The same can be said about nearly all aspects of financial matters including the stock market, personal savings and wages.

The approach to financial education for grade schoolers is more ingrained into the overall program with the Boy Scouts than individual honors to be sought after and displayed as in Girl Scouting.

For Tiger Cubs (ages seven and eight), one of the many achievements Scout leaders are encouraged to promote is a basic understanding about banks. The adults are urged to take the youngsters to a bank so an employee can describe what banks do. Also, the instruction manual suggests a Tiger Cub be told how much money he would have at 21 if he puts $20 in a bank in first grade.

Of course, anyone who accurately forecast interest rates for more than a decade should be promoted to Federal Reserve Chairman rather than Eagle Scout.

Leaders for Bear Cubs (age 9) are directed to have them participate in Save Well, Spend Well activities which include opening a savings account, discussing family finances with their parents or guardians, playing a board game with play money, keep a record of how much money they spend in two weeks and calculating the cost of a meal for each family member.

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