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School & education

Scouting & Homeschool Associations & Co-ops

What hosting a Scouting unit means for your school — what you provide, what your local council provides, and how to begin.

Scouting isn't one more activity — for many families it becomes part of how their children learn.
Why host a unit

A program that fits alongside what you already do

Chartering a Scouting unit means your school becomes the unit's home. You are not asked to run the program or train the leaders — your local council does that. What you provide is a place to meet, a point of contact, and a welcome to the families who come.

In return, young people in your community get adventure, friendship, leadership and service — and your school becomes the place where that happens.

Your school provides

  • A place to meet
  • A staff or parent contact
  • A welcome to your school families

Your council provides

  • The full program, training and materials
  • Youth-protection standards and insurance framework
  • Recruiting and sign-up support
  • A local contact who helps you start
Getting started

Five steps from interest to first meeting

1
Talk with your local council
They will walk you through what chartering involves and answer questions specific to your school.
2
Name a point of contact
One person who acts as the link between your school and the unit.
3
Agree on a meeting place and time
Most units meet weekly. A hall, classroom or meeting room is enough.
4
Invite your families
Use the Co-Branding Studio to make a flyer with your name beside Scouting America's.
5
Hold your first meeting
Your council helps with recruiting, registration and leader training.
The toolkit

Download and share

Print-ready documents you can hand to a committee, put in a newsletter, or keep for reference.
También en español
The same documents in Spanish, written in the formal usted register.
Informe para socios (PDF) Lista de verificación Puntos clave Texto para boletín
Frequently asked questions

Quick answers

Can our school or parent group charter a Scouting unit?
Yes. Education organizations are eligible chartered organizations and account for roughly 15% of Scouting youth.
Should we charter the school or the parent group?
Charter the independent entity — the PTO/PTA, booster club, co-op, association, or private school. That keeps the agreement clean and avoids district-level complications.
Does this compete with what the school already offers?
No. Scouting complements the curriculum — merit badges cover STEM, history, civics, and the outdoors, and advancement maps onto service-hour and character requirements.
Do we need a national agreement first?
No. Every unit charters locally through an annual agreement with your local council.
Useful links

Where to find out more

Ready to make something?

Build a flyer with your organization's name and logo beside Scouting America's — in English, Español, 中文 or Deutsch.

Open the Co-Branding Studio
Scouting America · Charter Partner Resource Center
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