Scouts BSA

06/18/2026

🎖️ Merit Badge Spotlight: Archery Merit Badge

Scout leaders, merit badge counselors, and parents—have you considered the many lessons Scouts learn while earning the Archery Merit Badge?

Archery is more than simply hitting the target. It teaches focus, patience, discipline, and self-control. Scouts develop both mental and physical skills as they learn proper shooting techniques, equipment care, safety procedures, and range etiquette.

Scouts working on this badge will:
🏹 Learn and practice archery range safety
🎯 Understand scoring, competition formats, and shooting fundamentals
🛠 Learn how arrows are constructed, repaired, and maintained
👓 Explore the purpose and use of protective equipment
🏹 Gain hands-on experience with recurve, longbow, or compound bows
🎯 Improve concentration, consistency, and confidence through practice

One of the greatest benefits of archery is that success comes from focus and repetition rather than strength alone. Scouts learn that improvement is achieved through patience, attention to detail, and developing good habits.

For merit badge counselors and leaders, the Archery Merit Badge provides an opportunity to introduce Scouts to a lifelong recreational activity while reinforcing responsibility and safe range practices.

Whether a Scout is interested in competitive archery, hunting, outdoor recreation, or simply learning a new skill, the Archery Merit Badge offers a challenging and rewarding experience.

Learn more:
https://www.scouting.org/merit-badges/archery/

Have you earned the Archery Merit Badge or served as an instructor? Share your favorite archery experience in the comments!

06/17/2026

Positions of Responsibility - Librarian

Troop librarians oversee the care and use of troop books, pamphlets, magazines, and audiovisuals.. They check out these materials to Scouts and leaders and maintain records to ensure that everything is returned. They may also suggest the acquisition of new literature and report the need to repair or replace any current holdings.

Now that many of these resources online, the librarian can also direct scouts to the Merit Badge page https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/ to download the pamplets for free and the Digital Resource Guides https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/digital-resource-guides/ for additional support materials.

https://troopleader.scouting.org/general-troop-information/troop-structure/troop-positions/librarian/

06/16/2026

🏊 What Should Scouts Wear for Water Activities?

Aquatic safety has specific clothing expectations:

✔ Swimwear should be designed for swimming
✔ Clothing should be secure and not create hazards
✔ Rash guards or shirts are OK if safe

Safety in the water starts before you even get in.
https://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Scouts-BSA-Cothing-Guidelines-2025-update.pdf

06/15/2026

🛡️ Youth Protection FAQs: Adult Supervision

Questions about adult supervision come up frequently in Scouts BSA. The good news? Scouting America has compiled answers to many of the situations leaders and parents encounter.

Topics covered include:

• Merit badge counseling when only one Scout is present
• Fundraising activities involving a single Scout
• What happens if only one leader arrives at an activity
• Registration requirements for adults attending overnight events
• Adult program participants
• One-on-one contact and what "inside and outside of Scouting" means
• Whether youth may gather without adult supervision

If you've ever wondered, "What do the policies actually say?" this resource is worth bookmarking.

Read the official Youth Protection and Barriers to Abuse FAQs:
https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/yp-faqs/

06/15/2026

⏰ DEADLINE: Videos due Thursday, June 18! 🇺🇸

📣 Calling all Scout troops in Delaware, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Wyoming!

This Fourth of July, Scouting America is teaming up with CNN for a special video tribute — and we want your troop in it!

As America celebrates its 250th birthday, Scouts have the chance to thank our military service members directly. Your video could be part of a national story seen across the country.

How to film your video:

• Use a cell phone — set it to 4K if you can
• Record horizontally (turn your phone sideways)
• Start by saying: “We are Troop ### from CITY, STATE”
• Then add something fun, or a big thank-you to our military service members!

📩 Send your video to: [email protected]

Please note we will require a talent release. Please message this page for a copy of the release to be signed by parent/guardian

Show your Scout spirit and help us honor those who serve. Let’s make America proud! 🦅

06/13/2026

📋 Did You Know? Each Troop Sets Its Own Policy

Every Scouts BSA troop develops its own clothing policy with guidance from its chartered organization.

