MarinesWife

$150.

This covers everything except food at campouts (typically $5-7 per person), winter camp, summer camp, and part of the uniform (shirt, pants, belt, socks).

Fees and the rest can be covered through popcorn sales.

Last year, I made up a schedule for each week, and then sat down with all the Tiger parents and they took turns signing up for the items. We did not have anyone that would sign up to be the Den Leader, though eventually I did get one parent that agreed to remind the others of when it was their week, and kept track of awards (essentially being the den leader!). It worked out great...parents were involved, and the kids loved working with the different parents every week.

We do like Momof2Cubs....our fees are due in September. The fee amount includes the amount needed for re-charter. A small portion is due upfront and the rest can be earned through popcorn sales.

Our pack pays for everything you listed. The only thing we do not pay for are council camps.

Our fee is $175 per boy (but we are going to reduce that to $150 next years since the dens don't use as much money as we figured originally). This can be earned through popcorn sales - the boys earn 25% of their sales.

We have 40 boys and sold $22K in popcorn.

I think this is a fabulous idea and one I'm going to use this year!

We do Spring Recruitment. It's in May and then we invite everyone to our May Pack Meeting. This past year we just folded the boys into their dens and they participated over the summer (only pack events) as they wanted. In September they began den meetings iwht their dens.

I think havinb a "Bobcat Den" for a few weeks after we do our recruitment is a great way for these boys to form new friendships, get to know some den leaders and the Cubmaster, and to really feel included.

I'm all over it. Thank you!

We sing!! One or two songs every pack meeting. We didn't before though but I think the boys love it. Especially if it's a good rowdy song with fun lyrics. Repeat after me's are the easiest.

We use Yahoo Groups. I put events on the calendar and it sends out reminders. I just add everyone's email address as they join, no need for them to do anything. Emails sent go out to everybody. Very simple but effective.

Last year we did a cake walk at the end of the Blue and Gold evening. I didn't hear anything negative about that so I'm sure we'll be doing it again. I thought it was fun anyway!! I didn't see any disappointed boys/children and it seemed like they all enjoyed themselves and just considered it a game.

Anyone could play - parents/siblings/Scouts. As each person one they got to choose the cake they were taking home. In our rules for the cake bake we made sure it was very clear that boys would NOT be taking home their own cake, that someone else would be winning it.

Evmori: (So basically, the Cub family pays nothing if they sell their allotment of popcorn, correct?

The math doesn't work 36 boys at $185/boy = $6,660. What is the other $10K for?

Who does the selling? )

I'm not sure what you're asking. What other $10K? Our fee is $175 and the boys get 25% of what they sell, no matter how high they sell. The extra above the fee can be used for winter or summer camp. The other 5% of our commission is to pay for leader registrations and books. If there is extra than we put it back into the pack in terms of supplies, paying for camps, etc. Last year we paid for everything for both our spring and June campouts and then reserved $1,000 to start off this year to purchase t-shirts, books, etc. ahead of time.

The boys do the selling. I think very few dads take it to work, some take their sons into their jobs to sell. Lots of the selling is done at booth sales. We have done 2 weekends so far and sold combined $7700 there. We are up to 43 boys but I'm not sure how many have actually sold..maybe 30..we are at $22K so far. Determination is a wonderful thing when it comes to parents wanting money in their son's accounts.

I know some people have said they'd lose families if they raised their fees. I just don't believe it's about the fee. I think it's just their choice.

We didn't lose a single family when we raised our fee this year. Last year it was $70 or something...it was all broken down and didn't include very much. We thought we might lose families or get a lot of complaints but we were willing to chat with them individually. We did have one newish family complain. They had been in a pack in a different state who charge approx the same and didn't think they got their money's worth. I showed them the breakdown for our budget and then they understood AND realized they were getting their money's worth at the other pack too.

I'm sure there were people that did not choose to join Scouting this year because of our fee. But I think that would be true no matter the cost. I had 2 people last year not join because they thought it was FREE. Scouting isn't for everyone....as much as I would like it to be.

Registration

Boy's Life Magazine

Insurance

Neckerchief & Slide

Book

Pack t-shirt

Pack campout fees

Pinewood Derby car

Raingutter Regatta boat

Patches

Awards

Den Supplies

Field Trips

and more....

Does not include Council camps

When we added in all those things from last year including the average for the amount spent on awards/supplies/etc. it came to $185.

