Community-based organizations receive national charters to use the Scouting program as a part of their own youth work. These groups, which have goals compatible with those of the Boy Scouts of America, include religious, educational, community associations, and citizens’ groups. If you’re looking for the opportunity to enrich the lives of youth and make a positive difference in the kind of adults they become, you’ve come to the right place. Scouting provides the opportunity for boys and girls to adopt and live by standards that will serve as a cornerstone for success in life. It’s the perfect framework for developing responsibility, maturity and leadership in today’s youth. 

How Community Organizations Use Scouting

Program Schools and community and religious organizations, with the help of the BSA, organize Cub Scout packs, Scouts BSA troops, Varsity Scout teams, Venturing crews, and Sea Scout ships. They manage these units and control the program of activities to support the goals and objectives of the chartered organizations. When community organizations establish a new unit, they must take these two important actions to ensure a quality Scouting program:

1. Selecting leadership
   The head of the chartered organization appoints a chartered organization representative to provide leadership in the selection of a committee of adults that will provide overall supervision for the unit’s program. The committee selects the adult unit leaders who will work with the youth. The chartered organization representative is also a voting member of the local council and may serve as a member of the district committee.
2. Providing a meeting place and promoting a good program
   The chartered organization arranges for adequate meeting facilities for the unit and promotes through its committee the full use of the program, including outdoor experiences, advancement, recognitions, and, in particular, Scouting’s values.

BSA Support

To support approximately 124,000 Scouting units owned and operated by chartered organizations, more than 300 BSA councils provide professional counseling and administration, commissioner service, training for leaders, camping and outdoor facilities, program materials and literature, planning tools, and other program aids. Councils also maintain records on units and their membership, provide rank certificates and merit badge cards, and maintain service centers where badges, insignia, literature, and other help can be obtained.

In addition, council representatives conduct annual charter review conferences with chartered organization personnel to evaluate how effectively the Scouting program is being delivered and how it might be improved.

William D. Boyce New Unit Organizer Award

The William D. Boyce New-Unit Organizer Award is presented to recognize volunteers who organize one or more traditional Scouting units. The award may be worn on the adult uniform. The award is a square knot placed over the three colors representing the three phases of the BSA program – Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing. A volunteer can earn the knot by organizing one traditional unit, and a program device can be earned for up to three additional units organized.