What has been your experience as a Cub Scout parent?

[RandySF]

We've decided that, given our sons energy, curiosity and personality, the Cub Scouts might be a good experience for him. Are there any Scout parents out there? What has been your experience?

[obxhead]

1. Not a parent, but I was a Cub Scout.

I remember having fun with it and my parents did as well to the best of my knowledge. They often hosted gatherings and participated willingly.

I was also a Boy Scout, but dropped out of that the morning our scout leader ran off with the ticket money over 30 of us had paid to go to Disney World. 30 kids waiting at 4 am to get on a bus bound for Disney and not only did the bus not arrive, but nobody ever saw the troop leader again. That soured it for many of us.

[yawnmaster]

2. it was a good experience. Just stay involved. Parents run the pack, so...

it's as good as you shape it.

[SoCalDem]

3. We have three sons and none of them enjoyed scouting

. We signed them all up when they were small, and unfortunately the scout leaders they had were mostly interested in having them sell popcorn, and bring snacks to meetings where they did very little that interested them.. They dropped out and found other things they liked.

I was in girl scouts & my husband stayed in until he was an Eagle Scout, so he was disappointed that our sons were not interested, but then we became soccer parents:)

It's all up to the kids..

[geardaddy]

4. I was a Cub Scout and loved it.

Made through to Webelos then quit.

[Scuba]

5. Yeah, it's good to start your kids in para-military organizations early....

...seriously, I was a Scout, Cub and Boy, and my son was a Cub.

Comraderie, learning, fun. Mostly good experiences.

[FSogol]

9. Paramilitary? Scouting is a liberal outdoor group. Go read "The Outdoor Code."

;)

[Scuba]

12. read the rest of my post.... it's satire. n/t

[FSogol]

14. I know, see my winking emoticon. (Although many do share that opinion.)

;) ;)

[Scuba]

19. Missed the wink. And no, it wasn't an original thought. n/t

[MedicalAdmin]

28. But it IS a paramilitary group.

The history of the scouts is routed in acting like scouts to find enemy positions and report back. It is a paramilitary organization because it is organized on military lines. This is not necessarily a bad thing.

I was a scout. I enjoyed it greatly and learn lots of stuff, but I know other kids who were in scouts who hated it. I strongly suggest that you get involved in the running of the "pack."

[Brickbat]

6. I object utterly to the Boy Scouts' national position on homosexuality. Having said that, my son

was a Cub Scout and is now a Boy Scout. It all depends on who's running your troop and how much parental involvement there is. I have strong mixed feelings about my kid being involved with the organization. Mr. Brickbat reached Eagle Scout when he was a teen, and we have had many discussions about how the national organization has changed since then.

[Viking12]

26. The church that sponsors my son's Pack is very pro-gay rights.

Otherwise, I probably wouldn't let him be involved. Our den/pack/troop leadership doesn't push the "faith" elements of scouting, allowing the parents to guide their children privately in their own way. Some of the larger regional gatherings are a little creepy for my taste, but nothing that has made me feel that I need to pull my son from the program.

Overall, the experience has been very positive for my son. He is motivated to try new things and to follow through on projects by the reward system of patches, belt loops, etc...

[Brickbat]

30. We live in a very liberal area and the church that sponsors my kid's troop is the same way.

If it were just about the local leadership, I would have no problem. We live in a very rural area and I know the people involved here very well -- they are parents of my son's friends, and so on. I just hate that the national organization has become so tarnished. It hurts Mr. Brickbat, as well -- he takes great pride in his scouting experience and remembers it fondly.

It's also provided a great opportunity to talk with my kid about such things, anyway. In the meantime, he goes camping at least once a month and I don't have to do a damn thing!

[Gothmog]

36. My son's troop is sponsored by my Temple which is very progressive

There are a large number of leaders in the BSA who are trying to change the policy. We feel that we can do more from within the organization than from the outside.

I am the chartered organization representative from my troop. My son aged out a long time ago but I am still involved and I am active with the troop including having fun at eagle scout boards of reviews. Our temple is very progressive and is against the BSA policy. The rabbi is very supportive of the troop and appreciates that we are working from within the organization to change the policy.

Scouting is a good organization. There are a number of leaders in other troops in my district that everyone knows are gay but no one cares. The informal rule is that you need to avoid wearing your scout uniform to gay pride events.

[MedicalAdmin]

29. The American boy scouts is the ONLY scouting organization

in the world with that position on homosexuality. The rest of the world reacts with a resounding yawn.

[Brickbat]

32. I know. At the end of the day, though, the popcorn we sell goes to uphold that stance. And I

really hate it. I also hate that so much of their clothing is made in China. WTF?

[MedicalAdmin]

35. This is what happens when business "leaders" get involved.

To clarify, by business leaders I mean wall street types and not main street types. Those are 2 very different critters.

