The Executive Board has approved updated program fees to help sustain high-quality Scouting experiences for Arizona families—now and for years to come. Watch this brief video message for the full update, and review the FAQ below to learn more about the council’s fee structure.

2025 membership fees infographic.pdf

• Why is Grand Canyon Council increasing the youth program fee at this time?

The youth program fee has remained at $50 since it was first introduced in 2020, even as the cost of delivering safe, high-quality Scouting programs has risen substantially. Over the past five years, inflation alone has eroded the real value of this fee by more than 25%. At the same time, many of the council’s most essential expenses — including property insurance, automobile insurance, volunteer training platforms, and technology systems — have increased dramatically. For example, property insurance costs have grown more than 40% in just the past year, and automobile insurance for volunteers has more than doubled.

While we remain strongly committed to keeping Scouting affordable and accessible, we also have a responsibility to maintain the financial health of our camps, services, and infrastructure. The council continues to aggressively manage operating expenses — including the difficult recent decision to reduce our camp property footprint by listing one of our four camps for sale — in order to bring long-term expenses into better alignment with current membership levels.

It is also important to note that program fees paid by Scouts and families cover less than half of the council’s total operating costs. In 2024, approximately 47% of total expenses were supported by program fees, camping and activity fees, product sales, and other Scout-generated revenue. The remaining 53% — more than half of the council’s annual operating budget — is made possible through generous charitable support from donors, businesses, and community partners who believe in Scouting’s mission.

This adjustment to the youth program fee helps share responsibility fairly between participant revenue, philanthropic giving, and continued cost control — ensuring that we can sustain high-quality Scouting experiences for Arizona families today and into the future.

• Why is a new adult volunteer fee being introduced?

The decision to introduce a modest annual fee for adult volunteers reflects the council’s responsibility to equitably share the costs of providing essential support services that directly benefit leaders in the field. While volunteers generously give their time, there are significant expenses involved in supporting their ability to safely and effectively deliver Scouting programs.

In particular, Grand Canyon Council invests heavily in several systems and services that exist entirely to serve adult volunteers:

• Automobile insurance coverage that provides important protection for volunteers who transport Scouts to and from activities.
• Learning management systems that deliver online training, certification tracking, and ongoing leadership development resources.
• Communications platforms that support timely information sharing, leader notifications, safety alerts, and consistent program guidance.

The cost of automobile insurance alone now exceeds $19 per registered adult volunteer annually, with additional costs incurred to maintain the council’s technology and communication systems. These expenses have previously been fully subsidized through youth program fees, activity revenue, and fundraising support.

Introducing a $20 annual adult program fee allows these specific adult-focused costs to be more fairly and directly supported by those who receive the benefit, while preserving other revenue sources to focus on delivering camp programs, youth experiences, outreach, and broader mission impact.

While no one enjoys seeing new fees introduced, this adjustment reflects a responsible balance that helps sustain the infrastructure necessary to support safe, well-led, and high-quality Scouting experiences for Arizona families.

• Will any of the new fees go to the national organization?

No. The Grand Canyon Council program fees — including both the youth program fee and the adult volunteer fee — stay entirely with Grand Canyon Council to support local camps, programs, volunteer services, training, technology, and overall council operations here in Arizona.

The separate national membership fees, which are paid directly as part of annual registration, are entirely allocated to the National Council of Scouting America. None of the national membership fees are returned to the local council to support our camps or services. This means that Grand Canyon Council must independently generate the revenue needed to cover all of its local operating expenses through program fees, activity fees, product sales, fundraising, and charitable giving.

In addition to national membership fees paid by families, the National Council also assesses an annual fee directly to Grand Canyon Council as part of its charter agreement. For 2025, this council-level fee is projected to total more than $110,000, representing approximately 1.5% of Grand Canyon Council’s overall budgeted expenses.

• What specific rising costs are driving these fee increases?

