The Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) emergence from bankruptcy represents a pivotal milestone in the BSA’s financial restructuring case and solidifies a path forward for survivors and the Scouting movement.

To preserve its mission, the BSA has taken extraordinary steps over the past three years to reposition the organization for the future. The national organization has streamlined its professional staff and volunteer structure, reducing costs throughout the movement while maintaining essential services to support the local councils who were critical partners during the bankruptcy.

To position Scouting for the future, the BSA will be required to increase the national annual membership fees for both youth and adults. This has been a difficult decision that involved the engagement of key stakeholders, but is essential to building a strong, safe, and vibrant Scouting program for our nation’s youth.

Effective August 1, 2023, the BSA will implement the following national membership fees:

• $80 for Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouting participants ($5 increase)
•  $60 for all adult volunteers ($15 increase to provide general liability insurance and enhanced background checks)
• $25 one-time joining fee for new program participants in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouting (Not prorated and no change in fee)
• $25 for Merit Badge Counselors (New Fee applies only for Merit Badge Counselors not already registered as leaders)
•  $50 for Exploring participants Youth & Adult ($5 increase)
• $100 for a unit charter/affiliation fee (no change in fee)
• $15 for Scout Life magazine subscription

BSA Will No Longer Prorate Fees for New Members beginning August 1, 2023

Beginning August 1, all new youth and adult members who join Scouting will be enrolled in a 12-month membership cycle and BSA will cease prorating fees. Both youth and adults will pay the full annual membership fee and will renew their membership on the anniversary date of joining Scouting. All proration of membership fees will be eliminated. Each registered member of the BSA will receive an email notice with a registration renewal link beginning 60 days before the anniversary date they joined Scouting. Unit leaders will receive a copy of the email and should stay engaged in the membership renewal process just like rechartering.

It is important to note, existing members will renew their membership during their normal registration/recharter cycle – December for all SKC unit-registered youth and adult leaders, and March for district- and council-level Scouters. Moving forward all members will renew on their anniversary date.

• Existing members’ Anniversary date will be their unit recharter month.
• New members’ Anniversary date will be the month they joined.

This new process will help streamline the rechartering and membership renewal process for units and councils. Additional information on this membership renewal process will be forthcoming in the very near future.

2023 Council Program Fee

The Council Program Fee will remain unchanged for 2024 at $60.00 per registered youth and no fee for adult leaders. This fee will be paid upon joining or at annual registration renewal time and is in addition to the National BSA membership fee.  

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