Boy Scouts - budget draining - time and money!

[Fyrefly]

I know that if we could not take him that our friends would but I think you have to have a parent with you at the meetings.

I'd ask about this anyway. If you're there half the time and really into it, and your DS will respect the authority of the friend's parent if necessary, then I don't see why it should be a problem. I think a good leader would get that times are tough right now and every parent might not be able to do everything at every time, plus afford all the fees/dues, plus afford a full new uniform every year or whatever for a growing boy.

 

[PaulaSue]

Boy Scouts sounds like Girl Scouts and is one of the cheapest after school activities I have found for the girls to do. Be glad you dont have girls with dance, gym, etc... Heck swim team is killing our sched with all the practices and the meet fees.

But I never heard of a parent having to stay at Girl Scouts every week, just some weeks to help with this and that.

 

[mjkacmom]

Boy Scouts sounds like Girl Scouts and is one of the cheapest after school activities I have found for the girls to do. Be glad you dont have girls with dance, gym, etc... Heck swim team is killing our sched with all the practices and the meet fees.

But I never heard of a parent having to stay at Girl Scouts every week, just some weeks to help with this and that.

I found that to be a big difference between boy scouts and girl scouts. And scouting is a good deal financially - I added up our monthly activity costs, and it comes to about $1000 - per month!

 

[Mickeypooh99]

I have been a cub scout leader for 4 years. I know it can be overwhelming in the beginning. I always tell parents not to worry about cost. We NEVER turn someone away because they can't afford it. Go to the committee meeting. Ask them what help is available. Chances are your Tiger leader is new to all this also. He/She may not have all the answers.

In our pack the dues are $55.00 per year. If we sell at least $250.00 of popcorn, the dues are waved. So you would only need the uniform. If you can't afford the uniform (we only require shirts and scarves.) then find out where you can get help. I would ask the webelo den. They may be willing to give up there old uniforms. I always donate all the uniform pieces that my boys have outgrown back to someone who needs it. You can go to your local Lions club or Masons and ask them for help in uniform/dues costs. These groups have been known to help out boys in scouting. I collect $2.00 per den meeting for supplies. I am very frugal about spending den money. Most of our projects and field trips are free or very minimal cost.

Tiger cubs need a adult partner at each meeting. The partner can be Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt, Uncle, Friend.... Any adult you want to send with them. After the Tiger (1st grade) year parents are not required to stay at meetings. I find most parents want to stay anyways in our dens.

It is up to the leader how many times you meet per month. I always have done 2 den meetings per month, and 1 pack meeting. When we go to a field trip we do it in place of a den meeting. We have never had a problem completing requirements for the badge. There is no reason scouts can't make up things from a missed meeting. It isn't always possible to make every meeting. The leader should be understanding. However, the leader should only have to tell you once, and it is your resposibility to get it done and report back. There are many times I would have to remind parents over and over and they wouldn't get it done. A den leader feels a responsibility to get all the boys there awards. It feel really bad when one boy doesn't get the award and the rest do. Even if it isn't the leaders fault.


One last thing I like to point out is if you don't like the way things are done then go to the committee meetings. Volunteer! It isn't easy running a den or a Pack. Usually we have minimum help to do so. We do what we can. I became a leader 4 years ago because no one else would do it. I get really bothered by parents who complain about the way the pack is run, but won't help out. (Not the new tiger parents who are just learning the ropes, but the ones who have been in the program over a year.) Our pack isn't as organized as the parents would like. Thats because our committee consists of 5 leaders and 1 committee chair/Cubmaster. So 6 people total. That is it. We are doing everything, and every one of us has a full time job and other commitments too.

 

[crisi]

Boy Scouts sounds like Girl Scouts and is one of the cheapest after school activities I have found for the girls to do. Be glad you dont have girls with dance, gym, etc... Heck swim team is killing our sched with all the practices and the meet fees.

But I never heard of a parent having to stay at Girl Scouts every week, just some weeks to help with this and that.

You know, if you don't want to spend the money, you can say no. We just say no to our kids when the activities they want to do our outside our time or budget - or something we don't want them to participate in. Then you can be glad, too.

