Charter Renewal
Your step-by-step tutorial for renewing your charter.Recharter Process
The Boy Scouts of America now offers an online charter renewal process for units. Recently, this process was moved to improve systems and increase speed and efficiency in processes. Located at https://advancements.scouting.org, the new Internet Recharter system provides a more simplistic approach to the rechartering process and can be completed from start to finish without a single piece of paper changing hands.
Step 1: Download the user guide and watch the overview.
- Access is limited to your Key 3 or Key 3 delegates.
- Review the User Guide.
- Watch the Overview.
Step 2: Ensure everyone is registered before starting the online charter renewal
Step 2 is very important. It ensures that all persons are listed when you begin online renewal, which will make the process MUCH simpler and easier!
- Obtain a current roster. The unit roster can be printed from my.scouting, or can be obtained from your district commissioner or district executive.
- Review the roster for any missing youth or adults.
- Collect membership applications for any missing youth or adults.
- This can be done with paper applications or through the online membership application process at beascout.org.
- Collect the right fees – ensure that you collect fees for the months that the person is active in 2021, PLUS the full 2022 fees. See the chart below for pro-rate amounts.
- Questions? Contact your district commissioner or district executive.
- Turn in all applications.
- Wait a day or two for online applications to process, and a few days for paper applications to be manually processed.
- Obtain a fresh roster to ensure new persons are registered before proceeding to Step 3.
Step 3: Begin the online charter renewal process
- Access the Online Charter Renewal System: https://advancements.scouting.org/login
- Access the system by using your my.scouting or Scoutbook username and password (Do NOT use create an account. This will create a duplicate account. If you have problems logging in, please contact the Council).
- Be prepared to PAY ONLINE. You are encouraged to pay online.
Key Contacts
Please contact your district executive with questions.
Connect with Us
Key dates for the charter renewal process
October: Online system activated October 13, 2022
Important notes for the charter renewal process
Youth Protection Training is required. Current and new adults will not be registered without first completing Youth Protection training. Youth protection certificates are valid for two years and are required for all registered leaders.
Adult applications are required for ALL new adults or youth participants ages 18 and up. An adult application with the additional disclosure background check authorization form and Youth Protection Training Certificate are required in order to be registered. This standard is to ensure that all persons legally considered to be adults are able to meet adult membership requirements.
Helpful resources from the National Council:
Frequently Asked Questions – a list of common questions about the online charter process and system.
Membership Application Forms – source to download youth and adult membership applications, Annual Charter Agreement and New Unit Application also used to change Executive Officer and/or Organization.
Journey To Excellence Forms – source to download Journey to Excellence scorecards and other materials related to the Journey to Excellence program
Frequently Asked Questions
Our charter partner has said they will not sign the charter agreement for 2023. What are our options?
If your current charter partner declines to sign the charter agreement for 2023, please consider the following options:
- Contact your unit commissioner or district commissioner. The commissioner will refer you to the District Commissioner and District Executive for your District. If you are currently chartered to a United Methodist Church, please contact Jason Macpherson or Kathleen Jordan for further assistance.
- Complete all steps of the charter renewal process other than the signature of the charter organization representative on the Annual Charter Agreement. These steps include Youth Protection Training for all registered adults valid through December 31, 2023; all adults and youth listed on the unit roster are correct; and fees have been collected and/or are available in the unit bank account. In other words, the unit charter is ready as soon as the charter partner agreement is signed.
- The District Commissioner and District Executive will work with you to find an alternative charter partner. Churches, schools, and community service clubs are all options to consider.
- If you have not connected with a likely new charter organization by no later than November 30, 2022, please ask to be referred to Jason Macpherson or Kathleen Jordan Jordan for other options.
Is starting a "Friend of the Unit" organization an option?
No, this is not an option open to units. There are some existing units who are currently chartered by a “Friends of the Unit” organization. These units currently chartered this way may continue for the 2023 year.
Is it an option for a unit to become a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization?
No, this option is prohibited by the BSA National Board of Directors. For more information on National BSA financial policy, please click on this link.