Wednesday, May 13th
8:30am - 9:30am
Offerings:
Sweet Success. Zero Stress.
Join us for a high-energy session on unlocking year-round digital revenue with zero inventory risk. Learn how to partner with trusted brands families love—like Fudgie Wudgie, Krispy Kreme, See’s Candies, and more—to launch simple, turnkey campaigns that drive real results. Set your price, share your link, and watch the dollars roll in—anytime, anywhere.
Thursday, May 14th
1:00pm - 2:00pm
Offerings:
Council Properties: Mission, Money, and Making Strategic Decisions
Council camps are powerful mission tools—but only when they are intentionally managed as both program and financial assets. This session reframes why councils own property, examines the true costs and benefits of ownership, and introduces a practical framework for evaluating whether to retain, divest, or partner. Participants will explore how boards can make disciplined, mission-aligned property decisions.
#ComeCampWithUs: Attracting new Scouts BSA membership using interest in camping, social media, and our most active troops.
Roughly 95% of new Scouts BSA members come from Cub Scout units. Working toward the objective of membership growth, the National Camping and Trekking committee and National Marketing department will discuss results from a pilot program aimed at non-Scouting families involving 10 councils. This pilot initiative titled “Come Camp with Us” strategically moved youth and their families from having an interest in camping to being connected to troops with active outdoor programs. Learn how effective this very low-cost program was and how your council can use what was learned to increase your Scouts BSA membership.
Board Development
Board development to continuously balance talent and resources is key to strengthening your council at all levels.
From Insight to Action: What Our Constituents Are Telling Us
This session will present the key themes and strategic implications from Scouting America’s Constituent Insight Survey, conducted in partnership with Huron | GG+A, to provide a deeper understanding of how donors and supporters perceive the organization, what drives their philanthropic decisions, and how they wish to engage going forward. Participants will explore the factors shaping connection, pride, and trust in Scouting America, identify gaps in engagement and communication, and examine which program priorities most strongly resonate with constituents.
How Council–National Partnerships Unlock Fundraising Potential
Effective fundraising is stronger when councils and the National Office work in alignment. This session explores how coordinated strategy, shared donor engagement, and clear roles can unlock larger gifts, reduce friction, and accelerate impact at both the local and national levels. Participants will leave with practical ideas for leveraging national resources to strengthen council fundraising results.
Future technology and innovation
The “Council of the Future” will be explored as we examine the resources available today and those needed over the next 10 years to support successful council operations. Partnering with IT giants such as AWS and Microsoft, how can we improve outcomes and drive efficiencies while saving money?
GLIP
Gain a clear understanding of how Scouting America’s General Liability Insurance Program (GLIP) protects councils, units, and activities, including recent updates to coverage limits and requirements. This session will break down what GLIP covers, how councils should structure contracts and risk‑management practices, and what leaders must know to ensure compliance and safeguard their operations. Equip yourself with practical guidance to confidently navigate insurance obligations and support safe, compliant Scouting experiences.
In today’s fast‑paced digital landscape, the lines between traditional media and social media are more blurred than ever—and that presents both an incredible opportunity and a significant challenge. This elective will equip communicators and executives with practical strategies to elevate their organization’s voice, protect its reputation, and build meaningful relationships across the modern media ecosystem.
Participants will learn how to craft compelling stories that resonate with journalists and amplify them across social media.
A Lasting Legacy
Delve into the latest National Outcomes study findings. What did we learn about how Scouting shapes the lives of Eagle Scouts and how they continue to shape the world around them? What is the lasting legacy of Scouting even for those who never reach Eagle? Come learn more and discuss how these findings can be used in recruitment, fundraising, and beyond.
Outfitters & the Member Experience
See how a modernized Outfitters strategy supports recruitment, retention, and financial health—while improving the end-to-end member experience.
Alumni & NESA Engagement
Unlock the potential of alumni and Eagle Scouts as advocates, volunteers, mentors, and donors who fuel growth and strengthen Scouting’s future.
Right People, Right Roles, Right Time: Workforce Readiness for Changing Councils
Discover why strategic workforce management is essential for delivering quality service, ensuring stability, driving membership growth, and building community trust. This session will explore practical methods to assess workforce readiness and alignment, along with key considerations for councils navigating mergers or structural changes.
2026 National Jamboree Preview
Get an insider’s look at the 2026 National Jamboree. This preview session distills the essential program elements and attendee experiences so councils and key volunteers can align communication, staffing, and preparation. You’ll leave with a clear understanding of what the Jamboree will offer youth, leaders, visitors, and VIPs—and how each component fits together to deliver a world‑class Scouting experience.