Because we do have more $ from popcorn than just the $175 per boy we use that money to do what we call "get ahead." We keep a stock of books and neckerchiefs. WE make sure there is always a healthy amount in our store account so that we can always get awards. We buy the t-shirts ahead of time. WE often give t-shirts to adults for stepping up at a camp. We pay for our leader books and training. We have money for 5 scholarships. If we're still sitting healthy than we pay for all the food for a campout instead of charging the families for it. AND this past year we made sure to have money at the end of the year to start off our new year without financial stress. We're also able to do things like have a pizza party in the summer and pay for the whole thing...though it was only like $130 total...but still. Those things add up. Our committee has the philosophy that if something costs more than a lot of parents feel like they're getting more. It's a better program. It is what has worked for us.

In regards to the boys not selling because of certain reasons, that would not excuse our parents from paying the full fee anyway. EACH family helps the pack go, not just SOME families. And if a family makes a need known to me then we help them. WE've purchased 2 uniforms so far this year. But those families are still selling popcorn!

Course....we also do not suggest partial uniforms... The list of what they need to buy includes each item in the uniform. If that's what we tell the parents the uniform is, then that is what they buy.

I'm not saying our way is the only way. Packs everywhere have great ways of doing things. But I often see packs talking about struggling with money and I'm offering a different viewpoint or rather a different attitude regarding it. When a family doesn't want to pay $65 for a WHOLE YEAR's activity for their child...something else is wrong in the picture....

I think in 2008 we had 25 boys but I wasn't the popcorn kernal so I don't how many sold. In 2009 we had 22 boys sell out of 28 at the time. And this year 2010 we have 36 active scouts but since we're not done I don't know how many have sold. So far only 14 have picked up popcorn from me and/or sold at booth sales.

In 2008 there was nothing for the boys really except the prizes. Nothing to motivate the adults. In 2009 I did the scout accounts but it wasn't smooth. This year I had a year under my belt. We're giving a straight 25% and it's really made a difference.

We are on a military base and do feel very supported, but it's a small base, we sell to the neighborhoods quickly. We lose approx 1/3 of our Scouts each year due to moves.

We do have a healthy bank account and I'm very thankful for that. When we joined this pack the bank account was withdrawn and they had 8 boys. The beginning of the 3rd year later we have 36 (after losing 1/3 each year!) and we are selling more than 20K this year. Everyone is excited. I only hope that when our core leadership moves on others step up to the plate.

For our pack, having scout accounts has increased our sales tremendously. With roughly the same number of boys, in 2008 we sold $10K, in 2009 we sold $15K (and I think it could have been higher but we ran out of show n sell and canceled 3 more days of booths), and this year we are at almost 20K and still have another booth sale weekend and more sales to go.

And our fee is high. $175. We give 25% in scout account money. Guess what? They sell the popcorn to get there and we don't stress about money. And parents who really want the next council camps paid for go above and beyond and help their Scout sell even more.

Also, it kind of distresses me to hear your Council is selling the popcorn for such odd amounts. I really feel for you. Ours are in $5 increments..the small one is $10 and it sells pretty easily.

Also, we have taught our boys to say something like, "Would you like to support Scouting?" before mentioning the cost of the popcorn. And then say thank you, 70% goes to Scouts.

This year it's $50 down and then they have to pay or earn through popcorn sales the remaining $125. Each boy has a goal of selling $500 to meet that amount. Every boy gets 25% of all his sales. We use the remaining amount we earn from popcorn to pay for adult registrations, books, and trainings.

The fee for Cub Scouts is $175 per year. This includes (for the Scout only):

Registration

Boys Life magazine

Insurance

Neckerchief & Slide

Book

Pack t-shirt

Pack campout fees

Pinewood Derby car

Raingutter Regatta boat

Patches

Awards

Den Supplies

Field Trips

And more

We encourage boys to do belt loops or work on electives over the summer. If there is an achievement they just HAVE To do, so be it, but we just remind them that they'll be working on achievements in their den meetings.

having said that, in our pack, your son would receive his rank award at the very next pack meeting. We think its important that boys get immediate recognition.

We have 28 right now. We'll gain some more at round up. Usually 10. But we will lose some of the 28 that I don't know about (already had 8 or so move). We lose approximately 1/3 of our pack every due to military moves. We just keep plugging away each year.

We have an Outdoor Activity Chair that takes all the ideas and plans them out.

For the summer we do 2 activities per month. We want to give boys every opportunity to get their Summertime Award and the things we did this summer were not heavy on the planning. Here is our schedule for this year:

June

Campout with Raingutter Regatta

Baseball Game overnighter

July

Star Gazing with local Astronomy group

Pizza/Swim party

August

Western town re-enactment

Pack Meeting

Our Swim party got a huge turnout! We live on a small military base with 6 pools at our disposal. So we were surprised by the huge turnout. Maybe it was the free pizza? The kids had a great time getting together and being together.

