Cheap Girl Scout Uniform

[Disneyfan1977]

My daughter is starting girl scouts tonite. I know we are going to be required to purchase a uniform and money is tight right now. Any suggestions as to where to get them for not so much money.

 

[knovak]

I am a leader and the only item I strongly suggest my girls to buy is a vest. I also suggest they buy it in a large as they wear them for more than 1 year.

If they have a vest they can at least display the Try Its and badges they may earn. The only place I can think of you may find 1 cheaper is Ebay. But at this time of year you may still have to pay the price at the store which is about $14 or $15.

 

[cepmom]

It goes against Girl Scouts to require anyone to purchase a uniform. Uniforms are not mandatory. That said, the sashes or vests are nice to display their badges. I am a former leader and I gave my girls the choice of vests or sashes....they voted for sashes, but they were not required. I had one parent choose not to get anything for her DD, but eventually her DD wanted one to put her Try-Its on and she ended up getting one at the end of that year. We never got any other pieces and honestly, they hardly ever wore the sashes anyway (only in parades)

 

[DawnM]

I have boys and we do cubscouts. I am in charge of the used uniforms. See if your troop has used items.

Dawn

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

GSUSA is only requiring the vest or sash as the official "uniform" now, along with the official pins and patches (troop numbers, council ID). All the tee shirts and other components are considered extra and most troops only wear those for events like ceremonies or parades.

The vest goes for about $15, numbers are a little more than $1 each and the ID set is about $3. Your troop should provide the pins and your dd will earn TryIts (Brownies) or Badges (Juniors).

 

[roselindsey]

I AM A GIRL SCOUT LEADER AND WE ONLY ASK THAT THE GIRLS GET A VEST.
IF YOU WANT THE WHOLE UNIFORM OR PANTS I SUGGEST ASKING YOUR LEADER ABOUT USED UNIFORMS. ALSO, CALL GS HEADQUARTERS AS THEY MIGHT UNIFORM CLOSET. HOPE THIS HELPS. I THINK SHE'LL LOVE GS ESPECIALLY IF SHE HAS AN ACTIVE TROOP LIKE WE DO!!!!!

 

[luvmy3]

Our council does require a sort of uniform. They ask that the girls wear white shirts and kacki pants along with their vest or sash. I was a leader last year and mentioned it to the mom's but never expected anyone to go out and buy the stuff. If they girls had it in their closet, great, but we never wore what was "required".
The sash is about $6 and the vest is about $15. You will be responsible for troop numbers, council patch, american flag but all other pins/patches should be covered by troop funds. Or maybe your troop has enough money to cover them all, when dd was a brownie all I paid for was the vest.
If you need a handbook, you can check ebay for them.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

As others said, you really only need the vest/sash. In my whole town, I've ever only seen one girl in full uniform (right down to the beanie and brownie tie) and that was because of a well meaning and senitmental grandma. My troop did troop shirts (we did tie dye) to wear at multi-troop events. (Nothing like trying to find your girls in a sea of brown vests, lol.)

Aside from the other ideas mentioned, you could ask the neighborhood leader (Leader of your local leaders- contact should be on the website) for the leader who've just crossed over to the next level. One of the may be interested in selling/passing their old uniform along. Be forewarned though, if the previous owner ironed on the badges, they can be hard to get off.(My experience is the only come off when you WANT them to stick,lol.)

Check with your council too- whether for uniforms or other money issues that may come up, dues, etc. I think all of them have some sort of fund for assistance. They wouldn't want anyone to not participate because of finances!

 

[dislal]

Both of my DD are in Girl Scouts and both are only required to have a vest or sash and the books. I would ask before buying anything.

 

[ceecee]

I'm a leader as well and we have only vests ($14.00) or sashes ($9.00) and the insignias/troop numbers ($5-8.00 for that). However, if there is a financial problem you could be able to get it free under the Juliette Low fund, just ask your leader. You are not required to pay anything if there is financial need.

 

[mickeyboat]

Our troop only requires a vest or sash. If you choose the vest, make sure you get it in a large size - they will grow into it quickly, and the larger vest has more room for patches and badges.

Our leader gets a lot of stuff for her daughter on ebay.

