Anyone prioritize cub scout?

[Anonymous]

Former den leader here, now Scoutmaster for our BSA Troop.

At our pack, kids were encouraged to attend as often as they could, but it was not unusual for people to miss meetings every now and then, and totally not a big deal. We were always pretty lenient with the badges as long as the kid made a reasonable effort ("do your best"). It's different in Scouts BSA where they actually have to meet objective standards for everything.

We had pack meetings once a month, den meetings 1-3 times a month (less in the earlier grades, growing to every week that we didn't meet as a pack by 5th grade), weekend campouts 2x per year, and various optional weekend activities like group hikes or service projects.

[Anonymous]

My pack is led by an overall laid back person, we are encouraged to attend the pack meetings and the den meetings but no one is frowning for not making it. We've had a year where we attended most of the meetings and activities and another year where we attended only about half with no repercussions or any negative feedback. If your child's Den Leader wants you to attend a ton and you can't schedule in enough, you could even just find another pack nearby. Or just talk to the Den Leader/Pack Leader and explain that this year you might not make it to too many but that you expect differently next year or whatever your situation is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My pack is led by an overall laid back person, we are encouraged to attend the pack meetings and the den meetings but no one is frowning for not making it. We've had a year where we attended most of the meetings and activities and another year where we attended only about half with no repercussions or any negative feedback. If your child's Den Leader wants you to attend a ton and you can't schedule in enough, you could even just find another pack nearby. Or just talk to the Den Leader/Pack Leader and explain that this year you might not make it to too many but that you expect differently next year or whatever your situation is.

Oh re: badges. My DS7 and I don't really keep track if he got all the badges or not. We were not asked to make up any mandatory activities on our free time, and he was moved on to the next level. Maybe it's less strict at that younger age or we got a less strict Den Leader?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Former den leader here, now Scoutmaster for our BSA Troop.

At our pack, kids were encouraged to attend as often as they could, but it was not unusual for people to miss meetings every now and then, and totally not a big deal. We were always pretty lenient with the badges as long as the kid made a reasonable effort ("do your best"). It's different in Scouts BSA where they actually have to meet objective standards for everything.

We had pack meetings once a month, den meetings 1-3 times a month (less in the earlier grades, growing to every week that we didn't meet as a pack by 5th grade), weekend campouts 2x per year, and various optional weekend activities like group hikes or service projects.

What is the difference between the Den/pack you mention and the Scouts BSA? Age?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My pack is led by an overall laid back person, we are encouraged to attend the pack meetings and the den meetings but no one is frowning for not making it. We've had a year where we attended most of the meetings and activities and another year where we attended only about half with no repercussions or any negative feedback. If your child's Den Leader wants you to attend a ton and you can't schedule in enough, you could even just find another pack nearby. Or just talk to the Den Leader/Pack Leader and explain that this year you might not make it to too many but that you expect differently next year or whatever your situation is.

Oh re: badges. My DS7 and I don't really keep track if he got all the badges or not. We were not asked to make up any mandatory activities on our free time, and he was moved on to the next level. Maybe it's less strict at that younger age or we got a less strict Den Leader?

Packs run differently so there is that. Some Packs will award rank to every kid who has participated regularly and some Packs only to kids who completed the required belt loops. In Cub Scouts, kids are promoted to the next level regardless of earning the rank. You move with your grade level. A child can move from Tiger to Wolf without earning the Tiger rank.

Troops, kids 11 and up, run differently. Kids have to complete all the requirements in order to earn rank or a merit badge. Patrols, the smaller units in a Troop, contain Scouts with different ranks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former den leader here, now Scoutmaster for our BSA Troop.

At our pack, kids were encouraged to attend as often as they could, but it was not unusual for people to miss meetings every now and then, and totally not a big deal. We were always pretty lenient with the badges as long as the kid made a reasonable effort ("do your best"). It's different in Scouts BSA where they actually have to meet objective standards for everything.

We had pack meetings once a month, den meetings 1-3 times a month (less in the earlier grades, growing to every week that we didn't meet as a pack by 5th grade), weekend campouts 2x per year, and various optional weekend activities like group hikes or service projects.

What is the difference between the Den/pack you mention and the Scouts BSA? Age?

Cub Scouts are kids in K-5 grade. A Den is made up of kids from each grade. The rank is associated with a grade. Lions are K. Tigers are first. Wolf’s are Second. Bears are third. Develops are fourth. Arrow of Light is fifth. AOL is sometimes called Webelos 2 by some Packs.

A Troop is comprised of Scouts age 11, or in sixth grade, to 18 years old. Troops are sub divided into Patrols. Each Troop has its own way of dividing Patrols. My sons Troop has kids who are brand new through to Star in the same Patrol. Life and Eagle Scouts are in their own patrol because they tend to be older but they are responsible for organizing bigger activities for the Troop.

You cannot join a Troop until 6th grade or 11 years old unless you are bridging over from a Pack to a Troop. My son was 10 in fifth grade when he bridged over to his Troop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My socially anxious DS thrives in it

Same

[Anonymous]

My daughter is not anxious at all and loves it. This is a welcoming program for all kids, and is replete with well-adjusted kids who openly bond with kids who are having some growing issues.

