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Every February, boys from Troop 457 do a fun (non-scouting) event.  This February 2024, we played laser tag at the Buffalo Battle Grounds in Tonawanda.  We had lots of fun playing all the different modes.  Even some of the adults joined in!  After our hour was up, we went into a side room and had pizza and soda.  It was super fun!

• Kieran K. (posted as part of the Communications Merit Badge)

• Sign-up for Storefront SHOW and Sell

Troop minimums and scoutbucks:
– The troop minimum sale is $450 per family (not per scout, per family). The buyout is $300 if you choose not to sell. The theory behind the minimum is that the troop and the council each get $150 per boy. $150 is
cost of product, so that’s the difference in the buyout.
– That buyout is prorated if you sell, but don’t make $450. So, for example, if you sell $300, your buyout would only be $100 (2/3 of the minimum covers 2/3 of the buyout).
– The troop does give scoutbucksO that can be used for any scouting related activity or purchase.
0-$450=$0
$450-$1000= 20%
over $1000 =30%
So, if you sell $1000, you get $110. $2000 gets you $410, etc.
It’s a great way to get summer camp for free…

Show and Sell:
– This is your standard selling. Door to door, grandparents, etc. It’s all kept on your order form.
– Any boy that would like, can get a supply of popcorn from me to sell.

Take Order:
– This is for any items that you don’t have and that would have to be delivered at a later date.
– Anything you don’t have in your inventory at the time of sale would be done as a take order.
– This includes any chocolate items.
– These items come in around Thanksgiving.

Online sales:
– Customers can place their order on Campmasters.org.
– Each scout will need to make an account on ordering.campmasters.org. If you previously made an account, you should just need to login.
– This is a great way to sell to out of town relatives.
– These are not the same items that are available through Show and Sells and Take Orders.
– These are more expensive due to shipping costs.
– This begins on August 1.

Storefront sales:
– These are booked by me at local businesses.
– Two boys per hour time slot. Each boy splits the total sold for that hour.
– The popcorn comes from the troop supply.
– I will send out a signup genius for the boys to reserve spots when we get closer.

Prizes:
– Campmasters has a prize list. The standard stuff. You sell x amount and you can choose something from this group.
– The troop has been doing a raffle of some larger prizes. For every $100 you sell, you get a ticket. We then draw for the prizes. The amount and quality of the prizes are usually based on how much we sell that
year.
– We’ve had everything from backpacks and sleeping bags to Fire Sticks and bluetooth headphones.
– We have also, traditionally, had the Electronics Campout at Don Miller Park, usually in January/February. For any family that sells $1000, they get a weekend of video games in a cabin.