Camping gear wish list suggestions
Sleeping bag – 30 degrees
Mess kit you can cook with (over fire or grill) and eat with
Eating utensil safe for non-stick mess kit
Paracord
Hammock with straps
Hammock Underquilt
Hammock rainfly – 82 by 82 or more suggested
Pocket knife – Gerber is a good brand
Lighter
Waterproof boots
Water bottle
Duffle bag or backpack for bear
Camping chair
Flash light
Dear Parents and Scouts,
It is time for our troop to recharter with Dan Beard Council and Scouts BSA. Each year in November and early December we submit the names of all scouts and adults involved with our troop and we pay the annual registration fees. We would like to give you a run down of the fees that we are responsible for paying. For each youth member the annual registration fee is $66 plus $5.50 insurance fee. For the adult leaders the annual registration fee is $42.00 plus the $5.50 insurance fee. This registration fee is for the time period of January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. The troop also has to pay a unit liability fee of $75 each year. Scout Life (Boy’s Life) monthly magazine is $12.00 for yearly subscription.
When a scout joins for the first time, there is an additional one time $25 fee. If a scout has joined mid year, the annual fee is prorated ($5.50 per month) plus the $5.50 insurance fee. So if the scout joined in October for the first time for example, the fee is $25 + (3x $5.50) + $5.50= $47.00. Then with rechartering we have to pay another $66+ $5.50= $71.50 per boy.
Then the troop budget has to cover the $75 unit fee and the $42.00 + $5.50 = $47.50 registration fee for each adult. Again if an adult joins mid year, the fees are also prorated as for the boys. Each of the adult leaders and Troop committee members have to be registered. Remember that the leaders and Troop Committee members are volunteers. They do not get paid, they pay to be the volunteers! Our troop has a long history of helping to pay the fees for adult leaders. If we don’t have adult leaders, we don’t have a troop.
We currently are looking at rechartering with eight boys and eight adults. Our rechartering fee will be $572 + $380 + $75 = $1,027. Any magazine subscriptions get added onto that. Throughout the year, we try to subsidize camping trips to hold the costs down. We also buy advancement ranks, merit badges, books, shirts, tents, and equipment, etc. For years we have had a fundraiser here at the parish to help offset costs, however this year we made the decision to cancel it due to the uncertainty of Covid-19. We also plan to spend a week at summer camp, which costs about $325 per boy. So as you can see, there are costs involved.
We ask the families to pay the fees involved for their scouts. There is financial aid available but we must know about the need, in order to ask for it. Certainly the fees can be paid over time. We have decided to ask for a fee of $120 to help costs and summer camp is an additional amount. Since we meet year round, it basically is $10 a month. Remember the magazine subscription is extra. Summer camp would be covered with about $30 a month.
The Boy Scout Popcorn Sale helps to offset some of the costs and to help out fellow scouts that might not have the money. We do not want any scout to not be able to participate because of a lack of money.
We do ask that if a scout is not going to be at a meeting, that they ( or parents) contact the leaders to let them know. This is common courtesy. The leaders consider scouting a priority for their time, they ask that the scouts respect that and show up on time and in uniform.
See You On the Trail!
St. Lawrence Boy Scout Troop 302 Leader
We have a camping trip coming up on 11/20 – 11/22 at Camp Friedlander.
For our next troop meeting, we’ll cover how to stay warm on a cold camping trip and then plan out a menu.
Our plan for the trip will be to hike the We-Hin-Ay-Pay trail to earn a trail medal and work on the Scouting Heritage Merit Badge.
