Scouting America has unveiled a new comprehensive Safeguarding Youth Training (SYT) program, reinforcing its unwavering commitment to creating the safest possible environment for young people. This updated training represents a significant step forward in Scouting America’s multi-layered approach to youth protection.
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As discussed during the National Annual Meeting, Scouts BSA volunteer leadership, working closely with Scouting America professional staff, has launched a major digital transformation of the iconic merit badge program for Scouts BSA youth, making all merit badge pamphlets available as free PDFs online, and planning for the release of exciting new badges later this year. Additionally, as part of the upcoming launch of the Scoutly chatbot, Scouts will be able to have an additional resource to help them learn about badge requirements for select merit badges.
Earlier this year, the Scouts BSA Merit Badge “Test Lab” launched to gather feedback on potential new merit badges, including Auctioneering, Life Skills, and Wildland Fire Management. Remind Scouts to keep an eye on the Test Lab for updates with future potential merit badges.
This multi-year digital plan aims to modernize the merit badge experience with interactive content, resource videos, and digital guides—recognizing that today’s Scouts expect digital experiences to be easy, effective, and engaging – like the tech platforms they’ve grown up with. More information can be found at https://www.scouting.org/topics/program-updates/program-updates-scouts-bsa/.
BSA Launches Citizenship in Society Merit Badge |
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On November 1, the Boy Scouts of America launched the new Citizenship in Society merit badge. This merit badge encourages Scouts to explore important topics around diversity, equity, inclusion and ethical leadership and learn why these qualities are important in society and in Scouting. Beginning July 1, 2022, the Citizenship in Society merit badge will be required for any youth seeking to achieve the prestigious Eagle Scout rank. For more details on this merit badge, please visit: www.scouting.org/dei.
Or check out this article Introducing Citizenship in Society, the BSA’s newest merit badge (scoutingmagazine.org)
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| New Health Care Professions Merit Badge Coming This November, Replaces Medicine Merit Badge |
| Over the years, new merit badge subjects have been added while others have been retired, depending on societal changes, technology, and the interests of our Scouts. When the Medicine merit badge was first introduced in 1991, it was primarily developed to focus on the “doctor” side of human health care delivery. As the fields of human medicine expanded through specialization, support services, and technology, it became apparent that Scouts were interested in learning about other areas of human health care and medical support. However, because it would have been impossible to develop an individual merit badge for each field of interest in the health care domain, the BSA has decided to create a single merit badge that will encompass a wide variety of health care careers: the Health Care Professions merit badge [2021].
Upon its release this November, the Health Care Professions merit badge will replace the Medicine merit badge, which will then be retired. There will be a new merit badge pamphlet containing support text that describes the roles that a variety of health care professionals play in the delivery of health care, the settings where they may work, and any educational and licensing requirements that may be necessary. The style and design of the merit badge patch will not change between the new Health Care Professions merit badge and the former Medicine merit badge.
Through the Health Care Professions merit badge, Scouts will have the opportunity to learn about dozens of health care professions/vocations, including Allopathic and Osteopathic physicians; Podiatrists; Chiropractors; Nurse Practitioners; Psychologists; Optometrists; Audiologists; Physician Assistants; Registered Nurses (and other nurses); Pharmacists; EMTs; Physical Therapists; Dietitians; Speech-Language Pathologists; Medical Technologists; Phlebotomists; as well as many others.
Scouts currently working on the Medicine merit badge will be allowed to continue working on it, but after December 31, 2021, Scouts may not begin working on the superseded Medicine merit badge. Hard copy editions of the Health Care Professions merit badge pamphlet should be available in mid-November. |
Scouts BSA has launched a revised Troop Self-Assessment program designed to replace the Journey to Excellence (JTE) system with a more user-friendly approach that takes just 10 minutes per topic to complete. The new assessment features 9-12 targeted questions that help troops identify strengths and growth opportunities throughout the year—not just annually.
“This resource puts the power of program improvement directly in the hands of unit leaders,” explains Angelique Minett, Chair of the Scouts BSA program.
Developed in response to feedback that JTE was too complex and underutilized, the streamlined tool provides immediate feedback, connects troops with tailored resources, and integrates with the Unit Metrics system. Scout leaders can access this game-changing assessment tool through the Troop Leader Resources website, with additional implementation guides coming soon.
More information can be found at https://www.scouting.org/topics/program-updates/program-updates-scouts-bsa/.
Effective December 31, 2024, the Journey to Excellence unit recognition program will be retired.
Moving forward, metrics for Scouting and Exploring unit success will be seamlessly integrated into unit leader support materials and resources. These metrics will be consistent with those used by the Commissioner corps to support Scouting and Exploring units. This new approach aims to provide a consistent and more streamlined and effective method for evaluating and enhancing unit performance. Feedback from unit leaders and survey results played a crucial role in making this decision.
We believe this transition will better support our unit leaders and ultimately improve the experience for all participants as we continue to develop and deliver relevant programs.
Units can continue to purchase 2024 Journey to Excellence recognition items through December 31, 2025.
