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With these hard times, there are families who feel that they can't participate or must leave scouting because of financial difficulties. Even relatively small fees add up--unit dues, uniforms, activity fees, camping fees and summer camp fees. This is especially true for families with more than one child in scouting.
It may not be obvious, but it's happening right here in North Trail. Parents are telling us that they can't afford to participate. Often people simply disappear from the program because they are too proud to admit they are having trouble making ends meet.
We simply cannot allow the lack of dollars to interfere with the participation of potential scouts. Not only does it rob the individuals involved of the benefits of scouting, but it denies all scouts the experience of being in a robust, dynamic program and weakens the program as a whole. When the economy recovers, families may not think to return to scouting, permanently lowering enrollment for years to come.
Fund raisers are an efficient and an effective way to bridge the gap between what families can afford and the scouting experience we want for all young people. Limiting your unit to dues will inevitably result in some young people being denied these opportunities and all young people being denied the benefits of a complete troop.
When troop leaders invest the time and effort needed to start a fund raising program, it results in more than just funds: it reinforces the same values that scouting is founded on: personal responsibility and ownership of the troop. A scout who invests time and effort gets the best rewards-leaders need to make sure that this option is available to them.
So ask yourself the question, are we needlessly pricing youth out of the program?
Starting up a fundraising program does not have to involve a disproportionate amount of a scout leader's time. Once a program is functioning, the scouts themselves should shoulder the bulk of the responsibilities. Many units in North Trail are very successful at raising all of the needed funds without resorting to annual dues.
Popcorn and camp cards are just two simple effective ways to raise all of the money necessary to fund your unit. Units can set up "scout accounts" so scouts can pay dues, camp fees, buy uniforms and equipment when they participate in the fund raising activity.
Make it a new year's resolution to bring scouting to more youth by making possible for the scouts to earn what they need to participate.
Every unit should make it a top priority to make this an integral part of their program and remove any impediments to participation in scouting.