We understand you may have questions when starting your Scouting adventure.

We’re here to help.

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What are the Scouting programs?

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Cub Scouting

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A year-round, family-friendly program designed for children in kindergarten through fifth grade (ages 5-10). Activities are used to achieve the aims of Scouting—citizenship training, character development, and personal fitness.

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Scouts BSA

Designed for ages 11-17, youth in Scouts BSA learn responsible citizenship, character development, and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities and educational programs.

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Venturing

A high-adventure-based program for young men and women between the ages of 14 and 20. Its purpose is to provide positive experiences to help youth mature and prepare them to become responsible adults.

 

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Exploring

A career development program for young men and women between the ages of 14 and 20. Exploring units have a focus on a single career field, such as police, fire/rescue, health, law, aviation, and engineering.

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How much does Scouting cost?

Scouting does charge fees for membership, events, and trips. Council and unit fundraising will help with those costs including Popcorn sales and will give a Scout the opportunity to earn the money needed to participate in summer camp or other programs. Conquistador Council believes all young people should participate in and enjoy Scouting programs regardless of circumstance. If you would like more information about scholarships, please contact us by email or by phone at (575)-622-3461.

 

Below is a list of basic needs to start in each Scouting program. Items are available at Council Scout Shops. Before purchasing any items, speak with your unit leader, and he or she will be able to tell you more about any specific uniform or equipment guidelines for the pack, troop, or crew.

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Cub Scout Fees | Scouts BSA Fees | Venturing Crew Fees

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Beginning August 1, 2023, all new youth and adult members who join Scouting will be enrolled in a 12-month membership cycle and the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) will cease prorating fees.  Both youth and adults will pay the full annual membership fee and will renew their membership on the anniversary date of joining Scouting.  All proration of membership fees will be eliminated.  Each registered member of the BSA will receive an email notice with a registration renewal link beginning 60 days before the anniversary month they joined Scouting.  Unit leaders will receive a copy of the email and should stay engaged in the membership renewal process just like rechartering.

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Current Scouts and adult volunteers will renew their membership during their normal registration and recharter cycle this fall. Moving forward, all members will renew on their anniversary date.  The anniversary date for currently registered members will be their unit recharter month (December for all Conquistador Council units).  Effective August 1st, new members’ anniversary date will be the month they joined.

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Effective August 1, 2023, the BSA will implement the following national membership fees:

• $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)

• $100 for a unit charter/affiliation fee (no change in fee)

• $15 for Scout Life magazine subscription

Charter Renewal Changes

• This fall, all units in the Conquistador Council will renew their charter and memberships in the same manner as in past years with no changes.  Starting in the fall of 2024, units will renew charters and membership under the new system.

• To simplify the unit charter process, membership renewals will no longer be tied to the unit charter process; beginning in the fall of 2024, units will renew their charters separately from their membership.

• The recharter process will be much simpler as the system will validate the unit leadership and verify the unit has the minimum required youth and adults.

• The unit’s Charter Organization Representative (COR) and council will approve the leadership, the unit will approve the charter, and the unit will submit the annual unit charter renewal fee of $100.

Membership Renewal Process

• All membership in the BSA will be renewed on a 12-month membership cycle.

• Each youth and adult member will renew their membership on their anniversary month. Many will have an anniversary that is the month their unit renewed last, and any new members will renew 12 months after they joined.

• Membership renewals will be completed either by credit card with a 12-month renewal payment from the individual, by a Scout unit that has elected the “Unit will pay all our members renewals” option, or by a manual payment at a Council Service Center.

New Members

• Beginning August 1, 2023, all new youth and adult members will join for a 12-month membership cycle. Both youth and adults will pay the full annual membership fee to join Scouting and will renew their membership on the anniversary month of joining.

• New members joining after July 31, 2023, will begin their annual membership renewal in July 2024. This will be tied to the anniversary month of joining.

• Each member of the BSA will receive an email notice with a registration renewal link beginning 60 days before the anniversary month of joining.

Existing Members

• Beginning August 1, 2023, all youth and adult membership renewals will be for a 12-month membership cycle.

• Charter Renewal will remain unchanged for units due to charter this fall (recharter due date of December 31, 2023).  Charter Renewal change will take effect for units starting in the fall of 2024. 

• Renewing members will renew their membership on their anniversary month.

• Each member will receive an email renewal notice reminder beginning 60 days before the anniversary month.

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The goal of these changes is to streamline the rechartering and membership renewal process for units and individual members.  If you have questions about the new process, please contact a District staff member here.

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What does the annual membership fee cover?

The national BSA membership fee helps cover the cost of essential services to units and local councils.  Services include expanded liability insurance for those participating in approved Scouting activities, enhanced criminal background checks, a variety of program resources, youth protection, and leader-specific training, and the development of intellectual property for national, council, and unit programs.

Ready to get started?

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