AOL to Troop

Crossing over from Cub Scouts to Scouts BSA is an exciting milestone. It also brings some important changes in how the program works for both scouts and families.

Our goal is to help you know what to expect and what steps to complete before crossover so your scout starts strong in their new troop.

The values of the Scout Oath and Law

Service and leadership opportunities

A focus on character development

Youth-Led Structure

Cub Scouts is adult-led. Adults build curriculum and guide scouts through every step. 

Scouts BSA is youth-led. Scouts become independant of the adults. Adults remain to provide a foundation for safe failure. This means that Scouts are not lead away from mistakes. Instead, Scouts encounter the outcomes of poor planing, incorrect assuptions and other mishaps in a safe environment. Older or more experienced scouts go on to teach what they learned to the younger scouts.

In a troop:

• Older Scouts plan meetings and outings

• Youth leaders run the program

• Adults advise and ensure safety

Parents, guardians and adult leaders are expected to give scouts the opportunity to get it "wrong". An adult leader will privde resources, initail guidance and step in if a decision introduces harm. 

Increased Scout Responsibility

Scouts are expected to:

• Track their own advancement

• Bring required materials to meetings

• Communicate with their scout leaders

• Take ownership of participation

Parents and guardians will not longer be asked if their scout completed activities. The scout will also no longer be asked if they completed activities. In troop. A scout is expected to communitcate with their leadership when they believe they have completed a requirement. They will ask, demonstrate and recieve sign off for participation.

Advancement Becomes Scout-Driven

In Cub Scouts, advancement is structured by rank and year.

In Scouts BSA:

• Advancement is self-paced

• Requirements are signed off individually

• Merit badges introduce new topics and mentors

• Scouts must choose to pursue advancement.

Unlike Cub Scouts, Troop scouts do not advance year by year. Advancement is marked with the completion of a rank. That may take 8 months or it may take 2 years. The pace is set by your scout. 

Greater Time Commitment

• Troop meetings may be longer.

• Campouts may be more frequent.

• Summer camp is typically a week-long experience.

Attendance becomes more important for leadership roles and advancement progress.