Summer Communities of Service (SCOS) Prepares for Full Relaunch in 2026
Summer Communities of Service (SCOS), a national leadership program for young adults aged 19 and older, is returning in May 2026 with renewed energy, new host sites, and a continued commitment to faith, community service, and justice advocacy. The program offers young adults a unique opportunity to live and serve from late May through early August in host congregations and community organizations across the United States.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, SCOS operated as a joint initiative of the United Church of Christ (UCC) and the Alliance of Baptists. The program has long provided a vital pathway for young people to deepen their faith, engage in justice-centered ministries, build intentional community, and grow professionally. Its roots reach back to the early days of Volunteer Ministries in the UCC, when young adult training took place at the Fernbrook Center—a facility built by volunteers to equip the next generation of faithful leaders.
Volunteers work on hurricane damage at Church of the Isles UCC in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida.
Although the program paused during the pandemic, Volunteer Ministries launched a soft relaunch this summer by partnering with Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, Mississippi. SCOS is hosting a student from Heidelberg University as a preview of the program’s full return. This pilot reflects SCOS’s ongoing goal to equip young adults for service, justice, and leadership within their communities and congregations.
Looking ahead, SCOS will fully relaunch in May 2026 with two confirmed host sites: Back Bay Mission in Biloxi and Mohala Farms in Hawaii. Volunteer Ministries is actively preparing for the relaunch and looks forward to welcoming a new cohort of young adults ready to explore their faith, live into their purpose, and make a meaningful difference.
Stay tuned for updates, participant stories, and ways to support or get involved in this meaningful program. For more information about SCOS or how to become a host site or participant, contact Volunteer Ministries at the United Church of Christ.
