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Scouting & Youth Read Sacred Texts Worldwide

A signed national partnership built around a single week, not a chapter network — open to every faith tradition, and the fastest door-opener in this library for a congregation that doesn't charter with us yet.

"This Memorandum of Understanding establishes a formal partnership… to bring the Duty to God principle to thousands of Scouts and youth around the world." — Scouting America × YRSTW Memorandum of Understanding, June 1, 2026
See the 60-day planWho to contact
5,680
Youth reached
2,365
Reading hours logged
43+14
States & locations
25+
Faith traditions

These are YRSTW's own published totals across every participating organization for their most recent cycle — not a Scouting-only count. Scouting-specific numbers will be published here as they become available.

Scouting & this movement

A partnership with no chapters to join — on purpose

For a congregation you already charter with, YRSTW is a plug-and-play Duty to God week — no new curriculum, just a week of shared reading tied to the U.S. National Day of Prayer, open to every faith tradition your unit's families practice.

For a congregation that doesn't charter with us yet, it's the easiest first invitation in this library. There's no Scouting ask attached to hosting a week — which is exactly why it works as a door-opener the way a cold membership pitch never does.

The relationship itself is real and already signed: a Memorandum of Understanding between Scouting America and Youth Read Sacred Texts Worldwide (YRSTW), effective June 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028. It's just not a charter relationship — which is the one thing that makes this page different from every other one on this site.

Partnership facts

The relationship at a glance

When it began

Signed June 1, 2026 — Corilynn Bailey for Scouting America, Jim Marchbank for YRSTW. In effect through June 30, 2028, with an annual review built into the agreement.

The activation window

One week a year, tied to the U.S. National Day of Prayer (early May). The 2026 event ran the week of May 7 — before this MOU was even signed. The next one is what this page is built for.

How councils engage

Not a charter relationship. Any existing unit — or any congregation with no unit yet — can host a week. No national agreement is required to start a new unit from it.

How it differs from other partners

No dues and no chapters — a volunteer-led movement, open across 25+ faith traditions and welcoming many organizations alongside Scouting.

Point of contact

Who to actually contact

Route questions to the right inbox so no one — including YRSTW — gets buried in April.

YRSTW

Jim Marchbank

YRSTW Chair · co-signer on the MOU
Contact YRSTW forCo-branded content, testimonials, participation data, and messaging alignment.
For local logisticsPlease start with Scouting America National Partnerships, so questions reach the right place quickly.
Scouting America · National Partnerships

Corilynn Bailey

Director of Strategic Youth Partnerships
Contact National forThe toolkit, the 60-day plan, partnership questions, and anything operational.
This is the defaultWhen in doubt, this is the inbox. National routes to YRSTW only when a question genuinely needs their voice.
The 60-day plan

60 Days to New Units

The fastest realistic path from first contact to a chartered unit — for a congregation that doesn't charter with us yet.

Days 1–15

Open the door

  • Send the Reach invitation letter
  • Get a yes and a date
  • Confirm co-branding basics
Days 16–30

Run the week

  • Host the YRSTW week on-site
  • Note the families who take part
  • Collect interest cards
Days 31–45

Book the meeting

  • Schedule the exploratory meeting
  • Bring your membership team
  • Hand off the New Pack Starter Kit
Days 46–60

Sign the charter

  • File the charter paperwork
  • Assign a unit number & leaders
  • Launch the first meeting
⚠️ Sixty days is the fastest realistic path, measured from a congregation that already said yes to hosting a week. Some take a full season instead — the timeline that fits your community is the right one.
The toolkit

Download it, use it, track it

Everything below is a real, finished file — nothing on this page links to a placeholder.

Partner brief · 2 pages

The partnership, on two pages

What the partnership is, what a week involves, and the path if a congregation later wants a unit.

Download PDF
También en español

Informe para socios

El mismo informe en español, escrito en el registro formal usted.

Descargar PDF
The plan

60-Day Plan

The phase-by-phase path above, laid out so you can follow it step by step.

Jump to the plan
Make it yours

Co-Branding Studio

Add your logo, pick a fact, generate a tracked QR, print a flyer.

Open studio
Ways to leverage it

How we can be of service

How we support you

  • A ready-made week-in-a-box kit
  • The advancement cross-reference
  • The 60-day plan, ready to use
  • A single point of contact

For units you already charter

  • Depth track — retention, not new reach
  • Duty to God tie-in, ready to use
  • The patch already promised in the MOU
  • National Meeting recognition

For congregations with no unit yet

  • Reach track — the door-opener
  • No Scouting ask at the invitation
  • The 60-day path to a new unit
  • A New Pack Starter Kit at the right moment
Frequently asked questions

Quick answers

Does hosting a week require chartering a unit?
No. Hosting a YRSTW week carries no chartering obligation at all — it's designed to be a complete, valuable event on its own, whether or not a new unit ever follows.
Do we need a national agreement to start a new unit from this?
No. Every unit charters locally through an annual charter agreement with the council, exactly like any other partner type. The signed MOU sets the national relationship; it doesn't replace the local charter.
Is Scouting the only youth organization involved in YRSTW?
No. YRSTW welcomes many youth organizations, and their own site lists partners including 4-H, American Heritage Girls, Knights of Columbus, Campfire, and Girl Scouts. Scouting America is glad to take part alongside them.
Who do we actually contact — YRSTW or National?
Please route logistics and toolkit questions to Scouting America National Partnerships, and reach out to YRSTW directly for content, testimonials, and messaging alignment. See Point of Contact above.
Are the participation numbers on this page Scouting's own?
Not yet. They're YRSTW's published totals across every participating organization for their most recent cycle. Scouting-specific numbers will be published here as they become available.
Important links

Resources you can access now

Youth Read Sacred Texts Worldwideyouthreadsacredtextsworldwide.orgProgram site & registration BeAScoutbeascout.scouting.orgJoin links & unit pins for your QR
Participation figures on this page are Youth Read Sacred Texts Worldwide’s own published totals across every participating organization for their most recent cycle — not a Scouting-only count.
Scouting America · Membership & Growth · Partner Resources
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