Boy Scouts? Uniforms?

[DawnM]

I did spend $$ for a compass and a few items, but I am a very avid yard sale shopper and again, when I tell people I am buying the tent or sleeping bag or boots for my boyscout, they come WAY down in price!

I got two backpacks from former hikers that were over $150 each. I paid $10 each.

Almost new boots, $120 on the website, we paid $4.

8 man tent, $25 in very nice conditon. Same person sold us sleeping bags and hiking air mattresses.

But we don't buy much new......we just don't. I am not currently working and so my "job" is to search for the deals and make our dollars stretch as far as possible. At least, that is the way I look at it. I also only buy things in new or near new condition.

Now, I don't know what a Pretzl Tikka is.....will have to look it up.

Dawn

What can get very expensive is living at REI! Boots, good backpacks, raingear (don't laugh, our first year I bought my kids dollar ponchos as "raingear" for some hiking trip--found out REAL quick--that's not raingear), gators, everything to fill the backpacks, the right kinds of sleeping bags. The good news is, right about the time they outgrow Legos for Christmas and birthdays--guess what they are getting? A good compass, a Petzl Tikka or whatever the good headlamp is these days...great gifts! The high adventure treks are expensive. I sent three to Philmont one year, one another year, Sea Base for a couple, etc. Our troop often summer camps by taking a bus somewhere kind of far.

Now Cub Scouts--that's cheap. But, I am not a fan of the program (sorry) so we usually opt out. (Nothing WRONG with Cub Scouts--just a personal preference thing..)

 

[Belle5]

I did spend $$ for a compass and a few items, but I am a very avid yard sale shopper and again, when I tell people I am buying the tent or sleeping bag or boots for my boyscout, they come WAY down in price!

I got two backpacks from former hikers that were over $150 each. I paid $10 each.

Almost new boots, $120 on the website, we paid $4.

8 man tent, $25 in very nice conditon. Same person sold us sleeping bags and hiking air mattresses.

But we don't buy much new......we just don't. I am not currently working and so my "job" is to search for the deals and make our dollars stretch as far as possible. At least, that is the way I look at it. I also only buy things in new or near new condition.

Now, I don't know what a Pretzl Tikka is.....will have to look it up.

Dawn

Wow! Sounds like you have done a good job at keeping scouting costs down!

 

[DawnM]

It does take TIME! Just like some people like to spend a few hours in the mall shopping, I like to spend my Saturday mornings at yard sales! It is my retail therapy! And honestly, it allows us more wiggle room in the budget too....so we can continue doing things like trips to Disney World!

Dawn

Wow! Sounds like you have done a good job at keeping scouting costs down!

 

[newdrama12]

Not sure what size your sons would need. But i know that scoutstuff.org is doing a closeout sale with pants and shirts for sale under $5 a piece. Here is the link: http://scoutstuff.org/BSASupply/default.aspx?cat=01CLO&ctgy=PRODUCTS&C2=CO_APPAREL&C3=&C4=&LV=2

 

[lucyem]

You all are scaring me about the costs. My son wants to join and I was told by the pack leader that there is a $50 fee for the year and then he has to buy a shirt.

 

[SugarSpice]

Ask around some of the parents of older boys in your pack to see if they have outgrown shirts to sell.

 

[zachnsamsmommy]

Definately expensive... I just shelled out $62 for pants (with hemming), socks, and a belt at the Scout store. Our Webelos/Scout troop is fairly young, so we don't have much of a used uniform stock right now (just Cub Scout stuff...no Webelos or Scout). Luckily, we do have a fund to offset expenses (camp and stuff) for those that want to do scouts, but can't afford to.

We make too much to qualify for the help...but I am glad it is available.

As for uniforms, most of the PP have suggested really good places. There used to be a used scout store on eBay that I bought the numbers and some badges for DS a little cheaper than the scout store. Goodwill and thrift stores occassionally have stuff, but not too often.

We just found out that DS needs a backpack for an overnight hike/campout with a compressable sleeping bag and one person tent. Looks like the cheapest we can do this is about $300. We are asking for money for DS for Christmas to offset the expenses...we were told this year could run us about $500 for activities and camping .

Yes...it is expensive...

But DS has enjoyed it so much and learned so much!

 

[Vijoge]

You might want to try www.freecycle.org. Sometimes people have things like this stored away and will pass them on to you. The organization usually asks that you "give" more than you "receive" but I haven't found that to be a problem.

