[Update effective 9/1/2024]

Accommodation

The older youth Scouting America programs (Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scouting, and Exploring) encourage leadership development, growth, and independence by recommending that youth share accommodations with other youth (must be the same gender per Barriers to Abuse). However, we also recognize that exceptional circumstances may warrant a parent or legal guardian sharing accommodation with their same-gender child if the parent/legal guardian meets all leader registration requirements.

Youth siblings of the same gender may share sleeping accommodations regardless of age with permission from their parents or legal guardians.

Campsites and/or housing must be arranged to separate genders adequately.  This separation could be achieved through natural barriers, physical distance, or by the campsite being divided, so long as the separation achieves privacy for both adults and youth, as well as by gender.  Adult leaders are responsible for establishing the barriers and reminding Scouts that members of one gender must not enter the tent/housing of another. 

The Buddy System

The buddy system is designed to provide an additional layer of safeguarding by ensuring no youth member/participant is alone and that a buddy can get help in an emergency. 

The buddy system is used whenever members/participants are outside the line of sight of qualified adult leadership and specific activities where the buddy system is required for participation. Of note:

• The adult unit leadership oversees and approves buddies.
• Buddies are two and can also be three to prevent members or participants from being alone.
• If the original pair for a buddy group is mixed gender, a third youth/participant must be added (for a buddy group of 3).
• Youth siblings of the same gender may serve as buddies regardless of age with permission from their parents or legal guardians.
• Except for siblings, the age gap between buddies must be at most three years for all non-sleeping activities and no more than two years for all sleeping accommodations.
• When exceptional circumstances warrant, a parent or legal guardian may serve as a buddy of their own child for both Scouting activities and sleeping arrangements, but youth buddies meeting the above criteria, if available, are always preferred.

Participation by Parents and Legal Guardians

Parents and legal guardians are encouraged to participate in Scouting activities with their children. However, to meet youth protection policies, some participation—including all overnight activities—requires the parent or legal guardian to be a registered adult in their child’s unit.

*See and note the Cub Scout Exception

[End update effective 9/1/2024]

18 – 20 Adult Leader/Program Participant Policy 

17-year-old* youth members transitioning to an adult leader (Scouts BSA), Camp Staff or adult program participant (Order of the Arrow, Venturing and Sea Scouts) upon their 18th birthday may continue to participate while their adult application and CBC are processed, but this period shall not exceed 30 days. These individuals are subject to the same youth protection policies and guidelines as all adult Scouters even during this registration transition period.  

This includes:

• Adhere to the Youth Protection and Barriers to abuse polices of the BSA.
• Follow housing and tenting policies that apply to adult membership.
• Utilize restroom and shower facilities for adults.
• Buddy system is not required but is recommended for all participants.
• While adult program participants do not require two deep leadership, as they are subject to the same youth protection policies and guidelines as all adult Scouters. All Scouting activities are still required to meet barriers to abuse and must have two leaders over 21.

 17-year-old youth members whose 18th birthday occurs during active participation at Summer Camp, a High Adventure Base or any BSA National Events may complete the activity they started as a youth participant without interruption; however, at its conclusion they must immediately register as an adult. This exception is intended for limited use in scenarios such as completing a trek while staying in the same tent or accommodation in the last few days of an event. It does not change or extend Eagle Scout or other advancement required to be completed by a Scouts 18th Birthday; they will need to follow all applicable advancement policies.

*Cub Scout Programs – Overnight Exception:   Cub Scout parents or legal guardians taking part in an overnight Cub Scout program with their own child or legal ward are not required to register as leaders. All adults must review the “How to Protect your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide” that can be found in the front of each Cub Scout Handbook. In addition, the parent or legal guardian must be accompanied by a registered leader at any time they are with youth members other than their own child/ward.  All other overnight adults must be currently registered in an adult fee required position.

For more information, visit the National Resources page.