Every pack, troop, crew, ship and post – and every Scout and adult leader – re-registers with Scouting America once a year. This page walks you through it in plain language, whether it’s your first time or your fifteenth. This year’s rules are different, so please read on.
Three things are different this year
If your unit expires December 31, 2026, the screens you click through are the same as last year. The timing and the term are not.
A longer term
Your unit renews through February 29, 2028. Scouting America is moving every unit to a February renewal month, so everyone eventually renews at the same time.
December 31 is final
In past years units had extra time after expiring. Not this year: a unit not renewed by 12/31/26 is not active on 1/1/27.
Late costs more
National and council fees for units and members increase in 2027. Renew and pay in 2026 to pay 2026 fees. The new amounts haven’t been announced yet.
New to Scouting? Start with these words
Tap any term to see what it means. You’ll see all of them during renewal.
UnitYour pack, troop, crew, ship or post
The local group your Scout belongs to. Each unit is sponsored by a chartered organization (often a school, church or civic group) and must renew its charter each year.
Key 3The three adults who run the unit
The Chartered Organization Representative (COR), the Committee Chair, and the unit leader (Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Advisor or Skipper). A Key 3 member, or someone they’ve delegated, completes the unit renewal.
Unit renewal (rechartering)Renews the unit itself
A once-a-year step that keeps your unit active. It does not renew any Scouts or leaders – that’s a separate step called member renewal.
Member renewalRenews each youth and adult
Every registered person renews on their own expiration date. Families can renew themselves, or the unit can pay for them.
my.Scouting.orgScouting America’s online system
The website where you log in to renew, check training and manage your unit. my.scouting.org
Organization ManagerThe unit tools inside my.Scouting
The menu where Key 3 members find Unit Renewal, the Roster (list of members) and Position Manager (who holds which leadership role).
SYT – Safeguarding Youth TrainingRequired training for every adult
Online youth-protection training all registered adults must keep current. In Narragansett Council, leaders whose SYT expires are suspended and drop off the roster. Learn about SYT
Unit Pin / BeAScoutYour unit’s public listing
How families find your unit on BeAScout.org. You’ll be asked to review it during renewal.
Two separate renewals – don’t mix them up
Renewing the unit does not renew any of its members.
Unit renewal
Renews the unit’s charter
- Done once a year by a Key 3 member or their delegate
- my.Scouting › Organization Manager › Unit Renewal
- National charter fee: $119 for 12/31/26 units
- Submit by November 30
Member renewals
Renews each youth and adult
- Based on each person’s own expiration date
- Families and adults renew themselves, or the unit pays
- Paid separately from the charter fee
- Many members also expire December 31 – same no-grace rule
How they connect: the unit can’t renew unless the adults in required leadership positions are current members. If your Committee Chair’s membership has lapsed, fix that first.
Key dates for units expiring 12/31/26
Plan to finish in November, not the last week of December.
- Nov 1Renewal opensUnit renewal opens 60 days before expiration
- Nov 30Council targetSubmit online so there’s time to fix problems
- Dec 31ExpirationLast day – no lapse period after this
- Jan 1, 2027DroppedUnrenewed units and members drop; 2027 fees apply
- Feb 29, 2028New expirationYour next renewal lines up with February
Don’t wait for December. Websites, payment systems and council staff get overwhelmed near 12/31. Expect slowdowns, outages and long waits – and this year, a problem on December 30 could mean your unit or Scouts get dropped.
What it costs: renew on time in 2026
National unit charter fee for a 12/31/26 unit that renews and pays before year-end.
14 months × $8.50 = $119. You’ll see the exact amount on the payment screen before you pay.
The flat $100 fee only applies to a strict 12-month renewal. It does not apply to 12/31/26 units this year.
This is the unit charter fee only. Youth and adult memberships are paid separately (see member renewals).
Check your roster first
When you open the renewal, the system checks your unit automatically. Red errors stop you. Yellow warnings don’t.
Error – must fix to continue
- A required leadership position is empty, or has too many people in one role
Warnings – you can proceed
- Youth who don’t meet the program’s age or grade rules
- Fewer than 5 paid youth members
Missing a leader? Here’s why
Narragansett Council suspends leaders whose Safeguarding Youth Training has expired. They drop off your roster, which can leave a required position empty.
To reinstate: the leader retakes SYT and emails the certificate to [email protected].
