Though not directly linked yet at the Atlanta Area Council Day Camp page, signups for the July 9-14 "Passport to Adventure" Twilight Camp are open:  click here for Session 1 July 9-11 at First Baptist Church of Morrow, and click here for Session 2 July 12-14 at Woodward Academy..  From Amber Mays and Brad Mays: "This year we will be offering two camps at two locations. So choose the site that is best for you, or come to both!"  Session 1 is July 9-11 at First Baptist Church of Morrow, Session 2 is July 12-14 at Woodward Academy.  Do one or both or more!  More at their Facebook Page.

So, there's lots of information on the official BSA Family Scouting page at www.scouting.org/familyscouting, but some of it is out of date, some of it is misunderstood, and some could use some clear guidance.   On the Boys Scout side of the page is an FAQ at https://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Scouts-BSA-FAQ-050218-2.pdf announced a few weeks ago – likely to be updated – see the full FAQ at that link, but if you scroll below you will find some comments from a Council Trainer about some of the selected FAQs. 

Unlike the simpler age of Cub Scouts, from the end of 5^th Grade and up, there is concern from some that having girls around boys and boys around girls will not be optimal.  You know, Middle School and High School drama and emotion and all.  That’s why the Scouts BSA program for older youth will be a bit different: 

• Unlike in Cub Scouting, the Scouts BSA troop model involves “separate troops” for boys and girls, a separate Scoutmaster (though the SM may be registered also in the other troop), and separate youth leaders, including Senior Patrol Leader. 
• That said, the two troops may meet at the same time and place, do campouts at the same time and place, etc. … subject of course (certainly in truly youth run Troops), to what the youth leaders decide in the Patrol Leaders Councils of b0th troops.
• So, it is possible, and maybe likely, that a new troop of girls that starts next February 1 (the earliest launch date) might join in with a current Troop sponsored by that Chartered Organization for meeting times and campouts. 
  • Or … as was pointed out at a recent parent/committee meeting of one of our Troops … the girls might say “thanks but no thanks – we want to go our own way”. 
  • Or the existing PLC of a boy Troop would want to go their own way.
  • Likely, there will be a mix of both, which could be an excellent development.  
  • When a Patrol up and announces “we want to do our own campout next month”, that shows youth leadership and independence. 
• The expectation of the BSA is that a troop’s gear will be shared with a troop of girls sponsored by the same Chartered Organization.  
• • Toward that end, and for other reasons, a Chartered Organization/Troop Committee may elect to “pair” the two units under the same committee.  That is most to operate.
  • Also related to that, young men and young women leaders will need to cooperate, especially in roles like Quartermaster (as gear is shared) and Senior Patrol Leader (as events are shared). 

Selected FAQs and Comments:

You know ... you can go.  You can sign up as a Parent/Kid team of two.  Two adults can take up to 8 Scouts (the required leader ration is 4 Scouts per adult leader).  Take it from those who have been there ...  Summer Camp is the most fun thing you and your child can do during Cub Scout Years.  See this Cub Scout Summer Camp information.  Four 3 night options in July (July 2-5, July 6-9, July 10-13, July 13-16).  For Scouts signing up this spring or summer ... they can go too!  Program elements for Tigers, Wolves, Bears, Webelos, so this spring's Kindergarten through 4th Graders will have plenty to do there! 

Highlights of the most recent District News were these (click links for information):  Q and A about FAQs and Family Scouting - Cub Scout Topics ... Welcome to Cub Scouting! ... New Online Youth Protection Training -- All Leaders Must Complete by October 1 ...  Opt In, Opt Out ...    and from the week before:  ...  What's All This Then -- Scouts BSA ... Patriotic Opportunity - Put American flags on graves of veterans for Memorial Day  ...  Update for Registering Girls - BeAScout Website "Pins"

So, there's lots of information on the official BSA Family Scouting page at www.scouting.org/familyscouting, but some of it is out of date, some of it is misunderstood, and some could use some clear guidance.   On the Cub Scout side of the page are two FAQs ... one is (mostly) from last October, when the initial rollout occurred, and one is from the "Early Adopter" Cub Scout program that was announced in January and expires at the end of May, 2018.  

Clarification Q+As from the Cub Scout Early Adopter (January to May 2018) FAQ:

• Q: Do the Early Adopter rules (like having at least 4 girls) apply to Packs that welcome girls now, even though they were not Early Adopters? 
• A: No.  If you have one girl register, she can participate in your Pack.  Granted, she'll technically be in her own den ... but see below.  
• Q:  What?  A one girl den?  That's crazy, not fun, and going to be really hard to make work.  Why can't we just put her in the den of boys at the same grade and handbook level?
• A:  Because.  Rather than explain, here's how most Packs will deal with that situation:  say you have 1 second grade girl, the only girl in your pack, and 7 second grade boys. 
• So the girl is in her own Wolf Den and the boys are in their own Wolf Den. 
• But guess what:  the two Wolf Dens can do all of the same activities at the same time and together. 
• Just like two Wolf Dens of all boys. 
• The only caveat is that you'll need to have a female den leader or assistant, and always a YPT trained female adult present if the girl attends. 
• More below, including the BSA advice that "this can be treated the same as two dens of the same gender working together. It will be up to the good judgment of leaders to decide what is best for their units".
• Q:  The second question has a note about "the official start date is later in 2018 to coordinate with program year" ... so when can our Pack start accepting girls?
• A:  Today.  Because the Atlanta Area Council is OK with that.  See this Update for Registering Girls - BeAScout Website "Pins"
• Q:   They asked if uniforms will be the same for boys and girls, and it says "the uniforms will remain fundamentally the same".  Aren't there some new items?
• A:  Yes.  Definitely there will be "skorts" for girls, already at www.scoutshop.org.

Share this new YouTube Video with your Pack Families and Prospects: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skSD7y6fgB4