Hello Troop 291 Volunteers, Parents, and Scouts:

I have some great news! Our troop has been selected to participate in the BSA BEST Study, a national research project focused on how adult practice fosters positive development in Scouts. Between now and April 2020, our troop’s Scouts, Assistant Scoutmasters, and I will be asked to complete up to three online surveys about our experiences in Scouts BSA.

Here are links to a brief video introduction to the study (featuring Chief Scout Executive Mike Surbaugh) and Bryan on Scouting’s blog featuring the study:

• Video introduction to the study:
https://vimeo.com/350764165

• Bryan on Scouting post about the study:
https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2019/02/13/bsa-best-study/ 

I’ll be sharing more information with you at our next troop meeting so you can decide if you want to participate, and you may also find general information about the study by visiting the study website at www.bsabeststudy.org.

• The BSA BEST Study is a collaboration between the BSA, the Institute for Research on Youth Thriving and Evaluation at Montclair State University, and the American Institutes for Research.

• The study team hopes our troop will participate in the study. We need at least 5 Scouts who want to volunteer with me so that our troop can participate in the study. Assistant Scoutmasters are also invited to volunteer.

• Between now and April 2020, those of us who volunteer to participate will be asked to complete online surveys about our experiences in Scouting.

• The information we share in surveys will be kept confidential.

• Our participation will help make Scouting better for everyone; BSA will use the study findings to improve the Scouts BSA program.

• We can each earn a 3-part patch; we get a part for each survey we complete (a picture of the patch can be found below)

• We can also earn up to $100 in e-gift cards to the national Scout Shop for our troop. (Sadly these are not individual e-gift cards. But you will have input on what we purchase.)

• This is a special opportunity to share our ideas and experiences—only a small percentage of troops have been invited to participate in this study.

• Let me know if you are interested in participating and I will register you.

• See the FAQ for answers to your questions and the YPT compliant communication plan for the survey:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1c9cVm3aP6nIPHKrCTAJeyOwhokuHKR44/view?usp=sharing

Yours in Scouting, Mr. Nelson

This study has been approved by the Montclair State University Institutional Review Board #17-18-1105 and the Boy Scouts of America

Parents need to enter their eMail address below to give their scout permission to participate in this study. Assistant Scoutmaster, enter your eMail below and please indicate your position properly.