Join us for Mayflower Council day with the Boston Red Sox! 

Come out for a day of fun at the iconic Fenway Park!

Take me out to the Scout game!  Come one, come all to the Boston Red Sox Scout Day!

This is a great outing for the entire family!  All Scouts will be able to participate in a pre-game parade and receive a commemorative Scout patch while at the game.

Lace up your Hiking Boots for the BCT (Bay Circuit Trail)

What if there was a local hiking trail that travelled around the city of Boston, through some 37 local cities and towns offering natural beauty, historical interest and access to trail heads and trail segments using the MBTA and public transportation? A trail that is managed by a collaboration of private and public entities including the Appalachian Mountain Club and local town and city conservations departments.  Hiking, biking, cross country skiing and snow shoeing are all available on the trail. If that were the case, you would be describing the Bay Circuit Trail!  The BCT is some 230 miles long, starting at the mouth of the Merrimack River and ending in Kingston Bay on the South Shore circling the city of Boston.

We are inviting all Mayflower Scout units to choose a trail segment either in their own hometown or a trail segment of their choice, so that all or units together will cover all 230 miles of the trail in a single day!  Cub Scouts, Scout BSA and Venturers are all invited to participate. Trail segments can be assigned by hiking ability and length to accommodate the novice or the experienced hiker. We would ask that a photo be taken at both the start and the end of your hike as proof that you have completed your part of the trail. Scout units from other local councils are also cordially invited to join us on hike day. We are planning an ending celebration after all 230 miles have been completed. Did I mention that there will be a cool and unique patch made available to all registered hikers?  Hike day is planned for Saturday May 18th.  Watch for a future registration link and additional detail as we get closer to hike day. Unit leaders include this in you units’ activity planning, you will want to be part of this once in a lifetime opportunity!

Always Room for More

Earn your “Recruiter” patch in 2023

The founder of the Scouting movement, Sir Robert Baden Powell — better known as B-P in Scout circles — once said:

“An invaluable step in character training is to put responsibility on the individual.” In the spirit of that wise sentiment, the Mayflower Council is looking for some recruiting help.

And who better to ask than the Scouts themselves?

During the months of November and December, we encourage individual Scouts to look to their friend groups and ask potential Scouts to join them at a meeting.

Scouts who successfully recruit a friend will receive a “Recruiter” patch courtesy of the Mayflower Council – we’ll provide it free!

There are three steps to earn the badge:

1. Encourage your Scouts to encourage a friend to attend an upcoming meeting or event and join before December 31.
2. When a Scout recruits their friend, a Scoutmaster or Cubmaster completes this form.
3. We will ship the Recruiter Badge to your unit to award to your recruiters as part of your next Court of Honor or rank advancement.  We will also send the newly enrolled Scout a “Welcome” letter.

It’s as simple as that.

Meanwhile, we’re hoping to build on the work everyone put in during “Join Scouting Day” and “Slices for Scouting” and bring even more youth into BSA membership via Mayflower Council.

And we know that our Scouts are up for the challenge. So, let’s get to it!

The Mayflower Council recently received a generous capital gift of $40,000 from the George W. P. Magee Memorial Trust to fund two major camp projects at Camps Squanto and Resolute.

The first project involves building a new program pavilion at the shotgun range at Camp Squanto (located in the LeBaron R. Barker Scout Reservation and the Myles Standish State Forest in Plymouth), while the second project entails installing a new metal roof at the Handicraft Lodge at Adventure Day Camp at Resolute (situated in the E. Paul Robsham, Jr. Scout Reservation located on Little Pond in Bolton, Massachusetts).

The Mayflower Council, established in 2017, is a result of the consolidation of Scouting programming that has served Greater Metro West and the South Shore areas of Massachusetts for over a century.

Comprised of territory that was once part of the Algonquin, Norumbega, Knox Trail, Squanto, and Old Colony Councils and stretches from Stow to Plymouth, Mass., the Mayflower Council is rich with the traditions and history of generations of scouts and scouting families.

Mayflower Council Director of Development James Corcoran expressed gratitude towards the Magee Trust for their continuous support, stating that the council and its predecessors have received over $2,234,375 in capital and camp scholarship projects since 1944. “The Council is very grateful to the Magee Trust for their continued generosity,” added Corcoran. “We could not have done these projects without the annual support of the trust.” The George W. P. Magee Trust is a private trust that exclusively distributes income to Boy Scout Councils headquartered in Massachusetts for capital projects and camp scholarships.

Since its inception, The Magee Trust has distributed over $10,700,000.00 to Massachusetts Boy Scout Councils.

Dear Scouting family,

We received the following very important message from our national council and wanted to share it with you in its entirety. 

BSA’s emergence from bankruptcy represents a pivotal milestone in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA)’s financial restructuring case and solidifies a path forward for survivors and the Scouting movement.

To preserve its mission, the BSA has had to take some extraordinary steps over the past three years to reposition the organization for the future. The BSA has streamlined its professional staff and volunteer structure, reducing costs throughout the movement while maintaining essential services to support the local councils who were critical partners during the bankruptcy.

To position Scouting for the future, the BSA will be required to increase the national annual membership fees for both youth and adults. This has been a difficult decision that involved the engagement of key stakeholders, but is essential to building a strong, safe, and vibrant Scouting program for our nation’s youth.