We have a Yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com

Everyone signs up for it, or I just add their email myself. I send out everything through there. Den Leaders get rosters frequently and they contact their parents through email also.

I keep the calendar up to date also and it automatically sends out reminders at times designated by me.

We do a flyer and take them to the school to be handed out (district approval first). I find out how many boys are in classes 1-4 or whatever and then take them in.

IN the spring I gave them 175 flyers for grades K-2 and we signed up 5 boys.

I look at it as a way to get our name out there, maybe get some interest going. I'm always hearing, "We didn't know there was Cub Scouts here!"

We would not be interested in a co-ed program for Cub Scouts. Boys are different. They're goofy and funny and silly and are interested (generally) in different things than girls. Yes, the boys are all even different from one another, but in general, they are all different and act different than the girls.

We are part of an American Heritage Girl Troop. In 2009, BSA and AHG signed a Memorandum of Mutual Support. That's your answer to co-ed packs...start an AHG troop and get the girls outside and busy!

I did make a few changes after it was printed out but here is the gist. I combined 3 different ceremonies that I found online. We were creekside. The boys started out on the other side of the creek across a little rock/wood bridge.

Today we are celebrating the conclusion of our Scouting year. As many of you know, Scouting started in England in 1907 when Lord Robert Baden-Powell took 7 boys to Brownsea Island for a camping experiment. But the roots of Scouting go even farther back. In 1899, Baden-Powell was a Colonel in the British Army fighting the Dutch Boers in South Africa. Colonel Baden-Powell was in charge of a town called Mafeking. It was under siege by the Boers. The Boers shelled the town every day except Sundays. When that happened, everyone had to hide in trenches until the shelling stopped. Baden-Powell noticed that the last ones into the trenches and the first ones out were the young boys. He needed to keep these young lads from doing risky things and getting wounded. So he organized them into a Boys Corps. They ran messages from Headquarters to the troops and citizens, and they practiced Army Scouting skills. This helped him enforce discipline on them in a way that they could accept.

The food was running out, the Boer force was 10 times the size of the British force, but Baden-Powell used his cunning to hold the town for 217 days, until British reinforcements could arrive and rescue the town from the Boers. When he got back to England, he found himself a National hero and a small book he had written for the Army, "Aids to Scouting", was being used by British boys to play games of scouting. He remembered those boys in Mafeking and what his Boys Corps did for them. He rewrote his book into "Scouting for Boys" in 1908 and Boy Scouting was born.

The tradition Baden-Powell started in Mafeking, we are continuing today. When the boys in Mafeking learned their scouting skills, they were rewarded with a promotion in rank. So too, do Cub Scouts, after showing their abilities in certain skills, earn their ranks of Bobcat, Wolf, Bear and Webelos. Our Scouts have learned many new skills this year. We will now reward there efforts by promoting them to their new ranks for this next Scouting year.

Webelos I to Webelos II:

Would the following Scouts please step forward: As you can see by their colors, these boys have been working hard at earning their Activity Badges. They are in the final steps of preparation to cross over to Boy Scouts. Scouts, you have learned new skills and have shown yourselves ready to become Second Year Webelos Scouts. Wear your Webelos Colors proudly like all Scouts have for the last 100 years.

Please cross the bridge and prepare to welcome the new Webelos to your den.

Bears to Webelos Promotion:

Bears , please step forward.

Bears, you have shown yourselves worthy of joining the Webelos Den by working hard through the ranks of Wolf and Bear. The Webelos Den has one big purpose. That's to prepare you for Boy Scouting, You will work on very exciting activity badges, learning things that may lead you to lifelong hobbies or professions. At the same time, you will study Boy Scout requirements so you will be ready to become Boy Scouts.

Parents of Bears, please step forward. Please remove your sons Bear items.

You have helped your son along the Cub Scout Trail this far. It is important that you continue to go along with your sons and learn about the Boy Scout trail in his Webelos Den. I know that we will soon have the pleasure of seeing your son presented with activity badges, the Webelos Badge, and finally, the Arrow of Light, the highest award in Cub Scouting.

Bears, as I call out your name, please cross over the bridge to become Webelos, and receive your new kerchief from the Webelos II Scouts. Wear your new rank and kerchief proudly like all Cub Scouts have for the last 80 years.

Wolves to Bear Promotion:

Wolf Scouts, please step forward.

