Boy Scouts Popcorn Is HOW Much? Why You Should Buy It Anyway! by Kimberly Johnson

The first time I was approached to buy Boy Scouts popcorn I knew I was buying it no matter what. Why? Because my 6 -year-old stepson was the salesperson. When my husband told me the prices ranged from $10 to $30 per item, I'm fairly sure my jaw hit the floor.

Once I stepped back and looked at all the information, I saw that up to 75 percent goes to local scouting (30 to 35 percent directly to the pack), and that's a number I can get behind. Now that our youngest is a Cub Scout I get to see firsthand the ways buying popcorn makes a difference:

• Camping trips, hikes, pinewood derby, rain gutter regatta, kickball tournaments, visits to historical sites and other fun adventures.
• Supplies (and popcorn!) to U.S. military troops, veterans and their families.
• Giving back to the community through Scouting for Food, meal trains, community cleanups and more.
• Boy Scouts that reach certain sales goals can earn 6 percent back in the form of a college scholarship account from Trail's End, the popcorn supplier.

Boy Scouts popcorn sales teach our boys about goal setting, character and leadership development, public speaking and teamwork. These are lessons that apply to scouting, but last a lifetime.

Photo: Trail's End