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The current group of professionals and key volunteers know how (in some cases) to raise money. Grow program, not so much. Sad part is they are raising money on the nostalgia of the BSA, not the current BSA No real effort being made to add units or expand the program. Lots of excuses as to why membership decline, just no real honest effort to make updates so people (families) may want to buy what is being sold

Those slides from 2024 NAM. You'll notice the projection for end of 2025 was 1,224,000, all programs. Actual 2025 end was 907,950, so 25.8% below projected.

That was in Scouts only, not all programs. All programs 2020 was about 1 million. https://nam.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/05/Change-the-Way-We-Work-Together.pdf

Thank you for posting numbers. The nadir during Covid was at one point around 650,000, but that low included a lot of paused not lost memberships.

Taking out the LFL numbers, we now have 748,061 members in all unit based programs. Last time it was that low? 1933

UPDATE: 01 March ended the grace period for those memberships which expired on 31 Dec. Those expired memberships have now dropped off the rolls. Let's look at the updated numbers now... As of 03 March, numbers pulled moments ago... Same Month Last Year: 980,311 (Mar 2025) all programs... Total Current Youth: 781,539 (Mar 2026) a 20.28% drop from last year. Last Year End: 907,950 (This is the 31 Dec 2025 number in the system.) This changed by +1 from previous reports. (weird, huh?) Dec 2024 End of Year number was: 986,520 These numbers include Learning for Life, 33,478 on the books now.

Nope Citizenship was taught pretty well for decades primarily in the outdoors

You can do this through means other than sitting and discussing or visiting web pages. The issue is that as constructed, the program continues to add Eagle required MBs that are classroom style, including Citizenship in the Society. Just look at UK scouts, many of their requirements begin with take part in.... Compare to BSA citizenship badges. I've been scoutmaster for over 15 Eagle Scouts, my dad is Eagle, I'm and Eagle Scout, my son is an Eagle Scout. Overall, I believe in the program but we need more focus on aspects of the program that make unique and less on being school 2.0

Sounds like you're saying they need to change the stated Mission and Vision of the org: "Scouting America will prepare every eligible youth in America **to become a responsible, participating citizen** and leader who is guided by the Scout Oath and Law." https://www.scouting.org/legal/mission It's fine if you think that, but understand Citizenship is a CORE part of the Vision, so it's a MAJOR suggested change.

I think this is one of the problems with scouts. Adults are more oriented towards what kids "should" know and "should" do vs. what they want to do, or they are stuck on nostalgia for the way things used to be for them -- how they experienced it, how they led it. As the outdoors program continues to wane in importance and variety, adults are boring youth out of the organization.

Not necessarily. I see a local team play and there are outfield grass you pay to watch from. You watch through a chain link fence.

See application here https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/92-103.pdf Nominations will not be considered for current or former professional Scouters within five (5) years of their leaving employment with Scouting America. Other council employees (part time or full time) are eligible to receive the Silver Beaver Award based on their volunteer service, not employed service.

If memory serves, there is a 5 year period that professionals are ineligible after leaving the profession. Do not know if any restriction on non professional staff, ie. office staff, rangers, etc. I do know of one SB recipient who was nominated before being employed by the council, but by the time of the awards ceremony, they were the camp ranger.

And they are watching people playing a competitive game where the best players have been selected based on their abilities. Everyone does not get to play, because everyone is not equal in that endeavor. How ironic...

I'm a "Life for Life" that got to 19 MBs. The primary ones I missed were the Citz in Com/Nat/Wrld. If you had your way, I'd probably be an Eagle today, but I still respectfully disagree with you. When I review those requirements now as an adult - I disagree that I got the same experience in high school (which I did finish). I did not: Citizenship in the Community: - learn the history of my community (req 1) - "Attend an in-person meeting of your city, town, or county council or school board, local court session; OR another state or local governmental meeting approved in advance by your counselor. " (req 2) - "volunteer at least eight hours".... at a" charitable organizations outside of Scouting" (req 7) - "Develop a public presentation (such as a video, slide show, speech, digital presentation, or photo exhibit) about important and unique aspects of your community" (req 8. ) ...and that's just the 1st of those badges. I'm happy to drop it and agree to disagree - but my experience has been different from yours, and I believe there's value in all 3 of the current Citz. MB's. Edit: After I posted this on a re-read, I want to acknowledge you did say "Citizenship in Community provides value and is often missed in school". So we're at least in agreement on that. Thank you.

Question: Don't all three pictures show them not paying to go see the game? (stealing) While everyone paid for their seats.

Their nomination has to be based solely on what they have done as a volunteer. So, yes they can earn it. Just cant be because of what they have been paid to do.

I don't know of any kid who goes through school that sees any value add in Citz in Nation or World. Both are covered many times in 6th through 12th grade. Citizenship in Community provides value and is often missed in school. Citizenship in home (family life) could continue. So go from 5 (world, nation, society, community and home) to 2. Then add in Wilderness Survival and a shooting sport as Eagle required.

Our council announced one of this year's recipients of the Silver Beaver award is an employee of the council. Is that possible? A lot of former Silver Beaver recipients seem to think it's not allowed and aren't happy about the announcement, but don't know what to do about it.

The mistake was getting involved in the debate. Introducing this a few years caused frustration without gain. Now, removing causes frustration without gain. ... Scouting needs to focus on paddling a canoe and cooking over an open fire; not the politics of the left or the right.

Noone was move vocal then me concerning the re-develement of the ceremony aspect of the OA. I just watched the national presentation ( you go Emma) concerning the new Ordeal ceremony. I admittedly changed my mind. The national Chief and Vice Chief have a great plan to introduce the new material and I think it looks pretty good. I am personally excited th participate in this endeavor and put my whole support as this transition moves forward. Sure I'll miss the AIA aspect and will have fond memories but I encourage all members get on board and support the positive changes.

I get the sentiment of the opt-out idea, but in practice it's not a great idea. It would be abused. Also... if it's covered in school - it should be that much easier to knock it out for Scouts, and the refresher doesn't hurt to know that "An Eagle definitely covered this topic". That's my $0.02.

I might add to your comment the concept of true service and community involvement, often integrated with that outdoor element. It often seems some of the most laudable services revolve around outdoor protection and rejuvenation, along with access improvement.

HUGELY AGREE ... I almost wish there was a opt-out if we know the scout already had it covered in school. ... Wasting scout's time kill the program. ... Doing a MB on a topic covered in school makes scouting look 2nd rate (and wastes the scout's time). ... Citz of society was the 5th badge if you count Family Life as Citizenship in the Family. ... There are just too many class room badges and not enough active badges.

I really question that statement. Is it fully true or only true within boundaries? ... If I read the explicit requirements, I really have little problem with them. If I read the larger societal discussion of DEI, I begin to have larger issues. My two big issues are ... #1 the badge was reactionary to a specific place-in-time and the content is redundant with the whole scouting program. The whole concept of the badge was at the heart of scouting. We did not need an explicit badge that was a known larger political firestorm. #2 In my 20 years of troop scouting, the number one criticism scouts had of merit badges was wasted time. Four citizenship merit badges? Five if you count Family Life as Citizen in the Family. Sure scouts didn't have issue with the content, but I'm pretty sure they had problem with their time being wasted. The lesson learned here is BSA should avoid short-term politics and focus on the long-term goals. Scouting teaches character and responsibility thru outdoor adventures. That has never changed and it's hard to argue. Leave the political stuff (membership, orientation, gender, politics, etc) to our character partners. Scouting has an outdoor structure to develop youth. The rest is outside world noise.