The BSA Alumni Association is a program that engages current and former members of the Boy Scouts and their family members, volunteers (past and present), and the millions of Americans who benefit from Scouting in their communities each day.

BSA AA allows alumni to continue to stay in touch with BSA programs, hear positive stories about the BSA’s impact on the community, and learn the latest methods provided by the Boy Scout program to transform the lives of young men and women through the tenets of leadership, character development, citizenship, and physical fitness.

BSA AA is also an outlet for alumni to network and collaborate with one another under the common banner of Scouting, which may include increasing business connections and participating in service to the BSA or other organizations.

More than 50 million men and women have actively participated in BSA programs since 1910. Millions more have been positively impacted—directly or indirectly— through the involvement of their family, friends, or neighbors, or their own exposure to Boy Scout programs in schools, religious institutions, or community organizations.

In a time when America needs young men and women who embody Scouting’s timeless values more than ever, the BSA determined that an alumni association would further perpetuate these values, continue to engage those who have benefited from Boy Scouting in America, spread the positive story of Scouting, and continue to assist Scouting alumni in their vocational and avocational pursuits.

BSA AA defines Scouting alumni as anyone positively and personally impacted by the Boy Scouts of America.

This definition includes former youth members, their family past and present, community leaders, and millions of Americans who benefit from Scouting in their communities every day.

Our definition is intentionally broad because Scouting impacts more than just those who have served in official capacities with the BSA. The Scouting umbrella includes those who have ever assisted with a troop campout, financially supported a Scout, or hiked with a BSA unit. Any number of scenarios makes one a Scouting alumnus or alumna.

Whether an individual is returning to Scouting after a hiatus or is participating on a more active level for the first time— having yearned to become involved with BSA programs and the positive development of youth—we welcome them!

BSA AA sends regular communications to alumni, which are segmented based on alumni preferences and the constituency groups to which they belong.

The BSA has a wide variety of affiliated groups where individuals with common Scouting interests and backgrounds may coalesce. For instance, the BSA has an affiliated group just for Eagle Scouts, called the National Eagle Scout Association. Likewise, a BSA group exists for Scouters who have attended Wood Badge Training in the form of the American Wood Badge Association. These groups are organized at the national and council level.

BSA AA is designed to support these Scouting affiliated groups by sharing resources (e.g., the Scouting Network) and collaborating on best practices for engaging BSA alumni.

BSA AA reconnects and rekindles the flame of Scouting. By joining BSA AA, members are among the first to learn about updates and enhancements to the BSA’s programs; find new opportunities to support the BSA through the commitment of time, expertise, or financial resources; and enjoy the tangible benefits of affiliation.

Members of the BSA AA are not required to be registered with the Boy Scouts of America. However, to serve the Boy Scouts of America in a volunteer capacity, one must register, undergo a background check, and meet the BSA’s membership standards.

BSA AA are not members of the Boy Scouts of America and therefore do not receive the same privileges and access to Scouting events as registered volunteers. In addition, a council may limit the participation of BSA AA members at the council’s discretion. The following examples should give further clarification of the differences between the possible roles of alumni members and registered volunteer.

A BSA AA member may:

• Attend an alumni networking event

• Assist with a council service project or Eagle project in the community

• Be a guest speaker at a unit meeting

• Serve on an Eagle Scout board of review

A BSA AA member must also be a registered member of the BSA to:

• Serve on camp staff

• Go on a campout with a local unit

• Serve as a merit badge counselor

• Work directly with Scouting youth

BSA AA abides by the Scout Law (including being trustworthy and loyal), and you can be assured that no personal information or membership lists will be given to third parties.

BSA AA may periodically notify members of benefits, discounts, and/or opportunities made available through the BSA’s corporate partners. Nevertheless, these partners will never be given your information to contact you independent of the BSA.

To review the Scouting Network’s terms and conditions of use, use this link: https://www.scouting.org/legal/terms-and-conditions/.

Applicants must be currently registered adult Scouters of the Boy Scouts of America and must fulfill the requirements of the BSA AA Award. The application can be obtained from the BSA awards center. After the requirements are completed, the application is approved by the scout executive and BSA AA committee chair. The application information is then forwarded to the national office for accurate record keeping.

The national BSA AA Committee would hope that the absence of a council BSA AA committee would inspire a BSA AA Award applicant to work with the council to create a BSA AA committee. In rare cases where such action is not possible, the applicant may reach out to the National BSA AA chair for assistance.

This award are not given in a significant enough quantity for National Supply group to keep in stock.