[Gothmog]

34. Several of our Troop leaders are working to change the policy

The BSA has this policy in large part because of the LDS groups were threatening to form their own organization. Many leaders are working from within the organization to change the policy.

Basically, the rule is that so long as you do not wear your scout uniform to a gay pride event, no one cares in my council (which is one of the largest councils in the country). There are a number of leaders in my district who are gay and no one cares. Again, the informal rule is "don't ask, don't tell" which my council interprets as simply do not wear the uniform to any gay pride events.

The Dale case actually involved an idiot who wore his BSA uniform to a gay pride event.

There are many leaders who believe that we can do more to change the policy by working from within. Our council leadership knows and agrees with our views.

[Brickbat]

37. Yes, I've heard about troops in our area doing the same.

And that's how we're approaching it, too.

[FSogol]

7. I was in the Cub Scouts, went on to Boy Scouts and became an Eagle Scout.

Both on my sons went through it all, one is an Eagle and the other almost. Both have traveled around the country and world with the scouts.

The Scout program is good for introducing kids to a variety of skills, info, and trips that they might not be exposed with just their parents, school, etc. A lot depends on who is involved. I say join the Cub Scout pack at your local community center, school or Church. It'll be a lot of fun.

When they are older, let them join boy scouts if they want and look for a troop that does a lot of camping (at least one trip a month including high adventure stuff like canoeing and rock climbing.

HTH.

[Cid_B]

8. Scouting saved my ass...

... as a kid. Grew up in Utah and were pretty segregated from the rest of the Mormons in our area. The local Scout troop was made of enough other misfits that we were actually bigger than the rest who had a troop at every LDS church.

Took it all the way from Cub to Eagle Scout, across different states etc.. etc..

Some of my best experiences were there and some of my best time with my Dad in Boy Scouts and I still remember my Mom helping out in Cubs.

[FSogol]

11. Wonder how many Eagle Scouts post here on DU?

[Cid_B]

21. Dunno...

I run into lots in the military... We all fell onto a similar path.

[gater]

24. I am an Eagle Scout.

My mother was a Den Mother, my dad an Assistant Scout Master. Learned about everything from wilderness survival to citizenship skills, and it allowed me to get my WSI and become a volunteer EMT. I helped with project SOAR(Save our American Resources), hand dredged garbage from a watershed area in the Finger Lakes, and learned critical thinking under less than ideal conditions. Parts of my training has allowed me to save a couple of lives, assist with S&R activities in various terrain settings, and much much more.

[Gothmog]

27. My son is an eagle scout

It really helped him get a couple of scholarships. I am still the COR for our troop and just did two eagle boards of reviews a couple of weekends ago.

[MedicalAdmin]

31. I was the Canadian version of Eagle - a Voyager - with a gold chain.

Good times. Learned to moutain climb and got my first CPR and First Aid / First responder certifications with them.

[DrDan]

18. same experience here - a cub scout growing up

in Utah - an outcast of society due to not being LDS.

Some great memories camping at Lake Utah (is that right? Big lake south of SLC?). Waking up with snow on the ground. Tracking rabbits by their tracks in the snow. Some great times.

[seabeyond]

10. first experience at christian school, scary. wouldnt leave kids alone with adults. then another

group when we moved to a public school and very good experience for the son and allowed him to get to know kids from that school seeing how he was new.

[PassingFair]

13. If I had a boy he would be rejected by the Boy Scouts for being an atheist.

They've kicked out EAGLE SCOUTS for admitting
their atheism.

Also, no gay children allowed.

I'd find another group, like
Campfire Kids, who do not discriminate
against children on religious or sexual
orientation issues.

[keroro gunsou]

15. not a parent

but did the cub scout/boy scout deal. liked the activities and friendship and camping, the parents we had involved with us rocked. boy scouts was fun til the troop leader retired, and a religious zealot took over. he took great exception to the fact i didn't want to take part in the ad altari dei medal program and after that went out of his way to marginalize me and my dad's input and involvment with the troop. i didn't stick around too much longer past first class. karma, being what it is, the zealot was busted out for having his way with some of the girl scouts in his wife's troop/unit/whatever they called 'em...

[Brother Buzz]

16. Speaking as a Cub Scout dropout....

The den mother makes or breaks the deal. What can you bring to the table. Arts and crafts, nature, history/lore, games, outings. Us kids were sponges and would soak up most anything interesting. In essence, you would be a glorified babysitter charged with entertaining a bunch of high energy kids.

It suspect it could be extremely rewarding if you can stay ahead, or at least keep up with them.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

17. I would not allow my sons to join the Cub Scouts. It is a homophobic and anti-atheist organization.

That was the only time in their lives I refused to let them do something they wanted to do in regard to organized activity.

[MedicalAdmin]

33. An ethical stance.

And one I support. I have never understood why the US boy scouts are so militant about those two non issues. It's ... weird.

