Re: $500 in gear? (was: Wow! Cost of Scouting)

As others have pointed out, you can get many of the needed items less
expensively than Randy is assuming. Aside from that:
* Most of our new scouts come to us from Webelos (in my troop, anyway)
and they've at least been to summer camp, so they already have basic
items like a sleeping bag, water bottle, and flashlight. Maybe not top
of the line, but good enough to get them through the first summer,
since....
* Webelos bridge over in February or March and go on their first campout
with the troop in March or April, so (at least around here) weather is
pretty mild. We deliberately make our March and April outings car camps
to help get the new scouts oriented without expecting them to invest in
a ton of backpack equipment right away. Their first backpack outing is
not until May or June, and then it's a short one where ultra-lightweight
equipment is not a big issue.
* When they do start thinking about backpacks, stoves, tents, and better
sleeping bags, we urge them to rent or borrow equipment the first couple
of times, until they have a better idea of what they need and what
features to look for.
Also, don't overlook garage sales and thrift stores as sources of
equipment.

Larry Tuck
SM, Troop 761
Thousand Oaks, CA

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