Question from a Girl Scout Leader:
Daisy Leader writes:
From a new Daisy Leader: Our council suggests that Daisys do not bring dues but rather that parents contribute to the troop with supplies and an activity fund. of no more than $30 per year. Trying to work with this budget but how do we afford books, uniforms, petals, patches, trips. Am I missing something?
Answers From Other Girl Scout Leaders Compiled from our Facebook Page
“The parents should be responsible for purchasing their daughter’s uniform and books. I highly recommend the starter kit (if your council shop offers it). ” Bethany
“he product money pays for trips and the dues money pays for patches and supplies. that is what we are taught at leader training.” Christine
“e were a new Daisy troop last year and parents were responsible for GS registration fees, books, uniforms w/basic patches (flag, troop number, etc.), and they paid for our first field trip since we didn’t do any fundraising beforehand. After the fundraisers we were then able to provide petal patches, field trips, camp, etc.” Heather
“All field trips are paid for ONLY with sales profits from nuts/candy/QSP and cookies. We do not use dues for those. The girls know they must earn their trips. Uniforms as a Daisy or any new GS who comes to my troop are all purchased by the parents. The petals are expensive so make sure you budget for that. I think $30 per year is too low IMO, unless you are meeting once a month.” Michele
“both my daughters’ daisy troops had them buy their own uniforms and then we paid for the petals up front – but the leader bought them (if that makes sense.) The leader had a book and the parents could borrow parts or buy their own book but it wasn’t really needed. And for Trips it was paid on an as attended basis.”Lynne
“Our parents buy the uniforms and books. Most Daisies (at least around here) do not even open the books so they are a waste of money. Our Council sells the starter kit for $60!! No way the troop could afford that with just $30 a year. My troops always have dues of about $40-50 a year – which the parents pay at the start of the year. The troop pays for badges, trips, field trips & activities. Our school organizer is busy so we always have 3-5 events every year just with all the troops at our elementary school (8-10 troops), our service unit does several activities a year and then our troop does 4-5 Council programs (out of the hundreds offered). Each activity costs $3-$8 per girl so it adds up quick! The $50 per girl at start of K year makes it possible for the girls to do activities until the fundraiser money rolls in – in April! After that first year, we have the parents pay about $20-$30 a year depending on how well sales went. When parents complain about spending $50 at the start of the year I remind them that pays for all of their daughters Girl Scout activities for the >year<… and ask them how much they just paid for their kid to play soccer or basketball or whatever for 6-9 weeks in the local sports club ($70-$90 per 6-9 week season!!!). That puts it into perspective.” Deb
“I was a Daisy leader and what we did was had the parents pay for their books and uniforms and then with the fall product sales and the cookies sales, we had more than enough money to purchase patches and supplies and even parties along the way.” Beckie
” We give parents info about the GS Starter Kit that has a handbook, vest or sash, pins, tab, ID patch etc. Parents pay for this, and fall products and Cookies pay for the badges and pins they earn. Dues payed got to other supplies needed.” Anne
” Daisies can self Fall Product sale and cookies, so you would have more $ coming in. I have parents pay the registration of $15 and Troop dues of $30 per year. Parents buy uniform, flag, council ID, tab and troop digits. The dues cover badges, fun patches and supplies. We meet every other week for a hour and half.” Melissa
“Yes, fall product sale, cookie,cookies, cookies, my parents just paid up front dues money and they bought the vest or tunics and books. you can get lots of craft stuff free( toilet paper rolls Kleenex boxes cereal boxes, have a bring in your unwanted craft supplies drive (girls ask family and friends And ladies from church, that was a big score for us) you can get a bag full of trim ends from Wrights the makers of bias tape and other trims in a package, sometimes fabric stores do this also. We met every week with 13 girls and had enough money for badges, build a bear, and a camp out !” Kathy
“My parents DO NOT like weekly dues. I do have a “bank” where each girl is supposed to bring .50 cents per meeting that they have earned doing something at home. What they need to do is up to the parents. But my parents are very against weekly dues since most of them cannot get to the bank, remember to have $3 etc..etc.. They like that I collect $35 in the Fall and $35 in the Fall. They have made that very clear so I do what works for my troop overall.” Michelle
