resqman

$40 per camping trip. The grubmaster for each patrol buys the food for each patrol. He is allowed $4 per person per meal for the weekend. The scouts are encouraged to cook Fri nite, 3 meals on Sat, and at least one meal Sunday. So 5 meals at $4 is $20 for food. Adults eat as a patrol. An adult volunteers to be the grubmaster for the weekend with same $4 budget per person per meal. The adult food is paid for from the camping fee. Seven adults x $20 for food is about $140. Uniformed adults who drive for the trip are commonly reimbursed $25 for gas for most trips. Some longer trips (2+ hours) may get $50. Usually at least 35 scouts attend trip so at least 7 vehicles. 7 vehicles x $25 is $175. Most weekend camping trips are within a 2 hour drive. Most campsites are state parks. Usually $2 per person, per nite. 45 people for 2 nights is about $200. So $140 + $175 + $200 divided by 35 scouts $14.75 per scout plus $20 for their food is $35 per scout. Add on any activity fee. We went to the National Whitewater training center and the fee was $75 per scout for the weekend once activity fee was included. The ocean kayaking trip was similarly priced to rent the gear for the weekend. Jan camping trip (3 day MLK weekend)is at summer camp facility with mess hall food for a mini MB camp. $109 per scout.

Nope. We have just discussed everything and solved all the problems. Nothing more to discuss.

One of the most common excuses that partial uniforming propents use to defend partial uniforming is cost. Scout pants cost $40. Civilian pants cost $16-$20. Lets do some cost analysis. 50 troop meetings a year 10 campouts a year 7 days of summer camp 4 COH a year 2 BOR a year 73 wearings a year. Scouts tend to wear a uniform for at least two years but can often stretch to 3 years. 146 or 220 wearings for $40. This presumes the zip-off pants so they can be worn year round. If the Scout outgrows his uniform, he could sell it to incoming or smaller Scouts for $10 through the troop uniform closet. Or he could buy used pants for only $10! Civilian pants only cost 1/3 to 1/2 the original cost of new uniform pants. Only worn for 6 months of the year since they don't convert to shorts. If worn once a week for 6 months, 25 wearings. Maybe wear for two years so a total of 50 wearings. $16 divided by 50 wearings equals $0.32 a wearing. $40 divided by 146 wearings equals $0.27 a wearing. Opps but you get $10 back at the end so it is only $30 dvidied by 146 wearings for $0.20. Of course the $10 used pants divided by a years wearing is only $0.06 a wearing. So Scouts pants cost less than civilian pants! Regardless of weather you sell the too small pants or not. Regardless of weather you wear civilan pants two years. They cost less. They perform as well or better than civilan pants. Dirt washes out. If you must, pretreat stains. They are a darker color and tend to hide dirt and stains anyway.

My son plays on a competitive travel sports team. They have designated uniforms for practice and for games. They have designated warm up suits and jackets. The coach expects the boys to attend in proper uniform. No uniform, you don't participate. The uniforming costs over $300 not including footwear. Coaches have made players remove coats in cold and rain because they were not the right color. It is a pay to play league. Players and parents alike understand and live by the rules. Why should scouting expect any less of a scout? We have a uniform. You wear the uniform or you don't participate. If you are coming from some other event, then bring your uniform and change. You are part of the scout team and you will wear the uniform, completely and correctly. Half a uniform is not a uniform. Uni-form. One form. All alike. Scouting is not free. It is not inexpensive. It is an activity that costs money to participate. You pay for the uniform, books, materials, travel, activity fees, and equipment. Start a troop uniform closet and provide uniforms to those in need. Stop making excuses and letting the boys slide on partial and incorrect uniforming. Start with adults, then the boy leadership. Soon all the scouts will be uniformed. Once all uniformed, it becomes the troop culture and all new members learn that a full and complete uniform is part of the experience. If they want a partial experience, join the troop down the street who provides a partial program.

