The Badge Archive

Below are helpful guidelines and options for troop leaders to handle adult costs effectively.

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Covering Minimum Required Adults

Safety guidelines often require a certain number of adults to attend outings to supervise scouts effectively. Many troops decide that the cost for the minimum required adults should be covered by the troop. This ensures that outings can proceed smoothly, as scouts cannot attend without adult supervision. For instance:

• If tickets for an aquarium are $15 per scout and the troop requires two adults at $20 each, the total cost of the outing is divided among the scouts. With 12 scouts, the per-scout cost would be approximately $18.50 rather than $15.

This method ensures fairness and guarantees that the outing can proceed with the required adult supervision.

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Adjusting for Additional Adults

When more adults than the minimum wish to attend, how the troop decides who covers their costs depends on the reason for their attendance:

1. Troop-Voted Additional Adults:
   If the troop votes for more adults to attend due to logistical reasons, such as splitting into smaller groups at a museum, the troop should cover the costs for the extra adults. For instance, if four adults are needed instead of two, the total cost is divided among scouts to reflect the higher number of covered adults.
2. Extra Adults by Choice:
   If additional adults beyond the minimum required choose to attend (and their presence isn’t troop-mandated), those adults would need to cover their own costs. For example, if only two adults are required for supervision but a third adult wants to join, that adult would be responsible for paying the full cost of their attendance.
3. Leader-Driven Choices for Extra Adults:
   Occasionally, leaders may decide to bring extra adults for their own convenience or support during an outing, even if scouts only require the minimum. In this case, scouts would only need to cover the costs for the minimum required adults, while the additional adults’ costs could be split. For instance, if four adults attend but only two are required, the fees for the two covered adults could be divided among all four, so each adult pays half the cost.

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Alternative Options for Covering Costs

Troop leaders may consider these additional strategies for handling adult costs:

1. Fundraising:
   Organize a small fundraiser to offset adult costs, such as a bake sale or car wash. Fundraisers involve scouts and families, emphasizing teamwork and collaboration while reducing financial strain on individuals.
2. Partial Subsidy:
   The troop could agree to cover a portion of the cost for extra adults, leaving the remainder to be paid by those adults. This method balances troop resources and individual contributions effectively.
3. Split Costs Among All Adults:
   In situations where more adults than the minimum are present, costs can be divided evenly among all attending adults to promote fairness and reduce individual financial burden.
4. Encouraging Trained Adults:
   Adults who have completed training (such as official leader training required to do an outing or first aid) could be prioritized for troop-covered costs. This recognizes their investment in skills and encourages others to seek similar certifications.

Planning for Emergencies

Leaders should also plan for potential emergencies during outings. If a medical emergency occurs and a designated first-aider must accompany an injured scout to a hospital, this could leave the remaining leader in violation of the safety ratio policy. Planning for contingencies is vital for long-distance trips. To avoid this scenario, ensure more than the minimum number of adults attend or have arrangements for an additional adult to travel to the outing if needed.

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