Central North Carolina Council Launches
Upgraded Website and Registration Platform

As part of a continued commitment to enhancing the Scouting experience for families and volunteers, the Central North Carolina Council is proud to announce the launch of its completely redesigned website and a brand-new event registration system powered by CouncilWare.

By modernizing the online infrastructure, the new platform directly supports the core pillars of membership and programming. The goal is simple: ensure that vital council information is readily accessible and that registering for events, training, and camp programs is as seamless as possible for every unit.

Transitioning to CouncilWare provides a robust, user-friendly environment tailored specifically to the needs of Scouting organizations. Whether you are a Cubmaster planning a pack's fall schedule or a parent registering a Scout for summer camp, the new system is designed to save time and reduce administrative friction.

Key Features of the New Platform:


• Streamlined Event Registration: The CouncilWare integration allows for quick, intuitive sign-ups for all council and district events. Families and leaders can easily navigate the calendar, view event details, and process registrations securely in just a few clicks.
• Mobile-Friendly Design: The new website is fully optimized for mobile devices, ensuring that volunteers have critical resources, forms, and event information at their fingertips.
• Enhanced Unit Management: Unit leaders will experience improved tracking capabilities, making it easier to manage rosters, track payments for group registrations, and ensure their Scouts are prepared for upcoming activities.
• Centralized Resources: From camp facility reservations to the latest program updates, the redesigned navigation ensures that the resources our volunteers rely on are organized and easy to find.

Providing our volunteers with the best possible tools allows them to focus on what truly matters: delivering a high-quality program and fostering youth leadership development across our communities.

The new website and registration system are now live. All unit leaders, parents, and volunteers are encouraged to visit the site, explore the new layout, and set up their CouncilWare user accounts to prepare for the upcoming Scouting year.

Program Release at Camp, August 29, 2026

We love Camp John J. Barnhardt and know many new troops will feel similarly after seeing our facilities, touring our campsites, and, most importantly, meeting our cam staff. So we offer troops an opportunity to come visit us (free of charge) on a Saturday every August to see what we have to offer. We open our program areas so that you can see what it's like to take out one of our boats, fire our rifles, and even ride our ziplines. We're certain that troops that visit will want to sign up for the upcoming winter and summer camp after their visit to camp. 

We reveal the theme for the upcoming year's summer camp. We keep it a carefully guarded secret to build suspense-- so if you come to the Program Release Party, you'll be among the first to learn about our plans for the summer and you can get a head start on planning your troops spirit efforts and activities! 

We'll answer questions about both summer and winter camps and make you feel right at home at Barnhardt! We urge you to send up to 10 of your scouts and leaders so they can tell your whole troop why they should make Camp John J. Barnhardt their your home.

NESA Merit Badge Mania, November 7, 2026

This year’s NESA Merit Badge Mania will provide various Eagle Required Merit Badge options for Scouts to take with the hopes either completing or getting significant work done toward their completion! Some of the merit badge offerings will have Requirement/s that cannot be completed in one day, and this guide will provide those Requirement/s so that Scouts can bring proof of their completion prior to if they so choose. All of the instructors are registered Scouters that have taken Merit Badge Counselor training online and have experience offering the badges that your Scouts will be taking. This will be time well spent!

Get ready for an amazing year of Scouting! The Central North Carolina Council's 2026-2027 Unit Planning Guide is here! 

Inside, you will find a complete roadmap for the upcoming year, highlighting essential programs and resources. From fundraising and leadership training to premier camping experiences, this guide is designed to streamline your coordination and maximize your impact! 

Because Scouting is a dynamic movement, things can change quickly. We encourage you to bookmark our local digital headquarters for real-time updates, event registrations, and council news:

• Council website: www.centralncscouting.org
• Camp website: www.campjohnjbarnhardt.org

By utilizing the planning pages within this guide and our digital tools, you can shift your focus from the stress of logistics to the joy of the Scouting mission!

Thank you for your tireless dedication to the youth of our community. We look forward to a successful and adventurous year ahead! 

Please click the following link to download the Central North Carolina Council's 2026-2027 Unit Planning Guide: 

💥 Epic Heritage Meets Comic Legends...Sets are Selling Fast 💥

The Central North Carolina Council dropped an exclusive patch collection and it is spectacular! 🦅🦸‍♂️ We’ve blended deep NC roots (hello, Cheerwine nostalgia! 🍒) with legendary comic book heroes and villains for a truly one-of-a-kind puzzle design.

Sets are going fast, please choose your edition before they vanish:

✨ The Standard Set: Vibrant, full-color embroidery that brings this dynamic design to life. Perfect for everyday collectors ready to show off their love for local history and comic style!

🚨 The "Red-Out" Edition: Ultra-limited! Only 200 of these gorgeous red-on-red "ghost" stitch sets were made and not many are left. This premier piece of council history continues to sell fast and is almost gone.

👇 Secure your unique tribute piece today! Shop the e-store now to grab yours before they're gone forever.

Fall Recruitment has Arrived!

As we continue to invite new families to join the adventure please ensure all prospective Scouts and their families apply online through BeAScout.org, making it easier than ever to connect with local packs, troops, crews, and ships.

Current Scouts are our best ambassadors! We encourage every Scout to invite a friend, classmate, neighbor, or teammate to attend a meeting or recruitment event this fall. A personal invitation is often the reason a young person decides to give Scouting a try.

To help spread the word, we've included a social media image that you can share on your personal accounts. Please post it, share it with friends, and help us introduce more youth to the fun, adventure, leadership, and character-building experiences that Scouting provides.

Together, we can make this fall recruitment season our strongest yet!

Introduction for two new merit badges (Competitive Gaming and Wildland Fire Management).

These engaging new additions give Scouts the opportunity to explore two very different but increasingly relevant fields, from esports and digital citizenship to wildfire science and environmental conservation.

Competitive Gaming Merit Badge: Introduces Scouts to esports and modern gaming while reinforcing the values of the Scout Oath and Law in digital spaces. Scouts will explore strategic thinking, teamwork, communication, sportsmanship, online safety, and ethical decision-making. The badge also highlights responsible screen-time balance, digital citizenship, and potential careers in game design, broadcasting, event management, cybersecurity, and other growing fields.

Wildland Fire Management Merit Badge: Provides Scouts with an immersive introduction to wildfire science, prevention, modern firefighting strategies, and the important role fire plays in maintaining healthy ecosystems. This badge is especially relevant for Scouts interested in conservation, environmental science, and outdoor leadership. It also introduces potential career paths in wildland fire management and firefighting (fields that require knowledge, courage, teamwork, and leadership).