Denae

 

[CarolA]

I have been a leader and am not a Service Unit Manager.

The ONLY times I have required uniforms were for very special events. (Trips to Europe for example)

I recommend the vest. There's more room to put the "fun stuff" on the back!

For older girls the "official" uniform is now the vest/sash, white shirt and kahkis... we gave up on real uniforms. The little kids (Daisy, Brownie and Juniors) can still buy uniforms, but I rarely see it unless they are participating in some big PR thing!

 

[SILLYANDI]

It goes against Girl Scouts to require anyone to purchase a uniform. Uniforms are not mandatory. That said, the sashes or vests are nice to display their badges. I am a former leader and I gave my girls the choice of vests or sashes....they voted for sashes, but they were not required. I had one parent choose not to get anything for her DD, but eventually her DD wanted one to put her Try-Its on and she ended up getting one at the end of that year. We never got any other pieces and honestly, they hardly ever wore the sashes anyway (only in parades)

Actually the rule changed as of today (OCt 1st). All girls participating in "Official" Girl Scout Activities must have a vest, sash or tunic. What official activities includes is not specific. I am a Council Trainer in California and this is a NATIONWIDE change. http://www.girlscouts.org/strategy/faqs_leadership_aug1.asp?Print=Yes#7b

I would recommend buying one on E-bay as that is where I get all of my troops uniforms- usually for under $15 for a complete uniform- I can usually get a new or like new vest for under $10.
Our Council also has a "Juliette's Closet" where people donate their old uniforms for others to use, a uniform "borrowing" program where you can borrow a whole uniform for special events and the "Gifts for Girls" which acts like financial aid for girls who need a little help. I would call your Council and ask if they have any of these available. I can say that GSUSA has one ofthe most lenient policies when it comes to applying for and receiving financial aid for uniforms, program or camp-it really is worth looking into if you truly need it.

 

[LisaNJ25]

Leader and SUM here.. we dont require any of the girls to have full uniform. The do all have either a vest of sash. Personally I prefer the vest.It holds so much more. The girls that do have a sash seem to spend most of the time pulling them pack up on their shoulder. I always went bigger.. since with brownies you needed to get 3 years out of it.. but now it has changed to 2.

This wont help you now but you can always approach your leader and ask about the troop paying a portion when the bridge to the next level. We did that this past year bridging to juniors. The troop paid half and the parents paid half. I sewed on all off the patches.

Also keep a look at the girl scout website. I bought all my girls the white junior shirt for $.99 and I got my daughter the pants for $.99. I dont think the cost of the uniform is bad at all.. especially for ll the years you get out of it.

 

[cepmom]

Actually the rule changed as of today (OCt 1st). All girls participating in "Official" Girl Scout Activities must have a vest, sash or tunic. What official activities includes is not specific. I am a Council Trainer in California and this is a NATIONWIDE change. http://www.girlscouts.org/strategy/faqs_leadership_aug1.asp?Print=Yes#7b

I would recommend buying one on E-bay as that is where I get all of my troops uniforms- usually for under $15 for a complete uniform- I can usually get a new or like new vest for under $10.

good to know...I left at the end of last school year, so I'm not up to speed on the changes. Thanks

 

[don8life]

Leader here too~! I ask the parents to get the girls a vest so they can proudly dislplay their try its.(Brownies) Most of my girls don't have one. Oh well. I'm not going to force anyone.

Our council has funds for those who can not afford to pay. Ours is called the Paula Brown fund. Every council should have it. It would cover a vest, meeting dues and trips. We offer up to $150 per girl per year. Do not be embarassed to ask about it. It is there for this reason.

Parents or leaders can fill it out. I have 2 girls with this and it is wondrful. The are able to accompany us to Broadway palys and more expensive trips that thier mom's just would not have been able to afford.

Good Luck!

 

[Disneyfan1977]

Wow...thanks for the heads up everyone. I feel much better now. When I was a brownie I had the head to toe gear. I got the hand me downs from my older sister.

I was thinking we would need everything and with the scary economic outlook and christmas and halloween and school pictures tomorrow....I have been really stressing it! Our budget it tight right now!!!