Materials Needed

• Printed "Troop Budget" worksheet (or a plain notebook)
• Local grocery store circulars or online shopping access
• "Needs vs. Wants" sorting cards (can be hand-written on index cards)
• A small jar or container (The "Troop Savings Jar")
• Markers and poster board
• Real or play money for demonstrations

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Explain the "Scout is Thrifty" law in your own words.
• Distinguish between "Needs" and "Wants" when planning a troop activity.
• Use comparison shopping to find the best value for camping supplies.
• Design a 5-minute "Thrifty Tip" presentation to teach your fellow Scouts how to save.

Introduction: The $100 Camping Challenge

The Hook: Imagine your troop wants to go on a legendary weekend camping trip. You have exactly $100 for the whole group. If you spend it all on fancy brand-name snacks on Friday night, what happens on Saturday morning when you're out of fuel and breakfast food? Being "Thrifty" isn't just about being "cheap"—it’s about being smart so you can do more cool stuff with less money!

The "Why": In Scouting, we promise to be thrifty. This means we don't waste nature, we don't waste time, and we certainly don't waste money. Today, you aren't just learning how to save; you are learning how to lead your troop to financial freedom.

Part 1: The "I Do" – Understanding the Thrifty Mindset

As the leader, I’m going to show you the three pillars of a Thrifty Scout:

1. The "Need vs. Want" Filter: A "Need" is essential for the mission (e.g., a waterproof tent). A "Want" is a luxury (e.g., a solar-powered smoothie maker for the woods).
2. Quality Over Price: Sometimes the cheapest item is the most expensive because it breaks and you have to buy it twice. Thrifty Scouts look for value.
3. The "Wait and See" Rule: If you want something, wait 24 hours. If you still want it tomorrow, it might be worth the money.

Part 2: The "We Do" – The Gear Swap & Grocery Shop

Let’s practice together. We are going to "shop" for a troop breakfast (pancakes and bacon) for 10 Scouts.

• Activity 1: Comparison Shopping. Look at two store flyers. Store A has name-brand syrup for $5.00. Store B has the store-brand for $2.50. Is there a difference in taste? Probably not! We just saved $2.50.
• Activity 2: Gear Maintenance. If a Scout’s boot sole is peeling, should they buy $100 new boots or a $7 tube of Shoe Goo? We’ll discuss why "repairing" is a leadership skill.

Part 3: The "You Do" – The Scoutmaster’s Lesson Plan

Now it’s your turn to be the teacher. You are going to design a "Thrifty Station" for your next troop meeting. Your task is to:

1. Create a "Need vs. Want" Game: Write 10 items on cards (e.g., Sleeping bag, Flashlight, Glow-in-the-dark marshmallows, Pocket knife, Designer hiking socks).
2. Develop a "Savings Goal": If every Scout in a troop of 15 saves just $1.00 a week by not buying a soda, how much money will the troop have for a summer trip in 3 months? (Math check: 15 scouts x $1 x 12 weeks = ?).
3. The Pitch: Practice a 2-minute speech explaining to your troop why saving money today means a bigger adventure tomorrow.

Conclusion: The Recap

Summary: Today we learned that being thrifty is a superpower. It allows us to protect our resources and plan for bigger goals. We learned to tell the difference between what we have to have and what we just desire, and we practiced how to find the best deals.

Student Recap: Tell me the three pillars of a Thrifty Scout. Which one do you think is the hardest to teach your friends?

Success Criteria & Assessment

• Formative Assessment: During the "We Do" shopping activity, can the student correctly identify the better value?
• Summative Assessment: The student will present their "Thrifty Tip" speech.
  • Bronze Level: Explains what thrifty means.
  • Silver Level: Shows a clear example of saving money on gear or food.
  • Gold Level: Inspires others to save by showing a specific "Big Goal" (like a trip) that the savings will pay for.

Adaptability & Extensions

• For Younger Scouts (Ages 7-10): Focus entirely on the physical sorting of "Needs vs. Wants" using pictures of toys vs. fruit/vegetables.
• Advanced Challenge (Age 13+): Introduce the concept of Compound Interest. Show how $100 invested at age 11 grows by the time they are 18.
• Real-World Application: Have the student actually go to the grocery store with a $20 budget to buy ingredients for a family meal, requiring them to use the comparison shopping skills learned.