Some questions take a few minutes of clicking: who in Cubs is going to camp, which badges you need to order, how many people are waiting for Beavers. If you already use an AI assistant such as Claude, you can connect it to Scoutworks and ask it instead. The assistant reads the answer from your group's data while you chat.
This feature is currently in beta. Turn it on in Settings → Beta Programme.
What the assistant can and can't do
The assistant reads your group's data through an API key. It can read only the areas that you allow on that key, and it can't change anything in Scoutworks.
It can read members, sections, events and who is going, badge progress, the badge list and the waiting list. It never sees health information, bank details or free-text notes.
Which assistants work
| Assistant | Works now? |
|---|---|
| Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code | Yes. You paste the key into the app's settings. |
| Claude Desktop | Yes, with a small extra setup step. The guide shows it. |
| Claude.ai and ChatGPT websites | Not yet. These need you to sign in instead of using a key. |
Connecting your assistant
Only a Group Admin can create an API key. If you are a leader, ask a group admin to do steps 1 to 4 for you and send you the key safely.
- Make sure the API is on in Settings → Beta Programme.
- Open Settings, choose the Integrations tab, and press Create API key in the API keys section.
- Give the key a clear name, for example "Claude". Tick only the areas you want the assistant to read.
- Press Create key, and copy the key. You see it only once.
- Follow the steps for your assistant in the AI assistant guide on our developer site.
When it is connected, ask a question about your group. The assistant shows when it reads from Scoutworks.
Switching the assistant off
Revoke its key: open the menu on the key's row in Settings → Integrations → API keys, and choose Revoke…. The assistant can't read anything from that moment.
If the assistant says it isn't allowed to read something, the key is missing that area. Use Edit… on the key to add it. You don't need a new key.
What's next
- Connecting Your Tools with an API Key — how keys work, and how to keep them safe.
- Joining the Beta Programme — how to switch beta features on for your group.
- Connecting Your Own AI Provider — choose which AI company runs the AI features inside Scoutworks.
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What's next?
Related guidesConnecting Your Tools with an API Key
How group admins create an API key so a spreadsheet, automation or script can read the group's Scoutworks data, and how to keep that key safe.
Read articleJoining the Beta Programme
How to turn on early access to beta features for your group, see which ones are switched on, and what to expect when you opt in.
Read articleConnecting Your Own AI Provider
How group admins connect the group's own OpenAI, Anthropic, Google or xAI account so Scoutworks AI features run on it — for control over where your data is processed and no monthly limit.
Read article