Effective September 1, 2024, there are some important changes to Scouting America’s Buddy System.
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. It 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.