Costs for campouts are typically only for food; 4-5 meals over the two day weekend. The food is planned, purchased, and prepared by the Scouts in their Patrol (small group of 6-10). This is purposeful for the Scouts to learn many life and outdoors skills including healthy meal planning, food costs and quantity management, safe food care and preparation, working in a team, campfire and/or cookstove cooking, and socialization during work tasks.

Some campouts require other costs to be covered by those participating. These are typically for campsite fees, permits, special equipment costs, special instruction (merit badge or high adventure instruction) and sometimes transportation expenses ("Super Trip" only). These costs will be separately detailed in information describing the trip (see the Permission Slip first).