The decision to adjust both the youth program fee and introduce a modest adult volunteer fee is driven by significant increases in the actual cost of operating safe, high-quality Scouting programs at the council level. While Grand Canyon Council has worked aggressively to control expenses wherever possible, several major cost categories have increased sharply in recent years:

• Property Insurance: Council property insurance costs have increased by over 40% in just the past year and now exceed $83,000 annually. This coverage protects the camps, program facilities, and operations our Scouts rely on year-round.
• Automobile Insurance for Volunteers: The council carries automobile insurance that provides critical liability coverage for adult volunteers who drive Scouts to and from activities. In the past year, these premiums have more than doubled, with the per-volunteer cost now exceeding $19 per registered adult.
• Technology & Volunteer Support Systems: The council invests significantly in online learning management systems and communication platforms that provide training, certification tracking, safety resources, and timely information for adult volunteers. These systems now represent over $44,000 in annual operating costs and directly benefit our unit leaders.
• General Inflation: Overall inflationary pressures since 2020 have reduced the real value of the $50 youth program fee by more than 25%, even before factoring in these specific rising costs.

These increases reflect services that are essential to the safety, readiness, and effectiveness of Scouting operations. While we continue to seek cost-saving measures in other areas, these key expenses are largely non-discretionary and must be fully funded in order to maintain safe, high-quality programs for Scouts and their families.

• Who made this decision?

The decision to adjust the council’s fee structure was made by the Grand Canyon Council Executive Board, a fully volunteer board composed of community leaders, Scouting supporters, and experienced volunteers who hold legal and fiduciary responsibility for overseeing the council’s financial health and long-term sustainability.

In addition to their professional and community leadership experience, many members of the Executive Board remain directly engaged with Scouting at the local level — as parents, grandparents, or active volunteers. Currently, 21 board members have children or grandchildren involved in Scouting and/or personally serve in local Scouting units. This combination of professional expertise and personal involvement provides valuable perspective as the Board works to balance financial responsibility with the needs of today’s Scouts, families, and volunteers.

In preparation for this decision, council management conducted a thorough review of the council’s financial position, operating costs, membership trends, and service delivery obligations. Detailed analysis of insurance costs, technology expenses, and inflationary pressures was developed and presented to the Board, along with recommendations on adjustments needed to maintain long-term financial sustainability.

After careful evaluation and discussion, the Executive Board approved these fee adjustments at its regularly scheduled meeting in June 2025 to help ensure Scouting in Arizona remains strong, safe, and sustainable for current and future generations.

• How will these fees affect families who are already struggling financially?

We remain fully committed to ensuring that cost is never the reason a young person cannot participate in Scouting. While some fee adjustments are necessary to sustain the council’s overall financial health, we understand that even modest increases can be challenging for some families.

Grand Canyon Council maintains a significant endowment specifically designated to provide camperships — financial assistance to help families cover the cost of summer camp and outdoor programs. In addition, we work closely with unit leaders and community partners to address individual needs as they arise.

Our long-term vision is to continue expanding charitable support from the broader community so that we can keep program fees as low as possible — and ultimately, reduce or even eliminate the need for certain fees altogether. Today, approximately half of the council’s annual operating expenses are already covered through donations, fundraising events, and generous contributions from individuals, businesses, and foundations who believe in Scouting’s impact.

For any individual, organization, or business interested in helping offset costs for Scouts and families facing financial barriers, Grand Canyon Council welcomes the opportunity to partner. Donors can choose to direct contributions to specific communities, units, or outreach efforts to ensure local Scouts have full access to all that Scouting offers.

While fees play a role in supporting essential services, no family should feel that cost alone prevents their child from participating. We encourage any family facing financial hardship to reach out to their unit leader or the council directly to discuss available assistance.

• What services or benefits are adult volunteers receiving for this fee?

Adult volunteers are the heart of Scouting, and while they generously give their time and leadership, the council provides a wide range of essential services and resources that directly support their ability to deliver safe, high-quality programs to youth.