 

[pepperderr]

jultomzach, thanks for the offer of the shirt. I sent you a PM. Thanks everyone for the info. I so love this site! I was not expecting sooo many replies. I will ask at the next meeting about the "closet" thing. The only boy I saw there in a cub scout uniform was the leader's son. I think there were 2 or 3 wearing a boy scout uniform. Seems like a very small group. I am thinking she said my older son will be the only Webelos. Another group I think she said has 3 boys in it. I am not sure if it is tiger or bear or what.

No matter how much it costs, I feel like we have to make it work. My husband is in the military and stationed in Afghanistan at the moment. Other than my FIL who we only see about 3 times a year, and my brother, the boys really have no other male role model around.

My oldest is kinda shy too. I asked him how it went at the first meeting where we were trying to decide if I was going to let them do this and if they really wanted to. He seemed to really like it. He got along with the other boys. They made him feel equal like he has always been there I think. He was excited they tought him how to tie one of the knots already.

As far as the popcorn, we will see how that goes. I didn't get a sales slip about it yet because I still wasn't sure that night if we were going to do this (especially whene he said camp is 275). It will be 37 dollars a piece to register them. Not sure what it will be next year as this is prorated for this year and all of next year. Then it is 5 dollars each per month for the meeting dues. I hate even asking family to buy stuff from school for them because I think it is expensive too. But this time I know part of the money will help them get to camp so I want to push them to do it. They said the older one can make money selling at the harvest festival parade and I think he said they have a spaghetti dinner he can work at to earn money along with a few other things. I just told him he better do it and when my youngest finds a way to earn I will make him do that too.

Boy/Cub scout stuff will definitely be on their birthday and Christmas lists that's for sure. She said she would like them to have their shirts by February because that is when something special is. DS said there is a Cub day or something in October so it would be nice to have the shirts for that too.

Thanks for letting me know that if I get a used uniform the patches might be glued on. I never thought of that. Also that for letting me know that all new boy scout suff is the same price no matter wher you buy it.

I was expecting to get written info about the pack or troop but there was nothing and I didn't have pen and paper to write stuff down. They were putting out lots of info to remember but nothing written down. They said get older DS a scout uniform and leave off the first number. I didn't even remember what the numbers were when I got home. I had to look on the paper we got for them to sign up.

They are so anxious to get started and have the uniforms already.

pepperderr

 

[pepperderr]

hmm. I just went to the scouting stuff website and the tiger cub uniform looks greenish blue. Not at all like the dark blue shirt I was told to get. . I see they are selling the Boy scouts centenial stuff. I guess as long as it is offical BSA it is ok to wear? Are the Webelos and Boy Scouts shirts that same?

pepperderr

 

[Belle5]

hmm. I just went to the scouting stuff website and the tiger cub uniform looks greenish blue. Not at all like the dark blue shirt I was told to get. . I see they are selling the Boy scouts centenial stuff. I guess as long as it is offical BSA it is ok to wear? Are the Webelos and Boy Scouts shirts that same?

pepperderr

My boys wore green/blue shirts when they were in Venture. Cub Scout shirts should be navy blue.

 

[pepperderr]

This is the tiger cub uniform it sends me to when I click on the patch on the home page.
http://www.scoutstuff.org/bsasupply/tigercub.aspx

pepperderr

 

[3boymthr]

For a Tiger this is the shirt you should get:

http://www.scoutstuff.org/BSASupply...TS&c2=UNIFORMS&c3=USHIRTS&c4=&lv=3&item=CSSSS

The Neckerchief:
http://www.scoutstuff.org/BSASupply...EFS&C4=&LV=3&item=64064&prodid=64064^8^01RTL&

The Slide:

http://www.scoutstuff.org/BSASupply...EFS&C4=&LV=3&item=64064&prodid=64064^8^01RTL&

For a Webelo:

http://www.scoutstuff.org/BSASupply...=&LV=3&item=60080-88&prodid=60080-88^8^01RTL&

http://www.scoutstuff.org/BSASupply...EFS&C4=&LV=3&item=64077&prodid=64077^8^01RTL&

http://www.scoutstuff.org/BSASupply...RCHIEFS&C4=&LV=3&item=891&prodid=891^8^01RTL&

You will also need the council patch, purple fleur de lis, pack numbers and den numbers for each shirt.

I would not order the pants or the hat unless your pack requires them. Most times if it's a dressy occaision like the Blue & Gold you can get away with blue chinos.

As PP noted best to go with short sleeve shirt because you can always add a long sleeve white or navy blue shirt underneath but you can't subtract the long sleeves at summer camp .

I do recommend getting the belt but again unless your pack requires they have it right away you can wait until after they've earned belt loops to buy it. For your older child I would skip it entirely as the Boy Scout pants that he will need shortly have a different belt. Some even have a built in belt.


