Questions and Answers

Cub Scouting/Scouts BSA/Venturing/Sea Scouting
Rank Advancement and the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The following questions regarding advancement have arisen as we deal with closures, cancellations, or other issues caused by the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Although there are difficulties and constraints, advancement can continue. Youth, parents, and leaders should work together to implement creative, common sense ways to facilitate advancement while adhering to the Guide to Safe Scouting and following the rules of Youth Protection training.

Please follow this link to the Guide to Advancement (GTA), which remains the primary source for information related to Scouts BSA advancement. It is referenced throughout the answers provided here.

Please send additional questions to advancement.team@scouting.org

All Scouting Programs
Q: How can advancement be tracked remotely?
A: Scouting units should use ScoutBook to record and track advancement.
To track advancement remotely, parents should:
1) Connect with their child’s member profile via an invitation that the unit leader sends within ScoutBook.
2) Once a connection is made, the parent should use the Scouting app, found in both the App Store and Google Play, to stay connected with their unit.
3) The Scouting app provides parents the ability to report any advancement that was completed at home.
Go to https://help.scoutbook.com to learn more about how to start using ScoutBook and how to connect parents to their Scouts.

Cub Scouts
Q: May parents sign off on Webelos and Arrow of Light requirements?
A: Yes. Through July 31, 2020, parents and other adults in the Cub Scout’s family, may sign off on Webelos and Arrow of Light requirements. We strongly encourage that parents use the Scouting App or ScoutBook to record completion of their child’s requirements.

Q: If my den is behind in advancement due to COVID-19, can my Cub Scout continue to work on advancement through the summer?
A: Yes. Cub Scouts can continue to work on their current den’s advancement through July 31, 2020. This is to provide any additional time a Cub Scout needs to complete their badge of rank; if they earn their badge of rank prior to July 31, 2020, they may advance to the next rank.

Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouts

Q: May merit badge requirements or rank requirements be modified?
A: No. All requirements must be completed as written. If meetings or activities are canceled or limited, youth should continue to work on requirements as far as possible. By employing common sense and creative solutions, many requirements–even Scoutmaster conferences–can be fulfilled through videoconferencing or telephone calls.

Q: Can merit badge counseling or Nova/Supernova counseling be done using digital technologies like Zoom or WebEx?
A: Yes, registered merit badge counselors or Nova counselors/Supernova mentors may work with youth using digital platforms, ensuring that all youth protection measures noted in the Guide to Safe Scouting and BSA’s social media guidelines are in place. In addition to youth protection, the advancement guidelines in GTA Section 7 are required.

Q: May time missed due to canceled unit meetings count toward active participation requirements?
A: Yes. If youth are registered and in good standing, a disruption from COVID-19 virus can be the “noteworthy circumstance” that prevents participation. This policy has been in place for many years and is explained in GTA Topic 4.2.3.1.

Q: May time missed due to canceled unit meetings count toward position of responsibility requirements?
A: Yes. If youth are registered and unable to meet the expectations of their positions because of COVID-19 disruptions, then units may need to waive or rethink the expectations. Just as youth must not be held to unestablished expectations, they must not be held to expectations that are impossible to fulfill. See GTA Topic 4.2.3.4, “Positions of Responsibility,” with its six subtopics.

Q: Does the National Council grant extensions of time to complete rank requirements beyond the 18th birthday for the Eagle or 21st birthday for Summit or Quartermaster?
A: Yes, but only for the Eagle Scout rank as described in GTA Topic 9.0.4.0 or for Venturing Summit or Sea Scout Quartermaster as described in GTA Topic 4.3.3.0. Unit leadership must become familiar with the five tests under 9.0.4.0. The tests were designed to accommodate such obstacles as those presented by COVID-19 disruptions.

Q: Will youth who are not yet Life Scouts be allowed to apply for an extension to earn the Eagle Scout rank?
A. Extensions are considered only for Scouts who are Life rank. If, once a Scout achieves Life rank, it turns out that COVID-19 disruptions along the way have left them with insufficient time to complete Eagle requirements, then this may be cited when the time comes to submit an extension request.

Q: May local councils grant extensions?
A: Normally, that is not allowed. However, due to the current situation—effective immediately and through September 30, 2020—council Scout executives may grant extensions, or delegate authority to the Council Advancement Committee to grant extensions under the following limitations:

1. It can be established that COVID-19 disruptions were the only circumstances that delayed work on Eagle Scout/Summit/Quartermaster advancement requirements, such as the service project or merit badges. If any other causes were involved, the extension request must go to the National Council following the process outlined in the GTA.

2. Extensions shall only be granted to youth in Scouts BSA who have already achieved Life rank.

3. When the council receives a COVID-19-related request for a time extension, the council reviews the request and approves it if appropriate. A written response stating the outcome of the extension request must go to the youth. If approved, the notification must be attached to the youth’s Eagle/Summit/Quartermaster rank application. For Eagle, the extension must not exceed 3 months from the youth’s 18th birthday; for Summit/Quartermaster, the extension must not exceed 3 months from the youth’s 21st birthday.

4. Upon turning 18, the Scout must submit a completed adult application and successfully complete YPT; their participant code will now be UP for SBSA or VP for Venturing and Sea Scouting.

5. Extension requests for more than 3 months beyond the youth’s 18th/21st birthday must be sent to the National Service Center following the process outlined in the GTA.

Note: A “month” in BSA advancement is defined as a day from one month to the next. For example, March 5 to April 5.

Q: If youth have already received an extension, can they request additional time due to COVID-19?
A: Yes. Council Scout executives may grant extensions, or delegate authority to the Council Advancement Committee to grant extensions under the limitations listed above.

