Change in BSA Membership Fees

We hope each of you and your family are safe and weathering the storm created by the Covid- 19 virus. Many of our Middle Tennessee Scouts have been participating in online activities and advancement programs and continuing their Scouting journey. Our “Backyard Bash” virtual campout was a huge success and we have more activities planned both virtually and in person. Units are now allowed to have in person meetings if their Charter Organization approves. The unit must also follow all Covid-19 requirements outlined by the state.

Last week, the Boy Scouts of America announced that the annual membership fee for youth and young adult participants will increase from $60 to $66 effective August 1, 2020. There will also be a onetime BSA joining fee for new members of $25. If a Scout has been registered in the last five years, BSA will not charge the new member fee. In addition, BSA plans to increase the membership fee to $72 on August 1, 2021, and to $75 on August 1, 2022. No fee increases are planned past 2022. None of the membership fee charged by the BSA stays in the Middle Tennessee Council, all the fee is sent to the BSA. The BSA membership fee changes can be found below.

As the “Key 3” leadership of the Middle Tennessee Council, our viewpoint is that we want to make Scouting as affordable as possible for every family. Even though we have been financially challenged by the cancellation of summer camps and other losses in income, we do not plan to increase any Middle Tennessee Council camp or activity fees through 2022. The Middle Tennessee Council charges a $2 insurance recovery fee for each participant at recharter time, and there are no plans to increase this fee. The Council is also supporting youth and families who can’t afford to participate in the Scouting program through our assistance program. Last year at this time the council spent $8,622 on assistance and this year we have spent $27,085.

You may have heard that many Boy Scout councils across the country are charging an additional council fee at registration, some councils charging as much as $100. The Middle Tennessee Council does not plan to charge a local Scouting registration fee.

We consider our local Scouting programs to be some of the best in the USA, and we want to do everything we can to support our programs now and in the future. If you have any questions, please reach out to us.

 

Yours in Scouting,

Dr. John Bright Cage
Council Board President

Karen Bengtson
Council Commissioner

Larry Brown
Scout Executive

Note: Please see BSA fees below

New Member Joining Fee:

  • $25 new member joining fee for youth and participants in traditional programs (Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scouts) in addition to the pro-rated registration fees outlined below.
  • Does not include youth in Exploring, STEM Scouts or council paid youth (Scoutreach)
  • Flat fee – no prorating
  • Effective August 1, 2020
  • Applies for youth who register for the first time online or through paper application in traditional programs noted above
  • Must have previous member ID or proof of previous paid membership to avoid fee
    • No new member joining fee if joining within five years of last registration
    • Fee does not apply to transfers from another traditional program noted above

Membership Fee:

  • $66 fee for youth and participants (Kindergarten thru age 20) in traditional program (Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scouts)
  • $42 fee for Exploring youth and participants
  • $42 for all adult volunteers in paid positions for all unit and non-unit types
  • STEM Scouts youth remain at their previously announced fees for 2020 and 2021
  • Effective August 1, 2020 for new members
  • Effective October 1, 2020 for renewing members (recharter)

Unit Charter Fee:

  • $75 fee for all units (except STEM Scout labs)
  • Effective August 1, 2020 for new and rechartering units (except for STEM Scout labs)
  • STEM Scout labs will be $40.