Jayhawk Area Council

Serving Scouting in the Topeka, Kansas area

News

A Message from the Jayhawk Area Council Key 3

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Boy Scouts of America Announces New Membership Fees

The National Council of the Boy Scouts of America has announced the new membership fees that will take effect August 1, 2023. This decision is the result of extensive work by both national council volunteers and staff with input from local councils to determine the fees necessary to operate the Boy Scouts of America.

Effective August 1, 2023, the membership fees will be adjusted as follows:

  • $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 (no change)

In addition to the above fees, there will be no pro-rated fee option. For youth or volunteers joining after August 1, 2023, the annual membership fee will be due upon registration and will be due each year on their anniversary date. Those that are registered youth and volunteers prior to August 1, 2023 will annually renew in January.  There will no longer be pro-rated fees to cover everyone until January and unit recharting will no longer be directly tied to the annual registration renewal process.

Please review the two documents, one from the National BSA Council and one from your Jayhawk Area Council leadership.  Both will provide additional background information about this upcoming change.  We also look forward to seeing everyone at your August Program Previews and where there will be an opportunity to ask questions.

We look forward to another great school year of Scouting!

Jayhawk Area Council Key 3

BSA-Fee-AnnouncementDownload
BSA-National-Annual-Membership-Fees-ExplainedDownload

Updates Coming to BSA’s Barriers to Abuse

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  As part of our ongoing commitment to abuse prevention, the Boy Scouts of America is updating the adult supervision requirements for overnight activities. This update enhances the minimum “two deep leadership” requirements by additionally requiring every adult present on overnight activities to be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America. These adults must submit an adult application and registration fee, undergo a criminal background check, a volunteer screening database check and must complete mandatory Youth Protection training.    

A limited exception for parents and legal guardians of Cub Scout youth attending overnight with their children is planned due to the family centric nature of Cub Scouting. All Cub Scout Packs, Scouts BSA Troops, Venturing Crews, Sea Scouting Ships, Exploring Posts, council, and district overnight programs will be required to comply with this update by September 1, 2023. The BSA encourages early adoption prior to the effective date. This updated Barrier to Abuse can be referenced as part of the Guide to Safe Scouting, Youth Protection and Adult Leadership section, Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse. Youth Protection and Barriers to Abuse FAQs will be expanded to include additional FAQs as they are developed.

Thanks to every leader and parent for their help in keeping our Scouts safe.
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