SCOUTS BSA
PREPARED. FOR LIFE.
Scouts BSA is a year-round program for youth ages 11 through 17 (or starting at age 10 and in fifth grade if joining after March 1 or if they have earned the Arrow of Light in Cub Scouting). Through fun, adventure, learning, and challenge, Scouts develop the skills and confidence to become the best version of themselves. Open to young women and young men, Scouts BSA gives every Scout the opportunity to earn Scouting’s highest rank: Eagle Scout.
Flexible Experiences That Fit Your Interests
From backpacking and camping to high-adventure treks, community service, and outdoor and life skills, Scouts BSA offers countless ways to explore your interests. Choose activities that excite you, learn new skills, build friendships, and take on challenges that push you to grow.
Youth-Led Adventure
Scouts BSA is built around youth leadership. Scouts organize into patrols, elect their own leaders, and help plan and lead their troop’s activities, meetings, service projects, and adventures. With guidance from adult leaders, Scouts learn by doing—building confidence, teamwork, decision-making, and leadership skills that last a lifetime.
Scouting Works!
Scouts BSA gives youth opportunities to learn by doing and discover what they are capable of achieving. Through meaningful experiences with friends, trusted adults, and their communities, Scouts develop stronger relationships and a greater sense of purpose. Along the way, they gain practical life skills, broaden their interests, and become more prepared to make thoughtful choices and pursue their goals in school, future careers, and life.
Adventure & Growth Await
Scouts BSA turns interests into experiences and challenges into adventures. Scouts can hike mountains, camp under the stars, explore STEM, earn merit badges, master outdoor and first-aid skills, serve their communities, and discover new passions. From weekend campouts to high-adventure treks, every experience offers a chance to try something new, push beyond comfort zones, build friendships, and discover just how much they can accomplish.
Builds Character & Leadership Skills
Scouts BSA develops character and leadership by giving youth meaningful responsibility. Scouts work in patrols, elect youth leaders, make decisions, solve problems, and help plan and lead meetings, service projects, and adventures. Guided by the Scout Oath and Law and supported by adult mentors, Scouts learn to lead with integrity, serve others, work as a team, and build the confidence and resilience to lead throughout their lives.
How Can My Child Join Scouts BSA?
Joining Scouts BSA is easy. To find a troop near you, you can visit BeAScout.org, enter your ZIP code, select "Scouts BSA," and get immediate information about troops near you. You can also call us at 770-989-8820 to find out more about Scouts BSA troops in your area, or click the button below to fill out a form, and we'll contact you.
Summer Camp at Bert Adans Scout Camp
BERT ADAMS SCOUT CAMP | COVINGTON, GA
Experience Bert Adams Scout Camp, where modern facilities, outdoor adventure, and classic Scouting come together. Earn merit badges, conquer new challenges, and make lifelong memories in Georgia.
Summer Camp at Woodruff Scout Camp
WOODRUFF SCOUT CAMP | BLUE RIDGE, GA
Woodruff Scout Camp combines 60+ merit badges, thrilling outdoor adventures, and the beauty of the North Georgia mountains to create an unforgettable Scouts BSA summer camp experience.
Aquatics Merit Badge Days at Allatoona Aquatics Base
ALLATOONA AQUATICS BASE | WOODSTOCK, GA
Dive into adventure at Allatoona Aquatics Base! Just outside metro Atlanta, Scouts enjoy merit badge courses in canoeing, rowing, sailing, swimming, waterskiing, motorboating, and lifesaving on Lake Allatoona.
CONSERVATION WEEKEND
Choose from 19 merit badges, conservation projects, and specialty training during three program sessions. Wrap up Saturday with a conservation workshop, games, and a fun cracker barrel.
WINTER CAMP AT BERT ADAMS
Winter Camp at Bert Adams Scout Camp gives Scouts BSA troops and Venturing crews five days and four nights of adventure in December. Camp, build skills, and make memories at one of America's premier camps.
SCOUT CHALLENGE
Scout Challenge 2027 is coming to Bert Adams Scout Camp, March 12–14! Join Scouts from across the region for an unforgettable weekend of adventure, friendship, and fun. More information coming soon!
Weekend Camping at AAC Camp Properties
BERT ADAMS SCOUT CAMP | COVINGTON, GA
Experience Bert Adams Scout Camp, where modern facilities, outdoor adventure, and classic Scouting come together. Earn merit badges, conquer new challenges, and make lifelong memories in Georgia.
