WHAT'S SCOUTBOOK?
To assist Scouts, parents, and leaders in keeping track of rank advancements, and other awards, the BSA has an electronic management system known as Scoutbook. This powerful online tool, available for use on any internet-connected desktop computer, tablet or smartphone allows parents to record requirements earned at home with family and allows den leaders to electronically sign off on the completion of requirements. Scoutbook will not replace your Scout's paper rank handbook, but it will complement its use.
Scoutbook can also be used for leaders. See Scoutbook for Den Leaders
INSTRUCTIONS:
When you receive a Scoutbook invitation from Pack 4338, please follow these steps:
Login to the Scoutbook account created for you via your email invitation. It’s important that you sign-in using the Login and Password listed in that email. Please DO NOT create a new Scoutbook account on your own.
Update your info by selecting “My Dashboard”, then update your “My Account” info: Update all the fields you can. Choose a new password, “Edit Profile", choose a User Name, ensure your phone numbers are correct (especially your mobile phone). If you see a BSA Member Number please don't alter it. These are used to keep track of training info, etc. After your “Edit Profile” changes are complete, update/verify your other “My Account” info too, especially the “My Connections” with your Scout.
Update your Scout's info by selecting his/her profile from “My Account” > “My Connections”: His/her den number should be listed along with the rank he/she will work on next (All dens, except Webelos II's, automatically move up June 1 to the next rank.) Select “Edit Profile” and correct your Scout's birthday, etc. Again, please don’t alter the BSA Member Number.
USING SCOUTBOOK
Scoutbook has become a “one-stop” tool for everything having to do with Pack 4338’s Cub Scouts. Here are some of its current features:
Keep track of den and pack calendars. Subscribe to the ones you want and ignore those you don't need.
RSVP to help leaders plan events
Send messages to leaders
Receive messages from leaders
Record adventures your Scout completes, keep track of progress towards earning rank.
Den leaders will sign off on completed adventures, they'll order awards and be ready to present those at upcoming pack meetings.
Participate in pack and den forum discussions.
Easily fill out permission slips
Keep track of who's in your den and in the pack.
Keep your profile info current and complete.
Add your profile photo. Photos are helpful for Scouts, leaders and adults.
Leaders keep track of training according to BSA's standards.
Moving past Cub Scouts, many Scouts BSA Troops use Scoutbook in the same ways we do. Hugo's Scouts BSA Troop 338, for example, has adopted Scoutbook now too.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Does this replace rank handbooks? No. Den leaders will "sign-off" on advancement requirements with Scoutbook rather than in the paper handbooks. The handbooks are still needed for your scout
How much does it cost for my family to use Scoutbook? Nothing. It is free.
How do I access my Scout’s records in Scoutbook? You will login to Scoutbook with the same credentials that are used for my.scouting. If you need help contact the Cubmaster.
What do I do once I've signed in and connected with my Scout? Please complete the empty fields in your and your Scout's profile. If you wish, you can record past advancement info, awards earned, service hours, camp days, etc.
How do I get a parent profile? Do not create your own Scout or parent profile. You should receive an email from scoutbook once your scout is registered. If you have not yet received an email contact the Cubmaster.
I have not received a Scoutbook invitation. How do I get one? Do not create your own Scout or parent profile. Send an email to our Pack Committee Chair and Cubmaster requesting Scoutbook access. Please include your name, email address, and your Scout's name.
HAVING TROUBLE WITH SCOUTBOOK?
If you haven't yet received your Scoutbook invitation email, forgot your password or having some other difficulty first read below.
Having trouble signing into Scoutbook for the first time?
All of our den and pack advancement info and calendars are accessed with Scoutbook, so Pack 4338 requires that each Cub Scout have at least one parent/guardian connected to him via Scoutbook. Without you connecting to your son via Scoutbook, he will not receive the awards, adventure loops & pins that he's earned. To avoid this, we'll work with you and help you through, but there are steps you must take to solve the problem.
We’ve unfortunately found out that Microsoft, Outlook, MSN, and Hotmail email addresses sometimes flag Scoutbook emails as spam. Sometimes they don’t even show up your spam/junk/promotions folder as they’re intercepted further upstream. Fortunately, others have experienced this problem and have shared solutions that worked for them. In Scoutbook’s FAQ’s there is some guidance that you should try.
For most pack families please keep in mind that Scoutbook has already sent you multiple invitation emails. If you do find a Scoutbook invitation email in your junk/spam mailbox it won’t work unless it’s the one sent you most recently. By re-sending an invitation, Scoutbook automatically canceled the “old" one and any previous invitations that included a temporary password. So, there’a a “shelf life” with those invite emails.
Here are suggested steps for you to perform, based on Scoutbook's FAQ:
Often times the email is put into your junk or spam folder mistakenly. Sometimes you can even find it in your Deleted folder. Please look everywhere for our email. If your mail program allows you to search do a search for the email or our email address info@scoutbook.com.
The email always comes from info@scoutbook.com so if you have a way to add friends, whitelists or filters please add our email so future emails don't get blocked accidentally. Here are some basic whitelisting instructions from microsoft.com. Other providers might be different:
1. Sign in to your account. Go to inbox.
2. Click Options located at the upper-right side of the page.
3. Select More Options.
4. Under Preventing junk email, click Safe and blocked senders.
5. Click Safe Senders.
6. In the text box, type in the email address or domain you would like to always receive email from, and then click Add to list >>.
After you’ve done the steps above, please let the pack's leader know and he/she will “invite” you again.
If you still don't receive the Scoutbook invitation email wait 15 minutes and try again. Some email programs will wait a few minutes before delivering email from new senders because they want to see if they are legitimate or not.
I forgot my password. Help!
If you never reset your password, it’s possible that you still have the last Scoutbook email invitation we sent you. That email would include the password.
If you did reset your password and forgot it, you can have Scoutbook reset it for you. Just click the Forgot Password link from the login page.
How do I choose a Scoutbook password that I'll actually remember?
After you sign in, you should reset your password to one you’ll remember. Go to your My Profile page and look for the link called Password.