Posted: 11/6/2009 7:30:19 AM EDT
| My six year old just started and got his Bobcat badge the other night.He enjoyed that alot,do any of you guys have older kids in scout what should i expect in the future from Scouts? |
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My six year old just started and got his Bobcat badge the other night.He enjoyed that alot,do any of you guys have older kids in scout what should i expect in the future from Scouts? I'm an Eagle, and most of the things I enjoy most in life (the outdoors, shooting, paddling, etc) were introduced to me through scouting. It's a great program, and it does build character. Cub scouts is rather adult-driven, whil the boy scouts endeavors to have the kids run most of the troop. You should get involved with the cub den, and when you pick a scout troop try to find one with an active camping/high adventure program and one that requires the kids to run things. Be active; you'll have a great time with your son. |
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My six year old just started and got his Bobcat badge the other night.He enjoyed that alot,do any of you guys have older kids in scout what should i expect in the future from Scouts? The best piece of advice I can give you is that you need to get personally involved both in his Cub Scout pack and in any future Boy Scout troop he joins. The ONLY way to make sure the pack and troop is run the right way is to be involved yourself. |
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All I can say is take your time, do your homework and find a GOOD troop when he moves up to boy scouts. Don't just assume the troop your cub scouts feed to is where he should go. Good points to follow. There are also good and questionable Scoutmasters...find those that are really dedicated to the kids. |
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Thanks to the Scouting program I had my only exposure to firearms as a kid.
On the other hand, when working towards getting my Eagle Scout I saw some of the most dishonest, biased, and dishonorable behavior in the local Counsel that I'd ever witnessed anywhere in my life. To the credit of the Boy Scout program, though, most of the bad eggs on that Counsel were tossed-out and replaced shortly thereafter. |
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I am a Webelos Den Leader and the difference is made with the leaders. My scouting experience was not good as a kid. The leaders were lazy and we learned next to nothing from them. If your Den leaders look like they care and are putting in the time you have found a good group.
One of the members here is a Deputy sherrif and came to our meeting the other night. The kids loved it and enjoyed seeing the Glock35 and the ASP baton as well as sitting in the squad SUV he drives. |
I started when I was about 5 (maybe younger? I went in first year I could) as a Tiger, and made it as far as Star. Unfortunately my family moved to a new state to get away from family and start a new small business so I was unable to finish to Eagle. 
I look forward to having a son so we can do the scouting thing again...all of it. If I get a baby girl with my fiancee I'll adopt a son. 
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Quoted: Quoted: My six year old just started and got his Bobcat badge the other night.He enjoyed that alot,do any of you guys have older kids in scout what should i expect in the future from Scouts? The best piece of advice I can give you is that you need to get personally involved both in his Cub Scout pack and in any future Boy Scout troop he joins. The ONLY way to make sure the pack and troop is run the right way is to be involved yourself. |
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Quoted: Quoted: My six year old just started and got his Bobcat badge the other night.He enjoyed that alot,do any of you guys have older kids in scout what should i expect in the future from Scouts? I'm an Eagle, and most of the things I enjoy most in life (the outdoors, shooting, paddling, etc) were introduced to me through scouting. It's a great program, and it does build character. Cub scouts is rather adult-driven, whil the boy scouts endeavors to have the kids run most of the troop. You should get involved with the cub den, and when you pick a scout troop try to find one with an active camping/high adventure program and one that requires the kids to run things. Be active; you'll have a great time with your son. OK, 1st time I'll say: +1 I'm also an Eagle. Scouts can teach your son many life skills. BUT, you have to make sure he is guided by the right people. That is why you need to be as involved as possible. Hell, you might learn some things as well. |
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I never got my Eagle, its always been a point of contempt because they kept giving me the run around. I'm pretty sure that the reason was because my parent were not involved in scouting, but in the end, my mom worked nights and my dad is not someone who enjoys the out doors. one troop I was in completely folded once the scoutmasters son hit eagle, no talk of retirement or anything just stopped. cub scouts is more stable, but when he gets in to boy scouts make sure that the scoutmaster is a decent guy who isn't just there to push his own kids through, get involved, but not too involved, your son will appreciate the time away from you. also expect him to burn things.
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Involement and training is the key! Every parent can be a committee member and help guide the direction of the Troop but you need to get trained and learn how the program works. I've been in the program with my boy almost 10 years now and as a boy I never made it past Webelo. My boy ranked to Star this week and I'm currently working my "ticket" for Wood Badge. If you do it the way Baden Powell designed it.....it works flawlessly.
You get what you give! |
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I was a scout as a kid –––– learned a lot and enjoyed every minute of it. Later in life I became active as an adult in a couple of scout troops. Helping with logistics on camp outs, teaching classes, and generally, just mentoring the boys. I strongly advise YOU to become an active participant with your son. BSA has several adult training classes that I'd highly recommend as well. In all honesty, the eight years I spent as an adult scout leader and as an Assistant Scout Master were the most gratifying and have so far been the most enjoyable of my life (I'm 53 now). You are literally helping to shape tomorrow's future by getting involved with scouting and help molding the boys in to being responsible, productive adults. |
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I am an Eagle Scout and a Scoutmaster. There are good and bad troops out there. Look for a boy led troop where the Scoutmaster provides guidance but lets the boy leadership make decisions. Look for an ACTIVE committee of parents to provide support for the Scoutmaster, and maintains standards so the troop doesn't turn into an "eagle factory". There should be a calendar of activities, and at least one camp out every month with the Scoutmaster, a committee member and a couple of dads attending. It is parent involvement that makes or breaks a troop––get involved! |
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Both my sons went through the Scouting program from Bobcat until they left their teens. My oldest got the most out of the program.
My Eagle Scout in the center: 
A Scout is friendly, courteous, kind: 
A Scout is loyal, brave: 
Emceeing the Council Awards Banquet with 500+ people in the room: 
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Another Eagle here. Pretty much exactly what the other posters have said, find a good pack/troop, and expect lots of involvment on your part if you want your son to have an enjoyable Scouting experience.
Some of the best times I ever had with my dad were in Scouts, and 90% of the life skills that I learned were taught to me in the Scouting program. Personally, I think evey young boy should stay in Scouts long enough to earn his First Class rank, because those skills are the ones he can turn to for the rest of his life. |
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My son is a Wolf this year and I try to help out whenever I can. It's sad that so many parents think Scouts is a day care. Scouts is about bonding with your son and teaching him how to grow up and be a good man while having fun. BSA is not "Baby Sitters of America"... I told all the new parents that when I was a Cubmaster but still had far to many boys dropped off and no one around until sometimes a half hour after the meeting ended. For some of them their den leader was the only positive male influence in their lives. Those were the guys that needed Scouting the most, but were the least likely come back. Sad to say that as more women moved into leader positions, the pack tore itself apart. Since the Cub Master has little to no influence in the management of the pack, I bailed with my son before the secretary and den leaders destroyed it.
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