News/Forms/Resources/Misc. Archives
- Added March 25, 2022: Check out GGAC’s COVID Update page here: https://ggacbsa.org/covid for the latest COVID-19 guidance. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
- Added March 1, 2022: UPDATE: COVID-19 modifications to rank requirements and merit badge requirements have ended as of today, March 1, 2022.
- “As always, the BSA’s top priority is the health and safety of all youth participating in BSA programs. In 2020, the BSA instituted several modifications to rank requirements and merit badge requirements (“advancement modifications”) to accommodate activity restrictions necessitated by COVID-19. Effective March 01, 2022, those modifications will be removed, and the standard rules for advancement and merit badges will again become effective.”
- 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 [email protected].
- COVID-19 FAQs here: https://www.scouting.org/coronavirus/covid-19-faq/.
- Added December 18, 2021: GGAC eNews Special Edition – Announcing New Youth Protection Measures in 2022.
- California AB 506 Requirements effective January 2022.
- Read more here: https://conta.cc/3H3dl3u
- Added October 1, 2021: GGAC specific requirements for YPT Certification (https://ggacbsa.org/youth%20protection/)
- All GGAC adult volunteers must be registered with the BSA and be Youth Protection Trained (YPT) to ensure that all adults know how to recognize and correctly report behaviors suspicious for grooming and abuse. On May 19, 2021 the GGAC Executive Board adopted a YPT policy to reinforce our awareness of Youth Safety. GGAC now requires that all registered adults 18 and over maintain YPT compliance for their entire registration period. As it is currently possible for YPT to expire during that period, this may require the adult to refresh their YPT training on an annual basis.
- My Scouting sends reminders at 90, 60, and 30 days prior to YPT expiration. The BSA is also updating its YPT course materials effective June 1, 2021.
- If your YPT training is not current or will expire before December 31, 2021, you should complete the course as soon as possible.
- If you started the training, but do not complete it by May 31, 2021, you will have to retake the course.
- If your YPT training is current, you do not immediately have to take the updated course, but you will need to ensure compliance with GGAC policy.
- Added July 16, 2021: BSA Releases Updated Guide to Advancement for 2021:https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/33088.pdf?_gl=1*492l8p*_ga*MTEyODc1MjYwNS4xNjI2NDUyMDA0*_ga_20G0JHESG4*MTYyNjQ1MjAwNC4xLjAuMTYyNjQ1MjAwNC42MA..
1.0.3.0 Significant Changes
Almost every section of this guide has received some minor or major revisions since the last edition. Readers are encouraged to carefully review the entire guide, especially those topics frequently referenced. In particular, the following sections merit close review:
Section 4 – Mechanics of Advancement
Section 7 – The Merit Badge Program
Section 8 – Boards of Review: An Overview for All Ranks
Section 9 – The Eagle Scout Rank
Section 10 – Advancement for Members with Special Needs
Index – (Much improved and expanded)
- Added April 2, 2021: make sure to use these BSA COVID-19 forms when conducting in-person socially-distant events:
- Use these 2 forms below for any service projects:
- Added March 28, 2021: BSA YPT Update March 11, 2021 (please read entire post): https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/yp-faqs/#tr. Please share to all your Units and Volunteers. Updates are denoted by a red diamond next to the respective Q&A.
- YPT Barriers to Abuse Clarification for Program Requirements
“Q. Can a leader bring their Scouts BSA son or daughter to an opposite gender troop activity?
A. No. Scouts BSA program integrity requires single gender units and single gender buddy pairs.
In our single-gender Scouts BSA Troops, program activities such as meetings and campouts (where there is an expectation the only
attendees will be youth and their adult leaders) this barrier creates a safer and more productive environment by limiting participation to youth of only one gender. Other activities intended to include family members of both genders, such as award ceremonies, Courts of Honor, and fundraisers may include both male and female youth and adult visitors.”