 

[happygirl]

I know what you mean my daughter joined daisy. The Girl Scouts have finanical aid for the girls maybe boy scouts will have that as well

 

[MinnieForMe]

As a mother of a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout, I find that the time and money you put into Scouts is completely worth it. I don't think the Cub Scout level is as important as the Boy Scout level but your son will learn love of family, love of country, love of God and love of community! Yes, they are old fashion values that are SOOOO needed in this world!

I also think it's the best financial deal around! Most of us, buy the shirt a size or two up and get the entire Cub Scout experience out of that one shirt! My son wore his shirt from 1st grade through 3rd grade and then changed uniform to the Boy Scout shirt for Webelos. What other activity will allow you to keep the same uniform for three years? Also, think about the $55-70 annual dues. It's yearly. We pay well over $1200 a year for Tae Kwon Do. Swimming, dance, gymnastics, karate and most other sports that you participate in yearly will cost you so much more than $55.00. Even town sports here for 6-8 weeks cost more.

Time - I don't agree with your child playing Wii during a Scout meeting. How about co-leading it so that you can follow the book more closely and have input? You have to be there anyway for a Tiger so be involved.

I promise you it will be the best experience you can give your son if you really do support it!

 

[cjdj4]

As the proud parent of an Eagle Scout I would say that the scouting program is well worth it. Our son has grown up to be an outstanding moral and ethical young man and the fact that he is an an Eagle Scout has helped him in obtaining an excellent college internship. He is in the Honors College and majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Boy Scouts had a major influence on his life. As a scout he had the opportunity to participate in a couple of the high adventure activites and has hiked the Appalachian Trail and sailed from the southern coast of Florida to Key West. Amazing opportunites.

Md DStepS is an Eagle Scout. I am so proud of him and I *think* the community service he has done helped win him scholarships and perhaps even helped him to get into UF (which is now very competitive). In the long run, I think the scouts can serve your son and perhaps you wallet (think college tutition in 12 years!). We have bought some very expensive popcorn, but it was the best popcorn I have ever eaten.

DD just started Brownies and it is only $12 a year. And she only needed a sash and patches and the handbook. Not bad compared to $60-100 month for ballet.

 

[MinnieForMe]

To the original poster,
If you need the Tiger scarf, I can send it to you. It's all we have left of that uniform!

PM.

Michelle

 

[Nicolepa]

Keep in mind that $70 covers the cost of not only the materials for the meeting but the renting of the facility for the Den & Pack meetings, plus the boy scout registration fee.

Like I said we have never had a field trip that cost us any additional money. The Tiger field trips were all free. Fire Station, TV Station, historical building etc.

 

[MinnieForMe]

Keep in mind that $70 covers the cost of not only the materials for the meeting but the renting of the facility for the Den & Pack meetings, plus the boy scout registration fee.

Like I said we have never had a field trip that cost us any additional money. The Tiger field trips were all free. Fire Station, TV Station, historical building etc.

You might also be getting a Boys Life Magazine subscription too!

 

[wthchristi]

This seems to be the time of year that requires lots of money, I know that feeling, lol. I have a Brownie and a Boy Scout. This month I need to pay for:

$70 Dues for Boy Scouts
$75 for Winter Camp
$40 I think for my popcorn bill
$100 Science Center SleepIn for 2 (I am also a GS leader)
To be honest I think there is more, but my brain went into overload.

Add in fees for sports, school, summer camp, swim and dance lessons, honestly, I sometimes think I need a part time job just to pay for the kids stuff. I know I can say no, and sometimes do, but imho, active kids have less time for trouble to find them and are much more likely to finish school and go to college. Worth every minute of my time and the money investment.

Oops...Scouts is awesome and my kids favorite activity!

 

[Mickeypooh99]

Keep in mind that $70 covers the cost of not only the materials for the meeting but the renting of the facility for the Den & Pack meetings, plus the boy scout registration fee.

Like I said we have never had a field trip that cost us any additional money. The Tiger field trips were all free. Fire Station, TV Station, historical building etc.

Doesn't your Charter Organization cover the cost of renting a facility for meetings. I thought that was standard. It would be worth checking into if they don't already.

That said, we rent rooms at the school for our meetings. It cost us $10.00 per room. With 1 for each den, and 1 for pack meetings its only $60.00 per year.

