Baden-Powell Council Volunteers and
Families,
Many of you have seen the recent
national announcement regarding Scouting America’s continued partnership with
the U.S. Department of War. I want to share a brief message of clarity for our
volunteers and families here in the Baden-Powell Council.
During discussions with the Department,
Scouting America was clear about several core commitments that are fundamental
to who we are as a movement. Our name, our mission, our commitment to the Scout
Oath and Scout Law, and our openness to serve youth and families across our
communities were not up for negotiation. Those principles remain unchanged
today.
Scouting America will continue to
welcome and serve youth. Our membership standards are not changing, and the way
families join Scouting is not changing. Parents continue to make decisions about
participation for their children, and we trust our families and volunteer
leaders to guide those decisions. We are not changing how youth register for the
program, and we are not introducing new verification requirements. Our focus
remains on delivering a strong program for young people.
As part of the agreement with the
Department, Scouting America made several program updates to comply with
Executive Order 14173 while strengthening our long-standing partnership
supporting military families. This partnership ensures continued Scouting
programs on military installations and support for national events that serve
thousands of youth.
A few program updates were included in
that agreement:
• National registration fees will
be waived beginning June 1, 2026 for youth from active-duty, Guard, and Reserve
families.
• A new Military Service merit
badge will be introduced in cooperation with the Department of War.
• The Citizenship in Society merit
badge has been discontinued as part of compliance with the Executive Order.
Scouts who began the Citizenship in
Society merit badge prior to February 27, 2026 may complete it through December
31, 2026 and still apply it toward the Eagle Scout rank. Eagle Scout now
requires 13 required merit badges and 8 elective merit badges, maintaining the
same total of 21 merit badges.
While that specific merit badge is
being retired, the principles it addressed—respect for others, leadership, and
thoughtful citizenship—remain deeply embedded throughout the Scouting program
and continue to be reinforced through the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
Scouting has endured for more than a
century because it stays grounded in its values while serving families and
communities across the nation. That mission continues unchanged here in the
Baden-Powell Council.
Thank you for the leadership you
provide to our Scouts and families every day.
Yours in Scouting,
Matthew Bull | Scout
Executive
Baden-Powell
Council, NY
2150 NYS Route 12
Binghamton, NY 13901
P 607-648-7888 | F 972-580-2194
Email:
matthew.bull@scouting.org
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Scouting
Family, Today,
Scouting America and the Department of War finalized a commitment to
strengthen our longstanding partnership with the U.S. military. Over
several months, we engaged in dialogue with
Department leadership to align on how we could
deepen our service to military families, while making programmatic updates
to comply with Executive Order 14173. Throughout
our discussions, we remained true to the core commitments that define our
organization—our name, our mission, and our promise to serve all youth
in our programs. Those commitments are unchanged. We will continue to
deliver stability, mentorship, and opportunity to the children of those
who serve our nation. What
This Agreement Delivers
As part of
Scouting America’s commitment to comply with Executive Order 14173, we
will be discontinuing the Citizenship in Society merit badge. While this
change complies with the Executive Order, the lessons found in this merit
badge are found throughout the Scouting program. Scouting has always
taught respect for others, leadership, and consideration of diverse
perspectives through the ideals enshrined in the Scout Oath and Law.
Scouting America’s mission remains unchanged and is reinforced across
our advancement, leadership development, and outdoor experiences. Our
emphasis on duty to God, duty to country, and service to others is
strengthened by this partnership. Scouting’s values have not
changed, and they will not change. Why
This Partnership Matters Since 1910,
Scouting America has played a strategic role in strengthening our
nation’s military readiness. More than 130 million Americans have been
Scouts. Millions have gone on to serve as military leaders, first
responders, educators, and civic leaders. For military families navigating
deployments and frequent moves, Scouting has long provided a steady anchor
during times of uncertainty. Service
to Military Families In our
discussions, we affirmed Scouting’s deep commitment to military
families. To that end, we will waive the national registration fees of all
active duty, Reserve and Guard troops. Your support in this effort is
critical – and we encourage you to make a donation to support Scouting
families. Click
here to give today. How
to Communicate Locally When
speaking with families and volunteers, lead with confidence and clarity:
Scouting
America works constructively with every administration—always focused on
serving youth. Our
Resolve For more
than a century, Scouting America has endured because we are resilient,
principled and unwavering in our mission. We remain committed to
developing leaders of character. We remain committed to service and our
nation. We remain committed to the principles enshrined in our Scout Oath
and Scout Law. Thank you
for your leadership and dedication to Scouting America. Respectfully,
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