Cub Scouting, Simplified: New Tools and Resources for Packs
Join us for an overview of new and evolving resources designed to make delivering Cub Scouting fun, simple, and easy. This session highlights Pack Meeting Planners for multi-rank meetings, crowdsourced activity options that offer greater flexibility within Adventures, and a new Four-Month Pack Guide that streamlines completion of required and elective Adventures. Learn how these tools support packs at every stage and help leaders deliver a consistent, high-quality Cub Scout program.
Safety & Health in Scouting
Come join the Scouting America EHS Team to discuss the future of Safety & Health in Scouting.
School Access
School Access is building relationships with School Superintendents, School Boards, Principals and more. Come learn about successes and best practices.
Media Relations in a Social Media World
In today’s fast‑paced digital landscape, the lines between traditional media and social media are more blurred than ever—and that presents both an incredible opportunity and a significant challenge. This elective will equip communicators and executives with practical strategies to elevate their organization’s voice, protect its reputation, and build meaningful relationships across the modern media ecosystem.
Participants will learn how to craft compelling stories that resonate with journalists and amplify them across social media.
Thursday, May 14th
2:30pm - 3:30pm
Offerings:
Growing Camp Membership: From Marketing to the Member Journey
Camp participation does not grow by chance—it grows through intentional design. This session examines the full camp member journey, from awareness and registration to experience and return, and highlights where councils unintentionally lose participants.
Using a sample council, participants will explore how marketing, operations, and program quality work together to drive growth and retention.
Strengthening Camps Through Assessment: NCAP, Properties, and Mission Impact
Discover how NCAP assessments for day, short-term, and long-term camps—and camp properties—protect youth, manage risk, and strengthen mission delivery. Learn the legal framework, assessor pathway, and how effective assessments drive program quality, property improvement, and council sustainability.
Unit Service Strategic Plan: 2026 – 2028
Key priorities for commissioners
Earning the Right to Ask: Positioning Your Council for Transformational Gifts
Transformational gifts are not secured through technique alone, they are earned through preparation, trust, and alignment. As donor expectations evolve, councils must be positioned to pursue larger and more impactful investments. This session focuses on the key strategies that build credibility with top donors, from intentional cultivation and research to clear funding priorities and thoughtful asks, enabling councils to confidently pursue transformational gifts.
Bonterra EveryAction: Scouting’s Digital Fundraising & Communications Solution
This demo-focused elective provides an overview of Bonterra EveryAction, Scouting’s official software solution for digital fundraising and constituent communications. Replacing Scouting Gives primarily as an online fundraising platform, EveryAction also supports email and text communications, events, and peer-to-peer fundraising and more—all seamlessly integrated with Blackbaud CRM (BBCRM).
This session will showcase how EveryAction works in practice and how councils can use it to modernize fundraising efforts, strengthen donor engagement, and improve data hygiene. Whether you are new to EveryAction or looking to better understand its capabilities, this session will demonstrate why this platform is a critical tool for the future of Scouting’s fundraising and communications strategy.
Obtaining Council Financial Health
Getting to know your customer
Scouting America has been rebuilding our data platform to enable better analysis of our current members, with a focus on improving the quality of our scouting program and on better recruiting families not currently in Scouting. Learn more about the data available today and in the near future for predictive analytics to help drive council health.
Non-Scouting Use of Camps
Explore best practices, legal considerations, and risk‑management guidelines for allowing outside groups to utilize council camp properties. This session will help leaders understand how to evaluate requests, structure agreements, and ensure activities align with Scouting America’s standards and safety expectations. Gain practical insights to protect your council while expanding community partnerships.
Building Character Through Service: Launching Impact365 and a new National Day of Service!
In collaboration with America250 and the Lilly Endowment, Scouting America is launching a new initiative to drive character development through service. This session will walk through the vision, rotating annual themes, council support resources, micro grant funding, marketing strategy, and recognition programs designed to unify the movement around meaningful service. Learn how your council can activate local projects—large or small—to drive engagement, strengthen partnerships, and showcase Scouting’s recommitment to service nationwide. Register today to learn more!
Multicultural Engagement
Discover proven approaches to reaching and welcoming diverse families and communities—strengthening relevance, access, and belonging across Scouting.
Strategy of Growth
Learn how to translate national priorities into a clear, council-level growth strategy that balances recruitment, retention, and long-term sustainability.
Scouts BSA Program Growth and Retention
This session will explore strategies and tools to increase membership and improve retention within Scouts BSA. Attendees will learn about the program growth website for troops, peer-to-peer recruitment techniques, available troop resources to support retention, and meeting planning, as well as council services to help council staff promote program growth and retention.
Venturing & Sea Scouting (Older Youth Programs) becoming a retention arm for Scouts BSA.
Join us and learn how to grow and support Venturing and Sea Scouting. These programs are a terrific way to help ensure that youth remain involved in your units, districts, and councils. They will also help secure your next generation of adult leaders. If you would like to make retaining your youth and developing tomorrow’s leaders a goal, then it is time to ensure Older Youth Programs are a priority for your council.
