Founded in 1984, Buckskin is one of the first Youth Leader Training courses in all of Scouting. Buckskin is an immersive leadership experience for Scouts BSA Troops in the Heart of Virginia Council. Buckskin offers a 360 degree leadership experience that integrates classroom teaching with hands-on practice and reinforcement. This exciting combination will equip your Scout with the tools, experience, confidence, and enthusiasm needed to make a difference as a leader in their troop and their community.

Dens can elect Denners and Assistant Denners to work with their adult leaders.  Some of the denner’s responsibilities include setting up the meeting space, welcoming Scouts as they arrive to the meeting, lead the den in reciting the Scout Oath and Law, picking a game or activity for the den to play, hand out supplies, and help clean up.  The Webelos Bobcat adventure is a great introduction to these very special leadership roles.

National Youth Leadership Training is an exciting, action-packed program designed for councils to provide youth members with leadership skills and experience they can use in their home troops and in other situations demanding leadership of self and others.  This training is traditionally offered by the Heart of Virginia Council in early summer.

The Boy Scouts of America are committed to creating safe environments for Scouts and leaders. Child abuse is an uncomfortable topic but an important one for us to cover to ensure the safety and well-being of our Scouts and leaders. The Boy Scouts of America has partnered with subject-matter experts from the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center Foundation to present the Personal Safety Awareness Series.  Scout and Star Rank requirements include the completion of these videos.

Your membership in the BSA is going to open doors to incredible opportunities, and scholarships are just the start!  The BSA’s Scholarships portal is full of program opportunities to help you pay your way as you continue your education.  Find your scholarship and apply online!

The Scouting adventure, camping trips, high-adventure excursions, and having fun are important to everyone in Scouting—and so is your safety and well-being. Completing the Annual Health and Medical Record is the first step in making sure you have a great Scouting experience.

Each participating member of your family needs to have a completed AHMR on file with their unit leadership team in order to participate in any Scouting adventures, including regular unit meetings.  Follow the link to download a copy based on your adventure needs.

The pack meeting brings all the dens in the pack together for the purposes of recognizing the achievements of the Cub Scouts, communicating information about upcoming events, and providing a program that enriches the Cub Scouting experience.  It helps the Cubs realize their den is part of a larger organization.  A good pack meeting is well planned and well organized.

The den meeting is the most important part of Cub Scouting.  It is where Cub Scouts build friendships, work together to learn new things, and progress towards earning their common badge of rank.  Serving as a Den Leader is providing an opportunity to make a positive lifelong impact on your child and others in the den.

The Guide to Advancement is the official resource outlining the principles, policies, and procedures for advancement in Scouting programs. It provides detailed guidance on how Scouts can progress through ranks, earn badges, and achieve awards within the program framework. The guide emphasizes the importance of experiential learning, skill mastery, and personal growth, while maintaining fairness and consistency across all Scouting units. It serves as a reference for leaders, parents, and Scouts to ensure advancement is meaningful and aligns with Scouting’s mission to develop character, citizenship, and fitness.

A booklet, included in the printed handbooks, providing tips to help parents talk with their youth about child abuse.  The completion of the activities in this guide are required for rank advancement.

Folleto – En Espanol ﹥

Scouting America offers on online application process for youth and adults that can be completed from start to finish without a single piece of paper changing hands. This allows prospective members and leaders to register and pay in a way that’s convenient for them, and it creates a more efficient and user-friendly registration experience for units, districts, and councils.  Learn how to use and manage these resources.

Did your Cub Scouts visit us at Cub Adventure Camp this year?  Adventure on with us as a unit by customizing your own Weekend Experience.  With options like shooting sports, camping, fishing, boating, and more, we have the activities and space available.  Add a Weekend Experience to your Pack Year Plan, and we’ll take the guesswork out of your next adventure.

The Scouting adventure, camping trips, high-adventure excursions, and having fun are important to everyone in Scouting—and so is your safety and well-being. Completing the Annual Health and Medical Record is the first step in making sure you have a great Scouting experience.

Each participating member of your family needs to have a completed AHMR on file with their unit leadership team in order to participate in any Scouting adventures, including regular unit meetings.  Follow the link to download a copy based on your adventure needs.

The Guide to Advancement is the official resource outlining the principles, policies, and procedures for advancement in Scouting programs. It provides detailed guidance on how Scouts can progress through ranks, earn badges, and achieve awards within the program framework. The guide emphasizes the importance of experiential learning, skill mastery, and personal growth, while maintaining fairness and consistency across all Scouting units. It serves as a reference for leaders, parents, and Scouts to ensure advancement is meaningful and aligns with Scouting’s mission to develop character, citizenship, and fitness.

At the Boy Scouts of America, the safety and well-being of our members are of paramount importance. We are dedicated to maintaining a secure environment where Scouts, leaders, and volunteers can engage in enriching Scouting experiences with confidence. By reporting an incident In Scouting, you play a crucial role in maintaining the safety and well-being of the Boy Scouts of America community. Timely, clear, concise, and thorough incident reports enable a fitting response and provide an opportunity for analysis and continuous improvement in our programs!

Scouting America compiles all its program changes for Troops, Crews, Posts, and Ships on one helpful page.

The Scoutmaster is the adult responsible for working directly with the Scouts – providing direction, coaching, and support.

Tune in to Scouting Magazine’s Troop Talk Live the second Wednesday of each month at 3pm for useful tips and tricks, and great ideas to help you lead your unit.

Most adult awards and recognitions have certificates, pins or medals, and a patch usually with a square knot embroidered on it in different colors.  Adult leaders wear these square knot patches on their uniform over the left pocket.  The order that they are worn is up to the individual.

The District Award of Merit is awarded by a District to volunteer and professional adults for service to youth in the District. Normally, the award is presented for service to youth in excess of five years. Candidates for this award must be nominated (self-nomination disqualifies the candidate) using the linked nomination form.

The Boy Scouts of America has always been a uniformed body. Its uniforms help to create a sense of belonging. They symbolize character development, leadership, citizenship training, and personal fitness. Wearing a uniform gives youth and adult members a sense of identification and commitment.  Learn how to properly wear your uniform awards and insignia.