Class B in our troop means scout pants/shorts are worn with a Scout related T-shirt. A uniform means everyone is wearing the same thing. If everyone is wearing something different, then UNI has no meaning. We are a full uniformed troop. The troop waves Class A for troop meetings during June, July and August. Class As are still required for BOR, SM conference, COH, and traveling to and from events. They are also worn at evening meals while at summer camp. Why does everyone try to find another excuse to not wear the uniform? Part of scouting is wearing the uniform. If you are at a scout event, wear the uniform. Wear it completely. I have worn the same uniform for 7 years, first as a Cub Leader and for the past three years as an active ASM. Roughly 120 den meetings, 48 pack meetings, 150 troop meetings, 45 campouts, and 3 weeks of summer camp. Only tear is one the side of the shirt wear it caught on the trunk lid getting stuff out of the vehicle. Typically I wear the full uniform the entire weekend while camping. I broke down and bought a second shirt when joined the troop 3 years ago so the shirts have only half the wear the last 3 years. My son wears his scout pants the entire weekend while camping. If there is a mud puddle to wallow in, tree to climb, pancake batter to spill, or other way to get dirty or abuse his clothing, he is the one to do it. He did tear one pair of pants. An iron-on patch from the inside and no one seems to notice. 1/2 the scouts in the troop wear the uniform pants all weekend long during campouts. The other half only wear them during travel to and fro the campout.

Annual dues $75 or $85 Summer camp $225-250 Campouts $40 x 10 High Adventure for 14+ yr old $1200-$1500 Total $700-$800

Uniformed leaders get a check from the troop for travel expenses. Reciepts are not kept, the troop issues a check to each driver for usually $15 or $25 depending on the distance. Summer camp was 5 hr drive and the check was more. The cost is built into the camping fee for each trip. Generally we have enough uniformed leaders that parents do not drive. Occasionally we have 1 or 2 parents drive. Parents do not get paid for helping the troop.

We are heading to Northern Tier Aug 2010. We have several troop members who have treked in the last several years but am looking for a broader range of opinions. What item(s) do you wish you had taken but did not? What item(s) did you take but should have left behind? What item(s) suprised you at how much or often it was used? What item(s) could you not have lived without?

Only 12 troops in my state. Nearest troop is two hour drive one way. Completely unlikley we will interact.

"anyhow, as the rest of the world defines their class a policies... april to october would be class b uniforms ( shorts, short sleeves etc) the rest of the year is long sleeve etc. Class C uniforms would be their venture or varsity uniforms..." Here in the south, the length of your sleeves or pants do not constitute Class A vs. B. Class A is a complete uniform: shirt with patches, scout pants, scout socks, scout belt, and neckerchief. Class B is a scout oriented T-shirt instead of a scout shirt but includes scout pants, scout socks, and scout belt. when travelling to and from campouts, scouts should have 'camping clothes'.. no need to risk a good CLASS A getting stained or torn. My son has been scouting since Wolf. Past 3 years as a Boy Scout. His troop camps at least 10 times a year plus a week at summer camp. My son has worn his uniform to and from each event. Generally speaking he wears his uniform pants 99% of time during outings. If there is a mud puddle, my son is in it. If there is a tree to climb, a hole in the ground to root around in, dirt bank to slide down, or a shore line to wade in, he is there. Same zip off pants for that past 3 years. Starting to look a little worn but with a little ironing, they are serviceable for COH. People often complain about the cost of the uniform and are afraid to use it. I have had the same shirt and pants for the last 6-7 years. The only time I damaged my uniform shirt was reaching into the trunk of my car at a troop meeting. Corner caught the shirt and tore a 1 inch slit. 2 years later, the tear has not gotten any worse and the only repair has been to ignore it. I wear Class A to all events and remove the uniform shirt during campouts.

I agree with the maturity issue for Boy Scouts. Cub Scout camping and Boy Scout camping are different. Parents and lots of other support systems are in place in Cub scouts to ensure the boys can have an opportunity to fail and still enjoy the outing. In Boy Scouts, generally the parents are not on the campout and the boy has to make due with what he has and rely on his patrol mates. They have the opportunity to fail but the consequences are usually harsher. We had 2 new scouts join the troop before summer camp and attend. Did not know any of the scouts or leaders and did really well. We also had several scouts who had been camped with the troop three times before summer camp who explained they did not feel comfortable being away from their family for more than 3 days. While the boy may feel he is ready to move on, I would have some serious talks with the prospective troops to see if they want the burden of having a 10 yr old in the program. The leaders are volunteers and may not want to adjust the troops program so the 10 yr old can participate.

