cub scout for DS or girl scout for DD, choose one only

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both DS and DD are in after school program, sport (rec soccer for DS & gymnastic for DD), language school & seasonal swimming classes. DH has a demanding job working with odd schedules, and I could say I am the sole caregiver for kids. I work full time with some tight deadline. I would love to enroll DS in cub scout or DD in girl scout, I can't manage to do both because time is not allowed. I lean towards doing girl scout for DD for more mother and daughter time and I hear girl friendship will get more complicated over time. I think DD may benefit from girl scout more in the long run, and she is in K. K is the best timing to join girl scout for possible long term friendship development. DS missed the best timing to join due to covid, and he is 3rd grader. I am not even sure if 3rd grade is kind of late to join.

If I do so, I have some mom guilt for DS because he does not have close friends at school. It seems like I take away the opportunities for him to develop friendship outside school. Both cub scout and girl scout need parent participation, they are not drop off only. Both kids are social, extrovert, immature and not athletic. DS loves outdoor and has endless energy, so his summer camps are all outdoors with water time, rock climbing, ziplining etc. DD does a lot better at indoor summer camp with some art/craft/activities, and a few hours of outdoor time. I am still undecided to make a choice. If you were me, which one would you pick?

Thank you.

Can't you do scouts for both kids? It isn't as sex divided as in the past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was given the advice to not start scouts until 5th/6th grade. I took that advice and my son started Boy Scouts in 6th and eventually became an Eagle Scout. The reason to start later is that Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts (BSA) are different programs. One cannot start on the Boys scout track until around the end of 5th grade. Technically those in cub Scouts come into boy scouts slightly ahead but it takes very little time to catch up.

I agree with the previous poster that your experience is entirely dependent on the troop. There is an enormous amount of variety between troops.

If you are just trying to check a box for Eagle, I suppose that is true. Cub Scouts does not help much...however it is offers lots of wonderful experiences for younger kids and for my kids, it was where they made the friends that lasted through Boy Scouts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BSA is sick a terrible organization

+1

[Anonymous]

Eagle is challenging. You need to complete 6 ranks before you can start Eagle. Completing those ranks can be done in 2 years but not many do that. Eagle itself requires completing 18 specific merit badges, hold a leadership position, remain active in the Troop, and complete an Eagle project. It requires persistence and being active in a Troop for 3 years or so. More people in this area complete Eagle than most other areas because this area is highly type A.

Someone asked about the different programs. Cub Scouts is for elementary aged kids. Kids are part of a Pack that is organized by grade level dens.

Kids can join a Troop at 11, which is where they earn merit badges and the like. There are lots of Troops out there, each with their own vibe. Some are laid back, some are very advancement focused, most are in between.

Both Packs and Troops allow boys and girls. Troops are gender separated, there are Boy and Girl Troops. Packs can be co-ed or gender specific.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The quality of both organizations is going to depend on the local adult volunteers.

But cub Scouts does have the advantage that you could enroll both kids, and hopefully take them to the same place at the same time. (Whether the den meetings are coordinated is, again, dependent on the volunteers for that unit).

Depends on the troop but our Scouts BSA girls and boys troops meet at the same time, in different rooms.

Ours, too. Can't say enough positive things about the leadership skills and self-sufficiency DD and DS are learning through Scouts BSA.

[Anonymous]

BSA is a cult

[Anonymous]

I feel like you're already stretched pretty thin based on your OP. Are you sure you need to join another activity to help DS make friends? Your time might be better spent setting up a play date for him every other week or so, to strengthen friendships with kids from school, sports or swimming.

I'm generally team GSA on these threads, but I just don't see how you shoehorn another thing in for either kid right now. Maybe when they're both strong swimmers and you can drop that activity, but since it's for safety I wouldn't drop it until then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BSA is a cult

You've posted multiple times, now run along.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BSA is a cult

You've posted multiple times, now run along.

Hate to break it to you but that was my first post

[Anonymous]

As a working mom of three I have the way you’ve set up the question to put thie kids in competition with each other. If you really really must choose I think it depends on your kids and which is more in need of the benefits of scouting or will benefit more. For instance does one kid really need help coming out of their shell or does one really love the outdoors, etc.

But it’s also relevant that Cub scouts is a ton more work for parents. You need to attend two meetings per month at least plus there are usually two family camping trips per year that you’ll have to attend.

