Costs and Funding

Supporting our Scouts and our troop’s activities

There are various costs associated with operating a BSA unit. Ours is no different. Some of the key items are:

• National BSA dues
• Awards
• Activities and campouts
• Equipment
• Maintenance (trailer tires, license plates, etc.)
• Many others…

There are various ways in which you can help us minimize the financial burden on our troop.

What fees will the Scouts have to pay?

Unlike many units, we do not charge annual dues. The troop covers the annual registration fee for Scouts and the adult leaders (Scouters). While there’s no guarantee that we’ll be able to continue with this practice indefinitely, we have no plans to change.

When the troop attends or hosts activities, the costs are covered in various ways. Sometimes the troop pays for the event. Sometimes the Scouts cover the costs. At other times, the Scouts are asked to pay for a portion of the event, and the troop will cover the rest. It really depends on the event. Regardless, the way in which expenses will be handled is always communicated to everyone before the event.

For most events such as campouts, we have a standard $15 fee for each Scout. While this usually doesn’t cover the total costs of the event, it definitely helps.

How is the troop funded?

As mentioned above, in nearly every case, the camping fee does not cover the total cost of the event. So, who pays for the rest?

The troop supports nearly all of its expenses through its annual Chili Dinner and Silent Auction event. The funds raised from this event helps to pay for the costs not covered by the event fees, as well as the other normal operating expenses.

The success of this event depends largely on the help and participation of our Scouts and their families. Since this is our one and only troop fundraiser for the year, all of our Scouts are expected to help out, and help from our Scout families is GREATLY appreciated!

Other ways to help

As with any volunteer-based organization, monetary contributions are just one part of the equation. The efforts and contributions provided by our volunteers are what really makes it work!

Whenever we have an event, at least 2 registered and trained adult leaders are required to attend. This helps to ensure the safety of everyone involved. Trained adult leaders are typically parents of Scouts who have registered with the BSA and completed the training required for a unit leader. Our troop is especially blessed in that we have many adult leaders who continue to help well after their children have aged-out. It’s a testament to how our parents (and past parents) view the troop as an important factor in the development of our youth.

Even if you are not ready to commit to being a registered and trained leader, there are MANY ways in which you can help. As the saying goes… “Many hands make for light work.” We are grateful for any help you can provide. Everything you do to help the troop ultimately helps our Scouts.