THE Girl Scouts organization has been slammed over its membership hike, with volunteers concerned the increase will jeopardize future troops.
The cash-strapped program’s national council approved the increases on Saturday as Girl Scouts troopers will begin to feel the pitch of the new prices in 2026.
Dues for 2025 will remain at $25 annually for children – a price that has remained unchanged for eight years.
But, the price for youth memberships will increase to $45 a year in 2026 and $65 in 2027, the Girl Scouts National Council approved.
The $65 membership is a smaller increase than the proposed $85 proposal.
Adult memberships will also see a price increase from $25 to $30 beginning in 2026.
“Girl Scouting must invest today to better serve our current members and to reach girls who are currently missing out on the Girl Scout experience,” the organization said on its website.
“This investment provides the opportunity to implement initiatives that will have a lasting impact on our Girl Scout councils, volunteers, and the girls and families we serve.
“We are committed to providing financial assistance to all who need it.”
The organization said the membership hike will benefit existing and future troops.
“[The increasing fees] will make programs easier to deliver for volunteers and make technology easier to use,” Bonnie Barczykowski, Girl Scouts of the USA CEO, told members in a video.
“More turnkey trainings, recruitment tools and programs, and create new experiences, including opportunities to explore new places.”
Girl Scouts earn badges on topics ranging from financial literacy, technology, and entrepreneurship to outdoor and first-aid skills.
Sally Bertram, a 30-year troop leader with the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, raised issues with the price hike.
“It’s an enormous increase,” she told CNN.
“It’s like, what are you people thinking? You are going to run yourselves out of business.”
The membership increase comes at a time when the beloved program is having difficulties attracting new members and struggling to stay afloat financially.
In 2023, the Girl Scouts ended its fiscal year with a $4.4 million deficit, according to the handbook.
That same year, the organization raised the price of a box of its most popular cookies by roughly 20%.
Girl Scouts cookies net the program about $800 million a year.
However, the deficit is expected to climb to $5.6 million at the end of the 2024 fiscal year.
The Girl Scouts of the US did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The U.S. Sun.
Girl Scouts membership increase
The Girl Scouts of the US has announced a membership increase – the organization’s first hike in eight years.
Timeline of the membership dues increase:
- 2025: The membership for Girl Scouts in 2025 will remain unchanged for children, staying at $25 a year.
- 2026: Members will begin seeing a membership increase to $45 annually.
- Adult memberships will also see a price increase from $25 to $30 beginning in 2026.
- 2027: A new $65 yearly membership will begin for all children of Girl Scouts troops.
