Cost of Scouting

Compared to the cost of sports and other youth activities, we believe that Scouting delivers great value to its members and returns a lifetime of dividends.

Pack Budget

Much of Pack 421’s core operating expenses are covered by a small membership dues fee and the income from our annual popcorn fundraiser. These funds go toward upkeep of Pack-owned equipment such as our camp kitchen, trailer, and sheds, as well as the costs for consumable materials used at meetings, advancement awards and badges presented to Scouts, Pinewood Derby kits and trophies, and more.

Personal Costs

Other costs are paid directly by the family of each Cub Scout. These personal costs fall broadly into three categories:

• Annual costs - paid each year, typically at the start of the year (e.g., membership dues)

• Outfitting costs - incurred the first year but not necessarily every year (e.g., initial purchase of a Scout uniform and camping gear)

• Activity fees - paid throughout the year to participate in certain fee-based activities

Each category of personal costs is explained in more detail below. If your family needs financial assistance in order to participate, see the Financial Assistance section at the end of this page.

Annual Costs

The following costs are paid by the family annually for each Cub Scout.

• National dues: $85 per Scout

  • Entitles the scout to membership in the National organization (BSA) for 12 months; covers insurance, program development, and support

  • For new scouts, this fee is paid directly to the BSA when submitting a membership application online; after the first year, returning scouts pay this fee when renewing their annual membership online

  • Non-refundable

• Pack dues: $35 per Scout

  • Entitles the scout to membership in Pack 421 for the current school year; these dues go toward the pack’s operating budget for equipment, supplies, and program delivery

  • This fee is paid in person at the first Pack meeting or via our online store

  • Non-refundable

• Scout Life magazine (optional): $15 per subscription

  • This glossy print magazine is published monthly by the BSA and is sent to the scout’s home via U.S. mail; it covers topics of interest to scouts of all ages

  • Subscription to this magazine is optional; some scouts love it (especially for the jokes and comic strips), while others hardly ever look at it because it isn’t a screen

  • To subscribe to Scout Life, select to add it to your shopping cart when you pay your National dues, either as part of your initial online application process or when paying the annual dues as a renewing member each year

  • Non-refundable

• Updates to uniform components: $21-$44 per Scout

  • Several components of the Cub Scout ‘Class A’ uniform need to updated annually because those items are used to identify the Scout’s rank and den:

    • Cap: $23

    • Neckerchief + slide: $13 + $8

  • Pack 421 asks all Scouts to wear either the official cap or official neckerchief to most events so that we can easily identify the Scout’s den; many scouts like to wear both the cap and the neckerchief, but you can economize by purchasing only whichever one your Scout likes to wear most (and are therefore is less likely to loose)

  • See our Uniforms information page for details

• Scout handbook: $13-24 per Scout

  • Every rank or grade level in Cub Scouts has a printed handbook that explains all the adventures, skills, and concepts necessary to earn the rank for that school year

  • Purchasing the handbook is required for each Cub Scout in the Lion (grade K) and Tiger (1st grade) dens because the handbook is written in as a workbook during den meetings

  • Purchasing the handbook is recommended for Cub Scouts in other ranks (grades 2nd-5th), although older Cub Scouts may be able share a handbook with a friend or look up requirements online

  • Make sure to buy a new handbook when you go to the Scout Shop to buy or update your Scout’s Class A uniform each year; see our Uniforms information page for details

Outfitting Costs

The following costs are paid by the family upon joining Cub Scouts and normally do not need to be paid again until the item is outgrown or wears out.

• Pack t-shirt: $20 per Scout

  • Also known as the “Class B” uniform; every Scout should have one

  • An order form for t-shirts is usually published at the start of each school year; to order a t-shirt at other times of the year, please contact our Treasurer via email

• Official Scout belt, $15 per Scout

  • Purchasing an official belt is required for each Scout in grades K-3rd because it is used to show off the metal belt loops awarded ford advancement at those grade levels

  • Purchasing an official belt is recommended for 4th and 5th grade Cub Scouts

  • See our Uniforms information page for details

• Class A uniform shirt: $64-$83 per Scout

  • Every Scout needs a Class A uniform shirt with required patches

    • Official uniform shirt, $56 blue (K-4th grade)*, $67 tan (5th grade)

    • Required patches, $8 (K-3rd grade), $16 (4th-5th grade)

  • See our Uniforms information page for details

• Camping & outdoors gear: varies

  • Gear requirements for Cub Scouts are relatively basic (see our Packing List page for details)

  • On Cub Scout campouts, each scout tents with his/her family; if there are important items (like sleeping bags or a tent) that your family does not already own, these items will need to be purchased or borrowed

  • Talk to your den leader for gear tips or help tracking down gear to borrow

Activity COSTS

Activity costs are paid throughout the year whenever a reservation is made to participate in a fee-based event, usually via the Pack’s online store. Most activities have a per-person cost that must be paid for all adults and children who participate.

Here are the expected activity costs for 2025-26:

• Moody Gardens Aquarium Sleepover (Sept): $65 per person, minimum age 5 years

• Fall Campout (Oct): $25 fee per family + $12 meal fee per person, age 4 and under free

• Blue & Gold Banquet (Feb): $12 per person, age 4 and under free

• Spring Campout (Mar): $25 fee per family + $12 meal fee per person, age 4 and under free

• Year-end Pack Cookout (May): $5 per person, age 4 & under free

The total estimated fees for 1 Cub Scout and 1 parent/guardian to participate in all fee-based activities during the 2025-26 year is $262.

A refund policy for each event is stated in the online store when reserving; if not stated, then it should be assumed that the reservation is not refundable from 2 weeks before the event.

District & Council Events

Separate from Pack-organized activities, our parent BSA district and council regularly hosts optional events that are attended by Scouting families from all over Central Texas. Such events include day outings and family camping weekends at BSA-owned properties in the region, and in the summer there are day camps and resident camps available. Cub Scout shooting sports activities (BB gun, archery, and slingshot) are offered only at district or council events.

Pack 421 does not always put district and council events on our official Pack calendar, but the district and council publicizes them via a monthly email newsletter sent to all Cub Scout families in the area. These events are always lots of fun! We encourage you to sign up.

District and council events generally have a modest participation fee.

Financial Assistance

If your child (or children) want to participate in Cub Scouts but costs are a problem, there are several ways we can help:

• Loaner gear such as sleeping bags or tents

• Payment plans for fees that are paid to the Pack

• Hand-me-down uniforms and handbooks (limited supply)

• Scholarships from our parent BSA council (how to apply)

Scouts who receive assistance are encouraged to be active in our fundraising efforts.

To request assistance, please speak to the Cubmaster or Pack Committee Chair in person, or send an email to cubmaster@pack421austin.org

Pack 421 “Scout Closet”

Every year we collect outgrown uniform items and handbooks from older scouts and set them out during the first few pack meetings so that younger families can use them instead of buying new. Availability is limited and offered on a first-come basis.

NOTE for Fall 2024: There are no hand-me-down handbooks this year because all ranks have new editions, and the changes from previous years are too great for the older editions to be useful. If you have an older edition, please put it in the waste recycling.