Family Troop Update

Dear Gulf Coast Council Members,
 
We are excited to announce that the Family Troop option for Scouts BSA has been approved by National. Please take a moment to read the message below from Chief Scout Executive Roger Krone.
 
Although, there is no requirement for Chartered Organizations to offer Family Troops, if your Troop leadership or Chartering Organization is interested in forming a Family Troop, the accompanying documents will help guide you through the process. 
 
If you have any questions, please contact your Scout Executive at: Steve.Williams2@Scouting.org
 
Printable Resources (PDFs)

Scouting America Leadership,

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