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

December 2025 Update

Please find the following resources linked below:

Family Troop Decision Guide
A resource to help units evaluate whether a family troop model is the right fit for their youth, families, and chartered organization. It outlines key considerations, questions to discuss, and guidance for making an informed decision.

Family Troop Best Practices
Lessons learned from the national pilot, including recommendations for youth leadership, adult roles, patrol structure, outings, and healthy troop culture. A great reference for setting up a thriving and collaborative family troop.

Intent to Convert Form
The required form for troops officially converting to a family troop structure. This document records chartered organization approval, confirms preparation steps, and collects required signatures — including additional applications if merging across different chartered organizations.

Troops that participated in the pilot program will also need to complete this form if they wish to continue operating as a family troop. (We anticipate that all current pilot units plan to continue forward.)

Please note an important clarification regarding the application process:
If two troops with different chartered organizations are merging into a single family troop, any adults not already registered under the new chartered organization must submit a completed adult volunteer application.