Good policies are:
✔ Fair
✔ Safe
✔ Respectful of all members

Troops are encouraged to ask:
➡ Does this keep everyone safe?
➡ Is this fair to all Scouts?
➡ Does it respect individual needs?

🔗 Sample troop policy:
https://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Troops-clothing-policy.pdf

06/12/2026

Positions of Responsibility - Instructor

Instructors are an imporant part of the Troop program. Each instructor is an older troop member proficient in a Scouting skill who must also have the ability to teach that skill to others. An instructor typically teaches subjects that Scouts are eager to learn—especially those such as first aid, camping, and backpacking—that are required for outdoor activities and rank advancement. A troop can have more than one instructor.

Read the position duties here:
https://troopleader.scouting.org/general-troop-information/troop-structure/troop-positions/instructor/

Each instructor is an older troop member proficient in a Scouting skill who must also have the ability to teach that skill to others. An instructor

06/12/2026

Check out this exciting news for Exploration Merit Badge!

The road to the 2026 Nat Jamboree just got even more exciting!

Drumroll, please…

Scouting America is excited and honored to welcome Go RVing as a proud partner and Official RV Sponsor of the 2026 National Jamboree! This partnership will help bring the spirit of exploration to life at the Summit, including support for educational programming connected to the Exploration Merit Badge.
Jamboree is where Scouts, Venturers (Venturing,), Sea Scouts volunteers and Scouters come together for adventure, leadership, fellowship and memories that last a lifetime. We can’t wait to see that spirit in action this summer.

Get ready for Jamboree, read the full press release on Scouting Newsroom (https://ow.ly/r5OR50ZaIVf) and share your favorite memories from Jamboree – or what you’re looking forward to this year – in the comments section.

06/11/2026

🎖️ Merit Badge Spotlight: Fingerprinting Merit Badge

Parents, Scout leaders, and merit badge counselors—have you taken a look at the Fingerprinting Merit Badge lately?

This fascinating merit badge introduces Scouts to one of the oldest and most reliable identification tools used by law enforcement and forensic professionals. Along the way, Scouts learn how fingerprints are collected, classified, and used to help identify missing persons, crime victims, and others.

Scouts working on this badge will:
🔍 Explore the history of fingerprinting
🖐 Learn how fingerprints are unique to every individual
💻 Compare law enforcement fingerprint systems with modern biometric technologies
📱 Discuss how passwords, tokens, and biometrics are used in everyday life
📇 Create and analyze their own fingerprint records
👮 Explore careers in forensics, law enforcement, and biometric identification

For merit badge counselors, this badge provides an excellent opportunity to connect Scouting with real-world applications of science, technology, and public service. For parents, it's a great example of how merit badges expose Scouts to subjects and careers they may never have considered.

Whether a Scout is interested in criminal justice, cybersecurity, forensic science, or simply enjoys solving puzzles, the Fingerprinting Merit Badge offers a hands-on introduction to an important field.

Learn more and download the resources:
https://www.scouting.org/merit-badges/fingerprinting/

Have you counseled or earned the Fingerprinting Merit Badge? Share your experience in the comments!

06/11/2026

Big news for Scouts BSA youth leaders.

The Scouts BSA SPL Summit is coming in September 2026. Building on the National Youth Council, the Summit brings Senior Patrol Leaders from across the country together to share feedback directly with the Scouts BSA National Committee.

What SPLs can expect:

• Quarterly online gatherings with SPLs nationwide
• Direct feedback sessions with national program leadership
• Early insight into upcoming program initiatives and resources
• A real chance to shape the future of Scouts BSA

The best ideas come from the youth who live the program every week. The SPL Summit puts their voices at the center.

Full details on how to participate are coming this summer. Stay tuned.

https://www.scouting.org/program-updates/scouts-bsa-announces-the-spl-summit/