Just like the first real snowfall of Winter, every January in Scouting feels like a clean slate, marking a new beginning. You’ve got fresh calendars, big goals, and that excitement that comes with endless possibilities for the year ahead. I still remember heading into new Scouting years thinking, “Alright, this time I’m going to really get it together.” Sometimes that meant advancement. Other times, it meant becoming more confident as a leader, more helpful to others, or even just more consistent.
To kick off 2026, I asked Scouts and Scoutmasters to share their New Year’s Scouting resolutions, what’s been working, what hasn’t, and what advice they’d give to their troop. What came back was honest, hopeful, and full of insightful ideas that can make any troop stronger. Some responses were funny, some were serious, and a bunch were surprisingly wise!
Scouting is also in a season of rebuilding and growth across the country. Scouting America has reported membership at around a million and noted growth in Cub Scouting and continued participation of girls across programs. No matter what your unit looks like right now, that’s a reminder that there are a lot of Scouts and Scouters working on the same things you are, and you’re not doing it alone!
In this article, I’ll share the biggest themes from the survey, highlight some of the most helpful ideas, and give you practical ways to turn all that New Year motivation into a phenomenal year for your troop!
Overview: What These Survey Answers Reveal About 2026
When I looked over your survey responses, a few big patterns jumped out. Scouts want to grow, but they also want Scouting to feel fun and worth their time. Older Scouts are thinking seriously about mentoring and leading in a real way. Adult leaders want to support youth leadership without taking over, and many are trying to solve the same problem at once: how do we make the program run smoother when everyone is busy?
The challenges are familiar too: time management, engagement, phones, merit badge coordination, troop culture issues like competitiveness or favoritism, and adult burnout when there are not enough volunteers. What I love, though, is that almost every “problem” came with a hint of a solution, and that’s exactly what we’re going to highlight in this article!
What Scouts Are Resolving to Do (And Why It Matters So Much)
A lot of Scouts are aiming for Eagle, but what stood out most was how many of them also want to become the kind of Scout who helps everyone else succeed. That’s the best kind of goal because it makes your troop stronger while you’re building yourself up too!
“I want to become a patrol leader and make some positive changes within my troop. I feel like some of our newest younger scouts need guidance that I didnt have when I moved into the troop…”
Logan H
“I am going to improve on my teaching skills and make sure I share the scouting knowledge I have with the younger scouts with my new troop guide position.”
Aurora P.
“I will become an Eagle Scout and serve as a responsible Junior Assistant Scoutmaster or Senior Patrol Leader…”
Grace Z
There’s also a strong theme of getting outside more. That’s a great sign, because when troops camp more, you usually see everything else improve too: skills, friendships, teamwork, and motivation!
“More Camping trips/outings”
Nathaniel L
“Do more backpacking.”
Alan B
If you’re a Scout reading this and you’ve got a big resolution, don’t stress about doing it perfectly right away. The secret is consistency. Pick a pace you can keep even when school gets busy, sports ramp up, or you hit one of those weeks where you feel tired of everything. If you keep moving, you’ll be shocked how far you get by summer!
What’s Working in Troops Right Now (So You Can Copy It)
1) Older Scouts mentoring younger Scouts
This came up again and again. New Scouts join excited, but they often feel lost. Older Scouts want to be useful, but sometimes they don’t have a clear job. When you pair them up, both sides win!
“The Older scouts team the younger scouts. Any Scout 1st class and above are allowed to sign off on requirements…”
Kristina H
“Assigning a senior scout to a younger scout, so that the older scout is more engaged and the younger scout is getting requirements signed of.”
Julian O.
If your troop wants to test a simple version of this, try doing it in short “seasons.” Pair older Scouts with younger Scouts for 4 to 6 weeks at a time. Give older Scouts a few clear goals: learn names, help the younger Scout show up prepared, and help them feel included in the patrol and troop. Younger Scouts grow faster, and older Scouts feel like their leadership actually matters!
2) Better systems for gear, planning, and communication
One of my favorite responses was from a Scout who described a quartermaster system that many troops would love to have.
“The QM team also created a digital spreadsheet mapping the condition of each patrol box, stove, and tent with detailed notes.”
