Scouting America Membership Engagement

08/25/2026

JOTA-JOTI is coming up October 16-18!

Scouts around the world will connect through radio, the internet, and other activities to make new friends and experience Scouting on a global scale.

JOTA-JOTI is a great opportunity for Scouts to connect beyond their local communities, learn about other cultures, and see just how big the Scouting family really is.

Tune in to CubChatLive this Friday at 3 PM ET to learn more from a member of the Scouting America International Scouting Committee:

https://www.facebook.com/scoutingmagazine

We will post the video recording afterward.

Start making plans now and get ready to join the worldwide adventure!

08/25/2026

93% of Eagle Scouts strongly or somewhat agree that close family relationships are key to happiness — and Scouting is often a shared family journey.

Study link:

https://www.scouting.org/about/research/eagle-scout-2026/

📷 Scouting America

08/25/2026

Here’s a great example of how the Atlanta Area Council is keeping the momentum going with Cub Scout recruitment!

Their recruitment efforts are off to a great start, and they’re bringing volunteers together next Monday evening for a “Recruitment Intermission” on Zoom. The session will be an opportunity to celebrate their progress, examine the results so far, and look ahead at how they can finish the recruitment season strong.

It’s a simple but effective approach: 1) celebrate the wins, 2) assess the progress, and 3) keep everyone focused on the goal.

This is a great model for how councils can keep recruitment efforts energized and volunteers engaged throughout the campaign.

08/25/2026

The outdoors isn't just another Scouting activity. It's one of the biggest reasons young people join.

Hike somewhere new. Camp under the stars. Paddle a river. Build a fire. Learn a new outdoor skill. Take on something that makes Scouts say, “I don't know if I can do that.”

Then watch what happens when they discover they can.

Adventure creates memories. Memories create belonging.

Photo: Scouting America

08/24/2026

A recording is now available:

https://techhub.scouting.org/webinars/

Scouting America's Technology Group will host a webinar on Thursday, August 13, at 7:00 p.m. Central Time to provide Scouters with an update on the latest technology tools and upcoming enhancements.

Participants will hear from national volunteers and staff who are leading technology initiatives across Scouting America. The webinar will include updates on Scoutconnect, the new platform serving as the foundation for improvements to BeAScout, Online Registration, and, in the future, My.Scouting and Scoutbook+.

The webinar, "Technology Update – Scoutconnect: What Is Changing This Fall?", will be held via Microsoft Teams. Save the meeting link and join the session to learn about the latest developments and what to expect in the months ahead.

eb61f82c-f9eb-4d33-b991-30e1a261728e@fd9008a0-7846-4989-a4c5-77cfad3f7e4e" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/eb61f82c-f9eb-4d33-b991-30e1a261728e@fd9008a0-7846-4989-a4c5-77cfad3f7e4e

Meanwhile, check out the new Scouting America Tech Hub:

https://www.scouting.org/program-updates/new-scouting-america-tech-hub/

08/24/2026

As of the most recent report, more than 9,015 open leads (up 28% since last week) and 315 pending applications (up 10% since last week) are awaiting follow-up in the online registration system. Each lead represents a family interested in learning more about Scouting, and each pending application is an excited new youth member who has already paid to join and is just waiting for unit approval.

If you haven’t already checked the leads and pending applications, make sure your volunteers and teams review this information and take action to help welcome more youth and families into Scouting.

08/24/2026

A great example of leaders speaking up and Scouting responding.

Several leaders shared that their units were being excluded from BeAScout.org search results because they did not have online applications turned on. We shared that feedback with the IT team, and we’re pleased to report that a change has been made.

The default BeAScout search will now show manual-paid units without requiring families to apply an additional filter.

This is an important improvement for units and, more importantly, for families searching for Scouting. Thank you to the leaders who raised the issue and helped identify a barrier that could have caused families to miss local Scouting opportunities.

Keep the feedback coming. When volunteers identify problems and share them, we can work together to make Scouting better for everyone.

08/24/2026

Here’s one of many great examples of a council executive bringing the Scouting message to the community.

On WLJT Channel 11’s “In The Community,” host Peter Noll recently sat down with Stuart Williams, the new Interim Scouting Executive of the West Tennessee Area Council for Scouting America. Their conversation highlights the impact Scouting can have on young people, including building confidence and independence, developing leadership skills, and creating opportunities for adventure and personal growth.

Most importantly, the conversation helps families understand how they can get involved with Scouting in West Tennessee.

This kind of community outreach helps people understand what Scouting is really about and why it continues to matter. Council executives have a valuable opportunity to tell the Scouting story, build community awareness, and invite more families to experience what our programs have to offer.

A great example worth sharing with other councils and Scouting leaders!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJAyJ3w2di8

On this edition of WLJT Channel 11's In The Community, host Peter N...

08/24/2026

📌 Unit Leaders: Is Your BeAScout Pin Up to Date?

Thousands of families visit BeAScout.org every day looking for a Scouting unit for their child, but right now, only about 40% of BeAScout pins have been updated with the latest information.

Please take a few minutes today to review your unit’s BeAScout pin and make sure your meeting location, meeting time, contact information, and other details are accurate and up to date. For a family searching for Scouting, an outdated pin or missing information could be the difference between reaching out to your unit or moving on to another opportunity.

Updating your pin takes only a few minutes, but that small effort could help connect a family with a lifetime of Scouting adventure, friendship, leadership, and character development.

👉 Log in at https://my.scouting.org/ to update your unit’s information.

For instructions and more information, visit https://scouting.org/pin/.

Please share this with your unit leaders and membership volunteers. Let’s make sure every family searching for Scouting can find us!

08/24/2026

This is another great example of how older youth programs can use what they do best to invite new families into Scouting, this time a Sea Scout Ship.

The Kauaʻi Sea Scouts recently returned from an incredible two-week, five-island voyage aboard their 63-foot yacht, traveling from Kauaʻi to Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, and Maui before returning home.

Now they are turning that experience into an open invitation. On August 29, the Kauaʻi Sea Scouts are hosting a free recruitment open house at Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor, where prospective members and their families can tour the yacht, meet Scouts and adult leaders, enjoy lunch, and get a firsthand feel for the program.

I love this as an example because the invitation is built around the experience itself. Instead of simply telling teens about Sea Scouting, they can see the boat, meet the people, hear the stories, and imagine themselves on the next adventure.

Sometimes the best recruitment message is not a brochure or presentation. It is simply, “Come see what we do.”

https://kauainownews.com/2026/08/23/kaua%ca%bbi-sea-scouts-open-recruitment-after-two-week-five-island-voyage/

After a thrilling two-week sea adventure across five islands, the Kauaʻi Sea Scouts are inviting teens to explore their love of the ocean at a free open house.