Military families in Florence, Union, Burlington and Hebron can enroll their children in Scouting America without paying the $85 national registration fee for the 2026 program year.
The Dan Beard Council, which covers Boone County through its Trailblazer District, is participating in a national program that waives the fee for children of active-duty, National Guard and Reserve members. The waiver took effect June 1 and is available now through online registration at BeAScout.org, where families enter their zip code to find a local unit.
Rachel Estepp-Ennis, vice president of marketing for the Dan Beard Council, told WCPO the program reflects scouting's 115-year partnership with the military and is tied to America's 250th anniversary. She said military kids face constant upheaval when their families receive new orders.
"That's something when they're part of scouting; that's something that they can count on to be consistent," Estepp-Ennis said. "They can earn their ranks, their achievements, make new friends, kind of find that safe place for them as soon as they move in and get their orders."
How to enroll
Families visit BeAScout.org, enter their zip code and complete a military credential verification. The $85 fee drops off automatically at checkout. The process is online-only.
The national fee is fully waived, but individual council and troop fees may still apply. According to the Dan Beard Council's announcement, those costs can typically be offset through fundraising like popcorn sales and service projects.
Boone County falls within the Dan Beard Council's Trailblazer District. Phil Schirtzinger serves as the district's membership executive and is the local contact for families looking for a unit. The district holds monthly roundtables on the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 2718 Dixie Hwy., Crestview Hills.
A growing program
The Dan Beard Council served 9,769 youth in 2024 across 12 counties in Northern Kentucky and Ohio, supported by more than 3,000 volunteers who collectively log 151,000 community service hours each year. During summer 2026, more than 2,000 youth attended camps at Camp Freelander and Cub World Adventure Camp in Loveland, Ohio.
The council has also opened the Dever Family Foundation Skilled Trades Education Center, a $2 million facility at Camp Freelander with automotive bays, plumbing instruction and a robotics bay.
Estepp-Ennis said the council expects to reach more than 100,000 kids across the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region during the current recruiting season.
Upcoming
- Trailblazer District Roundtable: Second Wednesday of each month, 7 p.m., Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 2718 Dixie Hwy., Crestview Hills
- Enrollment: Open now at BeAScout.org (zip code search for local units)
