08/23/2026
Who Welcomes the New Family to Your Troop?
Joining Scouts BSA can be exciting—but for a new Scout and their family, there’s also a lot to learn. New faces. New terminology. A new calendar. Uniforms, advancement, camping, meetings and plenty of questions.
That’s where a New Member Coordinator can make a difference.
The New Member Coordinator’s focus is simple: help new members and their families feel welcome, connected and comfortable in Scouting.
At the unit level, New Member Coordinators:
Serve as welcoming ambassadors for the unit.
Build relationships with new Scouts and their families.
Work with the unit committee to develop and carry out the Unit Membership Plan.
Complete New Member Coordinator training and work with the district membership team.
And this isn't only about recruiting. As the article notes, New Member Coordinators can be a valuable part of retention. Getting a family to join is only the beginning. Helping them understand the program, make connections and feel like they belong can help turn a new registration into a long-term Scouting experience.
As fall recruiting gets underway, this is a good time for troop committees to ask:
Do we have someone whose job is to make sure our new families don't get lost in the shuffle?
Learn more about the position and available resources:
New Member Coordinator resources
https://scoutingwire.org/marketing-and-membership-hub/councils/new-member-coordinator/
Everything You Need to Know About the New Member Coordinator Position
https://onscouting.org/2019/09/25/new-member-coordinator/
