At the 2026 National Annual Meeting, Scouting America introduced its new Trail Map: A Path to Enterprise Strength and Membership Growth, a strategic vision designed to strengthen the organization, support volunteers, and expand the reach of Scouting to more young people across the nation.
The Trail Map outlines a destination of serving 2 million youth and identifies three major trails that will guide Scouting America toward that goal:
Relentless Focus on Volunteers
Volunteers remain the heart of Scouting. This trail focuses on simplifying volunteer and parent roles, improving onboarding for new leaders, strengthening commissioner support, and making training more accessible and effective.
Simplify. Digitize. Scale for Growth.
This trail emphasizes modernizing systems and processes through improved technology, streamlined operations, stronger communication networks, and organizational efficiencies that allow local councils and volunteers to focus more time on delivering the Scouting program.
Reinvest to Attract More Youth
Growing Scouting means reaching more families. This trail includes investing in youth-serving professionals, enhancing program experiences, introducing the Scouting brand to new generations, expanding partnerships, and increasing philanthropic support.
Prevention First on Every Trail
Supporting all three trails is a single foundation:
Be a Leader in S.A.F.E.guarding Youth: Prevention First on Every Trail.
Scouting America continues to place the safety and well-being of youth at the center of every decision, ensuring that growth and innovation are built upon a culture of protection, awareness, and accountability.
The Trail Map serves as a guide for the future of Scouting America while reinforcing the values that have shaped generations of leaders. As we continue our mission locally in the Alamo Area Council, these priorities will help us deliver stronger programs, support our volunteers, and create more opportunities for youth to experience the adventure and leadership development that Scouting provides.
Download the Trail Map
Want to explore the full strategic vision for yourself? Download the official Trail Map graphic and see how Scouting America is charting the course toward a stronger future.
