Scouting America Announces Scouts BSA “Family” Troops

• Units that Participated in the Pilot
  • Emily Davis will be reaching out to you to determine if you wish to continue as a family Troop and to go over your next steps.
• All Other Scouts BSA Units
  • Emily Davis will be the point person for units who wish to transition to a Scouts BSA “Family” Troop
  • Emily oversaw the Mount Baker Council’s participation in the pilot program and is well versed in the family Troop option
  • Units will not be able to select being a Scouts BSA “Family” Troop prior to December 15, 2025.
  • Becoming a Scouts BSA “Family” Troop is OPTIONAL
  • Troops now have three options – all boy Troop, all girl Troop, or family Troop
  • Do not contact the Mount Baker Council registrar to change your Troop status
  • The Mount Baker Council will be providing information and holding a webinar on the process for becoming a Scouts BSA “Family” Troop

Unit who have questions should reach out to their unit Commissioner or Emily Davis.

Look for additional information from the Mount Baker Council as it becomes available.

In response to a growing need for some of our Scouting families, the National Executive Board has approved a family troop option for Scouts BSA, following a successful pilot. This new option will be available December 15, 2025.

This option provides chartered organizations with more flexibility in delivering Scouting to families in communities where there are not enough youth to have a boy-only or girl-only troop. While the vast majority of troops will continue to specifically serve boys or girls in the years ahead, this option gives chartered organizations the ability to meet the unique needs of their communities and families who want to do Scouting together in a unit.

A survey of pilot units indicated:

• Increased membership
• Stronger program delivery
• High satisfaction among youth, leaders and families.
• Greater efficiency in operations and resource use.

This model represents a forward-thinking approach in our goal of adapting and meeting the needs of families, while upholding the core values of Scouting and our ongoing commitment to our mission to serve more young people across the country.

I want to thank the Scouts BSA Committee, National Operations Leadership Committee, National Executive Board, councils, and units that participated in the pilot. Together we can deliver Scouting to a new generation of Americans.

Yours in Scouting, 

Roger Krone

Chief Scout Executive

President & CEO

Scouting America