News

Effective April 1, 2024, the Boy Scouts of America will eliminate the $25 one-time joining fee for new program participants in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouting.  They have also increased the regular annual registration fees by $5.00 for youth in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouts along with a $5 increase for all adult volunteers.  Below is the new fees structure that will take effect on April 1, 2024.

• $85/yr for Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouting participants ($5 increase)
• $65/yr for all adult volunteers ($5 increase)
• $25/yr for Merit Badge Counselors (No change in fee. Only for Merit Badge Counselors not already registered as leaders*)
• $50/yr for Exploring participants Youth & Adult (No change in fee)
• $100/yr unit renewal/affiliation fee (No change in fee)
• $15/yr for Scout Life magazine (No change in fee)

*Those adult volunteers that are registered in a unit, district or council position do NOT need to pay an additional $25.00 to be a merit badge counselor. Only those who are solely registered as a merit badge counselor pay the $25.00 annual registration fees. This is to cover annual background checks.

The Jayhawk Area Council is pleased to announce additional changes in leadership of our council committees.

Chaz Havens has agreed to serve as the interim Council Leadership Training Chair. He will work closely with key volunteers to operate our Wood Badge, NYLT, IOLS, BALOO, and Wilderness First Aid courses as well as providing support to our district training coordinators to ensure all leaders are fully trained in their registered position. Chaz is active on the council’s Wood Badge staff and is a past Scoutmaster of Troop 249 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Topeka.

John Gray has agreed to serve as the Interim Council Commissioner.  He will work with our District Commissioners to ensure each unit is served by a trained unit commissioner. In this role, he will provide support to the council’s operating program committees – training, outdoor programs, and advancement. John is a past District Commissioner for Pony Express district, is active on the Dzie Hauk Tonga Lodge cook crew and has been active on the Shooting Sports Committee. He is also a member of this Fall’s Wood Badge Staff. Jim is from Sabetha having been active with Troop 77.

The interim titles are effective immediately pending formal approval per our council bylaws at our Council Executive Board meeting in September. We that these two great volunteers for their service to the Jayhawk Area Council.