 

[darrengs]

Having been a Committee Chair for my sons Cub Scout Pack and now an Assistant Scoutmaster for his Troop it is obvious that I am a firm believer in the program. I know from experience that there is sort of a catch 22 with Scouts, fundraisers can offset the cost of much if not all of the fees and activities. Yet fundraisers are met with resistance.

Cub Scout Packs are run by the parents, and as a parent I suggest that you get as involved as you can. Join the Committee and help plan and execute the program that will benefit all boys. Perhaps volunteer to start and run a uniform library. The more you put into the program the more your son will get out of it.

 

[MrsPete]

Unless you understand the value of something, it is not motivating to put your time and money behind it. When I see what Boy Scouts has given to my sons--I think it is a great bargain!

My daughters have been involved in scouting for a decade, and I could say the same thing. Yes, over the years we've put a good bit of money into it, but all kids' activities cost something -- we never expected not to pay for things for them -- and scouting has provided a tremendous return on our time/money investment.

 

[Belle5]

My daughters have been involved in scouting for a decade, and I could say the same thing. Yes, over the years we've put a good bit of money into it, but all kids' activities cost something -- we never expected not to pay for things for them -- and scouting has provided a tremendous return on our time/money investment.

We feel the same! You know, if you look at scouting as just another activity--something for your child to try because it's part of childhood--you might not be seeing the big picture. Scouting is about giving your child life-skills that will serve them and their community for the rest of their lives. It is also about helping them to be strong leaders. Wherever my sons go--on the athletic fields, study groups, into the workforce, etc. --they just naturally seem to be the leaders. I can honestly attribute that to scouting! Once again, my little disclaimer would be that I don't necessarily see the same benefits to cub scouting (sorry, YMMV) at least not before the Webelos rank.

Like another poster on this thread my second DS found out that the reason he was given the position for a very coveted internship at at law firm was because he was an Eagle Scout. We have also seen similar preference given to my other sons because of their achievement in scouting.

 

[PaulaSue]

Trust me I only let my girls do one thing at a time because of the cost and time needed. Over the years they have done so many different things trying to find their thing. Glad they didn't care for dance ouch 2 in the same time....

We loved scouts!

 

[Katy Belle]

I havent read all the responses...but i have been a cub scout leader for 5 years. Tiger Cubs generally meet once a week. One week is the Pack meeting, with all the scouts and families, one field trip, and two Den meetings, with the Tigers and their adult partner.

After tigers parents arent required to stay, at least cub scout rules dont say they must stay, some Dens still request it.

As far as activities, i think its less expensive, and time consuming than a lot of sports. Our Den doesnt charge for camp outs. Each family provides all of their own gear and food.

Scouting is great for boys!

 

[dsanner106]

As a former cubmaster, I can say that the normal den meeting schedule is once a week and pack once a month. We always found a way to provide a uniform for a scout who could not afford one, have you talked with your cubmaster about this? I would also say that the 50.00 fee was the cheapest expense we ever had for any of our childrens activities. Baseball was 150, soccer started at 450 until my daughter made the club team, then skyrocketed up. Ballet was 120 a month to start, later much higher. Most other activities were just a few months in length, so 50 for a year was not bad. I will add also that expenses are frontloaded in scouts, once you pay and get the uniform, most activities are free. Our camping trips averaged about 4 or 5 dollars a boy for food costs, but about half our trips were free and covered by the pack. Tell the cubmaster about your situation and I would hope they will help.
Best of luck,
Drew

 

[Nicolepa]

Doesn't your Charter Organization cover the cost of renting a facility for meetings. I thought that was standard. It would be worth checking into if they don't already.

That said, we rent rooms at the school for our meetings. It cost us $10.00 per room. With 1 for each den, and 1 for pack meetings its only $60.00 per year.

We are our own charter. I don't know how much the fees are but we also buy our boys the neckerchiefs, books, pinewood derby cars, blue & gold banquet.

Figure $20 for council, $12 boys life, book $15?, neckerchief $10?, Pinewood Derby car $5. That is $60+. We make a lot from our popcorn sales and that covers the Blue & Gold banquet and most of our other extra's (rock climbing etc).