Garv K
Systems like that remove a ton of stress from campouts. Instead of “Where is the stove?” or “Who broke this tent pole?” you can track gear, fix things early, and keep everyone in the loop.
Communication was another big theme. Troops that communicate clearly tend to run smoother and feel more organized!
“One thing I heavily suggest is to make a leadership group chat…”
Julian O
If you do this, keep it focused on running the program: reminders, who’s teaching skills, what patrols need for campouts, and quick PLC coordination. It doesn’t need to be perfect, but it should be used consistently and serve as a central hub to make meeting and outing coordination easier!
3) Keeping Scouting fun on purpose
It’s easy to say “Scouting should be fun,” but troops that do it well plan fun intentionally. They build it into meetings and campouts so it doesn’t disappear when things get busy.
“Find the fun in every activity!! Make the Merit badges fun, Make the rank Advancement fun. Play games.”
Curtis H
“Right before each winter and summer break… (I suggest having) a sports night…”
Nicholas W
If your meetings have started feeling stale, this is the simple fix. You don’t need to reinvent everything – very often you just need a few small traditions and fun elements that happen consistently, which everyone can look forward to! 🙂
What Isn’t Working (And How Troops Can Improve It This Year!)
1) Meetings running long and time slipping away
A lot of troops struggle here, and it impacts morale. When meetings run late, Scouts get restless, parents get frustrated, and the troop slowly loses trust in the schedule.
“We struggle to complete meetings on time and normally end up running 10-15 minutes late.”
Garv K
A practical fix is having the PLC build a simple meeting plan that includes time limits for each part, and having someone actually watch the clock. It can be an ASPL role or a rotating job. The important part is that the troop starts and ends when it says it will. When you get that right, everything feels more organized fast!
2) Boring meetings, distractions, and phones
This one is a little hilarious, just because of how honest the responses were.
“Meetings are boring”
Robert C
“What hasn’t is trying to stop troop members from playing Clash Royale.”
Julian O
If a meeting is mostly talking, phones will win. A good way to fix this is to make meetings more active and patrol-based: short instruction, quick demonstration, then patrols doing the skill with a challenge or competition. If you can end a meeting with a game that connects to the skill, even better. Scouts will leave with energy instead of feeling like they sat through a lecture!
By the way, you should check out my article on Whether Scouts Should Carry Phones During Troop Activities!
3) Competition, comparison, and discouragement
This matters because it’s the kind of thing that can quietly push Scouts away. A troop can still be high-achieving without making people feel judged, rushed, or embarrassed!
“Your Scouting journey ahould not be competition! Take the time to learn the skills and advance at your own pace.”
Logan H
When a troop culture starts feeling competitive in the wrong way, it helps to celebrate more than just ranks and badges. Recognize effort, improvement, helpfulness, and teamwork. It also helps when youth leaders set a tone of respect and encouragement at meetings and on campouts. Scouts should feel proud of each other’s progress, not pressured by it!
4) Leadership struggles and hard conversations
One Scout described a situation that many troops face at some point, where a youth leader isn’t doing well, and adults are hesitant to address it. If you’ve seen this in your unit, don’t panic. This is actually a common growing pain, and it can be handled in a supportive way!
“Our new SPL for the troop has not been doing as well as everyone would have hoped… a lot of leaders do not want to confront it.”
Anonymous
A strong approach is coaching, support, and clear expectations. A private check-in, asking what the SPL needs, and building a plan together can change everything. Lots of youth leaders struggle at first, especially when the job is bigger than they expected. With the right support, many of them improve quickly and grow a ton!
5) Adult burnout and not enough volunteers
Several adults mentioned being stretched thin, and if you’re a leader feeling overtasked, you’re not alone. You’re doing your best, and it’s okay to admit that the troop needs more hands!
“I have been overtasked and need additional help from parents that I am not getting.”
Rachel W
“I’ve volunteered for too much and need to say no to some things in 2026”
Mark T
This is where troops can get smarter about recruiting. Instead of asking new parents to take on a huge role right away, start with small, defined tasks. A short-term job with a clear finish line builds confidence, and confident parents are more likely to help again!
Also, costs and fees are real for families. Scouting America lists annual membership fees for programs, and councils and units may add their own costs too. That’s another reason it’s worth making meetings and outings feel organized, welcoming, and genuinely fun. Families want to feel like their time and money are going toward something meaningful!
