and safety of youth, the BSA has established “844-Scouts1” (844-726-8871), a dedicated 24-hour helpline to receive reports of known or suspected abuse or behavior that might put a youth at risk. The helpline’s goal is to provide immediate assistance to ensure that the victim, unit, and council are fully supported and the actions taken are properly documented. Volunteers should still notify their district director, Michael Kostic, and/or Tom Dugger immediately if they are made aware of a youth protection violation.
  • · With the news that the LDS Church will no longer be utilizing Varsity Scouts, the Varsity Scout program will sunset on December 31, and Scouts should be transferred into a troop. The Varsity program was originally created for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Additional information and details about these changes will be available in the coming weeks. If you have any questions or concerns related to any of these items, please reach out to me at the Scout Achievement Center. Thank you for what you’re doing for Scouting,

Tom Dugger
Scout Executive