Registration Process for New Scouts and Adult Leaders

This page contains the information and resources needed to register new Scouts and Adult Leaders. 
Last Update: 4 October 2023. Click your browser's refresh button to ensure you are looking at the most recent update to this page.
Click underlined text to follow the link to additional information.

Registration for new Scouts

We are continuing to register new Scouts through the mail or at Troop Meetings. You will need to download the forms using the links below, print out the forms, fill them in completely and mail them into Troop 497 at the address below or bring them to a Troop meeting. Some blank forms are also available at Troop meetings. You may contact Mr. Ken Krach if you have any questions about the forms or registration process. Please retain a copy for your records.

As set forth below, PLEASE MAIL COMPLETED FORMS TO THE TROOP OR BRING THEM TO A TROOP MEETING.  NO FORMS SHOULD BE MAILED TO SCOUT HEADQUARTERS, ST JOSEPH PARISH, OR A GOVERNMENT AGENCY.  The Troop will review all completed forms and transmit them to the appropriate people for processing.

Here are the forms and documents which are needed:

  1. BSA Youth Application

  2. Boy Scout Troop 497 Parental Consent and Medical Release for Scouts

  3. BSA Medical Form for Scouts   

  4. Registration Fees to Troop 497

  5. Payment of Fee and Mailing of ALL COMPLETED FORMS
    Bring all of the completed forms above and your registration fee check to a Troop meeting or mail them to:

Mr. Kevin Shaffer
Troop 497 Treasurer
119 Ridgefield Road
Lutherville, MD 21093

Registration for new Adult Leaders

We are continuing to register new Adult Leaders through the mail or at Troop meetings. Adult Leader registration is only for those adults who anticipate becoming Adult Leaders, as Assistant Scoutmasters or Committee Members, and actively working with our Scouts. You should not register as an Adult Leader simply because you are a parent. You will need to download the forms using the links below, print out the forms, fill them in completely and mail them into Troop 497 at the address below or bring them to a Troop meeting. You may contact  Mr. Ken Krach if you have any questions about the forms or registration process. Please retain a copy for your records.

As set forth below, PLEASE MAIL COMPLETED FORMS TO THE TROOP OR BRING THEM TO A TROOP MEETING.  NO FORMS SHOULD BE MAILED TO SCOUT HEADQUARTERS, ST JOSEPH PARISH, OR A GOVERNMENT AGENCY.  The Troop will review all completed forms and transmit them to the appropriate people for processing.

Here are the forms and documents which are needed:

  1. BSA Adult Application

  2. BSA Medical Form for Adult Leaders  

  3. Youth Protection Training and References for Adults

  4. There are three requirements for Youth Protection Training (YPT) which all Adult Leaders must complete and remain current to be registered.

      1. The first is the BSA Youth Protection Training which is done online annually.

        Scouts BSA youth protection training is available online (Youth Protection Training - Mandatory v2). The training includes a three-module course and a Certification Test that all Adult Leaders are required to complete annually. It is also recommended that parents take this training.  View the instructions for taking the new course and login to your BSA account at my.scouting.org to take the course. The course and test will take about 90 minutes to complete but can be completed a module at a time. Email a copy of your completed certificate to Adam Spence (adam@spencefirm.com).

      2. Adult leaders are also required to have current Youth Protection Training provided by the Archdiocese of Baltimore through Virtus Online.

        Click this link for Archdiocese of Baltimore Registration Instructions Volunteer with Substantial Contact with Children. Click Virtus Online for the link to this training. Log in to the site with your account and password or click the "First-Time Registrant" button to set up a new account and take the training. Contact Adam Spence (adam@spencefirm.com) with any questions and email him a copy of your completed certificate.

      3. St. Joseph Parish also requires that all Adult leaders submit a reference form to the Parish.

        St Joseph Parish also requires you complete and submit reference information. Please follow the instructions in this document. You can also find additional information on the St Joseph Parish site.

        The Reference Form should be physically signed however the rest of the form can be typed using the fillable function enabled on the form. Forms need to be scanned in using a scanning app on your smart phone (ie: ScannerPro, CamScanner, Adobe) or a flatbed scanner. Please do NOT take a picture as it becomes problematic with printing due to size and shadowing. Scanned forms can be emailed to Jenn Reedholm at jreedholm@sjpmd.org. If you are not able to scan it, you can mail or drop it off to the parish center (or the school office) to the attention of Jenn Reedholm and the secretaries will scan it to her on your behalf. Please be sure that the reference information you enter on your virtus account matches your forms.

  5. Registration Fee

  6. Criminal Background Check and Fingerprinting (Updated 25 May 2021)

  7. SUBMITTING ALL COMPLETED FORMS - DO NOT MAIL ANY FORMS TO SCOUT HEADQUARTERS OR ST. JOSEPH PARISH. Bring all of the completed forms above to to a Troop meeting or mail them to:

Mr. Kevin Shaffer
Troop 497 Treasurer
119 Ridgefield Road
Lutherville, MD 21093