Join
To avoid disappointing your child, please read every word carefully. Sign up is a 3 step process. All 3 steps are required to be a member. Follow the steps below.
Complete Application
1) Complete an application with BSA
- July-February: Boys & Girls, ages 5-10
- March-June: Complete an application with BSA in July.
DON’T STOP HERE. CONTINUE TO STEP 2.
Pay Dues
2) Pay your dues*:
*If you cannot pay dues today, you can pay up to 14 days after completion of Step 1, BSA application. Full membership (all 3 steps) are required for your youth to receive awards, participate in special events, register for campouts, etc. Please do not buy uniforms, books, hats, campouts, etc. before paying your dues. If you mistakingly make a purchase, the Pack will reallocate purchases towards dues.
DON’T STOP HERE. CONTINUE TO STEP 3.
Join Facebook Group
3) Join our private Facebook group:
We organize on Facebook and disseminate detailed information about each event and up to the minute information including camping gate codes, itinerary changes due to weather, etc. RSVP to events and set Facebook for group alerts.
If you don’t have a Facebook account you can make one for free.
Confirm
Membership requires all 3 steps, so confirm that:
- There are two (2) new transactions on your credit card from these vendors:
- “BSA” or “Boy Scouts of America”*
- “Square Cub Scouts – Pack 285 gosq.com FL”
- Clicking here does one of two things, either: 1) it says ‘Your membership is pending’ or 2) you see a list of events.
Included with your membership is a green Pack 285 t-shirt.
* If there is no transaction on your credit for BSA, that is OK if it is the month of March, April, May, or June.
Why 2 Payments?
Scouts is run like a restaurant franchise. There is a national organization, Scouts BSA, that you must apply to and pay a fee to at the start of your career. The money you give to Scouts BSA goes to pay for group insurance, background checks on your adult leader volunteers, meeting material content, online tracking tools we use to mark advancements each week, maintenance at BSA private campsites, and more.
Dues are different. Your first payment with your Scout application is the only time you will pay Scouts BSA. You pay for Scouts BSA membership, local council membership, and Pack 285 membership in one lump sum through your dues. What isn’t sent off to National and Council goes towards your Cub Scout’s awards and activities. Money goes directly from your credit card and into our Pack bank account, right here in St Pete. 100% of it is consumed in support of our program and your child’s awards. Each patch, pin, slide, trophy, neckerchief, etc that your child earns is paid for through your dues. All leaders are volunteers.