June Roundtable

Mark your calendars for a virtual roundtable on Thursday June 18 at 7:00 PM.  Topics will include beascout.org, running virtual meetings, and updates regarding in-person meetings and camping.

Register in advance for this meeting

Summer Camps

We know there are questions and concerns about how the COVID-19 pandemic will affect summer camp.  Our program team has been busy preparing updated programs, procedures, and resources.  See the links below for more details regarding overnight resident camps this summer.

We know the value of an outdoor experience and have added some additional day camp opportunities this summer.  See this flyer for more details.  Registration and more details will be posted online soon.

BeAScout Updates

With digital technology becoming even more vital as a means of connecting, it’s more important than ever for families to be able to find units and join Scouting online. Help your leaders get up to speed on BeAScout.org and the online registration process with new easy-to-follow training resources at https://www.scouting.org/resources/online-registration/

Scouting at Home Resources

Please visit our Scouting at Home page for the latest ideas, resources, and fun ways to keep Scouting!  We continue to update this page with new resources.  

Cub Scout Projects

The flyers below contain more ideas to keep on Scouting at home.  All families should check these out!

Scouts BSA Projects

Training Updates

A new online and facilitated version of Scouts BSA training will be available on August 3, 2020.  Adult leaders that are currently completing the training need to complete all modules prior to this date.  This includes learning plans for all Scouts BSA positions – Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmaster, Committee Chair, Committee Member, and Merit Badge Counselor.   Leaders will need to restart the training using the new learning plans and modules If they do not complete the existing modules by August 2, 2020.

Membership Fee Increase

The BSA has worked to keep the membership fee as low as possible. Unfortunately, operating costs have continued to rise and COVID-19 has compounded the need to increase the fee to maintain the program.

To ensure the resources to fulfill the promise of Scouting, the updated national membership fees are:

  • $66 for Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouts participants
  • $42 for Exploring participants
  • $250 for STEM Scout participants
  • $42 for all adult volunteers (includes cost of background check)
  • $75 for a unit charter fee

The membership fees will take effect August 1, 2020, for new members in the 2020-2021 program year. For renewing members, the new fee will take effect late this fall during the membership renewal period for 2021. The updated unit charter fee will take effect August 1, 2020, for all new and renewing unit registrations.

Starting August 1, 2020, there will also be a one-time $25 joining fee for new program participants in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouts; however, there is no joining fee for Exploring participants, participants previously registered in any BSA program, those transferring from one program to another, council-paid memberships, or adult volunteers.

We understand these increases come at a time when family budgets are stressed.  We have a membership assistance fund to help families in need (Scouting Financial Assistance Form) and we have worked with our volunteer board of directors to determine other methods to further assist families that join so the new one-time $25 joining fee is not a barrier to participating.  From August 1 through December 31, 2020 the Board of Directors have decided to waive the one-time $25 National BSA joining fee (Samoset Council is absorbing this cost to help during COVID19) for all new participants.