[Anonymous]

Yes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS8 is a bit social awkward, but he has some casual friends from school. He has busy schedule with aftercare (play only), soccer practice/game, swimming and others. It is my idea wanting him to join cub scout. However, after talking to the leader, it seems like it is more complicated than I thought to be.

I learn that they don't take attenance but they hope families do not miss 1×/month pack meeting and 2×/month den meetings. They have goals to earn badge. They say they welcome younger sibling to attend, but they also tell me that I have to keep my younger child busy without interruption if I bring him along. I originally thought that cub scout is some kind of membership that offers social opportunities that we would attend if we could make it. There's birthday parties and festivals/events that we kind of prioritize as well.

For families that do & prioritize cub scout, what was your goals/intention? Are they strict on commitment and attendance? Do you commit just for a year or many years down the road?

Nope - it's not a membership social club. It's a youth activity. While no one is going to get kicked out of Scouts for missing some meetings, the general expectation is that you come to most of the meetings and events. You listed three meetings per month. I'm guessing your child's soccer team is more like 3 events per week.
Compared to other activities Scouts (at least at the little kid level) is far less time consuming - but that doesn't mean you shouldn't consider it a commitment, simply out of respect for the other kids and for the volunteers who are donating a lot of time so your son can have a good experience

[Anonymous]

This may be a dumb question, but are minorities comfortable and welcome in Scouts? I’ve only ever seen Scouts who present as white. Any racial minorities who can speak to their experience in Scouts? We have zero family experience in it and zero camping type know how. As parents, did you feel genuinely part of the group?

Separately, the packs I’ve seen around me often have overnights and camp outs. Do you feel comfortable sending your 6-8 year olds alone, or do you volunteer to chaperone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS8 is a bit social awkward, but he has some casual friends from school. He has busy schedule with aftercare (play only), soccer practice/game, swimming and others. It is my idea wanting him to join cub scout. However, after talking to the leader, it seems like it is more complicated than I thought to be.

I learn that they don't take attenance but they hope families do not miss 1×/month pack meeting and 2×/month den meetings. They have goals to earn badge. They say they welcome younger sibling to attend, but they also tell me that I have to keep my younger child busy without interruption if I bring him along. I originally thought that cub scout is some kind of membership that offers social opportunities that we would attend if we could make it. There's birthday parties and festivals/events that we kind of prioritize as well.

For families that do & prioritize cub scout, what was your goals/intention? Are they strict on commitment and attendance? Do you commit just for a year or many years down the road?

Nope - it's not a membership social club. It's a youth activity. While no one is going to get kicked out of Scouts for missing some meetings, the general expectation is that you come to most of the meetings and events. You listed three meetings per month. I'm guessing your child's soccer team is more like 3 events per week.
Compared to other activities Scouts (at least at the little kid level) is far less time consuming - but that doesn't mean you shouldn't consider it a commitment, simply out of respect for the other kids and for the volunteers who are donating a lot of time so your son can have a good experience

+1 we are in cub scouts and I would say our den is pretty relaxed and the pack isn't too strict with having our den attend everything because it's kindergartners. But completely agree that it is an activity, it is run by volunteer parents, and the expectation and value is that you participate in the meetings and events, as with any other activity. It's also how the social part works - kids and parents get to know each other through repeated activities. Ppl have missed mtgs, life is busy, but it would be rude to go into it expecting to be a "drop-in."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This may be a dumb question, but are minorities comfortable and welcome in Scouts? I’ve only ever seen Scouts who present as white. Any racial minorities who can speak to their experience in Scouts? We have zero family experience in it and zero camping type know how. As parents, did you feel genuinely part of the group?

Separately, the packs I’ve seen around me often have overnights and camp outs. Do you feel comfortable sending your 6-8 year olds alone, or do you volunteer to chaperone?

Packs and Troops tend to reflect the community they are in. DS Pack was mainly white, there were some Asian American kids in his Pack, but his school is like 70% white and 20% Asian. The Troop he joined is about 50% white and 50% other races, some black, some Indian, some Asian, and a few Hispanic kids. Troops tend to draw from a larger area though, so that make sense.

As for camping in Cub Scouts, parents are required to attend. Cub Scouts does not allow kids to camp without a parent present. I do allow DS to camp with his Troop without one of us present but we are comfortable with the Scouts that he hangs out with and the Troop leadership.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t sign up for any activity that I couldn’t commit to attending on a regular basis. Scouts included. Missing a meeting because your kid is sick or you have a conflicting soccer game is very different than not showing up because you wanted to go to the zoo one weekend and scheduled a play date the next. Why bother?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This may be a dumb question, but are minorities comfortable and welcome in Scouts? I’ve only ever seen Scouts who present as white. Any racial minorities who can speak to their experience in Scouts? We have zero family experience in it and zero camping type know how. As parents, did you feel genuinely part of the group?

Separately, the packs I’ve seen around me often have overnights and camp outs. Do you feel comfortable sending your 6-8 year olds alone, or do you volunteer to chaperone?

Asian American family here. My boys loved cub scouts and my daughter loves Girl Scouts. Scouts is majority white but plenty of minorities. We have had very involved African Americans, Asian Americans and Middle Easterns. It is all volunteers so parent involvement always welcome.