Medical Merit Badge Day will be on January 11th, 2025 from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm at Bassett Community Hospital.
Are you over 18, passionate about the outdoors, and eager for a summer filled with adventure?
The Midnight Sun Council is excited to announce staffing opportunities for our Northern Lights High Adventure program!
We’re looking for dedicated individuals with experience in trekking, canoeing, and wilderness guiding. If you hold special certifications in these areas, we want to hear from you!
This is a rewarding opportunity to immerse yourself in the breathtaking Alaskan wilderness while guiding scouts through incredible outdoor experiences. However, we want to be upfront: this role will involve hard work, long days, and modest pay. You will be challenged both physically and mentally, but the fulfillment that comes from teaching and leading young adventurers is truly unparalleled.
Working with the Northern Lights High Adventure program means you’ll be part of a supportive team, creating memories that last a lifetime—not just for the scouts, but for you as well. This is your chance to explore some of the most stunning landscapes Alaska has to offer while making a real impact on the lives of young people.
If you’re ready to embrace the challenge and adventure of a lifetime, apply to be part of our Northern Lights High Adventure staff this summer!
To apply, please fill out the form below:
High Adventure Staff application
We look forward to your application and hope to see you this summer!
*If you created an account for a prior council event, use that account. If you forgot your password, reset password.
Creating an account allows you to add your roster and keep that roster for future events to register quickly.
Starting a Registration: https://youtu.be/6WedI9ASv-Q
Completing a Registration: https://youtu.be/cWKUAG3H8cE
When you register for an event, you may notice that it first asks you for a Registration Contact.
This person is in charge of, or responsible for, that registration. Usually a parent or Unit Leader serves as the
Registration Contact, even if they are not necessarily attending the event.
Adding attendee information comes next, and these are all the people attending the event.
Registration Contact info is sometimes pre-filled for an adult slot since, most of the time, they are also
attending the event.
Some Registration Contact information is applied to all the attendees, like unit type and number, even though
you may not see it. For example, if you choose Troop 489 on the Registration Contact info page, that applies to
everyone on the registration unless asked specifically on an attendee. This is so you don’t have to choose the
unit type and number for each Scout.
Parent Portal: Unit Leader’s Guide https://youtu.be/RBJmmnQuSo4
• Leaders: Please make sure you mark “Prevent parents from making payments”
• If parents want to pay online, they can use the links below.
Parent Portal Guide for Parents https://youtu.be/-Fimdr9O63I
To make a camp payment online:
o Midnight Sun Council: ResidentCamp Scout Payment
o Out of Council: ResidentCamp – Out of Council Scout Payment
Thank you, unit leaders and parents, for your patience as we learn to get our registrations online with Black Pug this year!
Black Pug Registration Questions: Contact Jodi Tansky 907-699-1409 or jodi.tansky@gmail.com
Backpacking, hiking, canoeing, fishing and more!
Thank you for your interest in the programs of the Northern Lights High Adventure Base. The Midnight Sun Council, Boy Scouts of America, based in Fairbanks, Alaska, operates the Base.
The mission of the Base is to provide a remote outdoor experience to youth and adults within the Scouting program.
1. Alaska is twice the size of the state of Texas. It may look small on a map and the distance between two points may not appear to be that much, but rest assured it is— and there may not be a road to it.
2. The Northern Lights High Adventure Base does not provide support to units that have not booked their Alaska trip through the Base. If you would like to customize your trip, please let the Base do it for you. That’s what we do best.
3. The Base provides the following services for each trip; transfer to and from the airport (Fairbanks International Airport), all ground transportation, meals, most specialized equipment, camp stoves, drivers, and Trek Leaders. You will need to provide your own personal gear, tentage, water filters, and something to eat with.
4. The mission of the Northern Lights High Adventure Base is to provide a high adventure experience to the youth in the Scouting program. While we encourage parents to participate with their sons or daughters, the trips need to have 51% youth.
5. Travel days do not/are not counted in those days. Your unit can extend a trip by adding an additional week. Some units use this extra time to see Denali National Park, hike Gates of the Arctic National Park, float the Yukon River, or tour Alaska.
6. To secure your space for a trek, a deposit is required (amount depends on the trek). Half of the remaining amount is due February 1st of the year you are attending. The balance is due by June 1st, or 30 days prior to your trek, whichever is earlier.
After you have viewed all the available information on our website and have any other questions, or would like to discuss a trek in detail, please call us at 907-452-1976 or email to Stephen.Smith@scouting.org
The first step to planning your Northern Lights High Adventure Expedition is to answer the following questions:
1) Which trek do we want to attend? See “Treks” tab on Top Menu for more information on the treks.
2) What day do we want to arrive? Arrival dates are flexible on a first come, first serve basis.
3) How long of a trip do we want? From 3 days to 3 weeks we have an option for you!
4) How many crews will we need? Some trips are restricted in size due to land use permits. See the “Fee” section in the “FAQ/Planning your trip” tab for more details.
Once you have answered all of the above questions, contact NLHA to make your reservation.
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