About

Working Together

Scouting is a volunteer movement with professional guidance.

Traditional Scouting programs are operated by local chartering organizations, such as religious institutions, clubs, civic associations, and educational organizations, which implement the Scouting program for youth within their communities. These units are led entirely by volunteers appointed by the chartering organization, who are supported by local councils using both volunteers and paid professional staff.

A council is a voluntary association of citizens, charged with supporting and promoting the Scouting program within a geographic area. The council’s responsibility to the chartered organization is to help the organization run a successful unit or units, building Scouting into the organization’s own program so that the organization benefits from the relationship. On the other hand, the council makes sure that the organization lives up to its agreement to observe Scouting policy and maintain a quality program.

It is the responsibility of the council to provide leadership and supervision for all program activities within the territory covered by its charter in such a manner as to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Charter and Bylaws of the Boy Scouts of America.

As Scouting’s local governing body, the council is made up of representatives of each chartered organization. There are also members-at-large elected by the council from a slate presented by the council nominating committee. The council meets once a year, but special meetings may be called to handle critical business.

Scouting has been organized with the conviction that men and women in many communities can and will work together in serving youth through the program of Scouting. The Scouting movement is democratic and gains strength insofar as the men and women who direct it are chosen carefully to represent the various segments of the community.