“We started as brownies, but had the same issues. For startup funds, we were fortunate to have one parent that owned her own business who gave us a donation to start the year (I think it was $100). The parents paid for uniforms, the troop paid for badges and fun patches. Events were paid for on an as-attended basis. We started out with one book for the troop. We would put out a call for supplies as we went through the year (I wasn’t organized enough to know what we would need at the beginning of the year!). As we earned cookie money, the troop started paying for more things (like events and trips), but I did find that if the troop is paying, we have more girls/parents that sign up and then end up not going (waste of resources)!” Lori
“My troop elected to pay for all field trips and events out of cookie money. However, if a girl signs up and is a no show she has to reimburse the troop the cost. This has cut down on randomly signing up and increased attendance. For supplies, we collect leftovers at the end of the school year ( including backpacks) and purchase specifics as needed out of cookie money. Our service unit has a pass down program for journey books and leader books. When I finish a set I take it to the next Service Unit meeting and give it to another troop. I have not had to purchase any journey books because of this.” Amy
“When I started with Daisies, they could not even participate in any product sale! We accepted donations, either monetary or supplies, from local businesses and grandparents Moms volunteered to bring snacks each meeting. Girls could bring dues but it had to be something they earned from chores, usually .25-.50” Susan
“I ask for a set amount when they join the troop, but that only covers vest, starter patches, reg fee. Daisy Scouts are entirely parent funded until you get cookie $$ into the bank, so i see nothing wrong with charging a meeting due or monthly activity fee or sending home a list and asking for certain supply items from parents if you don’t charge an activity. i’ve been leading for 13 years and have tried several ways of getting what we need including seeking spnsors for our troop. and it’s supposed to be up to the girls in the troop on how they spend their money but when supplies are needed…you have to use troop money, parent $$ and as i have done a lot…my own money.” Tammy
“My troop has always had dues of $100 per year, split in 4 payments. Parents cover books/uniforms. Dues cover all meeting supplies, earned recognitions, (patches, badges, pins, etc), and troop parties. Product sakes cover trips and camp-outs. Parents cover anything not earned in FP/cookie sales. It helps that I have a plan of activities with estimated costs at the beginning of the year so there are no surprises. We are a very active troop and average 3-4 overnights a year, so my parents have to do a bit of planning. We are currently 2nd year Juniors, but we have been running at this pace since my girls were in Kindergarten and I still have 4 of my original 6 girls.” Kathryn
There are some great ideas in this posting. Keep up the good work!
We always collect $60-$90 in the beginning of the year which covers the uniforms, badges, craft supplies, field trips and snacks. We use cookie money for a big event the girls choose, i.e.. Build-a-Bear, bunk at the zoo our the aquarium or camp. Any money left over brings the starting dues down for the next year. We’ve never had a parent question the cost after we explain what it covers. 🙂
I have been a leader for 29 years now. Way back when, I had a dues of $20.00 a year and the troop paid for everything else out of the sales money.
When we had activities, the girls had to pay up front for the activity and put the money in a sealed envelope. The troop paid for the activity so when it came to going to the activity, as the girls showed up they received their envelope back. If there was a no show, the money in the envelope went to the troop as a reinbursement. No money lost on no shows
These are great ideas! I am a new troop leader of a new multi-level troop. We have no money so the start up dues sound like a really good idea.
What do you think of a Girl Scout Troop that meets every Monday and collects $5 every Monday for dues and still ask the parents to bring snacks in
We’re sharing your question on our Facebook page for leaders to offer their thoughts.
The responses vary but the common theme was it all depends on what your troop is doing. If they are earning badges and journeys every week, the costs add up. Are troop trips and events also covered with the dues? Responses included that you have the right to ask to see the troop financial records. You can see specific responses here: https://www.facebook.com/gsleader411/