I agree with the maturity issue for Boy Scouts. Cub Scout camping and Boy Scout camping are different. Parents and lots of other support systems are in place in Cub scouts to ensure the boys can have an opportunity to fail and still enjoy the outing. In Boy Scouts, generally the parents are not on the campout and the boy has to make due with what he has and rely on his patrol mates. They have the opportunity to fail but the consequences are usually harsher. We had 2 new scouts join the troop before summer camp and attend. Did not know any of the scouts or leaders and did really well. We also had several scouts who had been camped with the troop three times before summer camp who explained they did not feel comfortable being away from their family for more than 3 days. While the boy may feel he is ready to move on, I would have some serious talks with the prospective troops to see if they want the burden of having a 10 yr old in the program. The leaders are volunteers and may not want to adjust the troops program so the 10 yr old can participate.

Of course, why wouldn't the troop wear uniforms? Class A is worn to and from all campouts and outings. Class A at all troop meetings, events, merit badge universities, summer camp, etc. Once we arrive at camp site, the shirts are removed and commonly left in the vehicles along with neckers. Class A is worn for Scouts Own Service Sunday morning and then into the vehicles for ride home. During June, July and August, Class B is implemented for troop meetings due to heat. Class A must still be worn for SM conference and BOR during those months. We are basically a full uniform all the time troop. Troop culture is wearing the uniform so only resistance is tucking in the shirt tails by a few regular suspects.

November we hold a Webelos Invitational campout. We invite Weebs from surrounding Packs since we do not have a designated feeder Pack. Different Packs bridge at differnet times but generally late Feb and early March. One pack holds its AOL ceremony in Feb but holds its Pack bridging ceremony in April. Weebs from that troop may attend Troop activites in Feb/Mar and then go back for the bridging ceremony in April. We prefer they bridge March so that we can get them on several campouts before June summer camp. This year we had two boys new to scouting join the week before summer camp and still go to summer camp.

The council down the street offered an advanced outdoors skill class a few months back. They named it LAST, Leader Advanced Skills Training. Weekend class. They sent out a survery with 10 topics to be taught. In theory the most requested would be taught. Day before training, couple instructors became unavailable so they taught would they could. Budgeted 2 hours for each section. 2 hours on splices and lashing 2 hours on dovetails and mallet making 2 hours on GPS 2 hours on nite GPS Because the classes being taught were not the ones people signed up for, several students had knowledge depth equal to the instructor in several cases. The GPS guy was a surveyor who had a $6000 (yes that is the correct number of zeros) GPS. Do to a lightening storm, field time was limited and he quickly ran out of classroom material. Nite GPS was to walk the same track we had entered into the GPS during the day. Star gazing was out due to weather. The final class was really a session on how to improve the offering of LAST. Lots of ideas. The general consenus was that whatever topic was offered, should quickly cover any rank and merit badge requirements of that topic. Maybe 1/2 hr. to quickly cover the basics and them spend the rest of time in a hands on mode doing more indepth understanding, tricks, tips, spoilers, outside the box techinques, show stoppers, etc. Length of classes was discussed but the shortest time for any subject was half a day. Some topics might need an entire weekend to cover adequately. There would be 10-15? topics and participants would choose those areas they wanted to learn more about. Kind of a segments around a single patch type idea. You could/would attend LAST training mulitple times and each time study a different topic(s).

Have you attended WoodBadge? It sure seems like if you haven't drunk from the WB koolaid, you cannot be considered for any role outside of a unit.

Earned my Eagle in '79. The card, badge, and medal went into a box of stuff and I never really looked at any of it since I was an Explorer at the time and no place to wear the badge on the uniform. Never gave any thought to how ugly or nice any of it looked. 25 years later my sons join the program. Pulled the stuff out of the box and looked at it. Fond memories of my boyhood scouting adventures and pride at the award. Starting reading the forum and found out that the badge and medal had changed over time and that various badges and medals were considered the ugly ones. Guess what? I had been awarded the designated ugly ones. I am still an Eagle. I wear the red, white & blue knot on my uniform now. The only time anyone asked to see my card was when I purchased the knot at the scout store. Othewise it rests in my memory box in the back of the closet. The card to me is just a piece of memoribilia. The fun times I had as a boy, the way I live my life, and the ethics I teach my sons are the real rewards of my scouting expierence.

