Non-Profit
Scouts BSA is a nonprofit organization and all volunteer. All moneys collected flow back to the scouts as awards and program costs. This website and the Troop Store was designed, published, maintained, and renewed by a volunteer. Every dollar that gets paid to the store goes electronically into the Troop bank account. Adult leaders do not get paid.
Be kind to us, friends. We are all just parents, grandparents, grown up Scouts who come to volunteer our time because we want to enrich the youth, and we are genuinely doing our best. If you want help with costs, bring a fundraising idea to the next Committee meeting that you are willing to run.
Dues and the one time BSA application fee pays for national membership to BSA and local Troop dues. All national costs are out of our control.
Dues pay for awards, weekly meeting activities, communal camping gear, BSA membership, group insurance for meeting and camping activities, BSA campsites, 5 of which are within the Tampa Bay area, software and website services, training, and annual adult leader background checks.
Cost Structure
Uniform
A Scout uniform shirt can be bought through the Troop Store. The purpose of the uniform is to identify the youth as a member of Scouts BSA. Badges on the uniform tell other members that they belong to their patrol, troop, and council. The uniform itself identifies a good citizen to the entire community.
The uniform is worn at all Scouting meetings and activities. It is required to travel and to receive dinners at Summer Camp, per BSA policy.
Book
A Scout book is used throughout the Scout’s entire Scouts BSA career. This one time cost is best purchased in conjunction with a book cover to help protect the book and to provide a space to store a notepad and writing implements.
A Scout book is a resource for all times where you lack knowledge for a certain skill in Scouting. It’s also the primary tool for Scouts to track their own advancement.
Fundraising
Fundraising is part of the program. Scouts will be encouraged to earn money to go to Summer Camp. These include activities that they plan with the Troop, such as fall popcorn sales and our annual Car & Bike Show. Fundraising at home also works.
Affordable
Scouts continues to be one of the most affordable extracurricular activities available to youth today. Not only can Scouts earn their own way, Scouts that achieve the rank of Eagle Scout have lifelong benefits including reduced costs to car insurance, unique college scholarship opportunities and admission preference, discounted theme park tickets, and more.