Each year, Scouting units (Packs, Troops, and Crews) are required to renew their charters with the Northern Lights Council.   The charter is the official agreement between the council and your local chartered organization to provide a program under the auspices of the BSA.  The process of renewing a unit's charter reinforces this agreement year-to-year and provides an opportunity to update registration records and qualify for Journey to Excellence recognition.

Thank you for completing your unit’s charter renewal on time and error free!  This website is intended to provide all the resources you will need (except the unit access code) to complete the process quickly.

Deadlines

For units that expire 12/31/20 - completed renewal was due to a commissioner by November 24, 2020

For units that expire 1/31/21 - completed renewal was due to a commissioner by December 18, 2020

For units that expire 2/28/21 - completed renewal is due to a commissioner by January 29, 2021

Contacts for Assistance

District District Commissioner Council Staff
Prairie Fire Mike Denke Brenda Thomson
Northern Sky Jason Benson Shaun Grover
Lake Agassiz Tom Henderson Lane Schirado
Roughrider Paula Kleinsasser Barb Shockey
Tomahawk James Walker Carleton Borden
Frontier Trails   Paul Maloney
Great Plains Leland Tong Audrey LaFave

New - Printing membership cards (pdf)

New - Printing charter certificates (pdf)

Membership Validation form

  • To be used if less than 5 youth will be registered

Registration Assistance form

  • For individuals needing assistance, not Scout Reach units

Insurance Fee Explanation & Information

Unit Account Authorization form

FOS Presentation Scheduling form

Free Rank Insignia Program for Units

Annual Charter Agreement form

Journey to Excellence (JTE) scorecards

Charter Renewal Checklist

  • For Commissioners and Field Staff

Unregistered Unit Report

  • For professional staff use only

Youth and Adult Application Forms

 

New Registration Fees

Effective August 1st, 2020

The new annual membership fees effective August 1, 2020:

  • $66 for youth members in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouts,
  • $42 for youth members in Exploring, and
  • $42 for adult members
  • $75 annual Charter Fee (paid by the chartered organization)
  • $4 insurance fee per each youth and adult member (paid only at charter time)

Every dollar of the national membership fee goes toward the cost of essential services, including liability insurance for those participating in approved Scouting activities, program resources, safety standards, youth protection and personal safety training, and services to councils nationwide to sustain Scouting. The National BSA organization will also continue to develop and improve resources that support our volunteers and youth members such as online registration, and Scoutbook, which now includes the Den Leader experience to ensure the safe and consistent delivery of Cub Scouting; as well as improvements aimed at simplifying the annual renewal process. 

Across the country and in our own community, we know that Scouting remains one of the most valuable investments we can make to support young men and women today so they can become the leaders we will turn to tomorrow.

If you have questions about this or anything else, please feel free to contact Rich McCartney directly at (Office) 701-499-0640 or (Mobile) 701-552-1822. We are committed to helping you deliver the best program possible for the young women and young men that you serve. 

Thank you for what you do every day and every week to change lives!