National Membership & Council Fees
The mission of Scouting America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. When compared to the cost of sports and many other activities, there is no doubt that Scouting delivers great value to its members! Costs include BSA membership fees, uniforms, and nominal activity fees that may be charged locally. Of course, these costs may be offset by unit fundraising and other available scholarship funds.
National Membership Fee
National Fee Structure - effective May 1, 2024
- $85 for Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouting participants.
- $65 for all adult volunteers.
- $25 for Merit Badge Counselors (this fee applies only to those individuals who are not already registered as adult leaders in the Council). Merit badge counselors who are not also registered in a unit position are not allowed to attend overnight Scouting activities/events.
- $50 for Exploring participants Youth & Adult.
- $100 for a unit charter/affiliation fee.
- $15 for Scout Life magazine subscription.
*This amount goes directly to the National BSA and does not include any additional fees that a Council or Unit may collect.
Council Fee
Erie Shores Council implemented a Council Fee for both new and renewing youth members only. No adult members will be assessed a Council Fee.
Council Fee Structure - effective August 1, 2024
The Council Fee is in addition to the annual National Membership Fee.
- Renewing Youth Members: An additional fee of $20.00 per person will be charged for those who have been registered over the past year or longer.
- New Youth Members: An additional fee of $10.00 per person will be charged for the first year, followed by the standard renewal fee every year thereafter.
- Adult Leaders: No fee
- Family Cap: Each family will be capped at a maximum of $60.00 paid in Council Fees.
2024 Membership Fees Infograpic
Membership Renewal
To manage the renewing membership process, there are three methods available:
Note: Scout Life subscription is automatically selected when you renew your membership. It is important that you uncheck the box if you do not want a Scout Life subscription!
- Family/Self Renewal: Members can renew individually.
- An email with a renewal link will be sent 60 days before membership expires.
- Clicking the link will direct them to a renewal form on My.Scouting.
- If registered in multiple positions, select the primary (paid) position for renewal. Multiple positions will automatically be renewed.
- The individual pays with a credit card and submits their renewal.
- Unit Renewal: Units renew memberships collectively.
- The unit will need to select the Unit Pay option in Organization Manager.
- Unit Key 3 leaders are notified monthly of members due for renewal.
- Using the Roster tab, the unit selects which members they are renewing.
- The unit can choose not to renew a member. The unit can also change the Scout’s Life subscription settings for each person.
- The unit pays with a credit card or an ACH and submits the renewal.
- Manual Renewal: Individual membership renewal and fees are paid to the unit or local Council office.
- Individuals applying for financial assistance should choose this option.
Please check out the additional resources below for guides and instructional videos on how to renew adult leaders and Scouts.
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance for the National Membership fees and Scout handbooks is available for both new and renewing Scouts (youth members only), please complete the Registration Scholarship Application for consideration.
Family Cap Reimbursement
Families charged more than $60.00 in Council Fees are eligible for a reimbursement for the amount above $60.00 from Council. If your family meets this criteria, please complete the Family Cap Reimbursement Application for consideration.
Additional Resources
- Auto-Renewal Membership
- Key Steps for Membership & Unit Renewal
- Adults Renewing their Membership Guide
- Parent's Renewing their Youth's Membership Guide
- Units Renewing their Members Guide
- Approvals for Units and Member Renewals Guide
- Members without Units Guide
- Unit and Membership Renewal - National page