NEWPORT NEWS – Scouting America is waiving its $85 national youth registration fee for eligible military families in the Peninsula and Southside through the end of the year.
Youth whose parents or guardians serve on active duty in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force or Coast Guard, or serve in the National Guard or Reserve can join or continue participating in Scouting America without paying the $85 registration fee.
The Colonial Virginia Council covers a region with one of the nation’s largest concentrations of active-duty military personnel and veterans, according to an Aug. 27 press release.
Scouting America’s local programs are open to kindergarten-age to age 20 boys and girls, though it varies by program.
The Military Family Fee Waiver has been available since June 1 and applies to participating youth in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouts. It’s only applicable to online youth registrations and renewals. Additional fees may still apply.
In an email, Jim Roberts, a board member of Scouting America’s Colonial Virginia Council, said the council currently serves more than 2,100 youth. He added that the waiver may be renewed in 2027, but there’s no guarantee.
“Military families make extraordinary sacrifices, and nowhere is that more evident than here in southeastern Virginia,” Clinton Hammett, Scout executive and CEO of the Colonial Virginia Council, said in a press release. “Scouting gives young people friendship, stability and a sense of belonging — qualities that can be especially meaningful during deployments, relocations and other transitions.”
For questions or assistance, families can contact the Colonial Virginia Council at 757‑595‑3356 or cvcboyscouts.org.