Q: What should be done while an extension request is being considered?
A: Youth should continue to work on advancement in so far as they are able—e.g., independently, or over the phone or videoconference—and at Scouting activities once they resume.

Q: Are extensions required when an Eagle/Summit/Quartermaster board of review must be delayed?
A: No. Councils may grant Eagle/Summit/Quartermaster boards of review up to six months after the youth’s 18th/21st birthday. See GTA Topic 8.0.3.1, “Eagle Scout Board of Review Beyond the 18th Birthday.”
See also, GTA Topic 8.0.1.6, “Boards of Review Through Videoconferencing.”

Q: Are electronic or digital signatures acceptable for rank advancement or for the Eagle/Summit/Quartermaster packets/applications?
A: Yes. Electronic or digital signatures will be accepted through September 30, 2020.

Q: How can a youth continue to work on advancement requirements if they don’t have internet or high-speed internet for videoconferencing?
A: Youth may take a picture of their completed activity/requirement and share the work with unit leaders. In keeping with Youth Protection Training policies, all communications from youth should be sent to at least two adults. Parents or guardians may send advancement work on behalf of their child.

Scouts from Troop 353 participated in Volunteer New York’s 9-11 Day Of Service at the Westchester County Center. They made super hero themed treats and cards that will be added to care packages going to troops deployed overseas.

Photos from Troop 353’s first-ever summer camp trip to Camp Yawgoog in Hopkinton, Rhode Island.

Troops from all over Long Island, Westchester, and New England spent summer camp at Sandy Beach, one of the three camps in Yawgoog Scout Reservation (the others being Medicine Bow and Three Point). Scouts spent a week learning and earning merit badges, sending them closer to rank advancement.

Thanks so much to Mr. William for getting us trained and to Mr. McCandless for coordinating and supervising our paddlers!

Have a great summer, and we’ll see you at camp!

The troop had a great time at this year’s Shooting Sports Weekend at Ten Mile River, and four scouts brought home trophies!

Congratulations to:

• Joe V – Top Shot Class A, 1st Place Shotgun
• Jon V – Top Shot Class A, 1st Place Archery
• Sam C, Class A, 2nd Place BB
• Yoni P, Class C 3rd Place

Way to go, guys!

This year’s Wintoree was a bit later in the year – and a whole lot warmer – than usual, with sunny late-March weather permitting merit badge classes to be held outdoors at the campfire ring!

Thanks to Troop 1 Bronxville and Troop 2 Bronxville for joining us this year!

Our annual “ice fishing” trip to Ten Mile River is one of the most popular events of the year… even though we haven’t actually done any fishing in forever.

This year the ice on the lake wasn’t thick enough to walk on, so our crew of scouts and dads went on a hike instead. Then, back at the camp, a number of our younger scouts completed some key cooking requirements for rank advancement. And the whole trip became a very nice send-off for some of the troop’s Eagle Scouts.

Scouts from Troop 353 attended the Freeze Out. This took place at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, which is a county park. Scouts stayed in stone lean-tos.

We also set up and ran two orienteering courses, and hosted scouts from two other troops who ran the courses as well.

Thanks to Mr. L for setting everything up and to all those who helped out.

We had a very memorable camp out over the weekend. Fifteen hardy scouts and adult leaders hiked the Appalachian Trail in the snow from Fahnestock down to Durland. The first photo below shows conditions on the trail. Sean, senior scout, guided the troop along the route. We encountered a full stream along the way. One of the photos above shows the troop carrying out Drew’s plan for getting the troop across. At the camp, the scouts had to gather firewood and got the fire going. Thanks to Drew and Alec for making sure we had a roaring bond fire at all times. Jack was the grub master for the scouts, earning his advancement requirement. Drew cooked a delicious beef stew from scratch for the ‘Old Goat’ patrol. It was a long night, so the troop had a very memorable time around the camp fire, telling riddles, stories and roasting marshmallows. At our traditional post mortem ‘Roses, Rose Buds and Thorns’, many scouts wanted to do it all again next year. We took the group shot just before parting.

The food donated by our families and neighbors will help a lot of people in our community during the holidays.

Thanks to Mr. William for organizing and to Trader Joe’s for donating lots of grocery bags for our collection.

• Fahnestock To Durland Topographic Map
• Fahnestock To Durland Map
• Fahnestock Brochure
• Check List for 3 season backpacking
• Backpacking Dinners
• backpack packing instructions

Scouts from Troop 353 hiked up Bear Mountain in Rockland County, NY and completed a requirement for the hiking merit badge. Thanks to Mr Liverance for setting up the hike.

What is Kon Tiki?

Kon Tiki, the unique scouting event, asks participating Scout troop (or patrols) to build a raft, typically of found and scavenged materials, able to support a crew of two scouts who propel the raft with paddles, oars, or a mechanized rig around a fixed course, while preparing a modest wood-fire capable of cooking a pancake. A suitable pancake must be produced before crossing the finish line and handed in to the judges. It is a timed event.

Here are some photos of Troop 353’s raft while it was under construction. Photos courtesy of Mr. Parsons

Here are some photos from the event itself.

Final standings:

First Place: Troop 353 Eastchester (Yay!)

Second Place; Troop 1 Crestwood

Third Place: Troop 8 Edgement

Congratulations to Troop 353’s Scoutmaster, Rich Vonhout, Troop 353 Assistant Scoutmaster and Treasurer Mayor Steve Ecklond, and Mr. Joe Tetro of Troop 1 Bronxville, recipients of this year’s Algonquin District Awards of Merit.

Read more about the honors on the Algonquin District web page.