High Adventure Scouting Treks at National Camps
WOODRUFF SCOUT CAMP | BLUE RIDGE, GA
Woodruff Scout Camp combines 60+ merit badges, thrilling outdoor adventures, and the beauty of the North Georgia mountains to create an unforgettable Scouts BSA summer camp experience.
National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT)
ALLATOONA AQUATICS BASE | WOODSTOCK, GA
Dive into adventure at Allatoona Aquatics Base! Just outside metro Atlanta, Scouts enjoy merit badge courses in canoeing, rowing, sailing, swimming, waterskiing, motorboating, and lifesaving on Lake Allatoona.
Contact Us For More Information About Scouts BSA
Fill out the form below, and a local Scouting representative will be in touch soon with more information and help you find a Scouts BSA troop that’s near you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does Scouting Work?
Each Scout is a member of a Troop which is comprised of Patrols. Patrols are groups of 6-10 youth. Each Patrol is led by a Scout, elected as Patrol Leader by the members of a Patrol. The Troop is led by a Scout, elected as Senior Patrol Leader by all of the Scouts of the Troop, and by other youth leaders, like a Quartermaster, Scribe, Instructor, Historian, Chaplain Aide, and other roles. The youth leaders are advised by a Scoutmaster and Assistants, and supported by Troop Committee members and other adult helpers.
In a youth-led Troop, the Patrol Leaders’ Council will determine what activities to do, like camping, hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, backpacking, caving, climbing, service projects, individual advancement work, and more – supported by adult leader advisors. Troops meet in between activities each week or so at a local school, place of worship, or other community location.
How Much Does Scouting Cost?
There are Two Types of Scouting Fees Due from Youth:
- BSA Fee.
- As of April of 2024, the BSA Fee for youth is $85 per year.
- Youth and adult leader fees are for 12 months from registration; the 12-month period for those registered before August of 2023 is the calendar year.
- Pack Fee.
- The amount of a Pack Fee will vary depending on the activities and budget of your local Pack and typically range from $40 to $85 annually, and more depending on the level of adventure activities and support that the Pack provides for a fun program.
New Youth in 2024 pay the BSA Fee and Pack Fee separately.
- BSA Fee ($85 as of April 2024) for 12 months to the BSA (online app) or AAC (paper app). (As of April 2024, there is no longer a “New Member Joining Fee”.)
- The Pack Fee is paid to the Pack separately on the Pack’s Timetable.
Question: What About Adult Leaders? Do they pay BSA Fees? How?
Answer: Yes, Adult Leaders must pay BSA Fee ($65 as of April 2024) for 12 months to the BSA, but registration is free if the adult is also registered in a Troop. Packs deal with Adult Leader BSA Fees in different ways:
- Many Packs “cover” the Adult Leader’s BSA Fee, either by reimbursement out of the Pack budget (Pack Fees) or (for Adult Leaders returning from last year) by Pack payment to the BSA.
- In some Packs, each Adult Leader covers their own BSA Fee.
Question: What About Fundraising? We used Popcorn to Pay All or Most of our BSA Fees for the next year!
Answer: While Unit Fundraising can still be applied to cover Pack Fees for all, Unit Fundraising can’t be directly applied to cover BSA Fees for “next year” for New Youth or for returning Youth if the Pack elects the “Self-Pay” route for BSA Fees.
- If Unit Fundraising is high enough to cover all or part of BSA Fees, Units would need to rebate those families who paid BSA Fees directly.
Is Scouting in My Neighborhood?
Absolutely! There are tons of organizations in neighborhoods throughout the Atlanta area that sponsor Scout Troops. Scouts meet at service organizations, places of worship, schools, and more, all within a comfortable distance to your home. To find a Troop near you, click BeAScout.org, enter your zip code, select “Scouts BSA”, and get immediate information about Troops near you, or give us a call at 770-989-8820.
Who Will Lead The Troop?
Even though each Troop is led by the youth, Scouts BSA Troops need adult leaders to support the activities of your Scouts. So even if you are not the Scoutmaster, you might be an Assistant, or a Committee Member or help out in other ways to make the job of the Scoutmaster easier to handle. You will have the opportunity to take a role in leading your child's experience - and we're here to help you become the best leader you can be with training, online resources and support from our Program Center.
Every volunteer leader is required to go through a rigorous background check and Youth Protection Training process that ensures your child will be in a safe and fun program. The Atlanta Area Council provides many training opportunities for our leaders to enhance the program they deliver and increase the skills they can pass onto our Scouts.
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