You are registering for the Cub Scouts program of Boys Scouts of America (BSA). The program accepts Boys and Girls from grades K-5.

This is different from scouting programs offered by Girl Scouts of the USA.

Each Scout joining for the 2023-2024 academic school year will need to pay $180 in annual dues.  This includes:

1. $100 for the national registration with Boy Scouts of America and annual subscription to the Scout Life magazine 

2. $80 for Pack 1000 Dues - See "What does my Pack Annual Dues cover?" to know how Pack uses these funds

In addition to the annual dues, also see the question about additional costs that also needs to be planned for.

Pack1000 annual dues cover the following:

1. Advancement awards and badges awarded to the scouts

2. Costs to purchase & maintain equipment the pack owns such as the pack trailer, camping supplies, pinewood derby track, banners, etc.

3. Re-chartering the Pack with the National organization for the next year

4. Costs for leadership background checks and training

5. Any other miscellaneous costs needed to run the Pack efficiently - for example, Pack and Den meeting supplies, Blue & Gold banquet, costs for the website, etc.

NOTE: The above is a non-exhaustive list and varies from year to year. Pack 1000 is a non-profit, volunteer organization. The Pack reviews its budget regularly and may adjust Pack Fees and activities included in the fees per the decision of the Pack Leadership Committee.

Below is just an indicative cost to give new scout parents an idea. For the school year - all scouts will need to pay for:

1. Cub Scout Uniform - mandatory (including scarf/neckerchief, woggle) - approx. $200-$300 [see reference Google Doc: Scout shop shopping list for Pack 1000].  See Scout Shop for more details on current pricing.

2.  Cub Scout Handbook - Recommended approx. $25

3. Activity Fees - Based on participation and varies by event - For example, admissions to a museum, baseball games, etc.

4.  Camping fees - Based on participation and depends on many factors

   • It is usually $25-50 per campout per participant, and we typically have 2 campouts per year - one in the fall and one in the spring.

   • Winter Campout - approximately $100 per participant

Pack 1000 participates in BSA approved fundraising activities and encourages it’s member scouts to pay-their-own-way. The scouts earn (non-cash) credits that may be applied to annual membership renewals and camping payments over approx. 2 year (current and next year) periods. There are no unused credit refunds.

The ideal time to start is at the beginning of the school year, but Scouts are welcome to join at anytime. We would recommend scouts to join as early as possible. The pack generally follows the school year as their calendar.

Pack annual dues are NOT pro-rated as the dues are based on activities of the Pack for the whole school year.

Similarly, no refunds are provided for missing an activity or campout. However, there are a few activities that are covered by fundraising events. For such activities – any unused credit may be applied to next year’s dues. There will be no refund or cash payout under usual circumstances. Any specific circumstances/scenarios may be discussed with the Pack Cub Master/Leadership.

• There is a Pack meeting once a month, usually on a weekend afternoon. [1 hour]

• There is at least one Den meeting a month. Day and Time are decided by the Den leader. [Approx 1-1.5 hours]

• And then there are campouts, hiking and other activities that scouts and their parents need to attend. Depending on what group/activity you have volunteered for – there may be some time needed for planning and execution as well. These require about 3-6 hours/month.

Yes. Please note that this is a fully volunteer (parents like you) run organization. At least 1 scout parent is required to volunteer. If you have a specific skill – accountant, wood working, STEM, engineering, nurse/medical professional etc. – we would encourage you to take up a leadership position that matches your skills/interests. 

The more you can contribute to the Pack,, the more your scout will get in return.

A good starting point is this list here from BSA's own Scout Life magazine.

http://boyslife.org/outdoors/outdoorarticles/6976/scout-outdoor-essentials-checklist/

Hiking should include:

Gear:

• refillable water bottle

• trail snack without candy/chocolate

• Day pack(old backpack can serve purpose)

• First aid kit(personal)-cvs/walgreens/amazon

• Poncho

• Ziplock bag for phone(parents)

• Bug spray

• Hiking stick

Clothing:

• Should be based off weather conditions first off

• wicking base layer/fleece mid layer(cooler weather)/water resistant/proof outer layer(poncho)

• Comfortable trail shoes/hiking shoes-ankle support for more strenuous hikes