We are a fully uniformed troop. In the past 3 years, we have never had a uniform inspection. By fully uniformed I mean we wear the scout shirt with all the badges, troop neckerchief, scouts pants, scout belt, and scout socks. There is not an offical troop hat. During the summer months, we declare scout oriented T-shirt instead of uniform shirt for all events except BOR and COH. The issues I see are boys who cannot find their neckerchief slide and simply tie it it a knot and lack of scout socks. Commponly the scout socks are overlooked when wearing long pants. The recent Webelo transfers often continue to wear their Webelos badge and other Cub scout stuff for a few months on their tan shirts. I usually pull them aside and mention to them that now they are Boy Scouts, the Cub Scout/Webelos stuff in no longer appropriate and they need to only wear the Boy Scout Stuff. Most earn Scout Rank in the first couple a weeks and have something to put on their shirt pocket. The other common issue is untucked shirt tails. Always one or two who are too busy to finish dressing. I don't ever remember any uniform discussions other than to encourage scouts to tuck in their shirts or reminder that full uniforms are required for BOR and COH. Since we wear the full uniform for all events all the time, it is not really an issue except during the summer "Class B" period.

The troop brings several shade tarps. We set up the tarp and move the picnic table underneath. We break out the 5 gallon drink coolers and mix up some bug juice/gatordae. Leave the cooler on the table. SPL creates schedule for refilling. Encourages fluid intake. This year we had plastic steins printed with BSA logo and troop number. Issued a cup to each scout first day. Wrote their name with a sharpie on the side. Every scout has a reusable cup. Latrine cleaning kit. We have a plastic tote with scrub brush, toilet plunger, broom, bottle of bleach, garden hose, hose spray nozzle, etc. Duty rotates daily to clean the latrines. Watermelon and knife for midweek cracker barrel. Enough chemical light sticks one for each person. Makes a fun night time activty one night. A couple of bear bells. We seem to always have one sleepwalker in the crowd. Tie the tent flaps shut and tie bear bell to each end of tent. If scout gets up in the middle of night, the bells jingle and alert leadership to look for wandering scout. Lost and Found tub: Plastic tub with lid marked Lost and Found. All items found lying about the campsite get tossed in the tub. SPL opens tub and asks for takers at role call. Scouts wander by and check tub if something goes missing. Super Strength Spider Spray: A spray can of insecticide with a picture of a spider on the side. When nervous scout reports the appearance of bugs and spiders in tent, the megadeath Super Spider Spray is applied to the tent by adult leadership in a flourish so all can witness it has been applied to the affected tent. Let it be known far and wide, the tent has been treated and is now safe to be entered and used. Must have a picture on the can or they will not trust you. A large clock. Hang the clock in the shelter so all can see the correct camp time so they have one less excuse to be late for all functions. Twine. Each scout should bring his own rope/twine to set up a clothes line but somehow they overlook that feature. Each tent can tie up a clothes line inside the tent or between nearby trees to dry towels, swimgear and other damp items. Counts as camp improvement and gains points toward honor campsite award. Points are usually deducted for clothes hung on the tent guylines. Camps typically claim it puts too much strain on the guy line and tent causing tent failure.

Bring something to occupy yourself during the slower times. I bring some neckerchief blanks for carving, rope for knot and splicing, leatherworking supplies. Bring an alarm clock for you and one for the SPL. Bring a pad and pen for the SPL. Extra batteries for your flashlight. Couple of our leaders brought their fishing gear and caugt a few big ones. Last year, the camp held a SM cobbler cook-off. We brought the dutch ovens and ingrediants for the winning cobbler. I agree that you need to bring a camera and pop in on the various classes to get pictures of your scouts in action. Great for the Eagle COH. A book and headlight to read yourself to sleep at night. We stock extra bandaids, calimine lotion, gold bond powder, insect sting, and sunscreen in the troop first aid kit to handle the increase. Tell to the scouts to change out of their wet swim trunks after each session or they will get chapped thighs and walk around like cowboys the rest of the week. I also bring stuff to keep the scouts interested during their down time. We brought ~100 bamboo poles and a bale of binders twine so they could lash a gateway, camp gadget, etc. I bring along my rope making machine so they can make rope. I bring along all my leatherworking tools. I have more leatherworking stuff than most of the BSA camps I have attended. I offer impromptu leatherworking. Big hit with the first years. I bring a few extra wood carving tools. I carve neckerchief slides in a chair within eyesight of the scouts. They tend to come over, watch, and ask questions. The next day many buy kits from the trading post and give it a try. Some try on their own and some come back and ask for pointers. At least six of our scouts carved, painted, and wore slides they made that week. I keep some jerky and p'nut butter crackers in my daypack. The new scouts often slump in the afternoons. They get cranky due to low blood sugar. A snack helps bring up the blood sugar and they do much better. Some camps have a Scoutmaster Merit Badge. Usually it is a list of 20-25 items and you have to complete 12-15 to get the badge. Usually things like attend Safe Swim Defense & LNT classes, help out for a meal or two in the dining hall, help out at a merit badge class, sit in the lifeguard chair for a session, help out in the new scout program, work on camp project, etc. Some camps have a mandatory subset of items that must be completed. This year one of the mandatory items was take a nap. Working the SM badge forces you to sample the camp and check on your scouts. It can take some scheduling to get it all accomplished.

