Cub Scout Uniform?

[GJM]

I know the one website I went on the pants are $30 - but I like the idea of just getting a pair of Navy pants - I am going to get the short sleeve shirt and tha is around $25.

It is the pack leader that wants them to have the full uniform for the pack meetings. The den leader doesn't care.

What do people do when they really don't have the money for this? It would seem so unfair to kids that want to do this and can't.

 

[Pam]

The Cubmaster has unrealistic expectations if he/she thinks the entire Pack can afford complete uniforms. National office of Boy Scouts does not require everyone to have the full uniform.

My son is a Senior in High School, an Eagle Scout and has been in Scouts since 1st grade as a Tiger Scout. I think I may have seen one or two Cub Scouts in all of those years who had the complete uniform, and that was usually when they were Webelos Scouts and could wear the green pants as a transition bridge over into Boy Scouts.

In fact, many of the Boy Scouts never buy the complete uniform, sometimes only getting the correct parts in time for their Eagle Court of Honor.

I used to go to WalMart when my son was a Cub Scout and buy him blue pants that looked a lot like the official Scout pants.

A shirt and cap are really the important part of the uniform at this time.

I second going to the Thrift Store. I know of many parents who found complete uniforms there at a very affordable price.

We bought the official green pants/shorts once my son was a Webelos Scout and he moved up to the tan shirt. I will say that having the whole uniform when they are a Boy Scout leaves a great impression on everyone and makes the Scout, imo, stand a little taller and prouder.

My son is still involved in Scouts as a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster, as well as the Order of the Arrow, Past Lodge Chief. We have purchased many shirts, shorts, and pants over the past 7 years. Some we bought brand new from the Scout Store, others we bought at eBay.

Side Note: Poohnatic - I had to at your comment about your sons wanting to wear their uniforms to school! Been there, done that!

 

[DisneyFunfor3]

I have the Tiger Cub neckerchief and slide that I'll send you if you PM me with your address. My son is now a Wolf or Bear Cub (I get it mixed up...for me it was Brownies, Juniors and Seniors...why do the boys change every year ). Anyway, just thought I'd let you know if you need them. I may also have his hat still...I'll look when I get home. By the way, your pack leader is being ridiculous! I'm a den mom...if it was me, I'd pull the pack leader aside and tell him a thing or two and remind him that this is supposed to be FUN not the military!

Karen

 

[Poohnatic]

Side Note: Poohnatic - I had to at your comment about your sons wanting to wear their uniforms to school! Been there, done that!

And I have to report that I've got a champ at Popcorn selling, thanks to the can you sent us last year! He's gaga for the stuff and is a pro at telling people how good it is!

Suzanne

 

[geffric]

I agree with Pam The Cubmaster has unrealistic expectations. I would go to the Committee Chair and asked to be put on the agenda at the next committee meeting and discuss the issue. IMHO this is an unreasonable request at the Tiger and the Cub Scout level.

as far as your comment "What do people do when they really don't have the money for this? It would seem so unfair to kids that want to do this and can't."

BSA does not exclude anyone. Our pack did pay for one members dues since the family could not afford it and we handed down shirts as the boys out grew them or went to a different uniform.

 

[TheDoctor]

I was a cubmaster so many many years ago. The Tigers all wore just the tee shirt and the hat at pack meetings. The Cubmaster for this pack is pushing it.

My son's troop was real strict on uniform including not letting kids do their boards of review if they were not in full uniform. Our troop committee chair was shocked when at my son's eagle Court of Honor, an eagle scout from another troop showed up in just his scout shirt, his OA slash and blue jeans. Since my son had worked on this kid's eagle project a couple of years earlier, we told the troop committee chair to just ignore the issue.

 

[Pam]

I was a cubmaster so many many years ago. The Tigers all wore just the tee shirt and the hat at pack meetings. The Cubmaster for this pack is pushing it.

