BSA Family Program - still out there?

[christiejay]

The BSA Family Award was mentioned in the Tiger handbook, as well as by one of the returning families in our pack. It sounded like something that would be good for us, so I looked up the book at the scoutstuff website to check the price. Only $5, so we picked it up at our local scout shop that weekend (only about a month ago).

One of my online friends was asking me about it today, and I was looking for info on it for her. Now it is not on the scoutstuff website at all, although the BSA site still references it, and they still offer the patch for sale.

Has anybody heard about this program being discontinued? Surely if the book was simply out of stock they would have shown that info on the website.

On a related matter, I did notice with the other patches/emblems for sale, there are 5 pins and 5 patches that have almost the exact same logo as the BSA Family award does. Each is for a separate category - similar, but not exactly the same as the ones in BSA Family. It says they are for the Family Fun Book. I did a search on the scoutstuff site as well as on the web in general and couldn't find anything about that. Is anybody familiar with the Family Fun program?

Thanks for your help!

[mt_goodrich]

I am not much up on Cub Scout awards, but I was at a Pack meeting the other night and a family was given this award.

[Nuts4Scouts]

I think I read somewhere that the program was being changed, but I can't remember any details. It looks like BSA is going from one emblem at $2.49, to 5 at $1.49 each.

Maybe the problem was getting families to stick with the program for 12 months. This looks like they have cut it up into sections, with the chance to be recognized after completing each section. More of an "immediate recognition" than waiting a year for your award.

You can call the BSA Supply Division direct and ask them.

1-800-323-0736

[scoutaholic]

Just to clarify.

The BSA family program didn't (in most cases) take a year to complete. If a family (or part of the family) wanted to do a years worth of activities in 1-2 months they could. There were pins that could be awarded for subsequent 'years' earning the award. The rule was you could earn it only once per year.

[christiejay]

I think I read somewhere that the program was being changed, but I can't remember any details. It looks like BSA is going from one emblem at $2.49, to 5 at $1.49 each.

Maybe the problem was getting families to stick with the program for 12 months. This looks like they have cut it up into sections, with the chance to be recognized after completing each section. More of an "immediate recognition" than waiting a year for your award.

You can call the BSA Supply Division direct and ask them.

1-800-323-0736

Since these aren't "restricted" items, such as badges of rank, I was actually thinking of picking up this set of 5 for ourselves (not right now, but at some point in the future), possibly using them as our additional years' awards, along with the pins. Who knows? I'm notorious for thinking way ahead ... I'm sure our pack will pay for the first year's award, but with money being tight I don't expect them to keep giving them out every year, should we continue our progress each year hereafter. (Kind of like belt loops being re-earned, with the family paying for additional loops if they want them.)

The friend I spoke of called a different scout shop in her area and was able to find the book. She was told by their staff that BSA would not discontinue any program without first notifying people about that decision, for the benefit of those currently working on the requirements.

[christiejay]

Just to clarify.

The BSA family program didn't (in most cases) take a year to complete. If a family (or part of the family) wanted to do a years worth of activities in 1-2 months they could. There were pins that could be awarded for subsequent 'years' earning the award. The rule was you could earn it only once per year.

True, thanks for clearing that up. You just can't take more than 12 months to complete the program.

We have done two activities so far, and currently I am looking for the right time/opportunity to work on 3 more.

[Howarthe]

I started a page on the wiki about the BSA Family Award, but I think they are mostly calling it Fun for the Family, so that's what I titled the page.

I've read the pamphlet over and over again, but I'm still not sure how to present the awards. There is one blue and gold patch with the words BSA FAMILY AWARD, five other colored patches, five colored pins and a certificate. I think the way it works is that after completing ten activities (two in each category) you earn the certificate and the blue and gold patch with the words BSA FAMILY AWARD. Then if you do two more in any category you earn the colored pin to go in the patch, or I suppose, if you prefer, you can award the colored patch. I personally prefer patches to pins because they can go in the laundry,

But the other way this could go is that the colored patches could be progress awards toward the blue and gold patch with the words BSA FAMILY AWARD.