[Gothmog]

38. The reason is the pandering to the LDS units

When the Dale case was pending before the SCOTUS, the LDS units were threatening to breakaway and form their own organization. The LDS use scouting as their youth program and force their kids to participate. The LDS population in my part of Texas is less than 3% of the population but the LDS units make up 15% to 20% of the scouts. BSA can not change the policy here without risking the LDS units breaking away to form their own organization.

There are a large number of leaders who are working from within the organization to change the policy. The BSA leadership knows that the policy needs to change. As a result, the informal rule is that so long as you do not wear your scout uniform to a gay pride event, no one cares.

[MedicalAdmin]

49. Kinda like don't ask don't tell?

Here's what I would say to the LDS . Don't let the door hit your crazy bigot ass on the way out.

... It's called leadership. What the BSA is doing is pandering to the least common denominator. But at least some aretrying to change things. I hope they realize how many they are losing.

It's kinda like smoking in bars. It was a big panic when proposed. "Oh noes - my business serving 6 chain smoking drunks will be ruined...." when the truth is thatthy gained customers because of all thefolks who NEVER came due that one issue.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

39. I was a Girl Scout growing up and they didn't have those issues.

[MedicalAdmin]

50. Sigh. I was soooooo in love with a girl scout back in the day.

That blue dress. Sigh.

Too bad I was too much of a weenie to make a move. I learned a few years ago that she had had a crush on me too.

"regrets. I've had a few...."

[Cid_B]

40. A loss for your kids...

At least you got what you wanted...

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

42. No, my children learned tolerance. Your loss for not understanding.

[Cid_B]

43. Right...

There is no possibility that a child could go through the entire scouting program and still be a tolerant, friendly person.

It was easier for you to ban it than to try to teach your children and they missed out. Good luck with that plan in the future.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

45. My children have grown into productive, wonderful adults, thank you very much.

[Cid_B]

46. I'm sure they did....

My point is that lots of folks who spent their whole childhood and possibly adulthood in Scouts did as well.

[libodem]

20. about 20 years ago

I went to sign up my boys and got roped into being a den mother. They had no leader and they made the little boys get on their knees to beg me. Gawd.

[KittyWampus]

23. Good for you. That means there was at least one sensible mom involved... YOU!

:)

[alc]

22. my experience was great

You need to find the right pack for you sons. There are 5 around us and all different - some were pretty boring for my kids(mostly arts & crafts), one was an adventure pack (mostly camping, hiking, etc), the one we picked was a good mix. Boy Scout troops are even more varied.

I was an atheist den leader and nobody cared. Kids in the pack were allowed to change what they had to say (i.e. didn't have to say "god"). We had homosexual parents and even a homosexual couple raising one of the kids. Just because the national organization has issues doesn't mean you have to keep your kids from a great local group. Check out a few packs and see if your kids like it and you feel comfortable with the parents. You'll be welcome to show up to den or pack meetings for most packs (and you probably want to avoid the ones that don't welcome you)

[Marrah_G]

25. I never involved my children in scouting

They are anti-gay and I just can't support that. My kids did karate instead.

[Xithras]

41. I'm a former den leader, Cubmaster, and Assistant Scoutmaster.

I still donate a lot of time and act as a merit badge counselor for a couple of local troops, and occasionally act as a backcountry guide for one local troop (we have a local troop that is led by some not-very-outdoorsy people, so they need all the help they can get).

In a nutshell, it all comes down to finding a Cub Pack that fits your personal tastes. There are no paid employees at the pack and troop level, so ALL positions are filled by parents and other volunteers.

My son was in a fairly liberal pack, so nobody cared that he didn't go to church, was religiously agnostic, and was the son of a bisexual. Some packs do have a problem with that sort of thing, and the policies are in place that allow leaders to set their pack's moral tone however they see fit.

My older son loved scouting, and went all the way to Life before losing interest. He's technically still a Boy Scout, though he only rarely attends nowadays. My younger son has had a bit less success with Cub Scouts, mostly because the pack he's now involved with doesn't do many outdoor activities (sadly, the pack that my older son was in disbanded a few years back). We're going to try to move him into another pack to see if that improves things, and if so he'll probably stay in at least until he hits Webelos.

It's a good program, and it's designed to be fun for the kids. I know that most people here (including me) have serious objections to the national organization's stance on homosexuals, but it's important to remember that local groups are run by the parents, and that the national organization has little influence on how they run things.

[slackmaster]

44. I found cheating in the Pinewood Derby to be exceptionally rewarding

Something a dad and a boy can enjoy together for lasting memories.

[Robb]

48. +1

:rofl:

[Octafish]

47. Great experience.

Cub Scout leaders here in Detroit region are outstanding. They give the kids lots of fun stuff to do: Pinewood Derby, Pinewood Regatta, etc. Parents go along on winter/summer camp-outs and pitch-in.

My son was involved for two years and he enjoyed pretty much the whole time. We'd recommend whole-heartedly.