How much money do you have to pay to become a girl scouts?

Question

Hi.Um...I would like to become a girl scout because I never went to summer camp,and I'm looking for scholarships.My parents says that the girl scouts cost expensive(like $150 or more).And I want to know how much is it? Thank you!!!

Answer 1

Girl Scouts national dues are $10 annually, not $25, and it goes to the national organization, NOT to the local Council.  Councils don't charge dues.  (The Council is the local organization - depending on where you are, there may be a few Councils in one state, one in one state, or one covering a few states - to find yours, go to: http://www.girlscouts.org/councilfinder and search.

If you only want to go to camp, the only fee you'd have to pay is the $10, plus the cost of the camp.  Most offer some financial aid, but may require that you also participate in the major GS money earning projects - usually the Cookie sale and a second (in many, but not all, Councils, it's a fall product sale of candies, calendars, nuts - that sort of thing).  The cost of the camps vary based on where you are, and whether you mean day or resident (sleepaway) camp, but generally, they're among the cheapest options in whatever area you're in (just what's "cheap" on Long Island, NY for example vs. the middle of Iowa are going to be different!).

One of the problems with giving a definitive answer is local GS Councils vary greatly in their policies.  Some do have some sort of financial credit for cookies sold during the GS Cookie sale (not money the girl can have, but credit to be used toward GS things), some don't.  Some allow "Juliettes" (the term for a girl who's a GS, but not in a troop) to sell, some don't, some have odd requirements about how she can sell, etc.

The only way to really know the ins and outs in your area is to contact your local GS Council.  If you want to join a troop, that's great - it's a totally different experience than camp, but isn't for everyone.  You can be a GS either way.  If you decide to join as a Juliette, you can go ahead and only go to camp, or you may want to attend a few Council-wide events, or you may want to work on Badges at home... it's pretty much up to you.  The national organization is undergoing lots of changes right now, and is making a big push for different ways ("pathways") for girls to join other than the traditional joining a troop way.  

If you do join a troop, there will be other costs - dues, uniform, activities, etc.  Some areas offer financial aid for some of that, some don't - again, it varies a lot, so the best way to find out is to speak to someone locally.  

Good luck going to camp - it can be an amazing experience! :-)

Answer 2

Girl Scouts costs $10.00 to register with Girl Scouts USA.  You'll need to contact your local council to get a registration form.  You can register at ANY time during the year.   Depending on your age there are troops for middle schoolers - Cadettes, for fresh/soph in HS-Ambassadors (new), and for junior/senior in HS-Seniors.  If there isn't a group of older girls that meet in your area, ask about being a Juliette.  They're basically scouts who do the work on their own but are still Girl Scouts.  If you join a troop they are lots of fun.  Dues are generally monthly and are set by the individual troop but ours are $6/mo.  If you sell cookies that puts a good chunk of money into the troop for supplies, patches, trips, etc.  Each troop does things slightly different.  Trips are like school trips where there is usually a cost but trips are optional usually.  So Girl Scouts is really very inexpensive at $10 to start and $6+/- per month.  Girl Scout Camps can be $150/wk - $300+/wk but that's for summer camps and TOTALLY optional.  www.girlscouts.org

Answer 3

Membership dues to the council office are $25 yearly.  The meeting dues depend upon what troop you are in (they set the fee to over costs of activities).  Then you have to add in uniform and then cookie sales every year (that can get expensive for a parent).  The summer camp programs are somewhat expensive but they are normally much cheaper than the other camps I have seen.  Girls earn credits called Cookie Buck for the cookies they sell and can be redeemed to help cover the costs of the camp programs.  If you qualify, there is financial assistance to cover your costs.  Your parents would have to check in on that.