What the Council does for the Units

To help the unit, the council maintains a service center to:

Handle registrations, Boys' Life subscriptions, and special requests to the national office and other organizations.
Maintain a supply of literature, insignia, forms, certificates, etc., needed by the leader to carry out the units program.
Keep records of advancement, membership, training, etc., necessary for unit operation.
Produce frequent newsletters to keep leaders informed of latest local and national Scouting events.
Produce notices, minutes, agendas, etc., for district and council committees that develop programs for leader and unit support.
Handle phone calls and visitors for information related to unit operation and Scouting procedures.
Provide forms, applications, scoreboards, certificates, and literature helpful in unit program.
Produce district and council calendars and schedules, programs, kits, and special aids to assist leaders and their committees.
Make reservations for films, equipment, long-term camping, short-term camps, camporees, jamborees, high-adventure bases, training courses, meetings, Cub Scout leader pow wows, Venturing activities, annual council and district meetings, and unit leader events.

To assist leaders, the council employs a trained, full-time staff that counsels, guides, and inspires through:

Informal training in unit operation.
Person-to-person counseling on unit relationships, administrative, and operational problems.
Guidance of all committees, commissioners, roundtables, meetings, conferences, courses, and district and council activities in the development of programs that directly benefit leaders and units.
Contacts with community resources (clubs, churches, government, etc.), securing help for all units that they alone could not obtain, such as the use of parks, recreational areas, buildings for special affairs, picnic areas, campsites, and swimming facilities.

Providing the unit with district and council activities and service, the council:

Plans and conducts various types of activities in which units participate, such as Scouting Anniversary Week and Scout shows.
Organizes camporees, Cub Scout day camps, local jamborees, high-adventure trips, and Venturing events, absorbing overhead costs to keep participants' expense to a minimum.
Works with various community groups to arrange for Scout participation in civic affairs and Good Turn projects.
Recruits and trains a corps of commissioners for assisting with unit program and maintaining standards.

In educational and relationships programs, the council provides the leader with:

A library of audiovisual equipment for use in training and promotional programs.
Informal and formal training courses with most of the cost of literature and materials, etc., and all the staff time included in the council budget.
Monthly roundtables for the benefit of leaders, committee members, assistants, and den leaders, providing materials, staff, and other costs.
Scouter's Key, training awards, Den Leader’s Training Award, Silver Beaver Award,and other Scouter recognitions and Eagle badges.
A merit badge counselor corps for more than 125 subjects.
A variety of advancement forms and certificates without charge.

In the field of camping and outdoor activities, the council:

Maintains reservations for year-round camping and Cub Scout family outdoor events. (Our Scout reservations serve as year-round activities, camping, and training centers.)
Offers units the use of equipment for short-term weekend, year-round camping.
Covers costs of camp repairs, replacement, utilities, maintenance, taxes, insurance, and camp ranger. (These and other charges are not paid for by youths' fees.)
Employs full-time rangers for the protection of the reservations and the convenience of units using facilities. (They keep these facilities available at all times.)
Provides campers' savings cards, unit leaders' guidebook, camp slides, folders, literature, and other aids to help units with their outdoor program.
Provides scholarships or "camperships" for Scouts who need help to have a summertime camp experience.
Offers units the high adventure of Philmont Scout Ranch, high-adventure bases, national jamborees, field days, camporees, and other special events. (These would not exist without a council giving leadership and coordination.)

To help the leader develop the unit program, the council provides, without charge:

Program helps, program planning charts and calendar of activities, meetings, and special events.
Awards such as ribbons, certificates, roundup awards.
Roundup, camporee, and Scouting Anniversary Week kits, posters, and other materials.
Sample song sheets, ceremonies, parents' night program outlines, training aids, etc.
Source materials and personnel.
Materials, books, pamphlets, folders, audiovisuals, and special helps from the national office and cooperating organizations.

To protect the unit leader, the council:

Screens requests for services, money-earning project proposals – guarding against improper use of Scouting commercialism and exploitation.
Maintains liability insurance for the protection of all members and chartered organizations.
Has staff members available at all times to meet any emergency.
Conducts Youth Protection training for all adult leaders.