Financial Considerations

Troop Resources

Troop 86 maintains enough camping equipment for use by all our Scouts as well as the parents who camp with them. This includes tents, cooking equipment, cooking fuel, camp chairs, medical kits, and other supplies.The troop also maintains the Scout Hut (our permanent storage unit and sometimes meeting place behind the Church). The Troop pays for BSA adult leader training; an annual recruiting outing; plus all of the merit badges, advancement patches, patrol patches, and other items used to recognize your scout’s accomplishments.

The primary sources of support for Troop 86 are:

• Our annual geranium sale fundraiser (more below)

• Contributions to the Troop

What to expect, financially, when your son joins Troop 86:

When your son joins Troop 86, the Troop Treasurer will create an account for your son on the official Troop 86 books to track receipts and expenditures throughout his scouting years. The first charge to that account will typically be a "New Scout Fee” that covers BSA fees, a red Troop 86 shirt, a new Scout handbook, and other items for the Scout uniform.

There will be other expenses that you will be responsible for on your own. These include the mandatory Field Dress/ “Class A” uniform and the cost of outings. In addition, at some point, your son will need a good backpack that has been properly fitted for him and he will need a good, compressible sleeping bag.  Troop members and parents are happy to help with advice on supplies, listen, ask questions, and educate yourself on your son’s individual equipment and clothing needs.

What is my son’s troop account used for?

Each scout (and active adult) will have an account in which to track his individual credits and expenses. Scouts will have opportunities during the year to earn money for their account (such as selling geraniums) and are encouraged to do so.  Additional funds for outings, etc can be deposited by giving a check or cash to the Treasurer at any meeting.  Anytime that you need to know the status of your son’s account, you can see the Troop Treasurer at a meeting or call Cathy Lindstrom at 615‐377‐6237.

It is important for the scout parent to understand that these accounts are not like bank accounts. Once money is deposited into a T86 Scout account, those monies can only be withdrawn for legitimate scout purposes. When your son is no longer a member of Troop 86, his account will be closed and any credit balance is transferred to the Troop. We cannot pay the balance back to you or your son. Hopefully, your son will continue on to become an Eagle Scout. Expenses for the Eagle Scout project are legitimate scout expenses and credit balances may be used.

What is the cost for outings?

In a typical year, Troop 86 offers approximately 13‐14 outings for the scouts. No outing is mandatory and few scouts attend all the outings. The outing fees can range from $20 to $300 for monthly outings (the higher fees include extra costs for renting skis or kayaks); plus additional amounts for Summer Camp and High Adventure outings. Troop 86 will sponsor one or two “High Adventure” outings each year which can be significantly more expensive.

We encourage parents to participate in whichever outings that they wish to attend.  Adults who plan to be active in the Troop should be registered with BSA (and take Youth Protection Training). The adult scout leaders will let you know the various guidelines that apply to adults on outings. Adult fees for outings are generally equal to or less than what your scout will pay (an incentive for adults to participate).

The Troop tries to offer a wide variety of outings that will fit any scout family’s budget.

What other financial responsibilities do I have to Troop 86?

Each year, during April and May, we have a geranium sale as our primary troop fund‐raiser. The sale is designed for the Troop to raise funds and for your son to make some money to help defray some of the costs of the outings that he attends. The Troop buys geraniums from a wholesaler and we ask each scout to take and sell a minimum number (generally 45). If your son decides to sell more than the minimum number of flowers, then his troop account receives a credit for the profit from each additional flower sold.