Boys Life Magazine Part 2 - Pittsburgh,PA

We had to purchase our own subscription.

No. We have an option to pay for the magazine or not. We chose not too. However, the troop my son used to be in is being forced to subscribe to the magazine so the Leader can get an accolade for 100% membership.

whether a cub scout or a boy scout - part of their yearly dues is the Boys Life magazine.

No, not all boys receive the magazine as part of their membership, my husband is involved in scouting as a leader and is also an Eagle Scout and this is what he told me. But if the troop gifts a year subscription to their members, or includes it in the membership fee, that is one thing that is individual to that troop since not all do that. If you really want to make sure this child does not already receive this, then you should ask his mother. Otherwise, sounds like a nice gift for a scout!

My nephew does receive it through his troop membership, but I understand from my sister that not all troops do this.

Each troop does it differently. Our troop has it as an "add-on" to the normal membership fee. If you want it, you pay an extra $12 for the annual subscription. My son got it every year until this year (he's now 15 and feels it's more geared toward the younger scouts).