BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA JERSEY SHORE COUNCIL

Council Program Fee Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

Q: What is the Council Program Fee & who does it apply to? Previously, all Councils charged two separate fees for Council Services & Insurance Fees. Per National BSA, in 2020 those were combined into one comprehensive Council Program Fee. The fee applies to all youth and adult leaders depending upon their program: • Cubs, Scouts BSA, Venturers & Sea Scouts - $60.00 • Explorer Scouts - $30.00 • Adult Leaders - $18.00 (adults only pay the pass-through insurance fee)

Q: The National Registration Fee is now $72.00. What portion of those fees goes to Jersey Shore Council? Zero. Jersey Shore Council collects the National Registration Fee and passes it directly onto the National BSA. The National Registration is used to directly support program development costs, support national high adventure bases, process criminal background checks, etc. None of the National Registration Fees help support local Scouting programs.

Q: Our Pack/Troop/Crew pays far more than $72.00; where does that money go? To your local unit. Local Scout units charge anywhere from an additional $50-$150 (and up) per year to belong to local Scouting programs. You would have to ask your local unit how they budget these dollars because each unit is different.

Q: What is the $60 Council Program Fee spent on? Good question. The Council Program Fee helps support Council operations by keeping the Council offices and camps open and maintained and by providing training and support to all unit leaders and parents of the Council. Additionally, the Council Program Fee provides the following specific services to your units and families: • Insurance – Our Council spends $18.00 per person annually on accident & sickness and other forms of insurance. It should be noted that these fees are a “pass through” meaning the fee is collected & transmitted directly to the insurance carriers. • Scoutbook & MyBSA accounts for every member of Jersey Shore Council. Again these fees are collected & transmitted directly to the National BSA. • One-Day Training Courses (Outdoor Leader & Den Chief Training, etc.) are provided to leaders free of charge. • Funds are set aside for updating/maintaining Council web services and other information technology needs. • Approximately 20% of the Council Program Fee goes to a JSC Capital Improvement/Reinvestment Fund, which helps to improve/beautify Citta Scout Reservation and our Council Service Centers. To date our Council has spent in excess of $80,000 in this area on a variety of projects. Some are direct program areas (e.g. the new Yurt Village, Mountain Biking Program, Cowboy Action Shooting & Cub Scout inflatables.) Others projects are related to infrastructure (e.g. improved water, electric & air conditioning services, fencing, etc.) • A “Specific Assistance Fund” was created to help provide financial assistance to any families who could not afford the positive benefits of the Scouting Program. We are pleased to report that as of this communication, no one who has asked for assistance has ever been turned away.

Q: Does this mean that Family Friends of Scouting will be going away? Friends of Scouting will not be going away. We have endeavored to change the way in which we hold Family FOS, and will continue to look for ways to improve our presentations. However Jersey Shore Council will always want to share the positive benefits of Scouting with our families, and a robust Family Campaign helps to mitigate future increases in the Council Program Fee.

Q: How does the National Registration and Program Fee compare to other organizations? Another good question. The volunteer task force looked at a number of other organizations while discussing the Council Program Fee. Most sports programs charge between $300 to $1,000 (and much higher!) Similarly organizations such as the YMCA charge well in excess of $250 for family membership (not including classes or pool time.) Scouting provides a year round program of character, leadership and positive activities for significantly less.

Q: What happens if I have a Scout who is unable to pay the Council Program Fee? Our Council has created a Specific Assistance Fund to help individuals in need, whether it be with the Program or Registration Fee, uniforms & handbooks, even summer camp fees. To date, no child has ever been turned away due to an inability to pay.

Q: Will the National Registration Fee increase again next year? As of this writing we are unaware of any fee increase from National BSA. Per the recommendation of our volunteer task force, the JSC Council Program Fee increase will be phased in gradually over the course of the next three years.

Q: Will the Council Program Fee be pro-rated for youth who join mid-year? Correct, the Council Program & National Registration Fees will be pro-rated for youth who join after the “normal” recharter period.

Q: What will happen with transfers & Webelos who cross over to Scouts BSA? Our intent is that this will be processed along the same lines as youth applications. When a youth crosses over from Cubs to Scouts, they don’t pay a second registration fee, nor do they when a youth transfers between units within a Council. The Program Fee would operate in a similar fashion.

Q: Where should I go should I have further questions that have not been covered here? Should you have further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to email them to us at [email protected], or call the Clayton Service Center at 732-349-1037.