Adult males are often heard whinning about wearing neckties and suits. Expensive, unconfortable, not very practical, expensive to maintain, etc. Suits and ties have been the coroporate uniform for centuries. Most people who whin about suits and ties are wearing the wrong size. If they would buy a shirt with the correct collar size or buy new shirts when they gain weight, their clothes would be comfortable. I wore ties daily for 25 years. No complaints from me. Wear a suit to a gas station. Get out, pump some gas, and walk into the quicky mart. The way you will be treated is different from the way you would be treated if you were wearing a T-shirt and jeans. You feel different about yourself. You are dressed because you have something you must do. Be a corporate weanie, attend a funeral, wedding, or other formal event. Others treat you with deference because you are dressed differntly. A scout uniform is very similar. You act differently because you are uniformed. People treat you differently because you are uniformed. The general public does not know what all the patches mean but recognize the uniform. They treat you differently because your are the face of the Boy Scouts of America. They often will greet you and ask about your most recent scouting adventure or reminence about their time as a scout. Doing away with the uniform would remove an important part of being a scout. As a boy, I sewed the patches on my uniform. My mother washed and ironed my clothes but I was proud to put on my uniform. I made sure it was worn correctly. The brass end of the belt would be just visible beyond the buckle. The patches in the correct location. The neckercheif neatly rolled. And when wearing the knee high socks, the tabs on the garter were exposed equally on both legs and were centered on the side of my legs. Before velcro took over the world, I sewed snaps on my OA flap so it could be removed prior to washing to keep it better condition. When meeting other scouts, I can learn a great deal about their experience as a scouter by their uniform. It often provides a place to start conversations. Just as the numbers on football uniforms indicate the players position, the patches on the uniform indicate the scouts position. I wear the complete uniform at all scout functions. I hike, camp, attend meetings, COH, and all manner of outdoor activites in full uniform. I have been wearing the same scout pants and shirt for 7 years. Den meetings, pack meetings, troop meetings, trainings, outdoor activities, etc. One small tear in the shirt from reaching into my vehicle and it caught on something. No holes in the knees of the pants. $100 for approximatly 350 washings and wearings and still going. How well did the MegaMart look-a-likes hold up? Do the scouts in my troop respond to me differently because I wear the uniform? Yes, they are more likely to wear their uniform. Just this week some of the newer scouts asked about the knots on my shirt. The other knots may not mean much to them but the AOL and the Eagle knot are something they understand.

Class A is not an offically defined scout term but rather a military term. Typically when Class A is applied in a scout environment it means uniform shirt, uniform pants, neckerchief, scout socks. If a troop hat has been chosen, it is included. Our troop wears scout uniform shirt, pants, socks and neckerchief to all troop meetings, COH, as well as travel to & from events. During campouts and summer camp, the boys change into "Class B" which we define as scout T-shirt, scout pants, and scout socks. Our troop does not have a designated hat. During June, July and August the scoutmaster declares Class B is the uniform of the day for troop meetings. COH, travel to/from events and other formal events are still full uniform. Scouts know that full uniforms are expected at all scout functions and wear the uniform. The usual suspects must be reminded to tuck in their shirts. Just got back from taking 45 scouts and 6 adults to summer camp. Breakfast and Dinner meals they wore uniform shirt, pants, and neckerchief in 90 degree heat with 75% humidity. Also was worn to the 3 campwide campfires. The scouts knew the rules and followed them. Occasional grumbling from the same scouts all week about tucking in shirts. Half the of the troops at camp were full uniform troops. The other half were uniform shirts and whatever else you felt like. We have troop T-shirts printed about every 12-18 months. We sold the newest shirts to the scouts in the parking lot while packing the trailer with summer camp trunks. Bright orange dry weave material with navy silk screen logo on front and back. Most scouts wore them 2 or 3 days during the week. Older scouts also wore troop t-shirts from earlier years. The orange shirts made it easy to pick out our troop members while walking about summer camp. The boys liked the recognition. Troop adult leaders wore scout shorts, socks and scout related T-shirts every day at camp. Adult leaders showered and shaved every day at camp. Adult leaders stayed in the same tents as the boys all week. Our troop makes a concerted effort to lead by example. If the leaders cannot be bothered to wear the correct uniform, how can they expect the same of the scouts. We maintain a uniform closet. We had two boys join the troop 2-3 weeks before summer camp. They were able to get uniform parts from the closet and had correct patches applied before they attended summer camp. They both also purchased troop T-shirts and wore them during summer camp. Immediate immersion.

