Chief Seattle Council 2005 Jamboree -- Financial Issues

This page covers finance-related issues. Costs The final touches on budget details are still being worked out, but the full, final fee for 2005 will be no more than $2,300 per attendee. Scouts and adults all pay the same price. This fee will cover everything except strictly personal equipment and pocket money. The fee includes the National Jamboree fee, all troop and patrol equipment, certain contingent gear such as customized t-shirts, patches, and so on, and all aspects of an 5-day East Coast tour, including round-trip airfare, all meals, lodging in hotels, transportation in air-conditioned buses, entry fees to all events and activities, professional tour guides, and laundry service. Fund-Raising Each troop may have its own fund-raising activities, but the main way we are encouraging Jamboree Scouts to raise money is through popcorn sales. Can you make money this way? YOU BET! You can make a LOT of money. In 2001, one of our Scouts sold $4,000 worth of popcorn in only 3 weekends outside a major grocery store. Since 35% of the money went to the Scout, he earned $1,400.00 towards his fee! That's right! $1,400!!! All he did was get advance permission from the store manager, then set up outside one of the doors with a large supply of popcorn and a sign saying that he was working to pay his way to the National BSA Jamboree. A friendly smile, a polite attitude, and the popcorn pretty much just sells itself! It is NOT HARD! Spending Money The question always comes up about how much spending money to bring. This is a difficult question to answer. All meals and other costs are included in the fee. You should pre-order all of your Jamboree souvenirs from the catalog before you go, so you don't need money for that (nor will you need to carry all that stuff home). All you really would need money for is souvenirs purchased during the tour, snacks or sodas or other unhealthy junk during the tour or at the Jamboree, and incidentals, like if you forget to bring your toothpaste or lose your soap. Feedback from 2001 seems to indicate that the average Scout will be bringing $200-$300. Of course, we very strongly urge you to use Traveller's Checks or some other secure and easily-replaced method. Prepaid Visa cards are a popular option, as they are readily accepted and fairly easy to replace if lost. Regardless of what you do, an official I.D. card will make it easier to use. You can get a State of Washington I.D. card the same place get get a Driver's License. It's easy to do, and the $4 cost is well worth it.