POLICIES OF THE
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

Advertising
Commercialism
Contributions
Council Tour Permit Policy
Cub Scout Camping
Participation in Political Events
Unit Fundraising
Use of the Uniform

Advertising

Rules and Regulations of the Boy Scouts of America, Article IX, Section 2, Clause 5:

(a) Advertisements for placement in Scouting publications and other media, in addition to meeting the standards in general use by publishers of high-grade periodicals and other advertising media, must:

(1) Relate to a service or product which could reasonably be foreseen to render some service to the audience of the advertisement, or relate in some way to the purposes of the Boy Scouts of America, and

(2) Merit the purchase price of the article or service offered in the advertisement.

(b) No advertisement will use or display any logo, insignia, terms in common usage, or descriptive marks relating to Scouting without conforming to all currently accepted procedures and guidelines as established by the National Council, Boy Scouts of America, and interpreted in the local council policy guidelines for advertising and commercialism. [return to top]

Commercialism

Rules and Regulations of the Boy Scouts of America, Article IX, Section 2, Clause 7:

(a) No member of the Boy Scouts of America, chartered unit, chartered local council, or any officer or representative of the Boy Scouts of America shall have the right to enter into a contract or relationship of a commercial character directly involving or obligating the National Council, Boy Scouts of America, unless duly authorized by the national Executive Board.

(b) A local council may not enter into a contract or business relationship that uses any logo, insignia, terms in common usage, or descriptive marks relating to Scouting, unless the relationship or contract conforms to currently accepted procedures and guidelines as established by the National Council, Boy Scouts of America. The contract or relationship must avoid endorsement of any commercial product of venture.

(c) Subject to the above, chartered organizations, unit leaders, or youth members shall not be restricted from earning money to obtain their own unit equipment, provided that all approved procedures for doing so are followed, including prior approval by the governing local council. [return to top]

Contributions

Bylaws of the Boy Scouts of America, Article XI, Section 1, Clause 2:

Contributions shall be solicited in the name of the Boy Scouts of America only through or by the authority of the Corporation, and shall be limited to the National Council or chartered local councils, in accordance with these Bylaws and Rules and Regulations of the Corporation. Youth members shall not be permitted to serve as solicitors of money for chartered organization units, for the local council, or in support of other organizations. Adult members and youth members shall not be permitted to serve as solicitors of money in support of personal or unit participation in local, national, or international events. Youth members, however, are permitted to secure sponsors for council or district activities approved by the executive board. These approved activities may result in financial support for the local council in accordance with the Bylaws and Rules and Regulations of the Corporation. [return to top]

Hawk Mountain Council Tour Permit Policy

LOCAL TOUR PERMIT APPROVAL

The greatest value of filing a Tour Permit is the measure of safety it provides through the process of planning. Insurance and Liability issues are of major importance not only to the council but to all individuals participating in Scouting events or tours. The Hawk Mountain Council has developed this local policy in accordance with National policies and our Council’s insurance and risk management requirements.

Remember: A tour permit that has been filed two weeks in advance and approved by the Hawk Mountain Council prior to the activity registers the activity as an official Scouting activity. BSA’s insurance coverage only applies to official Scouting activities.

1. If a unit plans a trip within 500 miles of its home base, it is important that the unit obtain a local tour permit. A national tour permit is required for trips in excess of 500 miles from home or outside the continental United States.
   
   
2. The Local Tour Permits must be completed in full and submitted at least two weeks in advance for proper handling. (Time is needed to verify necessary training records.) Please allow for processing time; no rush faxes will be processed.
   
   
3. Local Tour Permits may be submitted in any of the following ways:
   
   
   • Mailed to Hawk Mountain Council, 5027 Pottsville Pike, Reading PA.
   
   
   
   • Dropped off at the Council Service Center during normal business hours.
   
   
   
   • Faxed to the Council Office (610-926-4965) for approval and return by mail or fax. Be sure to include a return address or fax number.
   
   

4. Safe Swim Defense, Safety Afloat and Youth Protection training may be taken in person or on-line. Climb on Safely, Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) and CPR training must be taken in person. Other training requirements as required by the National office will be posted on our web site and are listed on the tour permit.
   
   
5. Tour Leaders must have in their possession a current copy of “Guide to Safe Scouting”. It may be purchased from the Trading Post at the Council Service Center or downloaded HERE.
   
   
6. Tour permits must be signed by two different people (the tour leader and a member of the unit committee). [return to top]

Cub Scout Camping & Webelos Scout Camping

The national publication entitled Cub Scout/Webelos Scout Camping program guidelines (no.13-631, BSA) has several significant changes regarding the BSA stance on Cub Scout Camping. As outlined in this publication - local councils have the responsibility of interpreting these guidelines based upon prior experience, knowledge of camping, youth protection guidelines, and health/safety concerns.

