Pioneer Trails District, Scouting America, LaSalle Council

09/20/2026

Guide to Advancement Survey

The Scouts BSA Advancement Committee is updating the Guide to Advancement and is seeking feedback from Scoutmasters, assistant Scoutmasters, advancement chairs, merit badge counselors, commissioners, advancement volunteers, council professionals, parents, and families.

This anonymous, 10-minute survey gives you a chance to share what works well, where you need more clarification, and how you use the Guide in the field 👇

https://tinyurl.com/378semyy

The deadline to complete the survey is October 1.

09/05/2026

First-Ever Scouts BSA SPL Summit — October 25!
Scouts BSA is launching the first-ever Senior Patrol Leader Summit, giving youth leaders from troops across the country a direct opportunity to connect, share ideas, and help shape the future of Scouts BSA.

October 25, 2026
Zoom
7:00–7:30 PM local time

Four identical sessions will be offered at 7:00 PM Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific, and Scouts may attend whichever session works best for their schedule.

Each troop is invited to have its Senior Patrol Leader—or another designated Scout—participate.

During the Summit, Scouts will have an opportunity to:
• Share what’s working—and what could be better—in their troop experience
• Exchange ideas with Scouts from across the country
• Hear about upcoming Scouts BSA programs and opportunities
• Provide feedback directly to national Scouts BSA leadership

Scouting happens locally, and the troop experience should help shape the program nationally.

Scoutmasters: watch your email. Registration information will be sent to Scoutmasters approximately one month before the Summit to share with their SPL or designated youth participant.

Encourage your SPL to take advantage of this new opportunity to make their voice heard!

08/06/2026

You asked and we brought it back!!!!!!!!!!

08/06/2026

EASTSIDE FALL CAMPORAMA

WOOD LAKE SCOUT RESERVATION

AUGUST 28-30, 2026

REN FAIRE THEME

Attention all Scouts, Leaders, and Volunteers! You are hereby invited to test your fitness, knowledge, skills, leadership abilities, fun, fellowship, and more during the Eastside Fall Camporama. Does your Patrol have what it takes to win Tough Scout? Does your Cub Pack enjoy camping and outdoor activities? Will your Soapbox car make it to the end of the hill?



NEW THIS YEAR:

SCOUTS BSA YOUTH MUST BRING AN EXTRA SET OF CLOTHING SPECIFICALLY FOR EVENTS IN TOUGH SCOUT. EXPECT TO GET YOUR CLOTHES WET AT SOME POINT. NO, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO THE WATERFRONT / LAKE. SWIMMING TEST NOT NEEDED.

THANKS!

EASTSIDE FALL CAMPORAMAWOOD LAKE SCOUT RESERVATIONAUGUST 28-30, 2026REN FAIRE THEMEAttention all Scouts, Leaders, and Volunteers! You are hereby invit

07/17/2026

The strongest recruiting tool your Scout unit has isn't a flyer, a Facebook ad, or a sign-up night - it's your relationship with your local school.

Relationships recruit better than flyers.

When packs and troops invest in their local schools by supporting teachers, helping with campus projects, or showing appreciation for school staff, they build trust. That trust often leads to stronger partnerships, greater visibility, and ultimately, more families discovering the value of Scouting.

Bottom line: Recruitment isn't just about sign-up nights; it's about becoming a valued part of your community.

Read today's On Scouting and then ask yourself: What can your unit do this school year to serve a local school before asking for recruiting access?

https://onscouting.org/2026/07/16/recruitment-ready-schools/

👉 Share your ideas and success stories in the comments. Your experience could inspire another Scout leader to build a lasting partnership with their local school. Together, we can strengthen Scouting one relationship at a time.

Here’s how to foster relationships with schools for strong fall recruiting.

07/16/2026

Looking for the latest updates on Scouting America's technology?

The new Tech Hub is your go-to resource for information on ScoutBook, BeAScout, My.Scouting, and other technology projects. You'll find project updates, FAQs, system status, details on the BeAScout redesign, and more.

Whether you're a volunteer, parent, or Scout leader, it's a valuable resource to bookmark.

Learn more: https://techhub.scouting.org/

07/16/2026

📢 Scouting America Membership Renewal Changes Coming (2026–2028)

Scouting America is transitioning all unit and member renewals to a February renewal cycle to simplify the membership process and better align with recruiting season.

Key highlights:

✅ Unit renewals begin transitioning in September 2026.
✅ Individual member renewals transition throughout 2027 using prorated fees.
✅ By February 2028, all units and members will renew on the same annual February schedule.

The new system will create one consistent renewal season, reduce barriers for new members with prorated fees, eliminate the 2-month lapse period, align Safeguarding Youth Training with renewal dates, and give unit leaders more control over the renewal process.

The goal is to improve retention, make renewals easier, and strengthen membership growth across Scouting.

Stay tuned for more details as the transition rolls out!

07/10/2026

Stay up to date on the future of Scouting America's technology tools.

Scouting America's Technology Group is hosting two live Technology Update webinars to introduce Scoutconnect and discuss what's changing this fall.

Scoutconnect is the new technology initiative that will bring updates to BeAScout, Online Registration, and eventually My.Scouting and Scoutbook+.

Join one of these free sessions to learn what's new, what to expect, and how these updates will support volunteers and Scouting units.

Monday, July 20 | 7:00 PM Central :

26c086d9-aa47-4848-be84-3ccb95d78a9a@fd9008a0-7846-4989-a4c5-77cfad3f7e4e" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/26c086d9-aa47-4848-be84-3ccb95d78a9a@fd9008a0-7846-4989-a4c5-77cfad3f7e4e

Thursday, August 13 | 7:00 PM Central :

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

We encourage all Scouting volunteers to attend and learn about the next generation of Scouting America's technology tools.