Effective August 1, 2023, the BSA will implement the following national membership fees which were approved by the National Executive Committee:

• $80 for Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouting participants ($5 increase)
• $60 for all adult volunteers ($15 increase to provide general liability insurance and enhanced background checks) 
• $25 one-time joining fee for new program participants in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouting (Not prorated and no change in fee)
• $30 for Scoutreach (Not prorated)
• $25 for Merit Badge Counselors (New Fee applies only for Merit Badge Counselors not already registered as leaders)
• $50 for Exploring participants Youth & Adult ($5 increase)
• $100 for a unit charter/affiliation fee (no change in fee)
• $15 for Scout Life magazine

New Annual Membership Fee Process Announced – BSA Will No Longer Prorate Fees for New Members beginning August 1, 2023

Beginning August 1, 2023, all new youth and adult members who join Scouting will be enrolled in a 12-month membership cycle and BSA will cease prorating fees. Both youth and adults will pay the full annual membership fee and will renew their membership on the anniversary date of joining Scouting. All proration of membership fees will be eliminated. Each registered member of the BSA will receive an email notice with a registration renewal link beginning 60 days before the anniversary date they joined Scouting. Unit leaders will receive a copy of the email and should stay engaged in the membership renewal process just like rechartering.

It is important to note, existing members will renew their membership during their normal registration/recharter cycle through March 2024. Moving forward all members will renew on their anniversary date.

• Existing members’ Anniversary date will be their unit recharter month.
• New members’ Anniversary date will be the month they joined.

This new process will help streamline the rechartering and membership renewal process for units and councils. Additional information on this membership renewal process will be forthcoming in the very near future.

Rules and Regulations – Local Council Annual Registration or Program Fees

Under the Rules and Regulations of the BSA, a local council may charge an annual registration or program fee to youth members, adult program participants and Scouters whose primary registration is with the council in an amount not to exceed the amount of the applicable individual registration fee for their position established by the Executive Committee. In the new Annual Membership fee structure, a local council may charge a maximum of $80 per youth and $60 per adult.

What does the National Membership Fee cover?

The national membership fee helps cover the cost of essential services to the local council and units. Services include expanded liability insurance for those participating in approved Scouting activities, enhanced criminal background checks, a variety of program resources, youth protection and leader-specific training, and the development of intellectual property for national, council, and unit programs. As BSA moves forward, the organization will continue to look at the membership fee structure and how we deliver the Scouting program for future generations.

Across the country and in each of our communities, we know that Scouting remains one of the most valuable investments we can make in youth today so they can become the leaders we will turn to tomorrow. Our dedicated volunteers, staff, and Scouting families make this possible. Thank you for continuing to support one of the most valuable opportunities available to young people today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is driving the youth and adult membership fee increase?

• General Liability Insurance costs to protect volunteer leaders, staff, charter organizations, units, and youth.
• BSA restructuring costs.
• Enhanced Criminal Background check processes and investments in Youth protection and safety programs.

What steps has the National Service Center taken to manage costs?

• Completed a new staff structure and streamlined both the professional workforce and the volunteer structure, while maintaining essential services.
• Reduced the National staff workforce to support essential services.
• Reduced expenses throughout the National organization.

What is the new membership fee for youth and adults? Will the fees go up again?

• The new adult membership fee is $60, and the youth membership fee is $80 annually.
• The BSA will continue to evaluate the membership fees and keep our councils and unit leaders informed of any further changes to the fee structure.

What benefits and services are provided to the local council with the new fee?

• Expanded GLIP protections for Chartered Organizations and volunteers.
• Enhanced Criminal Background checks.
• Investments in BSA safety resources and training.
• The employment of a new Youth Protection Executive and support staff.
• The National Council provides the following essential services to councils:
  • The use of BSA Intellectual Property – Youth Safety, Cub Scouts, Scouts, BSA, Venturing, Camp Standards, Training and Program development etc.
  • Legal
  • Human Resources
  • Information Technology – Rechartering, Scout Book
  • Accounting Resources
  • Council Services Support
  • Membership & Marketing Support
  • Crisis Communications and support
  • Safety & Membership Standards Support
  • A variety of training support for youth and adult leaders
  • Health Insurance & Benefits

What benefits and services are provided to the unit with the registration fee?

• Expanded General Liability Insurance protections for the chartered organization and unit leaders in the event of an incident.
• Program research and development including, Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Exploring.
• Access to Youth Protection Training, Incident Reporting and Scouts First Helpline: 1-   844-Scouts1.
• Access to leadership specific training for adult leaders.
• Investments in program literature and resource development.
• Ability to purchase Uniforms, Insignia and Recognition for youth and Adults.
• Provides access to Membership, Marketing, and Brand Center resources.
• Provides important technology support including Scout Book, on-line registration, on-line advancement, and rechartering, My. Scouting, BeAScout, and BSA Brand Center for digital assets.
• Access to the four BSA High Adventure Properties including Philmont Scout Ranch, Florida Sea Base, Northern Tier High Adventure Base, and the Summit Bechtel Reserve.

Mayflower Council understands that you may have more questions, and we will welcome them at our Summer Membership Roundtable Series taking place in the coming months. You can register by clicking the date for July 11 and August 16.