The new adult program fee helps offset specific adult-related costs, including:

• Automobile Insurance Coverage: The council provides liability insurance that protects volunteers when transporting Scouts to and from activities. This represents one of the council’s largest adult-related expenses, with the cost of automobile insurance alone now exceeding $19 per registered adult annually.
• Learning Management Systems: Comprehensive online training platforms provide convenient, position-specific training, safety certifications, and leadership development opportunities, ensuring every adult leader has access to the knowledge and skills needed to succeed.
• Communication Systems: Council-wide technology platforms allow timely communication with unit leaders, safety alerts, program updates, leadership resources, and important program guidance.
• Accident and Sickness Insurance: Coverage is provided for both youth and adult participants, ensuring additional protection in the event of accidents or medical issues during Scouting activities.
• Training and Volunteer Development Resources: The council offers in-person and virtual training opportunities, leader development programs, and ongoing educational resources to equip volunteers for success.
• Facility Maintenance and Camp Improvements: Volunteers and Scouts benefit directly from the ongoing upkeep and enhancement of council camps and program facilities used for unit activities, weekend outings, and leadership training events.
• Professional Staff Support: The council maintains a team of professional staff who serve as year-round resources to unit leaders, committee members, coaches, and volunteers across Arizona — providing guidance, problem-solving, program support, and leadership development assistance.

While no one enjoys the introduction of new fees, this adjustment reflects a thoughtful balance. It ensures that those who benefit directly from these services share modestly in covering their cost, while allowing other council revenue and charitable support to focus on delivering outstanding youth programs, strengthening camp operations, and expanding Scouting’s reach to new communities.

• Is this fee increase related to the recent national bankruptcy or settlements?

No. These adjustments to Grand Canyon Council’s program fees are not related to the national organization’s bankruptcy proceedings or any settlement agreements. This decision is entirely based on the council’s own financial realities, rising local operating costs, and the long-term responsibility to sustain high-quality Scouting programs here in Arizona.

Grand Canyon Council has already fulfilled all financial obligations related to the national organization’s bankruptcy settlement as part of the process that concluded in 2023. The fee adjustments now being made are focused solely on addressing the ongoing cost of essential local services such as insurance, technology systems, camp operations, volunteer support, training resources, and professional staff services that directly benefit Scouts, families, and leaders across Arizona.

While national-level developments receive a great deal of attention, the day-to-day operations, finances, and support services provided to units and families in Grand Canyon Council remain fully the responsibility of the local council — and these adjustments reflect local stewardship of that responsibility.

• Why is the manual processing fee for paper registrations being increased?

Grand Canyon Council strongly encourages all youth and adult registrations to be submitted through Scouting America’s secure online registration system. This platform is specifically designed to improve accuracy, protect sensitive personal information, expedite processing, and provide immediate benefits to youth, families, and volunteers.

Processing paper applications creates multiple challenges:

• Security of Personal Information: Paper applications contain highly sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers, birthdates, and addresses. Each time paper forms are physically handled by volunteers or staff, there is added risk of accidental loss, misplacement, or potential data breaches. The online system minimizes this exposure and provides a much higher level of security for all involved — protecting not only applicants, but also the volunteers and staff who would otherwise handle this data.
• Immediate Access to Program Benefits: Online registration allows new youth to be fully entered into the system immediately — enabling them to start earning advancements, receiving awards, and enjoying benefits like timely delivery of Scout Life magazine. It also allows unit leaders to immediately begin tracking new Scouts in the Scoutbook system and manage advancement records without delay.
• Faster Compliance for Adult Volunteers: For adult leaders, online applications allow background checks to be initiated and completed far more quickly, ensuring all volunteers are fully cleared before beginning service with youth.
• Efficiency and Accuracy: Paper forms require manual data entry, create additional staff workload, and risk errors due to incomplete information or illegible handwriting.

Currently, over 93% of all Grand Canyon Council registrations are successfully processed online. Our goal is to move as close to 100% online adoption as possible so that every family and volunteer benefits from faster processing, better service, and stronger data security.

To encourage full adoption of online registration, the manual processing fee for paper applications will increase from $25 to $50 effective August 1, 2025. This adjustment is not designed to generate additional revenue, but rather to strongly incentivize safer, more efficient processing for everyone involved.

For families or units who face legitimate barriers to using the online system, the council remains committed to providing assistance to ensure that no Scout is excluded due to technology limitations.