O, Tannenbaum!
For many members of BSA Troop 1565, selling Christmas trees is their first job, said Jason Munson, who has led the tree-lot effort for the past three seasons. Proceeds from sales help send Scouts to summer camp, High Adventure camp and fund other activities.
In the process, Munson said, boys learn about the value of hard work. “They learn the importance of showing up to work because people are depending on them.”
But the boys also have fun. “There’s lots of work, but also camaraderie. It’s a bonding time together.”
The sales aspect of the tree lot was a big draw for Trevor Stewart, a freshman at Bainbridge High School, who has been a Scout since fifth grade and was a Cub Scout before that. “It’s really fun walking around helping people find the best tree. I also really like the community that comes with the tree lot. It’s really fun talking with whatever other Scouts are on my shift and meeting new people when they come get trees.”
The trees arrive trussed up, so all of them must be untied and set on display stands, Munson said. “The boys learn how to sell the idea of Christmas trees, they learn how to take payments and about tying trees on the tops of cars, which involves extensive practice in their knot-tying skills.”
About 30 boys are involved each year with running the tree lot, which sets up in the open parking area next to Ace Hardware. “Ace is a big supporter of the community,” Munson noted.
The Scouts sell 400 to 500 trees a year, from right after Thanksgiving through the first three weekends in December—four weekends if there are a lot of trees still left. The lot is open Tuesday through Friday evenings and all day on Saturdays and Sundays. In the end, any remaining trees are set out for people to take for free.
The lot generally is stocked with Noble, Nordman and Douglas firs from a tree farm in Centralia, with the Noble trees being the most popular variety on Bainbridge Island. That’s primarily because Noble firs have sturdy branches that can easily support the weight of a lot of decorations, Munson said. Sizes range from about 3 feet to 9 feet tall – “no giants.”
The Scouts began selling trees about three decades ago as a service to the community and as a way to help boys afford camp experiences. “One reason we keep doing this is that we love the interaction with the community,” said Munson. “Some Scouts come back and talk about their experiences with the tree lot. It’s fun to hear their stories, to see their faces.”
Some customers ask if the lot also sells wreaths and garlands, but Munson said the decision was made to keep things simple and focus solely on trees. The troop has partnered in the past, however, with Cub Scouts who sold chocolates.
Among those Cub Scouts was Stewart. “We did candy sales in the winter, which introduced me to sales, and I really enjoyed it. So, when I saw that Troop 1565 did this Christmas tree lot, I just had to join.”
Troop 1565 is the oldest and, with 35 members, one of the biggest Scout troops on Bainbridge, Munson said. “And we’re fortunate to have lots of parental involvement.”
Occasionally, a customer without a car has asked to have a tree delivered. “Sometimes it’s someone who doesn’t drive anymore but who wants a Christmas tree to celebrate the season,” Munson said.
A consideration in ordering trees is the age of the boys who will work on the lot. It’s easier for older, bigger boys to quickly heft trees onto cars and tie them down than it is for younger Scouts. “If we have a lot of little kids, it will be slower,” said Munson.
Prices start at $12 per foot for the first 6 feet, then $2 more per foot beyond that.