- The right people in the right positions
- Signed annual charter agreement (forms below)
- A credit card or bank account for payment
- Up-to-date Unit Pin / BeAScout details
The unit renewal, step by step
Once your roster is clean, the online steps are the same as last year.
- Log inA Key 3 member logs in and picks the correct unit.
- ValidateOpening the renewal runs the check. Scroll down to see and clear any red errors.
- Check positionsRight names, right roles. “Edit Positions” opens Position Manager. Changes post overnight.
- E-signType your name to approve the renewal.
- Unit Pin reviewConfirm your BeAScout listing. If it’s set to appear, choose at least one contact field to show.
- ContinueClick “Continue to Unit Renewal” and review the payment summary.
- PayCard or ACH online (“Process Payment and Renew Unit”), or print to pay at the council office.
- Watch statusFollow it until it shows Approved (see below).
Want screenshots of every screen? Use the “Unit Processing a Unit Renewal” job aid from Scouting America.
Paying isn’t the last step
The council still has to approve your renewal. Here’s what each status means.
- Initiated
Order created. The council can still delete it if something is wrong.
- Submitted
Payment is on its way. Online payments can take up to 4 business days.
- Pending Approval
Payment received. Waiting for the council registrar.
- Approved
Your unit renewal is complete and posted.
Stuck? Narragansett Council registrar staff give final approval once payment arrives. If your status sits at “Submitted” for more than a week, there’s likely a payment issue – email the council office at [email protected].
Many members must renew by 12/31 too
Lots of youth and adults also expire December 31, 2026. If they don’t renew in time, they’re dropped on January 1 with no grace period and pay the higher 2027 fees.
Reminders start November 1
- Emails go out 60, 30, 15, 7 and 1 day before expiration, then weekly afterward
- Texts begin mid-November
- Key 3 members get a monthly list of who’s due
Families renew themselves
- Log in to my.Scouting, then click the red notification bell or go to My Renewals
- Parents renew one youth at a time and must be linked to their Scout
- If you hold several positions, renew your primary one and the rest renew with it
Or the unit pays
- Key 3 turns on “unit will pay for renewal applications” in Organization Manager (it syncs overnight)
- In the Roster, select members, click Renew, then Create Renewal Orders and pay
- The unit can opt out members who are leaving – but only the council can opt them back in
Watch for
- Scout Life magazine is checked by default – uncheck it if the family doesn’t want it
- Military families should renew online themselves; the fee waiver only works that way
- Financial assistance: youth granted assistance receive a discounted invoice and pay the council directly
Members renewing this year still renew for 12 months; members begin moving to the February cycle in 2027. Registration fees paid to National are nonrefundable.
Quick answers to common questions
Can we renew before November 1?
No. The unit renewal opens 60 days before expiration – November 1 for a December 31 unit.
What happens if we miss December 31?
There’s no grace period this year. Unrenewed units and members are dropped on January 1, 2027, and any renewal processed in 2027 pays the higher 2027 fees.
Do we still get 12 months?
You get 14 – through February 29, 2028. Your next unit renewal will be in early 2028.
Can we pay in person?
Yes. Choose “Pay at the Council Office,” print the summary, and bring it in with your payment to 223 Scituate Ave, Cranston, RI.
A leader is missing from our roster. Why?
They were likely suspended for expired Safeguarding Youth Training. They retake SYT and email the certificate to [email protected].
I changed a position but still see an error.
Position changes post overnight. Wait a day and validate again.
Our Committee Chair is new. What do we do?
Get them registered and trained first. Then the COR places them in the position through Position Manager. Wait overnight, then validate.
I started the renewal and made a mistake.
While the status is “Initiated,” the council can delete the order. After that it can’t be deleted, so contact the council office.
A parent can’t see their Scout to renew.
The parent’s account must be linked to the youth as the primary parent. The council office can check this for you.
Do we still need a paper charter agreement?
Yes. The annual charter agreement is completed outside the online system and turned in to the council. Get the form.
Your to-do list
- NowCheck your roster for leaders suspended for expired SYT
- NowConfirm positions; fix them in Position Manager
- NowGet the annual charter agreement signed
- Nov 1Open Unit Renewal and let it validate
- By Nov 30Sign, pay and submit
- ThenFollow up until the status shows Approved
- By Dec 31Remind families to renew their own memberships