Camp Staff Costs

[ThunderingWind]

While my daughter, the Venturer, is now hired and going to work as part of the Summer Camp staff, I am finding she will not make much money.

After she purchases the required uniforms, she will only have 60% of her salary left. And she will not be able to decuct the costs of these uniforms from her taxes as she will not make enough to file the long form.

I fully understand the uniform part of the program, but these uniform costs have got to come down. $13.95 for a pair of socks just because it have a logo.

Why buy shorts, pants and socks from the BSA when I can get quality clothing at Walmart for 25% of the BSA price and still be within a reasonable color range of the BSA stuff?

This high cost is one reason I buy surplus BDU pants at a $1.00 a pair to muck around in the woods. I hate to wear my Scout pants because they get ripped by all the sticker bushes, torn by rocks when crawling around on my hands and knees etc......

[Mrw]

Although they got much higher pay, the summers my boys worked at the amusement park near our house, they spent more than their first paycheck on uniform shirts, shorts, hats and jackets/sweatshirts. Now working at Panera, the younger one was to supply his own work clothes, but they are specific things and he had to shop for that too.

It is just a part of life that we need to purchase appropriate clothes for work. And they are often not what we would wear at any other time.

The cost of the uniforms is high, but is probably more of an issue for the parents of growing boys that have to shell out every year for longer pants, bigger shirts and a different hat and neckerchief for each year in Cubs.

[wagionvigil]

Most councils offer a reduced cost for camp staff if you purchase through your service center. Talk to Cletus and see what he can do for you as far as reducing the cost.

[ThunderingWind]

We were directed to use ScoutStuff.org.

I am not really "complaining" as her mother and I will support initial purchase. But my daugher was VERY surprised at the cost of a pair socks.

I still think something needs to be done at the National level to reduce these prices.

[RWSmith]

You know, that's a good idea... National really should have some sort of program that provides uniforms, at (or very near) cost, to summer camp staffers... most of which are under 21.

[ThunderingWind]

Although they got much higher pay, the summers my boys worked at the amusement park near our house, they spent more than their first paycheck on uniform shirts, shorts, hats and jackets/sweatshirts. Now working at Panera, the younger one was to supply his own work clothes, but they are specific things and he had to shop for that too.

It is just a part of life that we need to purchase appropriate clothes for work. And they are often not what we would wear at any other time.

The cost of the uniforms is high, but is probably more of an issue for the parents of growing boys that have to shell out every year for longer pants, bigger shirts and a different hat and neckerchief for each year in Cubs.

I understand this to some degree. It is was just a major sticker shock when we saw the price of a pair of socks. But hey, they are OFFICIAL socks.

Remind me not to eat at Panera. If a major chain has a uniform requirement, they should provide it.

[wagionvigil]

Contact Jack Waite at Westmoreland-Fayette and see if he can help you.

[Mrw]

Khaki pants and a polo shirt is hardly a uniform requirement, just not my son's preferred clothing style. Personally, I am glad they made him buy something decent to wear!

The $80 bucks he spent last year to work in the amusement park toll booth last year was far more irritating!

[ThunderingWind]

The $80 bucks he spent last year to work in the amusement park toll booth last year was far more irritating!

I agree. Employers that require special logo clothing should be required to provide them.

Our CPA told me that we may be able to write them off our our taxes depending on how much she makes this summer. As a first year staffer, we do not expect much. $50 to $100 per week before taxes.

Then there are all the value of room and board (if you can put a value of sleeping in a tent for tax purposes). Which reminds me, I wonder what the National values room and board at for tax purposes? Any one know?

[riverwalk]

We're also finding alternatives for a friend. Her son is going to Staff at Camp, and they are getting hit hard with three other kiddos.

[pipestone1991]

We were directed to use ScoutStuff.org.

I am not really "complaining" as her mother and I will support initial purchase. But my daugher was VERY surprised at the cost of a pair socks.

I still think something needs to be done at the National level to reduce these prices.

The price comes witht he fact it's made in the US. I'll spend $10 extras for a pair of official US BSA socks anyday over china walmart uniformesque socks

[ccjj]

I was just looking over my son's uniform list for working at summer camp this year. It says 7 socks. Not 7 pair, but 7 socks. My son, being the boy that he is, asked if I had 7 extra socks that he could take to show the Camp Director!! I told him, that maybe I could find them for him.
I have to go to the Scout Shop tomorrow, to finish buying what he needs. Luckily, all he mainly needs is new socks. I have been able to find extra shirts and shorts at yard sales and Goodwill.

ccjj

[FrankJ]

hen there are all the value of room and board (if you can put a value of sleeping in a tent for tax purposes). Which reminds me, I wonder what the National values room and board at for tax purposes? Any one know?

The value (if any) will be included on the W2 form as compensation. Since the camp is not a permanent residence & staying there is required for the job, it would not necessarily be considered compensation.

[joat]

Why buy shorts, pants and socks from the BSA when I can get quality clothing at Walmart for 25% of the BSA price and still be within a reasonable color range of the BSA stuff?

Because reasonable color range Walmart clothes is not a uniform. The question to be answered is why the camp requires a uniform different from the uniform Scout staff members already own.

[ThunderingWind]

Because reasonable color range Walmart clothes is not a uniform. The question to be answered is why the camp requires a uniform different from the uniform Scout staff members already own.

She is a Venturer and does not have to have a uniform. She does for Camp Staff.

But come on, $13.95 plus s&h for one pair of socks........

[wagionvigil]

FOr the Venturing Uniform as long as the socks are gray. Of course I usually wear smart wool socks with mine at 16.00 a pair but there are light weight gray hiing socks out there.

[joat]

Why does the camp require a Venturing uniform for the camp staff? The Venturing uniform is for Venturing crews, not camp employees.

[Mrw]

The camp staff where we go wears the dark green Venturing uniforms as well. It does make it easier to tell who is on staff and who is a camper.

[wagionvigil]

It would seem this young lady is a crew member and should wear that uniform.

[ThunderingWind]

Why does the camp require a Venturing uniform for the camp staff? The Venturing uniform is for Venturing crews, not camp employees.

See Wagionvigil's post above. My daughter is a member of a Crew and therefore must wear Crew pants and socks all day with the Staff T-shirt and wear the Crew green as required (meals, flag ceremony, etc).

Our Camp and the last two I attended with my son, registers all non-Scouts and Scouters (meaning youth and adults) in a provisonal Staff Crew. These staffers wear the Green. Remember some camps have to get other people to work that are not scouts. For the first camp I attended, it was the pool staff. They were all from a local college female swim team and were the only people who applied that were properly certified for hte job.