19 August 2008
It’s Time and It’s Expensive
Posted by admin under: Equipment .
So, we’re finally here. New uniform time. Yes Supplex is an awesome fabric and the new uniforms will finally be something you can actually hike in as opposed to something you strip off when you get to the trailhead. But the cost is heart-stopping. When you add in the books a new Boy Scout will have to pay $154.78 for his uniform and books.
This is my one big issue with the BSA. The mandatory equipment is so expensive. Okay, we can cut out the Fieldbook and Requirements Book and the hat since we’ll be asking them to get a hat that covers their ears, but the cost is still almost $120. In perspective, sports teams usually cost much more, but for some reason the start-up costs of Boy Scouts always makes me squeamish. I guess it’s because I want it to be easily accessible. Of course, you have to remember the national fee, Boy’s Life, and any troop dues so it’s easy for the cost to be $150 to $200.
http://www.scoutstuff.org/BSASupply/boyscout.aspx
Well, at least if a boy drops out he can still use the uniform for hiking around in. The new uniforms are practical.
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4 Comments so far...
Cici Says:
19 August 2008 at 3:21 pm.
Oh…my…God… I would not want to be the Troop Recruiter or Membership…
Bill Says:
19 August 2008 at 3:45 pm.
The new uniforms are not mandatory - I still see leaders that wear uniforms that are many years old.
See if your Troop has a uniform exchange program - you donate out grown uniforms in exchange for a larger size at little or no cost.
The Scout handbook, shoulder loops, and patch’s are normally paid for by your Troop.
I will agree - BSA uniforms have never been cheap - I cringe as well - but my son had to pay 360.00 per year for high school baseball uniform - and they changed them every year -
We charge 22.00 per year for dues and boys life + 7.00 per campout for food.
We create a boys account so they can earn money from selling popcorn to offset any fee or item they wish to purchase for Scouting.
admin Says:
19 August 2008 at 4:12 pm.
Thanks for your comment, Bill. You’re right. You can use an old uniform and my troop does keep a used uniform bank for that purpose, but with the fact that these new uniforms are actually usuable in the outdoors I think new kids joining will get the new uniforms.
My troop sells Christmas trees as a fundraiser and the boys get a lot of things paid for by that as well as a camping fund. However, we’ve never purchased uniforms and it’s the one thing I hate to tell new families about just because of the lump cost of it. You can’t get around it, either. Our troop pushes for all the boys to be in complete uniform so they all feel on the same level and equally a part of the troop. Hopefully the council will be doing their annual sale in September so that the uniforms are a bit cheaper.
Eric Says:
20 August 2008 at 9:41 am.
$40 is just a lot of money for a pair of pants. And it’s not because of the better fabric, because they were that much before! I know it’s for a good cause, but I cringe too when I have to tell the parents the cost. But like you say, at least it’s cheaper than most sports fees add up to.