HTH

 

[pepperderr]

Thanks for the info 3boymthr. When do they earn a belt loop? I wasn't aware of such a thing. They said we don't need to worry about pants or shorts. From what I remember they just said the short sleeve shirt, neckerchief and slide by February because there is something special but they also have something going on in October. The cub scout one I am definitely trying to find used since I won't have anyone to hand it down to. My older DS will probably be outgrowing his boy scout uniform before the youngest grows into it so that can be used again. Do they give you the badges when you earn them or do you need to buy them too? I am so glad I posted here.

pepperderr

 

[DawnM]

Everything they earn is covered with your annual dues. You don't need to purchase them.

You will need the patches. Usually the numbers of your troop and the counsel area you are in patch. Ask at your pack and they will tell you exactly what to get. They might even have some of it for purchase at the meeting. Our pack has the numbers available for purchase.

Dawn

Thanks for the info 3boymthr. When do they earn a belt loop? I wasn't aware of such a thing. They said we don't need to worry about pants or shorts. From what I remember they just said the short sleeve shirt, neckerchief and slide by February because there is something special but they also have something going on in October. The cub scout one I am definitely trying to find used since I won't have anyone to hand it down to. My older DS will probably be outgrowing his boy scout uniform before the youngest grows into it so that can be used again. Do they give you the badges when you earn them or do you need to buy them too? I am so glad I posted here.

pepperderr

 

[Nicolepa]

Thanks for the info 3boymthr. When do they earn a belt loop? I wasn't aware of such a thing. They said we don't need to worry about pants or shorts. From what I remember they just said the short sleeve shirt, neckerchief and slide by February because there is something special but they also have something going on in October. The cub scout one I am definitely trying to find used since I won't have anyone to hand it down to. My older DS will probably be outgrowing his boy scout uniform before the youngest grows into it so that can be used again. Do they give you the badges when you earn them or do you need to buy them too? I am so glad I posted here.

pepperderr

February is the Annual Blue & Gold banquet. It is the Cub Scout birthday.

As for the shirt, I'd say 99% of our boys get a big shirt and they wear them all 5 years. So $25, it's only about $5/year. And trust me, you won't want to redo all the patches and such for a new shirt. One other thing you MIGHT have to buy is their handbook for the year. Our Pack provides them for all the boys but not all do.

 

[pepperderr]

One more question. My older son wears a 10/12. That is a Medium so I should get a large right or do they run small or shrink?

When we were at the meeting,the leader told me to buy a tiger cub book and a scout book. They had what looked like new ones there but she didn't say they were for sale or that I could get one from them.

I so appreciate everyone's help and suggestions! I am nervous about doing this with them myself because I just don't know what to expect. I am definitely taking my iPod or pen and paper to write stuff down at the next meeting!

pepperderr

 

[Nicolepa]

One more question. My older son wears a 10/12. That is a Medium so I should get a large right or do they run small or shrink?

When we were at the meeting,the leader told me to buy a tiger cub book and a scout book. They had what looked like new ones there but she didn't say they were for sale or that I could get one from them.

I so appreciate everyone's help and suggestions! I am nervous about doing this with them myself because I just don't know what to expect. I am definitely taking my iPod or pen and paper to write stuff down at the next meeting!

pepperderr

I would get the largest size that they can comfortably wear. They don't shrink but you want to have as much growing room as you can.

It is overwhelming at first. For your Tiger, most of his achievements should be completed during the meetings. There are some things you will have to do on your own (like character connections), but if you attend most of the meetings there will not be too much for you to do.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

For the books it costs extra, but I would get your older son a spiral book, they're so much easier to use. You don't really need the spiral one for your Tiger because they don't use them as long, I don't think it's worth the money, but it is good to have so you and his leader can sign off on everything he's done. I also found that for the electives some of the things were things we did as a family anyway so it was nice to see them in the book so we could tell his den leader that he had earned electives.

My DS wears a 10/12 and he said his uniform shirt now just fits and it's a medium so I would buy a large for your DS.

If your boys do this again next year you may not have to buy as much as far as uniforms either because some of the packs that we have been in have given the boys their neckerchief and slide and/or books at the end of the year when they crossover to the next level.

 

[3boymthr]

For the tiger book - do you mind slightly used? I have three and we're definitely done with that level now. Our pack gives the first handbook to all our new recruits so there's no need to donate to anyone else in my pack. I thought about keeping them, but really they're just becoming clutter. The one from last year just has a name in the front and the den leader's initials in the back. I'm the unit advancement chaire so I track all my sons' achievements in the Trax file and don't bother with putting the stuff in the books. I use the books primarily for planning the meetings (I'm den leader for both my younger boys). PM me if interested.