Wolves, you have spent this year learning about Cub Scouting by earning your Wolf Badge. The Cub Scout Sign symbolizes the erect ears of the wolf. All of you have done your best to live up to the ideals of Cub Scouting. However, you are not ending your expedition here, but just beginning it. You will now begin on the trail of the Bear. Scouts, you have learned new skills and have shown yourselves ready to become Bear Cubs. All other animals respect the Bear because of his size, loyalty to its young, and hunting. Today, you will receive your Bear Kerchief. The Bear Kerchief is blue. Blue stands for truth, loyalty, and obedience. You must learn to obey before you can expect others to obey you. The kerchief stands for obedience to the Law of the Pack. Wear your new rank and kerchief proudly like all Cub Scouts have for the last 80 years.

Parents of Wolves please step forward. Please remove his Wolf items.

Parents, Your participation in your son's scouting experience is essential. You have all done a great job this scouting year. Please continue to do so as he advances through the ranks.

Wolves, as I call out your name cross over the bridge to become Bear Cubs, and receive your new kerchief from the Webelos Scouts.

Tiger to Wolves Promotion:

Tiger Cubs, please step forward.

Tiger Cubs during the past few months, you and your family together have explored all sorts of new and exciting things and places as stated in the Tiger Cub Motto: SEARCH, DISCOVER, SHARE. Together, you will join the Wolf Den. And, together, you will grow and learn new things while earning each badge. You will support and strengthen your Cub Scouting and own family in each step you take. Your parents will help and support you in each step of your journey.

Parents of the Tiger Cubs, please step forward. Remove your sons Tiger items.

Parents. as your son steps over the bridge to the Wolf Den, you will be accepting the parental responsibilities of Cub Scouting. You will promise to do your best to help your son to be a good Cub Scout, to encourage him to fulfill the Cub Scout Promise and obey the Law of the Pack. You will also promise to help him in his Cub Scout Achievements and Electives.

As I call out your name, please step forward, and receive your new kerchief from the Bear Scouts. The Wolf Kerchief is gold, like the sun. It stands for joy in a job well done. Have fun as you learn the way of the Wolf Scout. Wear your new rank and kerchief proudly like all Cub Scouts have for the last 80 years.

New Tigers

Would the new Tiger Scouts please step forward.

You are getting ready to start on a great trail! First as a Bobcat, and then as a Tiger. There are many great adventures waiting for you.

Parents of the new Tiger Scouts, please step forward.

As we call your name, cross over the bridge, and receive your Tiger neckerchief from the Wolf Scouts. The orange represents the beginning flame of scouting. An orange flame is not yet hot, but has just started and has huge potential.

I always love to hear feedback from new parents.

I just wanted to make a comment regarding popcorn selling. We have 12 new boys, 6 sold popcorn. Out of the other 6, 3 joined kind of late in popcorn selling and just didn't do it.

Out of our 20 returning boys, only 2 didn't sell.

The timing is bad, however, I would not want those boys to miss out on the benefits of selling! They get prizes and recognition. We also offer incentives to the parents in not having to pay dues.

The way we did it this year...first we rally uped the boys. Got them all excited about prizes and selling. Then the boys and the den leaders went outside to do water rocket shooting. I stayed with the parents to give them the new year talk, and welcome new parents. What I say about popcorn is that this is our ONLY fundraiser. That i know it's hitting everyone right at the beginning of the school year, but that if we just dive in and do it, we don't have to do any other fundraisers and then I give them a list of everything that will be paid for by doing the fundraising.

I'm so pleased with the participation this year. I keep staring at the #'s and it just blows my mind how much these little kids can sell.

If we couldn't have siblings at meetings, my husband and I would have to leave the program! We have 6 children, so always have someone extra taggling along, as so far we have just one in Cub Scouts.

Many of the older boys do get dropped off, but we encourage parents to stay and help. Siblings can play games with them, most just watch. We have a large Bear den, currently at 15 I believe, and we need parents there to help.

If there is ever an issue with siblings, I have encouraged den leaders to let me know, and I'd chat with the parents. But so far, there hasn't been.

Melissa Burke

Committee Chair

Pack 78

Twentynine Palms, CA

Cub Scout packs can only do family camping at sites that have running water and showers.

FALSE

Look at your site selection form! Water must be provided. And toilets close by. Nothing about showers!!

Several of our families were excited to find out about the memorandum. Our pack has "voted" to do joint activities with the AHG Troop that we are starting. Many of our families will be doing both. Right now, we'll do outdoor activities together. We tried to charter the new AHG troop with our pack's (and Troop's) Charter Organization but there was a hold up with the insurance liability. So we're now going to be chartered by a church in our small town. We have many families excited about this!

Melissa