Springfield Scouting > Programs > Cub Scouts Pack 0131 > Costs Associated with Cub Scouts

Costs Associated with Cub Scouts

As a new Scout, the total registration cost to join is $165 per year. This registration fee does not support the Pack in any way. Rather, the fee is divided into two parts:

  • $85: This amount goes directly to Scouting America at the National level.
  • $80: This amount is the Council fee, which supports Tecumseh Council, our local council serving Clark, Greene, Logn, Champaign, and Clinton Counties. The council fee allows our council to provide Accident Insurance/Administration (youth and adult), as well as a number of Cub Scout events at no additional cost:
    • Accident Insurance/Administration (youth and adult)
    • Spook-O-Ree
    • Cub Scout Klondike
    • Cub Scout Adventure Weekend
    • Cub Scout Fishing Derby
    • Quality training events for registered adult leaders

This cost is pretty comparable to a seasonal sports league and other similar activities, many of which only last a few months of the year.

Cub Scout Uniforms

Cub Scout wear two distinct uniforms. For the majority of their time as a Cub Scout they will wear the distinctive Class-A Blue uniform, complete with the neckerchief and hat of their current den. Once a Cub Scout reaches the Arrow of Light den (5th Grade) they transition to the iconic Class-A Tan shirt and green pants. This uniform will transition with them as they cross over to a Scouting America Troop.

Cub Scouts also often wear a Class-B t-shirt as part of their more active events and activities. These are usually sourced through a local vendor and cost $12-15 on average.

Uniforms are not included in their registration fee, but can be purchased locally at our Scout Store, often at a discount during seasonal sales.

Pack Budget and Dues

Every Cub Scout Pack operates on their own budget, and ours is no different. Between advancements (Cub Scouts earn belt loops, which are comparable to Merit Badges for older Scouts), as well as costs associated with Pack events and activities, the operating cost of our Cub Scout Pack is not insignificant. To offset these costs each Scout starts the year owing dues. 

Some parents prefer to not participate in the fundraisers – we understand it is time, largely on weekends, when folks are busy. So each Scout starts the year with $100 in dues. These dues are reduced and/or eliminated as Scouts participate in fundraisers (every dollar a Scout generates in revenue takes a dollar from their dues). Dues are not collected until the end of the year to allow all our Scouts to participate fully in our fundraising efforts.

Reducing Individual Costs Through Fundraisers

We do a series of fundraisers throughout the year to reduce or eliminate additional costs to families, and do our best to give back when we can. Our biggest fundraiser is popcorn sales in the fall, followed by chocolate sales in the winter. These fundraisers not only provide the Pack with a healthy, stable operating budget, they also eliminate the dues requirement and in many instances allow the Pack to refund part of the yearly registration cost.
 
We also offer our Scouts an opportunity to generate revenue for individual “Scout Accounts.” Essentially, we cap each Scout’s financial contribution to the Pack, with an funds generated in excess of that cap being available to that Scout to offset their own costs for any Scouting-related items or activities (uniforms, registration, camps, etc.). Below is the breakdown:
  • $100 dues to start the year
  • $100 in earned revenue = dues requirement met
  • $185 in earned revenue = dues met and $80 Council Fee reimbursed
  • $370 in earned revenue = dues met, $80 Council Fee reimbursed, and Scout contribution cap met
As an example, to meet the contribution cap, a Scout would need to sell $1,000 of popcorn during our popcorn sale fundraiser (the Pack retains 37% of sales if we meet all the requirements).
 
This is our way to ensure the Pack has a healthy operating budget, while also incentivizing Scouts to contribute and participate. This is also a good way for us at the Cub Scout level to introduce themes like budgets, planning, and saving to our Scouts, which will prepare them to transition to a Scout Troop, where they are solely responsible (with some adult guidance) for planning their Troop activities and budget.