Session Name: Innovating for Growth: New Programs Driving Scouting’s Future
Discover Scouting America’s newest initiatives designed to engage more youth and families, including Drone Aviation Exploring, Adventure Club, Chipmunks, Catalyst, and Seasonal Scouting. Learn how these programs can help councils grow membership and retention and explore practical steps to launch them successfully.
OA Welcomes Members via a New Inductions Path
This session will serve as a high-level introduction to the new OA Inductions and Ceremonies experience for member entry into the OA. From a candidate’s election to going through the Ceremony of the Arrow then experiencing the induction day concluding with the Ceremony of the Fire, the new OA Inductions path will show the candidate the rights and privileges of OA membership, draw upon past traditions, and introduce new themes to help the candidate feel welcome and inspired to continue their Scouting journey.
Exploring Explosion 3.0–Creating Membership Growth
Learn how to grow and support Exploring within your districts and council. You will learn the proven methods to help lead your council to membership growth, as well as identify valuable tools to help you ignite an Exploring Explosion.
Getting To Know Your Customer
Scouting America has been rebuilding our data platform to enable better analysis of our current members, with a focus on improving the quality of our scouting program and on better recruiting families not currently in Scouting. Learn more about the data available today and in the near future for predictive analytics to help drive council health.
Thursday, May 14th
4:00pm - 5:00pm
Offerings:
NCAP Authorization: Understanding the Process and the Board’s Role
NCAP authorization is more than an annual requirement—it is a critical governance safeguard that protects youth, volunteers, and council assets. This session will walk participants through the NCAP authorization process, explain why each step matters, and clarify the respective roles of staff and boards. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of common challenges, expectations, and how proactive oversight prevents last-minute surprises.
Reallocate Assets to Grow Membership
Step far outside the box to Thrive, this session is about understanding council assets and reimaging how to serve more families and communities by making difficult but critically needed decisions
Expanding Planned Giving Opportunities for Long-Term Impact
Planned giving is one of the most powerful tools for ensuring a council’s long-term sustainability. This session explores practical ways councils can expand planned giving efforts, engage donors in legacy conversations, and align planned gifts with mission and impact. Attendees will leave with strategies they can implement to grow long-term philanthropic support.
Creating great experiences for our Customers with modernized technology
See demonstrations of new technologies for membership, registration, digital merit badges and advancement; tools to support member experiences, volunteer productivity and unit health.
Governance/ByLaws/Template Walk Through
Learn more about the new Local Council Bylaws Template and Articles of Incorporation template that provide a modernized, flexible framework that supports both compliance and local council autonomy. We plan to walk through the templates, answer questions, and share best practices.
The Survey Says
What are the latest findings on why people join, why they stay, and why they leave? Discuss what can you do in your council to recruit and retain more Scouts.
Strategic Partnerships
Explore how schools, faith organizations, and community partners can become powerful allies in expanding reach, reducing friction, and accelerating growth.
Executing the 12-Point Workbook & Unit Growth Strategies
A hands-on session on how to use the 12-Point Growth Workbook to drive unit growth, improve retention, and create consistent, repeatable results.
Family Troops
This session will clarify misconceptions about family troops, review survey results, and explain the rationale behind introducing this option. We’ll discuss the options of family troops, single-gender troops, and the purpose behind linked troops, and share current feedback from families and Scouts.
Reimagining Advancement: Digital Merit Badge Resource Guides
Explore the new digital merit badge resource guides that make advancement easier and more accessible for Scouts, parents, and leaders. This session will showcase features, integration with Scouting.org, and best practices for promoting and using these resources to enhance the Scouting experience.
Coaching Packs to Thrive: A Hands-On Workshop
Strong packs don’t happen by accident—they’re built with the right support. In this hands-on workshop, participants will use newly created Pack Resources to build a four-month pack program plan they can apply immediately. Designed for Commissioners, Membership team members, Cub Scout enthusiasts, and Scouting professionals, this session builds expertise in the latest tools used to support new packs, struggling packs, and well-established packs alike. Participants will leave equipped to coach leaders, strengthen pack health, and ensure every pack has the foundation it needs to thrive.
Learning for Life Curriculum-Based Program—Improve school relationships and create membership growth through our newly updated Curriculum
Learn how to implement Learning for Life in your local council. Through Learning for Life, you will have a great resource to improve your school and community relationships. The new curriculum consists of grade specific, age-oriented, character education lesson plans that help instill character and ethical decision making in our youth.
Safeguarding Youth by Reporting Incidents
Bring your questions to the Safeguarding Team about what needs to be reported when in Scouting.
Retention: The Commissioners Perspective
Practical steps that commissioners can take to positively impact retention in local councils