BUDDY SYSTEM
As leaders, we are all familiar with the Buddy System. Groups of two or three Scouts of the same gender and similar in age that stay together at Scouting events. Changes to the Guide to Safe Scouting specify that groups of three Scouts of different genders can be buddies. A group of two boys, two girls, three girls, three boys, two boys + one girl, and two girls + one boy are now permissible.
The rules on the Buddy System, as taken from the Guide to Safe Scouting (8/15/24):
The buddy system is designed to provide an additional layer of safeguarding by ensuring no youth member/participant is alone and that a buddy can get help in an emergency.
The buddy system is used whenever members/participants are outside the line of sight of qualified adult leadership and specific activities where the buddy system is required for participation. Of note:
- The adult unit leadership oversees and approves buddies.
- Buddies are two and can also be three to prevent members or participants from being alone.
- If the original pair for a buddy group is mixed gender, a third youth/participant must be added (for a buddy group of 3).
- Youth siblings of the same gender may serve as buddies regardless of age with permission from their parents or legal guardians.
- Except for siblings, the age gap between buddies must be at most three years for all non-sleeping activities and no more than two years for all sleeping accommodations.
- When exceptional circumstances warrant, a parent or legal guardian may serve as a buddy of their own child for both Scouting activities and sleeping arrangements, but youth buddies meeting the above criteria, if available, are always preferred.
ACCOMMODATION
The older youth Scouting America programs (Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scouting, and Exploring) encourage leadership development, growth, and independence by recommending that youth share accommodations with other youth (must be the same gender per Barriers to Abuse). However, we also recognize that exceptional circumstances may warrant a parent or legal guardian sharing accommodation with their same-gender child if the parent/legal guardian meets all leader registration requirements.
Youth siblings of the same gender may share sleeping accommodations regardless of age with permission from their parents or legal guardians.
Campsites and/or housing must be arranged to separate genders adequately. This separation could be achieved through natural barriers, physical distance, or by the campsite being divided, so long as the separation achieves privacy for both adults and youth, as well as by gender. Adult leaders are responsible for establishing the barriers and reminding Scouts that members of one gender must not enter the tent/housing of another.
PARTICIPATION BY PARENTS & LEGAL GUARDIANS
Parents and legal guardians are encouraged to participate in Scouting activities with their children. However, to meet youth protection policies, some participation — including all overnight activities — requires the parent or legal guardian to be a registered adult in their child’s unit.
*See and note the Cub Scout Exception
