Annual Unit Recharter and Membership Renewal
Scouting America members and units must complete a renewal process each year to remain active in the Scouting program. Starting this year, individual membership has been separated from the Unit Renewal (Charter) process.
Renewal is completed by the Scouting family on their annual renewal date. This could also be completed by the unit on behalf of the family.
Unit Renewal is completed by the Key 3 of the unit on the unit's annual renewal date.
First things First!
- Please check your Unit Roster in my.Scouting.org to ensure that you have an active email address for all members (and a parental email address for Scouts under 18 years of age.)
- Decide Payment Method
- Unit Pay – the unit pays for the member’s registration in the month it’s due. This option is perfect for units that only wish to charge families once for unit dues as well as national fees. Payments can be set via debit/credit card (3% fee) or via ACH ($1 ACH Fee.) For a series of screen shots detailing how to set this up click here.
- Self or Family Pay – let members/parents manage renewals directly with the national office.
- Choose auto approval or manual approval. This can be done through the Organization Manager section of my.Scouting.org.
Membership Renewal
Youth and adult members will start getting notices approximately 60 days before their membership expires. Membership can be renewed in one of two ways:
- Unit Pay – The unit’s Key 3 leaders are notified which members are due to expire and can select the members to be renewed. The unit can pay for the renewing members, either online or at the council office. Please click this link for a series of step by step instructions.
- Family/Self Pay – An email notification will be sent 60 days prior to expiration and the family can do the renewal online. Please click this link for a series of screen shots to share with your families on how they should renew their membership.
Unit Renewal
Because membership renewal is no longer part of the process, the good news is that Unit Renewal is much simpler! The Unit Key 3 is responsible for the process, which takes place in November for most units. The process is run through the Organization Manager section of my.Scouting and a detailed list of instructions can be found by clicking this link. To prepare for Unit Renewal you should:
- Ensure all Unit requirements for met in terms of the number & positions of leaders?
- Ensure all leaders are current on their Youth Protection Training (YPT.) They system will not let you complete the process unless all leaders are YPT compliant.
- Ensure that Criminal Background Check (CBC) forms have been completed and are on file.
More information
This section contains updated news from National, answers to questions asked by our leaders, and other hints and tips we discover as we go through this process.
- The system’s default is to subscribe to Scout Life. If you, or your members, don’t want Scout Life, be sure to turn it off!
- Units have the option to pay directly via credit card (3% fee) or ACH ($1 fee). There is also a (somewhat hidden) Pay at Council option. Choose the members you want to renew in your Roster, click Print, then Unit Payment of Membership Renewal. The resulting PDF can be sent to the council office with your payment.
- National uses the phrase “Auto-renewal”. It doesn’t mean your membership in Scouting will renew on its own like your Netflix subscription. It simply means you or your unit have chosen to pay online instead of at the council office.
Helpful Documents
These fees took effect May 1st 2024. Membership is no longer prorated and applies for 1 year from the date of joining.
- Setting up ACH Payments for Unit Renewals
- Unit Pay for Membership Renewal Instructions
- Family or Self Pay for Membership Renewal Instructions
- Unit Renewal Instructions for Key 3’s
Have adults joining your unit leadership or unit committee? Get them registered! Make sure they are official, on your roster, covered by insurance, background checked, and Youth Protection Trained as quickly as possible. Then go to the next item and download the Criminal Background Check form.
Have new youth joining your unit before the end of the year? Get them registered! Make sure they are official, on your roster, and covered by insurance as quickly as possible.
Chartering organizations renew their agreement with Council -- and thereby with the BSA -- to "use Scouting to further the Charter Organization’s aims and values for youth." This statement is one of several points outlined in this document that must be signed by the Charter Organization Representative, the unit's Committee Chair, and the Council.
Families in need of financial assistance to participate in Scouting can submit this application that must also be signed by the unit leader.