After years of effort, Arizona has passed new legislation that may help create additional opportunities for Scouting to connect with families through our public schools.

This has been a long road. Many dedicated volunteers have worked on this issue over the course of several years, and I want to thank everyone who has helped move it forward. Reaching this point is meaningful, and it gives us an important new tool as we continue our work to grow Scouting across Arizona.

At the same time, we need to be thoughtful and strategic in how we use it.

This legislation is helpful, but it is not a magic wand, and it will be most effective if we approach schools with the right message, the right relationships, and the right plan. In other words, this is a tool to support our efforts—not something we should rush to use without coordination.

For that reason, I am asking our volunteers not to independently approach schools armed with the legislation until we have had time to build and communicate a clear statewide strategy.

Over the coming weeks, I will be working with key staff and volunteer leadership to develop our approach, including strategies, talking points, training, and priorities for how we can best leverage this new opportunity. Our goal is simple: to use this new tool wisely and effectively in support of giving every Arizona youth the opportunity to be a Scout.

More guidance will be coming soon. For now, please join me in celebrating this step forward—and in thanking those who helped make it possible.

Andy Price

Scout Executive & CEO, Scouting Arizona, Grand Canyon Council