Gift for son crossing over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts

[RK in NJ]

Looking for some ideas for a gift for my son crossing over to Boy Scouts. He has a new backpack and some other camping gear already but I would rather get him something useful and not something that will sit in his closet or collect dust on his shelf.
Thanks.

 

[Ceila]

Looking for some ideas for a gift for my son crossing over to Boy Scouts. He has a new backpack and some other camping gear already but I would rather get him something useful and not something that will sit in his closet or collect dust on his shelf.
Thanks.

As a Boy Scout, he will use the same handbook all the way through, unlike Cubs where they get a new one for each rank. You can purchase a nice canvas cover for it at the Scout store and have it embroidered with his name and Troop number. DH was a den leader and did this for the boys who crossed over, and our son still uses his (he's working on Eagle now).

 

[NotUrsula]

A Leatherman if he doesn't already have one.

 

[pls5286]

If your son earned his Arrow of Light, get him something nice for that, otherwise, get him something like a patch sash that he will use to put all of his boy scout patches on. This will let him keep up with all of his badges that he has earned as a Boy Scout. You can also get the parts of the uniform that are worn as a boy scout that are not worn as a cub scout if they are not provided by the troop as well as the books needed (the boy scout field book as well as the book that has all of the eagle requirements. I recommend getting the spiral bound, they hold up MUCH better). If you have any specific questions please PM me.

 

[hops&dreams]

I second the Leatherman. DH still uses a pocketknife that his grandpa had as a scout!

 

[tyniknate]

The book is a great idea, and I would suggest the spiral-bound one. It's a little more expensive, but they use it for so many years that the cost evens out. If not, my son used his so much that the traditional binding broke and the pages started coming out.

Spiral bound scout book
Canvas Cover

My best suggestion:
Practical: Good sleeping bag (we chose zero degree)

Or

Sentimental: Large shadow box to display all his trader patches and event patches - my guys are constantly re-arranging their patches on their wall. I had their boxes made and they are 4'X4' and they are almost full. Its a great way for them to remember the places they have been and the things they have accomplished.

 

[wiigirl]

A Leatherman if he doesn't already have one.

That would be my suggestion also.

 

[stsomewhere]

Leatherman and good lightweight sleeping bag ( good for 0 to 30 F rating). My husband is a Scoutmaster. He is shocked to see boys come to campouts with slumber party weight sleeping bags. HE always talks to new parents about making sure there kid has a warm enough sleeping bag.

 

[RK in NJ]

Thanks for all of the great suggestions.

Our Pack gives the Boy Scout handbook to all scouts crossing over. He has more knives than hands (don't we all) and a great sleeping bag that was a Christmas gift last year. One of the Dads is making career arrows and a display rack to show it and patches for all 14 boys crossing over.

I think a backpacking tent will be the gift he gets. Plus then he will stop borrowing mine all of the time!

 

[Ceila]

Our troop encourages new crossovers to hold off on purchasing new tents right away. (We do have several troop tents available for the boys to use, so that mitigates the problem of someone not having one to use on a campout.) Often the older scouts have suggestions for what works best, and it's good for the new scouts to see several types "in action" before spending money on a good tent. I can say personally that even though our son did wait, he still ended up wanting a different tent a year or so later.

One thing that he loves is his camping mattress. We got this one from REI: http://www.rei.com/product/778152/rei-camp-bed-35-self-inflating-pad and it's been great. Can't take it backpacking because it's a little on the heavy side, but when they can take the troop trailer into the site it's fine. Even though summer camps always have cots, he usually uses this on top of what's there, and when he'd cold-weather camping it provides much needed insulation from the cold ground.

 

[Jaya]

My nephew wanted a nice Swiss Army knife for his scout present and with his parent's permission, I got him one. He promptly sliced his finger, severing the tendon which required extensive microsurgery and therapy. When he wanted an axe for his birthday, I passed. At least he still has all his toes.

 

[TwingleMum]

Agree ~ don't buy a tent. The Troop may have specific tents they use or want him to have. The book cover is a must. A good sleeping bag and pad are important. One thing I got my DS (he is almost a Life Scout) is a Scout Ring binder and plastic card protectors for the blue cards they get for their merit badges. Its important that he keeps all the blue cards safe. The blue card is what they will want to see when he is going for Eagle. And if God forbid he loses his sash or a patch its the signed blue card that will enable him to replace it. Have fun and congrats on bridging. We have 1 Scout, 2 Weblos(twins) and a Bear in our family.

 

[HM]

It's been years since my son moved from Cubs to Scouts. I didn't even occur to me that we should get him a gift for the occasion. How nice that you all do/did that.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

Our troop encourages new crossovers to hold off on purchasing new tents right away. (We do have several troop tents available for the boys to use, so that mitigates the problem of someone not having one to use on a campout.) Often the older scouts have suggestions for what works best, and it's good for the new scouts to see several types "in action" before spending money on a good tent. I can say personally that even though our son did wait, he still ended up wanting a different tent a year or so later.

One thing that he loves is his camping mattress. We got this one from REI: http://www.rei.com/product/778152/rei-camp-bed-35-self-inflating-pad and it's been great. Can't take it backpacking because it's a little on the heavy side, but when they can take the troop trailer into the site it's fine. Even though summer camps always have cots, he usually uses this on top of what's there, and when he'd cold-weather camping it provides much needed insulation from the cold ground.

I'm surprised that your troop wants the boys to hold off on buying a tent. Our boys need tents right away. My youngest crossed over last weekend. My oldest is already in the troop. Both my boys got tents for Christmas right before they crossed over. We just asked some of the boys and dads from the troop what they would recommend. I would think there is some contact between the troop and the pack before crossover. The Webelos would need to have a meeting with the Scout Master ahead of time as part of the Arrow of Light requirement. I don't think our troop has extra tents anyway.

My boys are going camping this weekend. It will be my youngest son's first camping trip as a Boy Scout.

 

[mom2d&b]

My son crossed over last weekend. I never thought about a gift. Yesterday I stopped at the council store and picked up the book and the canvas cover. We have a specific tent we need to buy as well as a few pair of uniform shorts and class B shirts. The new troop requires the boys to be in either a class A or class B complete with BS shorts/pants and socks everyday of a camping trip. He has a sleeping bag but the zipper is broken so that will need to be replaced. I am seeing lots of dollar signs.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

We got our son a swiss army knife but he didn't have any knives at the time. So if you are waiting to buy a tent just get a giftcard to the store you would buy it in so when you know which one he needs he can get it.

 

[jodifla]

A tent! That's surprising. The troop my son is crossing over to has all of their tents.

A gift is a nice idea though.

 

[Ceila]

I'm surprised that your troop wants the boys to hold off on buying a tent.

As I had mentioned, we have several troop tents.

 

[RK in NJ]

We have several tents in our house already and the Troop he is going to has some also. We camp as a family and he often brings a friend who is also a scout. It will be nice to have him use his own tent and take care of it himself. I see it as a small investment that he can use for many years, on Scout trips or not.