Join Pack 255

Who Can Join Pack 255?

Girls and boys in K-5th grade can join Pack 255 at any time (they do not need to start in kindergarten or first grade). Most kids in Pack 255 attend Somerset ES, Rosemary Hills ES, Chevy Chase ES or North Chevy Chase ES, and Lafayette; though about a quarter attend other nearby public or private schools in DC and Maryland.

Please feel free to visit a Den or Pack meeting or activity to confirm your interest. For more information, contact Pack 255 via email at Pack255.CubScout@gmail.com. Older kids can join the other 255 units, which you can learn more about on the 255 Family Page. Also check out the "WELCOME! NEW CUB SCOUT FAMILY" guide.

How To Join - online application / payment

Complete the online application (or click/scan the QR code to the right) at BeAScout.scouting.org. You will pay most of your BSA dues online directly to BSA (some of the annual dues need to go to the Pack to cover things we pay for directly).

BSA dues cover one year from the date you join. See below for more information on what dues pay for. We never want cost to be a barrier to participation. Please contact us if you have questions about the fees.

The Pack is able to receive payment via

Venmo (easiest/preferred, no fee): https://account.venmo.com/u/cubscoutpack25
Paypal (the pack will absorb the transaction fee): treasurercubpack255@gmail.com

Once you join the Pack, Scoutbook Plus always has the Pack and Den calendars and details on our events. Scoutbook Plus lets you add the calendar to your Google or Apple iCal Calendars (https://api.scouting.org/advancements/events/calendar/10659)! Please, go see https://advancements.scouting.org/ for up-to-date information!

Parent/Guardian Participation

Adult participation is a crucial element to successful Scouting! First and foremost, a parent participates by accompanying his or her kid(s) to Cub meetings and events. Second, parents participate by working with their Cub on projects and advancement requirements. Finally, a parent can participate by serving as a Cub Scout leader, or by helping organize Den or Pack activities. Cub Scouting is an all-volunteer enterprise. All the Pack and Den leaders are parent volunteers.

We need Den leaders! A little training and reading the den manual is all that's required.

ANNUAL Dues 2025-2026

As a pack, we want to keep fees at a minimum to cover costs for a wide range of activities, and make non-badge-earning events optional so families can pick and choose what sounds fun to them (see calendar of events).

We foster a recycle, reuse and repurpose philosophy to instill values of thrift and sustainability in our scouts. We seek and accept donations from the community, and try to keep capital expenses and overhead to a minimum.

We tracked expenditures closely in 2024-2025 to provide these ballpark estimates below and have set budgets for each major and optional event.

Annual Pack Dues

We are currently evaluating annual dues but they will likely be in the ballpark of $100. While other cub scout packs opt to participate in the annual popcorn fundraiser, we believe the investment in time can be better spent on activities like our annual canned drive and MLK service days, where our kids also learn the value of giving back. This $100 is payable to the pack upon joining. (See Payments page for Venmo details).

Note: In 2024-2025, we spent ~$184 per dues-paying scout.

Our annual dues cover:

Pack t-shirts (given upon joining)
Den Handbook (given upon joining)
Earned Awards (patches, belt loops, pins, ribbons, trophies, etc.) given at monthly meetings
Raingutter Regatta kit
Pinewood Derby kit
Arts, crafts, and pumpkin carving supplies
Some den-specific supply costs like the whittling activity for Bears and the Arrow of Light ceremony in June
Some pack activity supplies
Pack overhead costs - In 2024-2025, we purchased 2 new coolers for the camping trips and 2 new raingutter regatta "tracks"

2. Scouting America dues

All cub scouts pay annual Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America) fees and Capitol Area Council fees. This is paid directly online in August/September upon joining. They are not set by our pack and help to run programs run nationally and locally.

2025-2026 Fees

Youth Registration $85.00

Council Fee $80.00
Administrative Fee $5.40
Scout Life Magazine (optional) $15

See membership fees - Scouting America - Capitol Area Council for more details.

3. Other costs

Uniform: See the page on Uniforms, but before buying, please check with us first, as we often have pieces we can give you! We accept gently used uniforms and happily provide them to new scouts. We have a gear swap at the September Pack Meeting. We usually at least have neckerchiefs, so check with us before buying anything.

Events: Most are included in your dues, but a few have additional fees

Camping: ~$30 per person for the site reservation, firewood, and meals (snacks, Saturday lunch, Saturday dinner + campfire s'mores, Sunday breakfast)

Special events (not required for advancement) are offered at cost: e.g., zip line courses, rock climbing, historic tours, baseball games, etc.

Capitol Area Council classes: They sponsor low-cost badge-earning events (such as an "Introduction to Drones!" class and a Geology workshop) held locally that our kids have enjoyed.

4. Financial Assistance

Funded by Friends of Scouting donations, Capitol Area Scouting has multiple assistance programs. https://www.capitolareascouting.org/resources/financial-help/

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