Creative Troop Ideas Worth Trying in 2026
Start, Stop, Continue feedback loops
Multiple Scouts mentioned this, and it’s one of the simplest troop improvement tools out there. It works because it keeps small problems from becoming big problems, gives Scouts a voice, and helps the PLC make adjustments without everything feeling personal!
“At the end of every day of summer camp we meet an do what we call Start Stop and Continue…”
Eli M
“Use start, stop, continue…”
Colin JHere’s how it’s done: at the end of an activity, camp day, or even a month, Scouts share one thing the troop should start doing, one thing it should stop doing, and one thing it should continue doing because it’s working well. The power of this method is that it keeps feedback balanced and practical.
Scouts feel heard, leaders get clear guidance, and small issues are caught early before they grow into bigger problems. Because everyone is focused on behaviors and ideas rather than people, it creates a healthier troop culture where improvement feels normal, safe, and part of how the PLC leads.
Merit badge field trips and community partnerships
Troops that get out into the community tend to have more energy and more momentum, and it also helps with recruitment because families start hearing good things!
“Parnering with local museums for merit badge field trips!”
Jerry N
Teaching skills with simple practice materials
This one is a great example of making skill instruction easier and more fun, especially for new Scouts who are still building confidence!
“Found a fun way to teach lashings. I bought PVC pipe and cut them down to about 3 foot lengths. The scouts can practice their lashings and knots without working with wood (splinters avoided!) I also purchased small wooden dowels that are just a tad longer than their scout book. I gave them paracord and it is a small version for them to practice knots and lashings.”
Serena G
Personal Lessons and Encouragement
One thing these survey answers reminded me is that Scouting works best when it stays balanced. Progress matters. Leadership matters. But so does laughter, friendship, and making memories you’ll still be talking about years from now!
“Scouts is supposed to be a fun program don’t take it to seriously or you could miss the best years of your life.”
Aurora P
And if you’re feeling overwhelmed, that’s not a sign you should quit. It’s usually a sign you need support, a plan, and one good next step. That is especially true for Eagle, because Eagle can feel huge until you break it into smaller parts and start moving!
“To start planning the Eagle Project. It seems overwhelming.”
Anne Marie M
If that’s you right now, please hear this: you can do it! Ask for help, talk to your Scoutmaster, reach out to someone who has done an Eagle project recently, and focus on the next small step. Once you start, it gets easier, and you build confidence as you go! You can even check out my Eagle Project Prep article on the easiest way to get started planning.
2026 Takeaways: How to Have a Strong Year (Without Burning Out!)
For Scouts: Aim for steady progress this year, especially during the busy seasons. If you’re motivated right now, use that energy to handle the harder stuff earlier, then enjoy the fun parts without stress piling up later. Look for ways to help younger Scouts, because teaching is one of the fastest ways to become confident and skilled yourself! And if you ever feel behind, remember that the best plan is the one you can actually stick with consistently!
For youth leaders and PLCs: Focus on meetings that move and keep everyone active. Starting on time and ending on time is a powerful signal that the troop is organized and respects families’ schedules. Patrol challenges, hands-on skills, and short games can totally change troop energy. If engagement has been a struggle, don’t beat yourself up. Treat it as a clue that you can tweak the program and try something new!
For adult leaders: You don’t have to do everything. Build a structure where small volunteer jobs are normal and appreciated, and where youth leaders get coaching and encouragement as they grow. When troops feel supported and organized, Scouts stay longer and families are more likely to step up. Also, if your unit has been rebuilding since the pandemic, you are not the only one, and it really can get better year by year with steady effort!
Conclusion
I’m excited for your Scouting journey in 2026! Whether your troop is already thriving or steadily evolving, I’m sure you can make the year ahead an amazing one. The best part is that it doesn’t require perfection. It just takes consistency, a positive culture, and a few practical systems that help everyone succeed!
Thanks again to everyone who shared survey answers. Your ideas help make ScoutSmarts better for the whole Scouting community! I’m rooting for you this year, and I can’t wait to see what you and your troop accomplish. Let’s make 2026 a year we can all be proud of. 😀