The following policies and procedures will be in effect from this date forward. They are as follows:

1. Adult to youth ratio - It is highly recommended and encouraged that a minimum of one adult family member accompany the Cub Scout/Webelos Scout on all pack sponsored excursions, especially those that are an overnight camping experience. It is mandatory that a minimum of 1 adult (over 21 years of age) accompany the pack/den for every 2 Cub Scouts/Webelos Scouts.
2. Tiger Cubs are not permitted to participate in a pack sponsored overnight camping experience.
3. Pack-sponsored overnight camping experiences are permitted to occur at any Boy Scout of America council-owned camps. Pack-sponsored overnight camping experiences are not permitted to occur at any other facilities. The primary reason(s) are:
   BSA camps are inspected and utilized on a continual basis and present the very best opportunity for a successful and healthy/safe experience.
4. Leader Qualifications are as follows:

1. The 2 primary leaders of the pack sponsored overnight camping experience will have completed - (1) Cub Scout Leader Basic Training, (2) BALOO Cub Scout Leader Outdoor Skills Orientation, and (3) Adult Leader Youth Protection Training.
2. It is highly recommended that all adults that are planning to be in attendance at the overnight camping experience complete the training courses outlined in 4-(A).

5. Prior to attending the Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation for a pack sponsored overnight camping experience, a pack representative must complete a local tour permit and a weekend camping reservation form at the Hawk Mountain Council Service Center.  [return to top]

Participation in Political Events

Uniformed unit members and leaders may participate in flag ceremonies at political events and may lead the Pledge of Allegiance; however, they should retire after the ceremony and not remain on the speakers’ platform or in a conspicuous location where television viewers could construe their presence as an endorsement or symbol of support. In addition, photos of candidates or Scouts in uniform or BSA marks and logos are not allowed in political campaign materials of any kind.

Volunteers and professionals must be alert to situations that would imply that the BSA favors one candidate over another. Strict observance of our long-standing policy against the active participation of uniformed Scouts and leaders in political events is mandatory.  

View the February 27, 2008 Policy on Political Event Participation memorandum from the National Marketing and Communications Division Director.  [return to top]

Unit Fund Raising

What is an acceptable way, an approvable way, for a unit to raise money or acquire items and which ways are not?

In order to answer that question a few things need to be understood.

Firstly, a scout council is classified by the IRS as a 501 (c)(3), which is a tax-exempt community-based non-profit organization. This means that persons or businesses that contribute money or goods to the Council are entitled to a tax deduction. Conversely, packs, troops and posts are NOT 501 (c)(3)'s and the Council's (c)(3) status does not pass down to the unit. Hence, should anyone contribute money or goods directly to a pack, troop or post there would be NO tax deduction. Important: The tax-exempt status of the chartered organization determines the tax-exempt status of their units-pack, team, troop, crew or post.

Secondly, scout councils maintain and solicit a sizeable database for monetary contributions as well as contributions of goods and services, commonly referred to as Project Sales. Units are expected NOT to participate in similar activities in order to avoid individuals or businesses getting numerous requests from "Scouting" and having the prospect decide to honor none. Units will not receive approvals for solicitation activities as described.

In relation to the above, it is important to know and understand that since the advent of Scouting in 1910, units have been chartered to community organizations in a franchise form of arrangement. This means that the chartered organization owns its units in total from the unit treasury to all equipment. As such, the local council has no authority to capture or access unit treasuries nor does it have any right to require a mandatory assessment to its membership to operate the Council. In return, the units forfeit any right to solicit individuals and businesses for unit support. Unit fundraising activities that are acceptable and approvable are those that have always been so. Those activities may involve the selling of products i.e. popcorn, candy, Christmas trees, Tom Wat (please note that Trail's End Popcorn is the ONLY commercial product that can be sold in uniform). Other activities may be that of performing some service i.e. cleaning a picnic grove following picnics, coating driveways, for which the unit collects a fee. Additional information on this subject can be obtained on the reverse side of the Unit Money-Earning Form available at the Council Service Center or by contacting your District Executive.  [return to top]

Use of the Uniform

Rules and Regulations of the Boy Scouts of America, Article X, Section 4, Clause 6:

The official uniforms are intended primarily for use in connection with Scouting activities as defined by the national Executive Board and their use may be approved by local council executive board for council events or activities under conditions consistent with the Rules and Regulations of the Boy Scouts of America. [return to top]