Voice of the Scout (VOS) is Evolving to Better Serve Members
When the Voice of the Scout (VOS) survey was originally developed, the goal was to hear from members and volunteers about the quality of their Scouting experiences and their satisfaction with the support and resources of the BSA.
Over the course of conducting this study, we realized the extent to which scores were affected by business and program cycles that may have failed to accurately represent membership opinions over the full year.
What’s Changing?
Members, parents, and volunteers will still receive the VOS survey once per year and the questions will be similar to years past, but the timing of when you are asked to respond will be very different.
The entire membership of the BSA will be divided into 12 evenly matched groups, with one group per month receiving a survey. We believe this change will empower the BSA with the most accurate, timely, and valid data possible to evaluate new ideas, understand experiences, and coordinate efforts, ensuring that we are all taking the right steps for the right people at the right time.
Even with the best metrics and the best intentions, the usefulness of this tool requires participation. We need a large choir of diverse voices to make sure this works in a way that every unit can benefit from the insights gained and councils can support their volunteers to deliver not only the program but also the promise of Scouting.
So, make sure your email address is up-to-date in your My.Scouting account, and answer the survey when you receive it — Scouting is your organization, so make your voice heard!