Cub scout costs and opinions

[ldrprn]

One more "two thumbs up" for going ahead and signing up. We have 18 year old twins that started in Tigers in first grade. We saw the pack at the school open house, and we thought it would be good "Dad and boy" time. It wound up being a family thing, and we all loved it. I was the Den leader and DH was my assistant until he became Cub Master. Each Pack and Den have thier own way of funding activities. We often had the families plan an activity or a craft, for our den about 8 boys. We also collected aluminium cans to help with dues. Our Pack did a lot of camping, so we found that a tent and sleeping bags were a must, but watch for clearance items at Target and other places. Sometimes the Pack or Troop will have an equipment sale and give the members an opportunity to sell their "experienced" items.Again as PP said, the camping weekends are a blast, and not really that expensive if you look at the big picture. I think sometimes the parents had as much fun as the kids. We continued on to the Troop, and the Boys had a fantastic experience. Again it can be as expensive as you want it to be. Our Troop offered a wide variety of activities (none of them mandatory) for the boys to experience. One of my boys and DH went to the Bahamas and spent a week on a sailboat for summer camp. An adventure he will never forget and may never have that opportunity again. Most activities are optional, and as a PP stated if it is a financial hardship, check with the den leader or Cubmaster, as there is often assistance available for some activities.
I can't speak about Scouting without comenting about the values the program instills in the boys. The Cub Scout Promise, Boy Scout Oath and Law, motto's etc. are taken very seriously by the leaders, and many excellent life lessons are learned. Truly any time a boy can spend in scouting will make him a better man.
Sorry this was so long, I guess you can tell "It's a passion for us" DH is now the representative from our church for the Troop that meets there. and one of my boys is now working with the Cubs as an assistant leader and loves giving back.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I just wish they had a trial run of a meeting or two before being charged the enrollment fees incase he isnt up for it. DS is a very shy and introverted child at first and takes a long time to warm up and open up to people. I don't wanna force him to go because we paid and signed up if he isn't that into it. Although he is very into most things and always wants to play with other kids. The paper stated that his group would likely meet once a week and the whole group would meet once a month. Seemed like a lot of meetings to me?

I would explain that you aren't sure he'd be interested, and could he attend a meeting or two first? Be forewarned a first grade/first meeting is likely chaotic and not a great way to judge the group. (Everyone likely new/not sure what is going on yet.) A pack meeting {big group- all the grades together} as a first meeting might give a better feel. Our council also does a cub scout day at the scout camp first week of Oct- that is a great intro to all scouting is.

The dens (age level group) and pack (all the cubs in town) I have been involved in meet every week, one or the other. (Eg if there is a pack meeting in a week, there is not also a den meeting.) I'm always kind of surprised folks say once/month is a lot- dance, piano lessons, whatever would also be once/week? (Shoot my son in first grade had 2 soccer practices + a game in a week, yeah, I'm glad his interest in that didn't last, lol.) The costs others have mentioned are higher than what my son's pack was. ($12 is the national fee, then each pack usually charges for dues/supplies, etc. Ours was $20/year for that.) Even that said though, again, it's still far less expensive than many other activities.

I have to echo others' comments in regards to parental involvement. Scouts is a volunteer organization. IMO, every parent should help out in some way. That doesn't mean everyone needs to be a leader, there are plenty of other things need to be done- from helping sort popcorn on delivery day to chaperoning a field trip... every little bit helps! (Also a great way to do something with your son!)

I would NOT be scared off by camping costs as mentioned. 1. Some units are more "campy" than others. and 2. the more "campy" ones often have equipment folks can borrow- or there are others in the unit who have some to share. 3. You're not doing super heavy duty camping with 6 year olds- you can make a bed roll {essentially a stack of blankets} instead of a sleeping bag, plastic dishes from your house instead of a mess kit... lots you can "make do" or borrow.

(former den leader, cubmaster, cub day camp director; current troop advancement chair and mom to a 14 year old boy scout who could be one rank away from Eagle with a millimeter's worth of effort this fall.

 

[Chuck65]

I'm with the definitely give it a try crowd. My son has been in scouts since kindergarten (Tiger Cubs) and is currently in Boy Scouts working on his Star rank. Most of his good friends are in scouts. They all started together as Tiger Cubs and are very close. Scouting teaches so many life skills at an early age. It's money that is very well spent.

As another poster said, if funds are a problem, talk to the leader about it. Our troop has a policy, that no scout will be denied an opportunity due to monetary status.

 

[endy]

Wow. When I checked (a few years back) for my DS5 the fees were $200 plus more & more for other stuff.
This is in Canada, they told me the insurance caused the high rate. They did a couple of overnight away from home trips that I didn't like at the time. No way I thought a 5 yr old needs to be with people I don't know, a few hours away. So I didn't sign him up.
I was in Brownies & Guides (WAY WAY BACK) I think the weekly fees were 5 cents.

 

[tinkermom23]

Definitely give Cub Scouts a try!
We are in our 5th year of Cub Scouts and DS10 will move on to Boy Scouts in the spring. What I have found is there is so much to learn for both the Scout and the parent!
The costs vary greatly.
In our Pack:
Scout family pays for 1 time registration fee of $15 and uniform shirt, and summer Camp.
Pack Activities- Pack pays approx. 1/2 and Scout family pays 1/2.
So if we go to winter camp, the Scout only needs to pay about $30.

Pack pays for pins, badges, awards, neckerchief & slide, supplies for Den & Pack meetings, Christmas party, & pinewood Derby.
We have two major fundraiser,(popcorn & a French toast Breakfast)

Our pack owns some supplies like tents, coolers, equipment to use if a family does not have it available for camp outs, but most have everything or they borrow it.

We have a lot of families who could not afford to stay in Scouts is things cost more, so we do everything we can to keep costs down!

 

[mjkacmom]

My 3 youngest are in scouting, and it's one of our cheaper activites. Dd9 has lasted longer than I thought she would, but her troop doesn't do much except meet twice a month after school. Ds12 dropped out years ago, when sports interferred, and I expect ds7 to drop it as well (he's on three teams this season, plus TKD). Dd7 likes it, but it's pretty low key - maybe once a month after school. My boys like camping on a baseball field and the pinewood derby.