In response to a growing need for some of our Scouting families, the National Executive Board has approved a Family Troop option for Scouts BSA, following a successful pilot.
The “Family Troop” option will become available to all chartering organizations as a third option on December 15th, 2025. Troops will continue to be able to organize as boy troops and girl troops.
Since, in Lake Erie Council, the Troop Charters expire on December 31, 2025, and the Unit Renewal deadline is Friday, December 12th, we are asking for you to review the Troop Type options now available for your Troop’s 2026 Charter Renewal.
This means we now have an additional third Unit Type for Troops.
The three Troop Type options available on and after December 15th are:
Boy Troop,
Girl Troop,
Family Troop (both girls and boys)
No unit is required to convert or change its Troop Type.
In all cases, the Chartered Organization MUST be part of the discussion and MUST approve any decision to change the Unit Type.
What does this mean for Unit Renewal?
In short, not much! Please follow the guidance below based on your Unit’s current situation:
1. If your Unit is part of the Combined Troop Pilot:
Confirm with the Scouts, leadership, and Chartered Organization that the Unit should continue its current operating format and officially convert to a Family Troop type.
[IMPORTANT] Notify Member Care of the decision as soon as possible.
Renew the primary unit by the December 12 deadline.
Do not renew the “hold” unit.
[IMPORTANT] IF the decision is to discontinue operating as a Combined Troop, then the primary Troop will need to be renewed and the “On Hold” Troop will need to be reinstated to their original type and status. Please consult LEC Member Care in this situation.
The National Office is issuing an official “Intent to Convert” Form. Once the form is available, we will send it to your Troop’s Key 3 Leaders for completion in conjunction with the Chartered Organization’s Executive Officer.
2. If you have a boy Troop and a girl Troop chartered by the same Chartered Organization and want to convert to a Family Troop:
First, ask the Scouts of both Troops if they support this change. Scouts BSA is youth-led, and they should be part of this decision-making process. You may be surprised at their responses.
Both Troop Committees (or the shared Committee) should officially review, and preferably vote on, becoming a Family Troop or remaining a Boy Troop and a Girl Troop.
Consult with the Chartered Organization for approval, both the COR/CUR and the Executive Officer of your Chartered Organization.
Notify your Unit Support Executive of the decision.
[IMPORTANT] If the decision is to become a Family Troop, determine which Troop will convert to a Family Troop and renew that Troop by December 12.
[IMPORTANT] Do not renew the other Troop.
The National Office is issuing an official “Intent to Convert” Form. Once the form is available, we will send it to your Troop’s Key 3 Leaders for completion in conjunction with the Chartered Organization’s Executive Officer.
The actual conversion to a Family Troop will be made in January 2026.
3. If your Chartered Organization has only one Troop:
Converting a single Troop is a slightly simpler process, but review and follow all relevant steps in #2 above to ensure that the option is properly reviewed by the youth members, the Committee, and the Chartered Organization.
[IMPORTANT] Renew your Troop no later than the December 12 deadline, regardless of whether the decision is finalized by then.
Consult with the Chartered Organization, then notify your Unit Support Executive that your Troop wishes to convert to a Family Troop.
The National Office is issuing an official “Intent to Convert” Form. Once the form is available, we will send it to your Troop’s Key 3 Leaders for completion in conjunction with the Chartered Organization’s Executive Officer.
Conversions will be made in January 2026.
4. If your Troop does not wish to become a Family Troop, simply renew as usual—no changes or notification are required.
Regardless, please make sure your Unit completes the renewal process by Friday, December 12 to avoid a $100 late fee.
A complete Unit Renewal includes:
Online submission through My.Scouting.org (or paper at the Unit Service Center)
Payment of the $100 Unit Charter Fee
A fully signed Annual Charter Agreement (submitted by email or in person to your Lake Erie Council contact or to LECMemberCare@Scouting.org)