"I've been to a couple of troop meetings so far. Quite frankly, they are total chaos. A couple of way to soft-spoken teens holding up two fingers trying to control about 30 boys that are 99% out of control. If any school classroom ran the way those meetings do, there would be parent uprising." Sounds like you may have two issues. Boy Scouts is supposed to be run by teenage boys and usually looks like total chaos. That sounds normal. Cub Scouts is run by adults and is chaotic because of the little kids running around. Boy Scouts is led by boys mentored by adults and is commonly chaotic because teens are learning how to lead. Things are getting done, just not neat and orderly. Like any organization, the newer parents need and want more direct contact to ensure that their children are getting the best, to develop trust in the adults watching over the kids. Most troops always need another volunteer. A few hours of training so you know the basic rules of the org, and you could be in their helping out. Your expectations of what scouting is may be off. Boys Scouts is not about dads spending time with their sons. It is about boys spending time with boys while learning new skills. Adults are around to keep things safe and taxi them to the locations. Certainly the adults are mentoring the boy leaders, providing one on one guidance if necessary, bringing new ideas to the boy leadership. I have two sons in the program. I spend more time with them at home then during scout events. They are off participating in scout activities. As an adult, I am usually on the sidelines looking for safety issues.

We open with flag ceremony, pledge and oath. SPL makes announcements. Awards are given out. Troop breaks up into patrols. Patrols either plan for next event or have specific tasks to accomplish. We have 6 patrols so each patrol is in charge of planning two campouts per year. Choosing locations, activities, permits, costs, etc. After patrol time, is game time. At end of game, reassemble for scoutmaster minute and leave. Troop instructors may present material to NSP. Individual members have SM conferences. Individuals held off to BOR. Quartermasters inventory, repair, or organize gear. This month we are heading off to summer camp so patrol time has been spent practicing lashing and designing pioneering project for summer camp improvement. Often a few scouts are meeting with merit badge counslers. Troop elections, OA elections, How to pack for cold weather, How to pack for summer camp, COH, outside presentations like DARE, alumini Eagle returning from Military Academy, Woodbadge beading ceremonies, Yute protection training, etc. can take over meetings. Of course there are off site troop meetings like when we descend on the bike shop for bike check prior to bike trip or meet at the pool to complete swim check prior to summer camp. We have aged based patrols so the older patrols tend to choose grubmasters and menus more quickly than the younger patrols. They tend to "just hang out" and talk during patrol times once they get the required stuff accomplished. Some patrols agree to work a merit badge as a patrol. Seems like there are not enough meetings or time to accomplish everything in a timely manner. Occasionally there is a lull but not often.

When your son joins the sports team, do you just buy a T-shirt that is close to what the rest of the team wears? Does the coach let your son play in the game if he is not in uniform? Sports teams typically only wear the team uniform at the 10 games per season. $100 for a sports uniform worn 10 times = $10 per wearing. When the season is over, you are left with nothing. You son will wear the scout uniform at least 3 times a month, 2 den meetings and 1 pack meeting for about 9 months a year for probably 2 maybe 3 years. 3 x 9 x 2 = 54 times. 3 x 9 x 3 = 81 times. Probably add 2 to 4 summer time events before he out grows the pants. Even at $100 for a complete uniform, that is only about $1.25 to $2.00 per wearing. Then you sell the uniform to the incoming Tigers or Wolfs for $10-15 to defray the costs of the new size for junior. Part of Scouting is wearing the uniform. The complete and correct uniform. Teach your son now that wearing of the complete and correct uniform is the proper way a scout behaves.