Effective January 1, 2027, Scouting America will implement adjustments to national membership and unit charter fees.
In a memo from the National Key 3, they acknowledged that the decision was not made lightly, recognizing the financial impact fee increases have on families, volunteers, and local councils. They also pointed to rising operating costs nationwide and the reality that those costs must now be shared across a smaller membership base. National fees have remained unchanged for more than three years.
At the Council level, we have also made adjustments to our membership fees, effective January 1, 2027. We understand that operating a smaller council with a declining membership base has become increasingly challenging. Like organizations across the country, we continue to experience significant increases in the cost of doing business.
Our adjustments were made with two goals in mind: keeping fees as reasonable as possible for our families while ensuring the long-term financial stability of Tecumseh Council. We have increased the Council youth fee for Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA while decreasing the fee for all other membership categories. We also worked to simplify the fee structure and make the calculations easier for families and units.
While these changes will generate a modest increase in Council revenue, they are not intended to solve all of our financial challenges. Our operating expenses have increased considerably over the past couple of years, and we must continue to find ways to balance affordability for our families with the financial resources needed to deliver a quality Scouting program.
Important Renewal Deadline: All memberships that expire on or before December 31, 2026, must be renewed by December 31, 2026, to take advantage of the current membership fees. Beginning January 1, 2027, the grace period for renewals will no longer apply. Any membership not renewed by its expiration date will be subject to the new, higher fees. We encourage all families and unit leaders to review their expiration dates and complete renewals before the end of the year.
The National Office is transitioning all memberships to a February expiration date so that all dates align nation-wide. This transition has already begun and will continue throughout 2027. Due to this transition, registration fees will vary depending on whether you are paying for a RENEWING or NEW membership. We have attached two updated Registration and Scout Life Subscription Fee Charts (one for each scenario) for the new membership fees that take effect on January 1, 2027.
- RENEWING Member Fees – Registration and Scout Life Subscription Fee Chart
- NEW Member Fees – Registration and Scout Life Subscription Fee Chart
We remain committed to providing outstanding programs, maintaining our properties, and supporting the volunteers and families who make Scouting possible throughout Tecumseh Council.
Thank you for all that you do for Scouting in Tecumseh Council!
