There’s a moment in every Scouting year when things start to take shape. The calendar fills in. Campouts get circled. Summer camp becomes real. Big ideas turn into actual plans. But before any of that happens, every unit has to answer one simple question: How are we going to make it all happen? For most units, that answer starts with popcorn.
A New Way to Support Your Success
This year, we’re doing something different, and it’s a big step forward. Through our partnership with Trails End, units will have support like never before. For the first time, Trails End is working to help secure Show & Sale storefront locations across San Antonio and the 13 counties we serve. That means less time trying to line up locations and more time focusing on your Scouts.
Instead of every unit starting from scratch, storefront opportunities will be built with your unit in mind. But to do that well, Trails End needs to understand your plan.
Why We’re Starting Now
It might feel early to think about fall, but this part matters. Securing storefronts isn’t something that happens overnight. It takes time to build relationships with businesses and match locations to unit needs. The more insight Trails End has now, the better they can align those opportunities to your goals later. They’re not guessing. They’re planning with you.
That’s why we’re asking each unit to take a few minutes now to share a rough outline of what their sale might look like: how many Scouts plan to participate, what kind of goal you’re aiming for, how far you’re willing to travel, and any dates that simply won’t work.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just needs to be honest.
Start with the Adventure
Before you open the system, pause for a second. What does your unit want to do this year? Maybe it’s sending every Scout to summer camp. Maybe it’s upgrading equipment, adding more outdoor adventures, or finally planning that bigger trip you’ve been talking about. Popcorn is what makes those things possible. It’s how Scouts earn their way. It’s how units reduce costs for families. And it’s one of the most powerful tools we have to turn ideas into real experiences.
Getting Started is Simple
When you’re ready, create your log in credentials for your Trails End portal at https://login.trails-end.com/. Log in and click “Plan Your Fall Fundraiser.”
From there, you’ll enter your unit’s plan as you know it now, knowing it may change…enter your goal, your participation estimate, your travel preferences, and your availability. Think of it as a draft. You can adjust it later. What matters is getting started.
What Happens Next
Once your plan is submitted, Trails End begins working behind the scenes to build opportunities that align with your unit. As the sale approaches, you’ll be able to reserve storefront shifts, manage your inventory, track progress, and support your Scouts through a system designed to make things easier on everyone involved. The goal isn’t just to run a sale. It’s to remove the friction that makes it harder than it needs to be.
For Parents
If you’re reading this as a parent, here’s what this really means: Popcorn helps open doors. It helps cover costs, expand opportunities, and give your Scout the chance to take ownership of their experience. Along the way, they’re building confidence, learning how to set goals, and discovering what they’re capable of. That’s what this is really about.
One Small Step
We’re asking each unit to submit their plan by May 15.
It only takes a few minutes, but it makes a big difference. It gives Trails End the time they need to set your unit up for success—and it gives your Scouts a stronger start to the year ahead.
Because the sooner you plan…the sooner the adventure begins.