My son's troop was real strict on uniform including not letting kids do their boards of review if they were not in full uniform. Our troop committee chair was shocked when at my son's eagle Court of Honor, an eagle scout from another troop showed up in just his scout shirt, his OA slash and blue jeans. Since my son had worked on this kid's eagle project a couple of years earlier, we told the troop committee chair to just ignore the issue.

I have to agree that when the boys are older Scouts - the complete Boy Scout uniform is very impressive.

Funny story - when my son was finishing up 5th grade and about to enter 6th, he crossed over to Boy Scouts. We bought the t-shirts, had the tan shirt and just added the correct Tenderfoot rank, bought the hat, socks, etc. I went to WalMart and bought green pants because I bulked at spending $38.00 for the official ones.

DS comes home from Summer Camp totally miffed - he lost a point or two on uniform inspection because his pants weren't official! He was so upset! I figured if the kid was that conscientious about wanting to represent Scouting on the correct level, I could buy him the pants. A couple of months later, we were coming back from a Troop meeting and stopped at the Dairy Queen. My son proudly walked in wearing the ENTIRE uniform. A little boy about 6 or 7 came up, tugged my son on the sleeve and whispered, "Are you a member of the French Foreign Legion?" My son said, no and that he was a Boy Scout. He gave a spiel about the fun things you do and learn at Scouts and the little boy and his parents walked out with the contact name of the local Cubmaster!

In his middle school years he would wear the Scout shorts to school. (Of course that all changed once he hit high school! )

TheDoctor: regarding the OA Sash - this is one of my pet peeves. You are to only wear the OA sash at OA events - i.e. Troop Elections for the OA, OA camporees, Ordeals, banquets. If the Eagle Scout Court of Honor was not an OA themed one, the OA sash should not have been worn.

Another one that drives me crazy is when the boys wear their Merit Badge Sashes looped and folded over their belt - that's also not correct.

My son's Troop also recommends that the boys come in full uniform for their Board of Reviews, sometimes the newer/younger Scouts don't have the complete uniform at that time, so they wear their shirts and sashes.

Suzanne - that popcorn is addicting, isn't it??!!

 

[TheDoctor]

We have had boys trade out or share the same pair of offical scout socks two or three times during a night of boards of reviews. When I am running a board, I try not to look at what is going on with the scouts when they are getting into their full uniform.

 

[mom2boys]

My son's Troop also recommends that the boys come in full uniform for their Board of Reviews, sometimes the newer/younger Scouts don't have the complete uniform at that time, so they wear their shirts and sashes.

Our troop requires full uniform for Board of Reviews also. New scouts do have a six month grace period. We also have a "uniform exchange".
The uniform really does create pride and the boys behave in a more "scout-like" manner.
My 6th grader is such an eager scout. He already signed up for a Board of Review in anticipation of completing his Tenderfoot on this weekend's campout. That sleeping in a tent you pitched thing is holding him up. He quickly volunteered to be Grubmaster. He's trying to catch his 1st class brother. The younger brothers are always the most eager scouts.

 

[momrek06]

To all Scout Moms and Dads...I bought both my DS' their CUB and their BOY Scout uniforms brand new BUT I bought them LARGE...larger than they normally wear.

I didn't care and it was not even really the cost...years ago I SEWED everything on those sleeves...I know allot of people have sewing machines and friends with sewing machines but I did not. I broke more needles and stabbed my fingers more than I wanted in making sure the right patches were on the right spot on the sleeves and the pockets in the front. One time I even sewed a pocket SHUT....wrong....ugh!!!!

When they became BOY Scouts I again bought the uniform HUGE and they lasted FOREVER. I bought each boy a short-sleeved shirt and in the winter for regular meetings they wore a long sleeved long underwear shirt underneath the short-sleeve. With many more activities in the Spring and Summer months I felt of the two choices the short-sleeve was a better option. When they had advancement reviews they did not wear the long sleeved underneath the shirt.

So that might be an option when purchasing brand new...go larger than you normally would.

Good Luck to all in Scouting...my DS' had some of their best times in Scouting and of course the ultimate best time was reaching the rank of EAGLE and DH and I had the pleasure of that happening to us TWICE.