Adopt-A-School

Program overview

The Scouting America, Adopt-a-School program is an exciting and comprehensive undertaking that will connect Scout units with their associated schools. Participating scouting units then partner with school administrators to offer volunteer services that meet their school’s needs, which may include grounds beautification, teacher appreciation, clean-up before or after school events, or help during festivals and carnivals.

Project Scope

The Scouting America, Adopt-a-School Program is an initiative designed to help improve the relationship between our schools and our scouting units. In many cases, we do not have adequate access to our schools for promotion and recruitment.  This program is designed to help break down these barriers and help units develop strong relationships within their communities.  
Adopt-a-School is a process by which we can begin to address the breakdown in relationships between Scouting and the school systems we serve.  It truly is a win-win situation for both Scouting and our schools.

How it works

Community service is one of the primary pillars of the Scouting experience. As the world changes, the need for community service grows. Through the Scouting America and the Adopt-a-School program, we can help alleviate this need by having Scouting units partner with their local schools throughout Minsi Trails Council! 
The Adopt-a-School Program cultivates relationships with your troop or pack and your local school. Scouts learn the importance of giving back while taking ownership and pride in their school.
By developing a relationship with their local school, units commit to performing four projects throughout the calendar year to enhance the school grounds, or the program and functions of the school community.

Why participate

1. Service & Community Impact

   • Helps build strong relationships between Scouts and local schools.
   • Provides hands-on service opportunities, such as landscaping, painting, organizing, and tutoring.
   • Creates a positive and visible presence of Scouting in the community.

2. Leadership & Personal Growth

   • Scouts develop leadership skills by planning and executing projects.
   • Encourages teamwork and responsibility among youth members.
   • Gives Scouts a sense of pride and accomplishment as they see their work benefiting others.

3. Advancement & Recognition

   • Many projects can count toward rank advancements, merit badges, or service hour requirements.
   • Schools and local organizations may recognize your unit, helping with recruitment and visibility.

4. Strengthening School-Scout Relationships

   • Creates a partnership that can lead to joint events, meeting spaces, and more support from the school.
   • Shows the school community that Scouts are active, helpful, and engaged citizens.

5. Living the Scout Oath & Law

   • Demonstrates "helping other people at all times" in a meaningful way.
   • Embodies the values of being helpful, kind, loyal, and trustworthy.

Project Ideas

• Grounds beautification, clean up days, tree planting and flower planting
• Teacher and staff appreciation events (lunches, snacks, ceremonies), thank you cards
• Raising/lowering school flags, flag ceremonies at School events
• Scout help at festivals, book drives, food drives (Scouting for Food), clothing drives, or another service
• Scout support for activities like tutoring/mentoring, schoolyard games, library cleanup, and more.
• Ask your school and find out where they need help.

Then, when you do help, don’t be shy: get the word out, using methods described in out Membership Recruitment page.

How does my unit signup?

Click on this link, and fill out the online form. On your first visit you will confirm your commitment. On each subsequent visit you will be able to input up to four completed projects.

Projects completed as a part of the Adopt-A-School Program can also be counted as service hours as long as they are entered into Internet Advancement! 

Each unit will be given a 10″ x 14″ white acrylic sign to proudly proclaim that they have adopted their school!  These signs should be displayed at the schools to indicate that a unit has adopted that school. At the end of the yearly commitment, each scout will receive a patch.

Sign Up Today!