How Much Does Scouting Cost?
There are both required and optional fees for Scouting participation.
National membership registration fees are required for all youth participants and adult volunteer leaders. These fees cover liability and accident insurance that is provided with registration. Also required is a $20 fee charged by the local council to help further defray the cost of insurance. They are listed below.
Optional costs include Boy’s Life magazine subscription and any activity fees or equipment items referred to below. These items are optional in the sense that not all of them are required to be a registered participant. The families may choose which to purchase and still enjoy the basic benfits of program participation.
There is some scholarship assistance for the Old North State Council registrants. Some packs and troops provide additional assistance for these fees. Please check with your leader prior to completing a scholarship request.
ONS Council and unit fundraising opportunities, including Popcorn and Camp Card sales, is a great way to defray the costs, and give a Scout the chance to earn the resources needed to participate in summer camp or other programs. Unit fundraising may also be used to defray local unit costs for awards and activities. Scouts who use this option, not only learn self-sufficiency, they improve their goal setting, salesmanship and public speaking skills as well. Parents should discuss these options with their unit leaders.
Below is a list of basic needs to get a young person started in each Scouting program, to give you a rough idea of what’s expected. Before you buy anything, however, make sure you talk to the unit leader. He or she will be able to tell you about any specific uniform or equipment needs for the pack, troop or crew. They will also be able to tell you about how to utilize any available unit assistance. The form to request membership registration fee scholarships can be found here.
FEES EFFECTIVE AS OF AUGUST 1, 2023
Fees are for a “membership year” which is based on the date the participant registers with the BSA. Program participants are assigned to a unit (pack, troop, crew, ship or post) upon registration. The unit renews its membership annually in an anniversary month dependent upon which district it is in:
The membership year for units in Alamance, Guilford & Uwharrie Districts is from February 1 to January 31.
The membership year for units in Akela & Cherokee Districts is from March 1 to February 28.
The one-time fee is not prorated and applies to any youth, except Explorers, who have not participated in Scouting in the last 2 years.
Cub Scouts
Required: $80 annual national membership registration fee plus $20 local insurance surcharge. New Cubs have a one-time fee of $25.
Note: some individual Cub packs charge additional program fees.
Optional extras: Uniform, handbook, Scout Life subscription, camping equipment (most Cub camping does not require special equipment purchase; talk with your Scout’s Cubmaster before buying anything)
Scouts BSA
Required: $80 annual national membership registration fee plus $20 local insurance surcharge. New Scouts have a one time fee of $25.
Note: some individual Scouts BSA troops charge additional program fees.
Optional extras: Uniform, handbook, Boys’ Life subscription, camping equipment (your scout will need some camping gear but many brands are specifically designed with a more experienced camper in mind; talk with your scout’s Scoutmaster before buying anything)
Venturing & Sea Scouts
Required: $80 registration annual national membership registration fee plus $20 local insurance surcharge. New Venturers have a one time fee of $25.
Note: some individual Venture crews charge additional program fees.
Optional extras: Uniform, camping equipment (Venture crews select their own uniform; we recommend that you talk with your Venturer’s Crew Advisor before buying anything)
Exploring
Required: $50 annual national membership registration fee.
