From: "settummanque, the blackeagle" (Mike Walton)
Via: Scouts-L Youth Programs Discussion List

Hi Jim!

You asked:

Does anyone know about a registration for boys that are in college? I have seen something about this but cannot find my notes. If you know the code and how to do this please e-mail me.

The code may still be listed but the position doesn't exist anymore. Until 1994, the BSA used a position called "College Scouter Reserve" (CSR) to designate those college students whom are registered with a local Council to assist them with special projects and events, to assist with organization and extension and with program support. There were at one time, five Explorer Posts (the first ones being at Eastern Kentucky University followed by Boise State University) which "specialized" in College Scouting.

CSRs are no longer allowed by the BSA. There are two reasons, one which makes sense and the other which doesn't make sense but are the reasons why the position is no longer valid. The "makes sense" reason is that CSR was considered an adult position, a member of the District and/or Council at-large. Adult positions in the BSA at those levels must now be 21 years of age or older, which meant that those 18, 19, and 20 year olds MUST be a member of a Venturing Crew or Sea Scout Ship or MUST be registered with a Cub Scout Pack, Boy Scout Troop or Varsity Scout Team as an Assistant leader (Assistant Den Leader, Assistant Scoutmaster, Co-Coach or Assistant Coach). Therefore, the logic for having "registered spare volunteers" at such a young age is invalid now.

The "not makes sense" reason is because many Councils view those volunteers as "people on a piece of paper" which sparked the CSR Explorer Post development (and it worked in those few Councils that utilized them in this way!). Many Councils didn't want to deal with the extra "hands" particularly since those "hands" weren't from the community and were "just there for school." Many CSRs also took advantage of this "status" to go back and forth between home and school units and OA Lodges and for many, the ONLY reason why they chose to become CSRs is JUST so that they can retain their active OA membership; they were NOT interested in ANY WAY, SHAPE, FORM OR FASHION in working with the District at college and NO INTEREST in assisting that District or Council at any other time OTHER THAN their OA interests.

So, what to do to retain a youth in Scouting while he's gone to college?? Here's three ways:

*Register the new adult as an Assistant Scoutmaster in YOUR TROOP. This will enable him to continue his Scouting service while at the same time would allow him to participate in any OA or other District/Council activities at the college or university's community as a registered Scouter. He does NOT NEED TO TRANSFER to do this; one of the wonders of BSA registration is that as long as you're registered, you can move between Councils and participate in ANY Council's activities or events (subject to the approval of the Council's Scout Executive or his or her representative). This will also enable him to continue to do things while on vacation or between semesters or quarters with his "home Troop" and finally, keys on those younger kids that "once you leave high school, you don't have to leave Scouting behind."

*Contact the university or college and see if they have a Venturing Crew specializing in outdoors or general interest and have him to join it. Many do, organized by the University's recreation or health departments. Others have a "explorers' club" which is no more than a recognized social club made up of Scouts and Scouters with a BSA charter to operate as a Venturing Crew. (you might want to ask them about the Explorer Post, because some places STILL haven't transitioned their Explorer Posts to Venturing Crews yet...and because the University or College's student services or student life people STILL know them as "the Explorer Scouts" on campus).

*Register the youth member at home with a Venturing Crew or Sea Scout Ship as a youth member. This will allow the youth member to earn the new Venturing awards, as well as to allow him to be considered as a youth member until he turns 21. Again, like the adult registration, he does NOT need to transfer to the Council serving his College or University to do this (unless he wants to serve as a member of a Venturing Crew at the university or college, option two above).

Those are the only three options that young people between 18 and 21 have now, Jim. Some Councils STILL have "College Scouter Reserve" on their manual registration systems....the BSA's National Registration system and SCOUTNET 2K WILL NOT APPROVE IT ONCE IT HITS NATIONAL'S COMPUTERS. This will cause more problems because the registration will be returned to the local Council for query and resolution.

There IS a code for "SCOUTER RESERVE" on SCOUTNET. THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS "COLLEGE SCOUTER RESERVE". Scouter Reserve is a special registration position reserved for usage by the Council's Scout Executive for those individuals unable to occupy a "line position" in the Council but the Council chooses to register anyways...kinda like an "overflow" position. There IS a possibility that your Council may choose to register a person as a Scouter Reserve member; but again, he or she MUST be 21 years of age or older to occupy that position. The position is coded in SCOUTNET2K matched up with the age of the person in order for it to be validated at the National level. The Scout Executive/Council Executive MUST approve in writing any Scouter Reserve registrations because they are considered "members-at-large" of that Council and appear on the Council's charter as such.

Examples of Scouter Reserve members: former professionals whom have left the profession but wishes to remain associated with that Council as a volunteer; former Council officers whom do not wish to serve on the Council's Advisory Board (which are non-registered positions) but do wish to continue to be associated with that Council; in some Councils, Camp Staff members over the age of 21 whom are not registered with a unit.

Remember, Jim: Under the BSA's Youth Protection policies, members should be registered at the LOWEST LEVEL POSSIBLE (at the unit level, preferably) for the maximum amount of risk management. I ranked the three options using that guideline above.

Hope this helps out a bit!!

Settummanque!

Teaching/Coaching tools Leaders' Online The Tree