Girl Scouts typically does not want parents attending all the meetings because it interferes with girls developing independence and relationships within the troop. So it depends a lot on the troop but they will typically look for occasional aren’t volunteers to help with field trips or meetings, depending a lot on the ages and what they are doing and the leader comfort level. You’d have to talk to the leaders to see what the expectation is for the parents in that troop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GS is generally drop off unless you are the leader or volunteering at the meeting.

Really? Why is GS drop off while Scouts requires a parent?

GS requires 2 adults for the troop meetings (which are typically 12 or fewer girls). Sometimes an extra parent is needed, but usually yes the meetings are drop-off.

That said ... in addition to 2 leaders each troop needs an adult money manager and a cookie/products parent, plus chaperones for camping and events. And the daycamps are all volunteer run. So GS is not zero commitment from parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GS is generally drop off unless you are the leader or volunteering at the meeting.

Really? Why is GS drop off while Scouts requires a parent?

GS requires 2 adults for the troop meetings (which are typically 12 or fewer girls). Sometimes an extra parent is needed, but usually yes the meetings are drop-off.

That said ... in addition to 2 leaders each troop needs an adult money manager and a cookie/products parent, plus chaperones for camping and events. And the daycamps are all volunteer run. So GS is not zero commitment from parents.

The ethos in GS is girl led from the beginning and encouraging independence. With BSA, that doesn’t really start until 6th grade when there is a very abrupt transition from total parent involvement to having very little adult supervision.
For GS, there are established adult-child ratios that vary by age and activity. For instance for a meeting of 13 first graders, you need 3 unrelated background checked adults. But for 5th graders, you would only need 2.
Troops do need at least 3 adults as they need a separate money manager (to ensure fiduciary management of troop assets)—you don’t need a cookie parent unless you will be selling cookies.
I did Cub Scouts for 5 years, then boy scouts for 4 (and I’m a merit badge counselor), and have led GS troops for about 9 years. Somehow I found cub scouts (where I was not a leader) more draining than leading my GS troop! The all troop meetings had so many boys and were such a mad house that I always felt like I needed R & R after them. And there were a lot of requirements to keep track of for advancement even in cub scouts. GS is less bureaucratic.

[Anonymous]

After having kids in both, I preferred the structure of BSA where the den/pack/troop stays the same. GS had Brownies, the Juniors, then Cadets. Each had different leaders and structure. DD dropped GS after a few years, DS got eagle and stayed active till graduating HS>

[Anonymous]

My kids have done both and there are positives and negatives to each. For us, Cub Scouts (CS) cost more upfront, but Girl Scouts (GS) cost about the same overall. Both have uniforms, GS have to be replaced more often (CS you can size up and wear 1-5. GS have different uniforms for K-1, 2-3, 4-5.) Both typically require fundraising - how much depends a lot on your troop/council. Both organizations, at least in my area, are having financial difficulties and struggle a bit with funding camps and the overall organization.

Much will depend on your troop volunteers - they make a huge difference in how the group feels. That said, I think the CS program is stronger. GS is “girl led”, but overall I think the badges are generally fluffier and you can end up with a year that isn’t interesting to your kid. CS is more structured and has a core program so there’s more consistency and a higher level of skills learned.

It was nice not having to be at the GS meetings, but they were often very chaotic and the girls definitely learned less as a result. My kid who did GS for 5 years had fun and enjoyed their time with friends. My kid who did CS for 4 years had fun and actually learned some skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like you're already stretched pretty thin based on your OP. Are you sure you need to join another activity to help DS make friends? Your time might be better spent setting up a play date for him every other week or so, to strengthen friendships with kids from school, sports or swimming.

I'm generally team GSA on these threads, but I just don't see how you shoehorn another thing in for either kid right now. Maybe when they're both strong swimmers and you can drop that activity, but since it's for safety I wouldn't drop it until then.

I would agree with this.

But, if you really want to squeeze in one more thing, Cub Scouts sounds more valuable for your son. As PPs have said both BSA/GSA are highly dependent on the troop so experiences can vary a lot. My son did Cub Scouts and briefly BSA, daughter did GSA but would have preferred BSA if it had been coed when she was younger. I thought the "Journey" structure in GSA was stupid, ended up being a lot of IMO pointless arts and crafts and not much learning actual skills, unlike the badge focus of Cub Scouts. Cubs did, however, require more out-of-meeting time from parents to help with badges and projects like pinewood derby. DS and DH enjoyed that but something to be aware of if you are already stretched thin. GSA did help my DD get to know other girls in her grade and didn't ask much of the parents since it met at school during aftercare. But if she'd been busier with other activities it would have been the first thing to drop and she did drop it in 5th grade.